JP3401272B2 - Remote control device for still video camera - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a still video camera, and more particularly to a remote control device capable of controlling a photographing operation. 2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an imaging device provided with a solid-state imaging device (CCD) has been known. In this imaging apparatus, an image is taken by forming an image of external incident light on a CCD and performing photoelectric conversion. In such an imaging device,
2. Description of the Related Art Some remote control (hereinafter, referred to as a remote control) is used for controlling a shooting operation. That is,
A remote control signal such as an infrared signal emitted from a remote control signal light emitting device is photoelectrically converted by a sensor provided in the still video camera, and is decoded by a CPU or the like based on the signal, whereby each device of the camera is controlled. An operation such as shooting is performed. [0003] However, an imaging apparatus having the above-mentioned remote control function requires a sensor, a decoder, and a circuit block associated therewith. Space is needed. There is a problem that securing this space is a factor that hinders downsizing of the still video camera. An object of the present invention is to provide a remote controller for a still video camera that can be remotely controlled without hindering miniaturization. According to the present invention, there is provided a remote controller for a still video camera according to the present invention, wherein an image sensor having a light receiving portion capable of forming an image of a subject and a light receiving portion are irradiated from the remote control signal light emitting device. comprising a detection hand <br/> stage for detecting the level of an infrared signal, and control means for controlling the still video camera according to the presence or absence of infrared signals between the field, before
When the detecting means detects the infrared signal,
It is characterized by improving the infrared sensitivity . DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to illustrated embodiments. FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a remote controller according to an embodiment of the present invention. A lens 15 is provided on the front surface of the camera body 11 of the still video camera, and a key switch 36 for selecting an operation mode or the like is provided on the upper surface. In the camera body 11, an optical filter 16 for blocking infrared rays is provided behind the lens 15, and further behind the aperture filter 14 and a CCD 17 are provided in this order. The filter 16 includes a lens 15 and a CCD
The operation of the filter 16 is controlled based on the control of the MPU 30.
8. Opening and closing of the aperture blade 14 is performed by MP
This is performed by the drive mechanism 19 based on the control of U30. The driving and control of the CCD 17 is performed by the MPU 3
This is performed by the drive circuit 27 based on the control of 0. CC
A subject image is formed on the light receiving unit of D17, and an infrared signal from the remote control signal light emitting device is irradiated. That is, in the present embodiment, the remote control of the still video camera is performed based on an infrared signal emitted to the CCD 17 as described later. The filter 16 is removed from the optical path for transmitting infrared signals when the remote control is operated, and is disposed in the optical path for blocking infrared components included in natural light when photographing a subject. In the CCD 17, an image pickup signal is formed, for example, for each field. This imaging signal is supplied to a CDS (correlated double sampling circuit) 31, and reset noise is reduced. Then, the imaging signal is supplied to an AD converter 33 via an amplifier 32 and is converted into a digital signal. A
An output signal of the D converter 33 is supplied to a DSP (digital signal processing circuit) 34 and an integration circuit 5 via a switch circuit 51.
2 and the output level detection circuit 53. The switching of the switch circuit 51 is controlled by the MPU 30. The DSP 34 performs various signal processing such as γ correction on the digital image pickup signal based on the control of the MPU 30. The digital imaging signal output from the DSP 34 is converted into an analog signal by the DA converter 54 and input to the encoder 55. This analog imaging signal is converted into a composite video signal by the encoder 55 and output for monitoring. Also DSP
The output signal from 34 is digitally modulated by a digital modulation circuit 56 and then converted to an analog signal by a DA converter 57. The analog imaging signal is supplied to a magnetic head 59 via a recording amplifier 58, and is recorded on a magnetic disk (not shown). In an integrating circuit 52, an integrated value of the image signal obtained via the CCD 17 is obtained.
The opening degree of the diaphragm blade 14 is adjusted according to this integral value, and C
The amount of light applied to the CD 17 is controlled to an appropriate value. The output level detection circuit 53 outputs to the MPU 30 the number of signals exceeding a predetermined detection level among the imaging signals obtained via the CCD 17. In the MPU 30, FIG.
