JPH02295282A - Image pickup device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To input and record image information and character information by giving the output of an image pickup element a void part, mixing character information with the void part, and outputting a video signal. CONSTITUTION:An image pickup means (a) photographs an object by using the image pickup element 3 and outputs its video signal. A video signal processing means (b) processes and outputs the video signal and a void part forming means (c) gives the output of the image pickup element 3 the void part and a character information input means (d) inputs the character information. Then a character information synthesizing means (e) mixes the character information from the character information input means (d) with the void part and outputs the video signal. Consequently, when the image information and character information are both recorded in a composite state, the character information is never superposed upon the image information and the image information and character information can be inputted and recorded at the same time.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an imaging device, and particularly to an imaging device using an imaging element.

[Conventional technology]

In conventional imaging devices, when combining image information and text information from a solid-state image sensor, there is a technique of synthesizing the image information and text information using a synthesis method such as ID display or superimposition on the image information.

[Three problems to be solved by the invention] As described above, in the conventional example, when trying to extract one piece of information by combining image information and text information, in order to overlap text information on image information, some image information will be deleted. Furthermore, unless the characters are of a certain size, the +n information characters will be difficult to read due to the influence of the image information. Further, if the hue of the image information and the color of the text information are the same color, there is a possibility that the text information will be assimilated. For example, there are problems in that white text on a whitish image is not a desirable combination.

This invention was made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and even when both image information and text information are combined and recorded, the text information does not overlap with the image information, and the text information is not overlapped with the image information. The composition position and color of the image information are not limited to one, and image information and text information can be captured and recorded at the same time without accidentally photographing the desired image information in the text information area using a medium such as a finder. With the goal.

Means for Solving the Problem) For this reason, the present invention includes an imaging means for photographing an object using an imaging device and outputting a video signal thereof, and a method for processing the video signal and outputting it. a video signal processing means, a white part forming means for creating a white part in the output of the image sensor, a character information input means for manually inputting character information, and a character information inputting means for manually inputting character information into the white part. The object of item 111 is achieved by comprising a character information synthesizing means for synthesizing parts and outputting a video signal.

Further, in the above invention, the character information synthesizing means attempts to achieve the navigation purpose by synthesizing the character information with any one of the plurality of white parts formed by the white part forming means. It is something to do.

Further, the above-mentioned invention attempts to achieve the above-mentioned object by comprising a camera that displays a white text information area within the viewfinder.

Further, in the above invention, the above object is achieved by making the text information from the text information manual means colored, combining it with the white part, and outputting a video signal.

(Function) The imaging device according to the present invention uses an imaging device to photograph an object using an imaging device, outputs the video signal, processes the video signal in the video processing device and outputs the white part. A forming means gives a white part to the output of the image sensor, a character information manual means generates character information, and a character information synthesizing means synthesizes the character information from the library character information manual means to the white part. and outputs the video signal.

Further, in the above invention, the character information synthesizing means synthesizes the character information on any one of the plurality of white parts formed by the white part forming means.

Further, in the navigation invention, when the imaging device is a camera, a white text information area is displayed in the viewfinder.

Further, in the invention, the character information from the character information manual means is made colored, is combined with the white part, and is outputted as a video signal.

r Example] Hereinafter, two embodiments of the present invention will be described based on the drawings.

Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing the structure of a first embodiment of an imaging device of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing the structure of a second embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 3 is a composition of image information and character information. It is a figure which illustrated the combination.

In Figure 1 of the drawings, 1 is a lens. An optical system including an aperture and a shutter, 2 a finder, 3 an image sensor,
It constitutes an imaging means (a) for photographing an object and outputting a video signal thereof, and is formed of a solid-state imaging device such as a CCD image sensor.

4 is a sample hold circuit, and R from the image sensor 3 is
(red), G (green). Remove unnecessary fluctuations in the three B (blue) output signals. 5 is a preprocessing circuit, and R.5 from the sample hold circuit 4. Brightness signal Y from the outputs of G and B
This is a circuit that creates

6 is a color difference signal R-Y. A process circuit that creates B-Y, 7 is a signal processing circuit that processes the video signal and outputs it,
This signal processing circuit 7 is a character information input means (2) (described later).
The character information synthesizing means (E) outputs a video signal by synthesizing the character information from the white part forming means (C) (described later) with the white part formed by the white part forming means (C) (described later).
A color signal C is created from -Y and B-Y. 8 is a modulation circuit that modulates the color signal C and the luminance signal Y into a recording signal for recording, 9 is a mixer that mixes the color signal C-FM and the luminance signal Y-FM, IO is a recording amplifier, ! 1 is a magnetic head, 12 is a magnetic disk, and 13 is a timing generator, which constitutes the text information synthesis means (E) that drives the image pickup device 3 and synthesizes and synchronizes with text information. .

