JPH02177685A - Video telephone system and its display system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve a sense in using a video telephone system by displaying a picture on a display means as a mirror image up to time before picture information is fixed to a storing means and made into a still picture and displaying a picture, in which its right and left are opposite to those in the mirror image display, on the display means when the picture information is fixed to the storing means and made into the still picture. CONSTITUTION:Up to the time before the picture information is fixed to a storing means 5 and made into the still picture, the picture is displayed on a display means 8 as the mirror image, and when the picture information is fixed to the storing means 5 and made into the still picture, the picture, in which its right and left are opposite to those in the mirror image display, is displayed on the display means 8. Consequently, while the mirror image display is executed, and the picture can be easily positioned in a period in which the picture is displayed as a moving picture, the normal picture, in which its right and left are opposite to those in the mirror image display, is displayed when the picture is made into the still picture. Thus, a transmitter never feels the sense of incongruity especially when a character, a graphic, etc., are to be displayed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (a) Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to a video telephone device that performs image communication using a telephone line, and a display method thereof.

(b) Conventional technology In recent years, videophone devices that transmit still images using telephone lines have been developed and put into practical use as image communication devices (e.g., "Electronics Life J, August 1988, published by Japan Broadcasting Publishing Association"). (Refer to the article ``Unification of still picture TV phone standards based on TTC standard system'' in the issue).

In a videophone device, an image captured by a camera is displayed as a moving image on the display section of the device for monitoring, but at this time, the displayed image is often displayed as a mirror image with the left and right sides reversed. This is because the display surfaces of the camera and display section face in the same direction, so when the subject moves relative to the camera, the display on the display section moves in the same direction as the direction of movement. This is to enable easy positioning of the image.

In such a device, after positioning an image displayed as a moving image, a switch such as a transmission command is operated to fix the image and transmit the still image. When transmitting a still image, the image information is read from the video memory and sent from the opposite direction to the left and right from when it is displayed on the display of the own device, so the other device that receives the image information can see that the left and right sides have not been swapped. An image will be displayed.

(c) Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, when a single character or drawing is projected onto the camera in such a videophone device and the still image is transmitted, a normal image is displayed on the other party's device, but On the own device, displaying characters and drawings with left and right sides reversed, that is, characters and drawings viewed from the back, may give an unusual feeling and may even cause discomfort. This results in a poor usability.

(d) Means for Solving the Problems The present invention provides an imaging means for taking an image, a storage means for storing image information obtained from the imaging means, and a display according to the image information stored in the storage means. In a display method of a video telephone device comprising a display means and a transmission means fixed to the storage means and transmitting image information to be displayed as a still image on the display means, the image information is fixed to the storage means and is displayed as a still image. Before displaying the image as an image, the image is displayed as a mirror image on the display means, and when the image information is fixed in the storage means to create a still image, the image is displayed on the display means with the left and right sides reversed from the mirror image display. be.

(E) While being displayed as a working video, a mirror image is displayed, making it easy to position the image, and when the image is turned into a still image, a normal image with left and right sides reversed from the mirror image display is displayed. , especially when displaying characters, figures, etc., the sender will no longer feel uncomfortable.

(f) Embodiment FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a video telephone device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

(1) is a CPU that controls the entire device, (2) is a camera that captures images, and (3) is an A/D converter that converts the analog signal captured by camera (2) into digital image information. The A/D converted image information is sent to the video memory (
5). (6) and (7) are respectively CPU (1)
Data (image information) is stored in the video memory (5) under the control of
They are a row address counter and a column address counter that provide addresses for writing.

(8) is a CRT as a display means, (9) is a CPU (1
) and the video memory (5), and plays the role of an interface when the CPU (1) writes and reads data (image information) to the video memory (5), as well as displays images on the CRT (8). This is a display controller that reads image information from the video memory (5) and generates a video synchronization signal for the purpose of displaying video data.

(10) is the address from the row address counter (6) and column address counter (7) for writing image information from the camera (2) to the video memory (5), and the display or reading and writing of data by the CPU (1). This is a multiplexer that switches between the addresses from the display controller (9) and supplies the same to the video memory (5).

(11) is a latch circuit that latches image information when displaying on CRT (8) based on image information read from video memory (5), and (12) is image information latched by latch circuit (11). Convert to analog signal and CR
This is a D/A converter that supplies T(8).

(13) is a switch circuit equipped with a plurality of switches for issuing operational commands such as determining an image taken in from the camera (2) to the CPU (1) as a still image or transmitting a still image.