The control shown in the flowchart of FIG. 4 is performed, and the command content of the remote control operation output from the remote control signal light emitting device is recognized. The MPU 30 is a microcomputer for controlling the whole still video camera.
A key switch 36 is connected to 0. When a desired mode or function or the like is selected by operating the key switch 36, a signal corresponding to each is formed and supplied to the MPU 30. The MPU 30 sets the mode of the still video camera based on the signal supplied from the key switch 36, and controls the operation of each circuit block so as to execute the operation in the set mode. Next, the operation will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4 show the operation of recognizing the instruction content of the remote control operation (release mode in the illustrated embodiment) and recording the video signal on the magnetic disk. Are shown. In this embodiment, a signal for setting a release mode is input to the MPU 30 by operating the key switch 36 prior to using the remote control signal light emitting device. As a result, the entire still video camera is set to the release mode. 2 to 4 by setting this mode.
Are performed. At this time, it is assumed that the photographing lens 15 is focused on the subject. In step 101, the filter 16 is removed from the optical path connecting the lens 15 and the CCD 17. And
In step 102, the CCD 17 is driven, and in step 1
In 03, the voltage applied to the sub-substrate of the CCD 17 is reduced from the normal 15V to, for example, 10V,
The sensitivity of D17 to the infrared signal is increased. In step 104, the switch circuit 51 is controlled to connect the output terminal of the AD converter 33 and the input terminal of the integration circuit 52. In step 105, the integration circuit 5
The opening degree of the aperture blade 14 is adjusted according to the magnitude of the output signal of No. 2, and the output level of the CCD 17 is suppressed to a predetermined low value. As a result, only a signal of a high luminance level such as an infrared signal output from the remote control signal light emitting device is detected by the output level detection circuit 53, and the content of the infrared signal output from the remote control signal light emitting device can be recognized. State. At step 106, the switch circuit 51 is controlled to connect the output terminal of the AD converter 33 and the input terminal of the output level detection circuit 53. In step 107 and subsequent steps, among the input signals to the output level detection circuit 53, the number of signals exceeding the detection level is counted, and the process proceeds according to the number. "Number of signals exceeding detection level"
Means the number of times the input signal has exceeded the detection level during one field period. In step 107, as shown in FIG. 5 (a), during one field output period of the CCD 17, there is a portion of the input signal S of the output level detection circuit 53 which exceeds the detection level (hereinafter, referred to as a portion). The "number of signals exceeding the detection level" is counted and stored in S1 and S2 (referred to as a high-level signal period) (hereinafter, the stored count value is referred to as a count storage value). Since the signal S is composed of a plurality of horizontal scanning signals, the count stored value in the periods S1 and S2 is not limited to one. This step 10
At the time of execution of step 7, the remote control signal light emitting device does not emit an infrared signal, and therefore, the high level signals S1 and S2 are not based on the infrared signal output from the remote control signal light emitting device but on the external high brightness portion Things. Note that the level of the output signal S is determined by the CCD saturation level. Next, in step 108, as shown in FIG. 5B, during the next one-field output period of the CCD 17, the high-level signal periods S1, S2, and S3 of the input signal S of the output level detection circuit 53 are performed. The “number of signals exceeding the detection level” is counted and stored. The signal S3
Did not occur when step 107 was executed,
This is caused by emitting a remote control signal. In step 109, the count storage value is compared with the count storage value in the immediately preceding field. If the remote control signal light emitting device has not been operated yet, the count value hardly changes, and the process returns to step 108 in this case. That is, steps 108 and 109 are repeatedly performed until the remote control signal is emitted. When the remote control signal light emitting device is operated, an infrared signal is emitted from the remote control signal light emitting device and the input signal S of the output level detection circuit 53 substantially changes (in FIG. 5B, the signal S3 is generated). are doing). Hereinafter, it is assumed that the remote control signal light emitting device is operating normally. By the operation of the remote control signal light emitting device, in step 109, it is determined that the currently obtained count storage value is larger than the count storage value in the immediately preceding field. As a result, the process proceeds to step 110, and as shown in FIG. 5C, "the number of signals exceeding the detection level" is counted and stored in the high-level signal periods S1, S2, S3 in the next one-field output period. Is done. In step 111, it is determined that there is no difference between the count stored value obtained in step 108 and the count stored value obtained in step 110, so the process proceeds to step 112. In step 112, as shown in FIG. 5D, "the number of signals exceeding the detection level" is counted and stored in the high-level signal periods S1 and S2 in the next one-field output period. . At step 113, the count stored value obtained at step 112 is
It is determined that the count storage value obtained in 10 is larger, and the routine proceeds to step 114. In step 114, FIG.