Reference numeral 14 denotes a control circuit, which includes white part forming means (c) for making the output of the image pickup device 3 have a white part, and for synthesizing character information and determining which part of the image information the character information is to be synthesized with. It controls the character information synthesis means (e), etc. Reference numeral 15 denotes a text information input device (2) for manually inputting text information to be synthesized into image information.
It consists of

Next, the operation of this first embodiment will be explained using FIG.

In FIG. 1 of the drawings, first, an image of an object (not shown) inputted to an optical system 1 is captured by an image sensor 3, and R, G, . The three B output signals are processed by a sample hold circuit 4 to remove unnecessary fluctuations, and then sent to a preprocessing circuit 5.
A brightness signal Y is created from the R, G, and H outputs. Then, it passes through a process circuit 6 that generates color difference signals R-Y and B-Y, and a signal processing circuit 7 performs a synthesis operation in which the character information created by the character information input device 15 is combined with image information. Also, a color signal C is generated from the color difference signals.

After that, in order to record the color signal C and the luminance signal Y on a storage medium, for example, a magnetic disk l2, in the modulation circuit 8, the modulated color signal C-FM and luminance signal Y-FM are subjected to FM modulation as recording signals. Synthesize with mixer 9 and record amplifier 10
Through the magnetic head! 1 to record on the magnetic disk 12.

In this series of operations, the timing generator FJ13 drives the image element 3, synthesizes and synchronizes with the image information, and the control circuit 14 synthesizes the text information and determines which part of the image information contains the text information. Controls whether to insert or not. Further, the character information input device 15 creates character information to be inserted into the image information.

Incidentally, this character input device 15 may take the form of an external human power such as a personal computer, or may have the function provided in the camera body.

Next, we will explain the operation of synthesizing image information and text information, focusing on the text information synthesis means (e), as shown in Figures 1 and 3.
This will be explained using figures.

First, when a photographer is using an electronic still camera and attempts to record text information at the same time as image information, the text information input device 15 selects text information synthesis (insertion).

At this time, as illustrated in FIG. 3, it is possible to select four types of white-out positions, ie, "l r a2 + "3 * 84, as the location where the character journal news is to be synthesized.

However, the position, including the type, is not limited to this by changing the above settings. When the white mark position on the elbow mark is selected, the control circuit 14 selects the image sensor 3.
By controlling the timing generation 113, charge is injected into the position where character information is to be inserted (synthesized), and the area is made white to form a white part, and at the same time, the character information area is displayed within the field of view of the finder 2. . Finder 2 at this time
For example, a liquid crystal finder or a mask type is used.

By displaying the text information insertion area in the viewfinder 2, the photographer can point the object to be photographed at the white area a+ + as shown in Figure 3.
Avoid any part of a2 * a,, + a,
It is sufficient to take a photograph within the image information area, and it is possible to prevent text information from being superimposed on the image information.

As described above, white image information, which is a white part as a character information synthesis area, is extracted from the image sensor 3 and subjected to various signal processing. Further, the text information human-powered device 15 creates text information to be combined with the image information. As text information,
Hiragana, katakana and 1 kanji. Alternatively, all kinds of character information currently used, such as alphabets and numbers, can be taken up.

The created character information is synthesized with image information by a signal processing circuit 7, which is a character information synthesis means (e), and is FM-modulated for recording, and is then stored on a magnetic disk 12, which is a recording medium.
recorded in By the way, the color of text information is not limited to black to avoid confusion with image information.
It is sufficient to specify a color and record it as colored character information using a color signal.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described using FIG. 2.

In FIG. 2 of the drawings, the same reference numerals as in FIG. 1 of the drawings indicate the same or corresponding parts, and redundant explanation thereof will be omitted.

In FIG. 2, 7 is an encoder circuit, and the color difference signal RY. Create a video signal from B-Y. 16 is a processing circuit No. 18, which constitutes a character information synthesis means (E) and a video signal processing means (X), and synthesizes and outputs the image information from the encoder circuit 7 and the character information from the character information input device l5. It is something to do. 1
7 is a TV monitor, 18 is a recording/playback machine (recording/playback machine), 1
9 is a printer.