For example, as shown in Fig. 3, the switch is arranged on the front of the main body of the device, and is set to "view" (13a) to view the video captured by the camera (2), and "view" (13a) to view the video as a still image. Take J (13b), "Send J" for transmitting still images
(13c), to switch the still images being recorded.
``Myself'', ``Opponent J (13d), etc. are provided.

(14) is a modem for modulating image information to be transmitted or demodulating received image information.

(15) is a network control circuit (hereinafter referred to as NCU) which is provided as a separate unit and which switches and controls the connection of an audio signal for a call by a telephone (16) connected to the communication device and the connection of image information to be transmitted to a line. ) and is connected to the telephone line (17).

In the case of a call using the telephone (16), the voice signal from the telephone (16) is sent to the telephone line (17) via the NCU (15) while the telephone line with the other party's telephone is secured.
, the voice signal from the telephone line (17) is N CU (1
5) to the telephone set (16) and a conversation is made.

Now, in this device, images are captured by the camera (2) when the power is turned on, regardless of whether a telephone line with the other party's communication device is secured or not.

Image information of analog signal from camera (2) is A7・'
Digitized by D converter (3) and gate circuit (4)
and is written to the video memory (5).

Image information from camera (2) is stored in the row address counter (
6) The data is stored in the video memory (5) according to the address supplied by the column address counter (7). Except when displayed as a still image, image information is stored in the video memory (5) so as to display a mirror image. That is, C.P.
Under the control of U (1), the column address counter (7) performs a countdown operation and writes the image information from the camera (2) into the video memory (5) from right to left on the CRT (8) screen. I'll go. The row address counter (6) performs a count amplification operation so as to write image information from top to bottom.

The image information written to the video memory (5) is then sequentially read out from left to right and from top to bottom according to the address from the display controller (9) selected by the multiplexer (10). It is latched by the circuit (11). The image information latched by the latch circuit (11) is converted into an analog signal by the D/A converter (2), and is supplied to the CRT (8) for display. At this time,
In the video memory (5), address selection is performed in a time-sharing manner by the multiplexer (10), image information from the camera (2) is sequentially written, and the display controller (
9) and displayed on the CRT (8), the images are displayed as a moving image on the CRT (8).

Furthermore, in this case, image information is written to the video memory (5) from right to left (and from top to bottom), and read from left to right (and from top to bottom) for display. A moving image is displayed as a mirror image on the screen of the CRT (8), as shown in FIG. 2A.

When transmitting an image, turn on a specific switch ("Send J (13C)") in the switch circuit (13),
PL: In response to (1), issue a command to send (or a command to fix the image displayed as a moving image as a still image to be sent, ``Take J (13b)).

Upon receiving the command, the CPU (1) writes the image information from the camera (2) into the video memory (5) from left to right on the screen of the CRT (8) in response to the column address counter (7). Make a count-up operation like this. At this time as well, the row address counter (6) performs a count-up operation.

When the image information for one screen (one frame) is written to the video memory (5), the CPU (1) starts the gate circuit (4).
), turn off the video memory (5) from the camera (2).
), and fix the image information to the video memory. Since the image information on the video memory (5) is fixed, the display controller (9)
) The displayed image on the CRT (8) becomes a still image. At this time, the still image is displayed in a normal manner with the left and right sides reversed compared to the moving image displayed as a mirror image, since the image information is written in the video memory (5) in the opposite direction. This situation is shown in FIG. 2B.

As shown in Figure 2, the video until the position is determined is displayed as a mirror image, and the still image after positioning is displayed normally with the left and right sides reversed. You will no longer feel any discomfort.

When the image information is fixed in the video memory (5) and a still image is displayed, the CPU (1) transfers the data from the video memory (5) to the
From left to right on the RT (8) screen (and down from L)
The image information is read out and modulated by the modem (14) and N
The modulated image information is transmitted via the CU (15) to the telephone line (17).

Further, the receiving side device to which the image information is sent via the telephone line (17) receives the image information with the modem (14) via the NCU (15) and demodulates the image information. The demodulated image information is written to a predetermined location of the video memory (5) (an area for storing received image information) under the control of the CPU (1) and displayed on the CRT (8).

In one embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1, in order to switch between mirror image display and normal display, the order in which image information is read from the video memory is fixed, and the order in which image information is written into the video memory is changed. However, the order in which image information is written into the video memory may be fixed, and the order in which image information is read out from the video memory may be changed.

A schematic diagram of the equipment in case 2 is shown in FIG.

Incidentally, the same parts as in FIG. 1 are given the same reference numerals and their explanations will be omitted.

