JP3333282B2 - Prompter video signal processor - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a prompter for photographing a manuscript to be read by a newscaster with a camera for photographing a manuscript and displaying the photographed image on a display unit, and scrolling the displayed contents according to the reading speed of the newscaster. More specifically, the present invention relates to a video signal processing device of a prompter that temporarily stores a video signal output from a document camera as image data in an image memory and outputs the image data from the image memory at a predetermined timing. Things.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a news program of a television station, a video signal of a prompter in which a manuscript read by a newscaster is projected in front of a television camera so that the newscaster can read the contents of the manuscript while looking in the direction of the television camera. Processing devices are known.

Conventionally, as a video signal processing apparatus of this type of prompter, for example, as shown in FIG. 10, a document camera 4 for photographing a document 2 and a cathode ray tube system for displaying a document based on a video signal from the document camera 4 Television 6
And a half mirror 8 disposed in front of the television camera 10 and reflecting an image on the television 6 so that the newscaster 9 can be seen. A video signal of such a prompter is known. In the processing device, the exchange of originals must be performed by a third party according to the speed at which the newscaster reads the originals, and the timing of exchange is difficult.

[0004] Further, for example, as shown in FIG. 11, two original cameras are used, and an original displayed on the television 6 is switched by switching these original cameras alternately. Also in this case, the exchange of the original on the original plate must be performed by a third party, and the timing of the exchange of the original is difficult.

Further, as shown in FIG. 12, an original is photographed by an original camera while a long original is wound by a motor, and the original is vertically scrolled or horizontally scrolled. There is a problem that it takes time and effort to create a manuscript of a length, and it is not possible to switch and display the manuscript one by one.

In order to solve such a problem, a video signal output from a document photographing camera is temporarily stored in an image memory as digital image data, and the image signal is stored at a predetermined reading (scroll) speed based on a switch operation of a newscaster. A video signal processing device of a prompter that reads out image data from an image memory and converts the converted data into an analog video signal to be displayed on a television screen has been developed by the present applicant and has already been filed. (Japanese Patent Application No. 4-23
No. 6026).

According to the video signal processor of the prompter, the newscaster can freely control the feed of the original on the display unit in accordance with the speed of reading the original without trouble of a third party. And solve the problems of the prior art.

[0008]

However, in this video signal processing apparatus of the prompter, it is necessary for the newscaster to read the manuscript while watching the television screen, and to perform the reading operation (scrolling operation) of the image data. .

This operation must be performed by groping or groping with the face facing forward, and the simple operation of dials, levers, buttons, or the like may cause the newscaster to be unable to concentrate on reading the original. There is.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and it is possible to easily control the feeding of a document displayed on an image display unit without the help of a third party, and to control the feeding of a document during actual production. It is an object of the present invention to provide a video signal processing device of a prompter which does not require the person who reads out to adjust the speed of reading image data at all.

[0011]

According to the present invention, a video signal processing apparatus for a prompter according to the present invention operates at the time of rehearsal or the like in accordance with the reading speed of a newscaster to read the original image data from an image memory. The data relating to the scroll speed of the screen original is stored in a predetermined memory, and the original image data is read from the image memory in accordance with the data relating to the read speed stored in the memory during the actual production of the program. By tracing the scroll state of the screen document at the time of the actual production, the reading operation of the image data at the time of the actual operation by the original reader is omitted.

That is, a document photographing camera for photographing a document and outputting a video signal is disposed at a position where the display contents can be viewed by a reader of the document in front of the television camera. Display means for displaying the contents of the manuscript;
An image memory for storing a plurality of screens of image data obtained by digitally converting the video signal, an operation unit for instructing writing and reading of image data to and from the image memory, and A first control unit for controlling writing of the image data, reading of the image data from the image memory and reading of the image data to the display means based on an operation on the operation unit when reading the first image data A second control unit for controlling the transmission of the image data; and a speed data storage unit for storing data relating to the read speed of the image data when reading the first image data.
A third control for controlling reading of the image data from the image memory and sending of the image data to the display means based on the speed data stored in the speed data storage unit when reading the second image data; And a unit.