Next, the operation of this second embodiment will be explained using FIGS. 2 and 3.

In FIG. 2 of the drawing, first, an image of an object (not shown) input to the optical system 1 is taken into the image sensor 3, and R, G, . The 83 output signals are sent to a sample and hold circuit 4, where unnecessary fluctuations are removed, and the output of the sample and hold circuit 4 is sent to a preprocessing circuit 5, which creates a luminance signal Y from the R, G, and B outputs, and generates a color difference signal RY, B. -Y, and an encoder circuit 7 to generate a video signal. Then, in the signal processing circuit 16, the image information from the encoder circuit 7 and the character information from the character information input device 15 are combined and output. The output video signal is sent to the TV monitor 17 and recording/playback device 18, which serve as output media for the information. It is output through a printer 19 or the like.

During this series of operations, the timing generator 13 drives the image sensor 3, synthesizes and synchronizes image information and text information, etc., and the control circuit 14 controls the synthesis of text information and which part of the image information. Controls whether to insert character information, etc. Further, the character information manual device 15 creates character information to be inserted into the image information. Incidentally, the character information input device 15 may be in the form of an external human power such as a personal computer, or may be provided with the function in the camera body.

Next, we will explain the operation of synthesizing image information and text information, focusing on the text information synthesis means (e), and see Figures 2 and 3.
This will be explained using figures.

If image information and character information are to be recorded simultaneously, character information combination (insertion) is selected by the character information manual device 15. At this time, any of the positions al+a2+a3*a4 illustrated in FIG. 3 can be considered as the location where the character information is inserted.

When this position is selected, the control circuit 14 controls the image sensor 3 and the timing generator 13 to inject charges into the position where the character information is to be inserted, thereby making that area a white area. Therefore, TV monitor! 7, etc., you can check the text information insertion area on the monitor 17, and avoid the text information insertion area while watching the image information you want to import as shown in Figure 3. If positioning is performed by using the image information, it is possible to prevent image information from being accidentally deleted.

As described above, image information in which the character information insertion area is formed in white is extracted from the image sensor 3 and subjected to various signal processing. Further, the character information human-powered device 15 creates character information to be combined with image information, but the type of information is hiragana, as in the first embodiment. Katakana, kanji. All kinds of character information such as alphabets and numbers are targeted.

Further, the character color is not limited to black, and it is also possible to use colors such as red and blue as colored character information.

As explained above, in these embodiments, when image information and character information are combined and recorded, the area where the character information is combined is extracted as a white part in the output from the image sensor 3, so the image information is Text information does not overlap on top of the image, and the image information to be taken into account is taken into account by displaying the text information area in the viewfinder in the case of a camera, etc., so it can be synthesized accurately. . In the case of a camera module or the like, it is sufficient to perform the same procedure as the camera finder on the observation monitor.

(Effects of the Invention) As explained above, according to the present invention, when recording both image information and character information in a combined form, the character information does not overlap with the image information, and the character information The insertion position and insertion color are not limited to one, and image information and text information can be captured and recorded at the same time without accidentally shooting image information that is in the text information \I area using a medium such as a finder. It has the effect of being able to do things.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the structure of a first embodiment of an imaging apparatus of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the structure of a second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing image information and text. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating combinations of information. (B) ... Imaging means (mouth) ... Video signal processing means (C) ... White part forming means (2) ...
...Character information input means (E) ...Character information synthesis means 1 ...Optical system 2 ...Finder 3 -------Imaging device 7 ... ... Signal processing circuit 8 ... Modulation circuit 13 ... Timing generator 14 ... Control circuit 15 ... Single character information human power device 17 ... TV monitor 1 8 --- Recording/playback device In the drawings, the same reference numerals indicate the same or corresponding parts.

Claims (4)

[Claims] (1) An imaging device characterized by comprising the following means (a) to (e). (a) Imaging means that photographs an object using an imaging device and outputs the image signal. (b) Video signal processing means for processing and outputting the video signal. (c) White part forming means for creating a white part in the output of the image sensor. (d) Character information input means for inputting character information. (e) Character information synthesis means for synthesizing the character information from the character information input means with the white part and outputting a video signal. (2) The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the character information synthesizing means synthesizes the character information on any one of the plurality of white areas formed by the white area forming means. (3) The imaging device according to claim 1, further comprising a camera that displays a white text information area in a viewfinder. (4) The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the character information from the character information input means is colored and is combined with the white portion to output a video signal.