(18) is an address holder that supplies the address when writing the digitalized image information from the camera (2) to the video memory (5). ) is supplied with an address signal so as to sequentially write to the addresses.

The display controller (9') has almost the same function as the display controller (9) in FIG.
Controlled by P U (1).

The image information of the analog signal from the camera (2) is transferred to the A/D
After being digitized by the converter (3), the gate circuit (4)
and is written to the video memory (5).

The image information from the camera (2) is sent to the address counter (1).
8) The address supplied from the multiplexer (10)
, and are written in the video memory (5) from left to right (and from top to bottom) on the screen of the CRT (8).

When displaying a moving image, that is, when displaying a mirror image, the CPU (1) controls the display controller (9') to move the image from right to left (and from top to bottom) on the screen. Addresses are generated from the address generator (9a) so that information is read out sequentially. The address signal from the address generator (9a) is sent to the multiplexer (10)
is selected and supplied to the video memory (5) where the image information is read out from right to left as described above.

The read image information passes through the latch circuit (11) and
, / is converted into an analog signal by the A converter (12),
The signal is supplied to the CRT (8) for display.

At this time, reading is performed in the opposite direction to writing, and the second
As shown in FIG. A, a mirror image is displayed, and image information is written and read continuously in a time-sharing manner to display a moving image. Addresses are supplied to the video memo J (5) by alternately selecting addresses from the address counter (18) and the address generator (9a) by the time division operation of the multiplexer (10).

When the [Send J (13C) or "Take J" (13b) switch of the switch circuit (13) is operated,
The image that is sent as a still image from a moving image is fixed. That is, after the operation, when one screen worth (] frames) of image information from the camera (2) has been written to the video memory (5), the CPU (1) turns off the gate circuit (4) and turns off the camera ( Writing of image information from 2) to the video memory (5) is prohibited, and the image information is fixed on the video memory.

The display controller (9'), under the control of the CPU (1), starts from its address generator (9a) and moves from left to right (and top to bottom) on the screen, that is, jI (
Addresses are generated so that image information is read from the left and right directions opposite to those for IL display. Then, the address from the address generator (9a) is selected by the multiplexer (10), the image information is read out from the video memory (5), and a normal display state (left and right reversed from the mirror image display) is displayed. Figure 2B
) is displayed on the CRT (8). After this, fixed image information is transmitted in the same manner as described above.

When using a display controller in which the direction in which image information is read from a video memory is fixed, as in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, such a display controller is relatively inexpensive and can contribute to cost reduction.

Furthermore, if a display controller is used that can change the direction in which image information is read from the video memory, as in another embodiment shown in FIG. It is easy to add multiple functions, such as being able to do both.

(G) Effects of the Invention As is clear from the above description, the present invention displays a mirror image when displaying a moving image, and displays a normal image when displaying a still image. It is easy to determine, a normal image is displayed when it is a still image, and the sender does not feel uncomfortable, especially when the screen contains text or graphics. A videophone device that is easy to use is provided.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a video telephone device according to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram for explaining the present invention, Fig. 3 is a schematic front view of the main body of the device, and Fig. 4 is a main body of the device. FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of another embodiment according to the invention.

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) an imaging means for taking an image; a storage means for storing image information obtained from the imaging means; a display means for displaying according to the image information stored in the storage means; In the display method of a video telephone device equipped with a transmission means for transmitting image information to be displayed as a still image on the display means, the image information is not displayed on the display means until it is fixed in the storage means and converted into a still image. 1. A display method for a video telephone device, characterized in that when a mirror image is displayed and image information is fixed in a storage means to form a still image, an image whose right and left sides are reversed from the mirror image display is displayed on the display means. (2) an imaging means for taking an image; a storage means for storing image information obtained from the imaging means; a display means for displaying according to the image information stored in the storage means; A video telephone device comprising a transmission means for transmitting image information to be displayed as a still image on a display means, comprising means for controlling the horizontal order in which image information is stored in the storage means, The method is characterized in that the horizontal order of storing image information in the storage means is reversed before fixing the information to create a still image and when fixing the image information in the storage means to create a still image. videophone equipment. (3) an imaging means for taking an image; a storage means for storing image information obtained from the imaging means; a display means for displaying according to the image information stored in the storage means; A display system for a video telephone device comprising a transmission means for transmitting image information to be displayed as a still image on the display means, comprising means for controlling the horizontal order in which image information stored in the storage means is read out. A display method for a video telephone device, characterized in that by changing the horizontal order of reading, a mirror image display and an image whose left and right sides are reversed from the mirror image display are displayed.