The first to third control units may be configured independently of each other, or may be configured by combining two or three control units.

The reading of the second image data is a timing after the reading of the first image data, and the reading of the first image data is, for example, a rehearsal of a news program. The reading of the second image data is, for example, the time of the production of a news program.

[0015]

According to the above arrangement, after converting the video signal of the document output from the document photographing camera into digital image data, the image signal is temporarily stored in the image memory, and when the first image data is read, the document is read out. This image data is read at an arbitrary timing by a user (newscaster) operating the operation unit, and the document is scrolled on the display unit. As a result, the original reader can set the scroll speed of the screen original at a speed that is easy for him / her to read (with appropriate pause or quick reading) without bothering a third party.

Further, since a speed data storage unit for storing data relating to the reading speed of the image data at the time of reading the first image data is provided, the scroll speed of the screen document is set at the time of rehearsal and set at that time. The read speed data can be sequentially stored in the speed data storage unit. When reading the second image data, the image data is read out based on the stored speed data without operating the operation unit, and the image data is read out on the display unit. Since the document is scrolled, the screen document can be scrolled at the same speed as the rehearsal speed without the operation of the operation unit by the document reader during the actual program.

Thus, the reader of the original can concentrate on reading the original during the actual production.

[0018]

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

That is, a reader of a manuscript such as a newscaster scrolls the displayed contents according to his / her favorite reading speed while displaying the manuscript on the prompter at the time of rehearsal. At this time, the scroll speed, which slightly changes, is stored as information in a storage unit in the apparatus, and based on the stored scroll speed, the original is automatically prompted at the same scroll speed as at the time of the rehearsal at the time of the actual program. Is displayed.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a video signal processing apparatus for a prompter according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an external view thereof.

In FIG. 1, a video input terminal 12 is connected to a video output terminal (not shown) of a document camera, and a video signal indicating a document photographed by the document camera is added thereto. The video signal input from the video input terminal 12 is applied to an A / D converter 14 and a sync separation circuit 16.

The synchronization separation circuit 16 separates a synchronization signal from an input video signal, and outputs the synchronization signal to the timing generator 18. The timing generator 18 outputs various timing signals at the time of recording a video signal to each circuit in synchronization with the synchronization signal added from the synchronization separation circuit 16 and, as described later, a central processing unit (CPU) 20.
Various timing signals at the time of reading image data are output to each circuit in synchronization with a synchronization signal added from the circuit.

The A / D converter 14 converts an input video signal into digital image data and outputs this to the image memory 22.

The image memory 22 can store, for example, image data of a screen of 46 pages, and the writing and reading of the image data are controlled based on signals applied from the timing generator 18 and the address decoder 24. The details of the control of writing and reading of image data in the image memory 22 will be described later.

The image data read from the image memory 22 is converted into an analog video signal by a D / A converter 26, amplified by a video amplifier 28, and then output to a video output terminal 29.
Output from This video output terminal 29 is, for example,
Is displayed on the screen of the television 6 and is projected through the half mirror 8 to the front of the television camera 10.

The SRAM 40 connected to the CPU 20 shows a characteristic configuration of the present invention. Information relating to the reading speed of image data read from the image memory 22 at the time of rehearsal is written.
Image data is read from the image memory 22 based on the recorded information on the reading speed.
Writing of the information into the SRAM 40 and the SRAM
The details of reading the information from 40 will be described later.

Next, control of writing and reading of image data in the image memory 22 at the time of rehearsal will be described.

First, various switches in the operation unit 30 will be described with reference to FIG. In the figure, a switch 30A is a clear switch for erasing the contents stored in the image memory 22, and a switch 30B is a start switch for returning the read image data to the image data of the original document stored first. A switch 31 is a write switch operated when storing image data of a document in the image memory 22. Each time the write switch 31 is operated, image data for one screen is sequentially stored in the image memory 22.