As shown in (e), "the number of signals exceeding the detection level" is counted and stored in the high-level signal periods S1, S2, and S3 during the next one-field output period. In step 115, since it is determined that the count storage value obtained in step 114 is larger than the count storage value obtained in step 112, step 116 is executed. That is, as shown in FIG.
The “number of signals exceeding the detection level” is counted and stored in the high-level signal periods S1 and S2 during the field output period. In step 117, it is determined that the count storage value obtained in step 114 is larger than the count storage value obtained in step 116, and
Proceed to 1. If the high-level signal S3 detected by the CCD 17 appears as "1", and if it does not appear as "0", as shown in FIG. 5, "0" and "1" are displayed for each field. , “1”, “0”, “1”, “0”
, The MPU 30 recognizes that the shutter release command signal has been output by the remote control device. In contrast, steps 111, 113, 1
If a negative determination is made in 15, 117, the process returns to step 108, and the operation of recognizing the command signal by the remote control device is restarted from the beginning. In step 121, the filter 16 is inserted into the optical path connecting the lens 15 and the CCD 17. Then, in step 122, the voltage applied to the sub-substrate of the CCD 17 is increased to the normal state of 15V. In step 123, the switch circuit 51 is controlled so that the output terminal of the AD converter 33 is connected to the input terminal of the integration circuit 52. In step 124, the aperture of the aperture blade 14 is adjusted according to the magnitude of the output signal of the integration circuit 52, and the output level of the CCD 17 is controlled so as to be a value suitable for photographing the subject. Next, at step 125,
The switch circuit 51 is controlled so that the output terminal of the AD converter 33 and the input terminal of the DSP 34 are connected. Thereafter, the shutter is released, and the video signal is recorded on the magnetic disk. As described above, according to the present embodiment, the CCD 1
7 can be used as a sensor for detecting an infrared signal for a remote controller. Therefore, in the case of a relatively simple remote control operation, the sensor, the decoder, the circuit blocks associated therewith are not required, and the space for accommodating these circuit blocks is not required. For this reason, the size and cost of the camera can be reduced. Further, according to the present embodiment, the optical filter 16 for blocking infrared rays is
, The infrared component contained in natural light is not irradiated to the CCD 17, and the captured image is not affected by the infrared light. In this embodiment, the remote control of the release operation is described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied to other remote control operations. is there. As described above, according to the present invention, an effect that remote control can be performed with a simple and small configuration can be obtained.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a still video camera according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a flowchart of an operation of recognizing a command signal of a remote control device. FIG. 3 is a flowchart of an operation of recognizing a command signal of a remote control device. FIG. 4 is a flowchart of an operation of recognizing a command signal of a remote control device. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing detection of an infrared signal in a CCD. [Description of Signs] 16 Optical filter for blocking infrared rays 17 CCD

Claims (1)

(57) [Claim 1] An imaging element having a light receiving portion capable of forming an image of a subject, and a detecting means for detecting a level of an infrared signal emitted from the remote control signal light emitting device to the light receiving portion When, and control means for controlling the still video camera according to the presence or absence of the infrared signals between fields, said analyzing
Output means for detecting the infrared signal.
A remote controller for a still video camera, wherein the infrared sensitivity of the child is improved .