On the other hand, the switches 32A, 32B and 32C are switches for selecting the display method of the original. The switch 32A is selected when the original is scrolled up and down.
32B is selected when the original is scrolled left and right, and the switch 32C is selected when the original is fed one by one. The switch 32D is a switch for instructing movement and switching of the screen in the display method selected by any of the switches 32A, 32B, and 32C. Also switch 33
Is a dial switch for setting the moving speed of the original when the original is scrolled up and down or left and right. The information of the moving speed set at this time is stored in the SR.
Stored in AM40.

The trace switch 37 is for scrolling the screen displayed on the prompter at the time of the actual production at the same speed as the original moving speed at the time of rehearsal, and the stop switch 38 is for stopping the scroll at the time of the actual production. It is for stopping and starting an interrupt operation.

A switch 34 is an editing switch used to change the order of the originals sequentially written by the write switch 31 before reading the original at the time of rehearsal. Number (A1,
(A2,..., D9, D10), the order of the originals can be changed by operating the switch group 35 in a desired order.

LEDs (not shown) are provided on the key tops of the respective switches.
The switch operation can be confirmed by turning off the light or the like.

Next, at the time of rehearsal, the image memory 22
A case in which image data of a plurality of originals (a plurality of frames) are stored in the memory will be described. In this case, the write switch
By pressing 30A, one frame of image data indicating the original being photographed by the original camera is stored in the image memory 22. In this way, image data for a plurality of frames indicating all originals to be displayed on the prompter is stored in the image memory 22 in advance.

Next, the reading control of the image data for a plurality of frames stored in the image memory 22 will be described.

First, the start switch 30B is depressed to return the address for reading out the image data from the image memory 22 to the address of the storage section in which the image data of the original document stored first is stored, and the switches 32A, 32B, 32C To select the display method of the original.

Here, when the original is to be scrolled up and down (FIG. 3A), the switch 32A is pressed to select up and down scrolling. Then, when the left side of the switch 32D is pressed, the CPU 20 sequentially changes the address signal via the address decoder 24 and outputs it to the image memory 22 so that the original moves upward, and the CPU 20 specifies the address signal by the address signal. The image data in the storage area is read out and displayed so that the original moves upward. On the other hand, when the right side of the switch 32D is pressed, the original is displayed to move downward, contrary to the above.

Similarly, when the original is scrolled left and right (FIG. 3B), the switch 32B is pressed to select the left and right scroll. Then, when the left side of the switch 32D is pressed, the CPU 20 sequentially changes the address signal via the address decoder 24 and outputs it to the image memory 22 so that the document moves to the left, and the image memory 22 designates the original by the address signal. The read image data in the storage area is read out, and the original is displayed so as to move to the left. on the other hand,
When the right side of the switch 32D is pressed, the document is displayed so as to move rightward, contrary to the above. The above-described vertical scroll is applied to a horizontally written original, and the horizontal scroll is applied to a vertical written original.

When the originals are to be switched one by one and sent (FIG. 3C), the switch 32C is pressed. Then, when the left side of the switch 32D is pushed once, the CPU
Reference numeral 20 denotes an image memory 22 which changes an address signal via an address decoder 24 so that the original is switched to the next page.
The image data in the storage area designated by the address signal is read out from the image memory 22, and the next page of the original is switched and displayed. On the other hand, when the right side of the switch 32D is pushed once, the document of the previous page is switched and displayed, contrary to the above.

As described above, by using the edit switch 34 and the like to appropriately change the order of the originals, FIG.
The display as shown in FIG. Of course, the originals in the exchanged order can be vertically scrolled or horizontally scrolled.

As described above, the moving speed of the screen document moved by the scroll operation during the rehearsal is represented by a change in the address data for reading the image memory with respect to the elapsed time. It is stored in the SRAM 40.

That is, the address data corresponding to the image data representing the contents of the original stored in the image memory 22 is
When the address data from the CPU 20 is input to the image memory 22 at the time of reading the image data, the address data in the image memory 22 corresponding to the input address data is written in the table as shown in FIG. The written image data is output from a video output terminal 29 via a D / A converter 26 and a video amplifier 28.

At this time, the address data input to the image memory 22 is also input to the SRAM 40 at the same time. The input address data is written in a table as shown in FIG. 5 so as to correspond to the elapsed time and the address counter address. However, in the present embodiment, not all the address data input into the image memory 22 is written into the SRAM 40, but the image displayed on the leftmost and topmost portions of the display screen updated every 1/30 second. Only the address data corresponding to the data is written in the table of the SRAM 40.

That is, the display screen changes every 1/30 second in accordance with the update of the address counter address, and the display screen changes every 1/30 second so as to gradually shift to the next screen portion. A scroll operation as shown in FIG. 3 (B) is performed. As shown in FIG. 4, image data for seven screens (however, data of the 21st to 262th horizontal lines excluding the vertical blanking period) is written in the image memory 22, and the address of the same line on each screen is It is a sequential number. The image data for one line of one screen is 365
Image data for one line of 7 screens is 2555,
After all, the image data for all lines of the seven screens is 618,310.

In the above example, since the display screen is scrolled left and right, the addresses of the leftmost and topmost image data of the display screen at each timing are written in the address data column of the right column of the table in FIG. Is the address data (0 to 2190) of the 21st horizontal line.

For example, according to the example shown in FIG. 5, address 0 is written up to address 2 of the address counter, address 1 is written up to address 4, and so on in the address data column of each address counter. Is written. That is, the first screen is displayed until 2/30 seconds from the start, and thereafter, the leftmost pixel column of the first screen is removed from the display screen until 4/30 seconds, and the leftmost pixel column of the second screen is displayed. Has been scrolled so that is displayed at the right end of the display screen.

The last 2/30 of the scroll operation period
The address 2190 is written in seconds, that is, addresses 8999 and 9000 of the address counter, and the entire seventh screen is displayed on the display screen at the end of the scroll operation.

In the actual image data reading operation started when the trace switch 37 is pressed, this SRAM 40
Based on the address data written in the address data column of the table, the address data is input from the address decoder 24 to the image memory 22 at the same speed as at the time of rehearsal, whereby the video data is output at the same speed as at the time of rehearsal. The output is output from the terminal 29, and the display screen is scrolled at the same moving speed as during the rehearsal.

Next, the operation of writing address data to the SRAM 40 during rehearsal and the operation of reading address data from the SRAM 40 during rehearsal will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS.

That is, in the image data writing operation at the time of rehearsal, as shown in FIG. 6, first, the address counter is initialized to 1 (S11). Next, it is determined whether or not it is a vertical blanking period (S12). If it is not the vertical blanking period, the process waits until the vertical blanking period.

On the other hand, during the vertical blanking period, it is determined whether or not the value of the moving speed set by the speed volume switch 33 in the scroll operation exceeds a predetermined counter value (S13). The address data is incremented and the value of this counter is set to 0 (S14). On the other hand, if the value of the volume is equal to or greater than the value of the counter, the count value is incremented (S15).

By this operation, the scroll speed is controlled and determined.

Next, address data is written in correspondence with a predetermined address of the address counter of the SRAM 40 (S1).
6). Further, the address counter is incremented (S17), and it is determined whether or not the tracing operation is completed (S18). The end of the trace operation is determined based on whether or not the address of the address counter is 9000. If it is determined that the tracing operation has not been completed yet, the process returns to the operation of S12.
The operation of writing the address data to the AM 40 is completed.

Next, referring to FIG.
The operation of reading address data from M40 will be described. In this read operation, 1 is initially set in the address counter (S21). Next, it is determined whether or not it is a vertical blanking period (S22). If it is not the vertical blanking period, the process waits until the vertical blanking period.

On the other hand, during the vertical blanking period, the address data of the SRAM 40 is set in the address decoder in order to perform the operation of reading the address data (S23), and the image data in the image memory 22 is read. Next, the address counter is incremented (S24), and it is determined whether or not an emergency interrupt has occurred (S25). If the CPU 20 detects that the stop switch 38 has been pressed and determines that an emergency interrupt has occurred, the operation of reading the address data is stopped, and the operation shifts to an interrupt operation.

This emergency interrupt is used, for example, when a news that is not scheduled at the time of rehearsal occurs, when reading out the manuscript of the news with a manual prompter, and pressing the stop switch 38 as described above. Made by

On the other hand, if it is determined that the emergency interrupt has not occurred, it is determined whether or not the tracing operation has been completed (S26). The end of the trace operation is determined based on whether or not the address of the address counter is 9000, as in the above-described operation of writing the address data. If it is determined that the tracing operation has not been completed, the operation returns to the operation of S22. If it is determined that the tracing operation has been completed, the operation of reading the address data is completed.

Next, the flowchart of FIG. 8 will be described. This is a function performed by the CPU 20 during the horizontal blanking period.
It is determined whether the line is a 262 horizontal line (S31), and the 21st line is determined.
The address decoder does not change unless it is .about.262 horizontal lines. If it is the 21st to 262nd horizontal lines, a value obtained by adding 2555 to the current read address is set as a new read address (S32), and this address is set in the address decoder (S33).

Then, when the horizontal blanking signal is in the H level period, the address is sequentially incremented in a hardware manner using, for example, a clock having twice the frequency of the subcarrier. Thereby, a screen can be displayed.

The video signal processing apparatus for a prompter according to the present invention is not limited to the one in the above-described embodiment. For example, the number of screens stored in the image memory is set to an arbitrary number of screens other than seven. Is possible,
Various types of data can be used as speed data written in the SRAM.

FIG. 9 shows NTSC in this case.
5 is a timing chart of signals, a vertical blanking signal, and a horizontal blanking signal.

By connecting the video input terminal 12 to the liquid crystal monitor 36, when the image data of the original is stored in the image memory 22, the original can be confirmed on the liquid crystal monitor 36, and the video output can be performed. By connecting the terminal 29 and the liquid crystal monitor 36, the original to be displayed on the prompter can be checked in advance.

Further, by providing a remote control transmitter / receiver corresponding to the switch 32D, it is possible to control the feed of the original while the newscaster reads the original.

[0063]

As described above, according to the video signal processing apparatus of the prompter according to the present invention, the scroll speed of the screen document is set at the time of rehearsal of the program, and the speed value set at that time is sequentially stored in the speed data. In the actual production, the reader of the original can read out the image data based on the stored speed data without operating the operation unit and scroll the screen original on the display unit. Readers can focus solely on reading the manuscript.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a video signal processing device of a prompter according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an external view of the video signal processing device shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a display mode of a document displayed by a video signal processing device of a prompter according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a table storing address data corresponding to image data stored in the image memory shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a table storing address data of the SRAM shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an address data write operation of the apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an address data read operation of the device according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an interrupt operation of the apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 shows an NTS used in an apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Time chart of C signal, vertical blanking signal and horizontal blanking signal

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing the entire configuration of a conventional prompter.

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing a case where two original cameras are used in a conventional prompter.

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram showing a case where a document is scrolled by a conventional prompter.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Original 4 Original camera 6 Television 8 Half mirror 10 Television camera 14 A / D converter 18 Timing generator 20 CPU 22 Image memory 24 Address decoder 26 D / A converter 30 Operation unit 37 Trace switch 38 Stop switch 40 SRAM

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of front page (56) References JP-A-6-86105 (JP, A) JP-A-6-113178 (JP, A) JP-A-7-67034 (JP, A) JP-A-1- 276811 (JP, A) JP-A-60-230756 (JP, A) JP-A-3-167969 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04N 5 / 222-5 / 257

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] A document photographing camera for photographing a document and outputting a video signal; and a video camera which is arranged at a position where a reader of the document in front of the television camera can see the display contents. Display means for displaying the contents of a document; an image memory for storing a plurality of screens of image data obtained by digitally converting the video signal; an operation unit for instructing writing and reading of image data to and from the image memory; A first control unit for controlling the writing of image data to the image memory based on the operation of the first control unit; and reading out the first image data from the image memory based on the operation of the operation unit. A second control unit that controls reading and transmission of the image data to the display unit; and data for reading the image data at the time of reading the first image data. A speed data storage unit for storing, when reading the second image data, reading the image data from the image memory based on the speed data stored in the speed data storage unit, and reading the image data to the display means. A video signal processing device for a prompter, comprising: a third control unit for controlling transmission.