JPH03145878A - Video camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To display all picture angles of a picked-up picture to a finder section without distortion in horizontal or vertical direction by providing a picture compression and expansion means to a camera section, applying compression expansion processing to a picture with a different aspect ratio, picking up the result and providing a compression and expansion means to the picture in the horizontal or vertical direction. CONSTITUTION:When a picture of an existing aspect ratio aZ is picked up, a drive means 15 detecting the signal from an aspect ratio switching signal input terminal 41 applied externally eliminates an optical reduction means 12 from an optical path of a camera section 1. An image pickup element 13 uses an element corresponding to the existing aspect ratio aZ and an optical image obtained from a lens optical system 11 is a picture having a correct aspect ratio az. On the other hand, when a picture whose aspect ratio is ai (new standard) is picked up, the drive means 15 moves and places an optical reduction means 12 to a prescribed position in the optical path by the switching signal. The optical image from a lens optical system 11 is compressed at a rate of az/ai in the horizontal direction of the picture with the optical reduction means 12 and formed on the image pickup element 13.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a video camera suitable for capturing two types of images with different screen aspect ratios.

[Conventional technology]

With the aim of improving the image quality and sense of presence of NTSC, which is one of the current television standard systems, E D-T V
(Extended Definition TV)
Broadcasting systems are being considered, and a wide-screen television system with an enlarged screen aspect ratio has been proposed.

As a means for capturing and recording images with aspect ratios different from those currently available, as described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 62-52517, an optical system that reduces or enlarges an optical image formed on an imaging surface in a predetermined direction is used. It is possible to use means,
This makes it possible to image and record a wider screen than the current one using a conventional image sensor.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

In the above-mentioned conventional technology, in a video camera that shoots images with several aspect ratios, no consideration is given to the viewfinder image body for viewing the captured images, and the reduction of the captured image,
When enlargement is performed, there is a problem in that the finder may display a distorted image in which the aspect ratio of the image content is different.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a video camera that can always display the planned angle of the captured image on the finder and correctly display the aspect ratio of the image content when changing the aspect ratio of the captured image. It is in.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an image compression/expansion means in the camera section of a video camera, performs compression/expansion processing on images with different aspect ratios, and further improves the horizontal or vertical direction of the image. The present invention is characterized in that a compression/expansion means is provided so that the planned angle of the photographed image is displayed on the finder section without horizontal or vertical distortion.

[Effect]

In the camera section of the video camera, when capturing an image with an aspect ratio expanded in the horizontal direction compared to the conventional image, the image content compressed in the horizontal direction by the image compression/expansion means becomes a vertically elongated image.

When viewing this image on the finder section, the image is horizontally or vertically compressed or expanded at a predetermined ratio using an image compression/expansion means in the horizontal or vertical direction. As a result, an image with the correct aspect ratio of the image content can be displayed at all angles of view on the finder, improving usability for the user when photographing.

〔Example〕

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In order to avoid complicating the explanation, the two types of aspect ratios are
+a! Here, a is a new standard video signal with an aspect ratio of 16:9 (or 16/9), and a2 is a video signal with a current aspect ratio of 4:3 (or 4/3).

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a first embodiment of a video camera according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing output images of each part of FIG. 1.

In FIG. 1, 1 is a camera unit of a camera-integrated VTR;
11 is a lens optical system, 12 is an optical reduction means for reducing an optical image with aspect ratio a to 1 times az/a in a specific direction of the screen, 13 is a solid-state image sensor, 14 is a signal processing circuit, and 15 is an optical system. 2 is a finder section, 21 is a CRTild control circuit, and 22 is a CRT.

24 is an optical magnification conversion means for reducing or enlarging the image of a projected on the CRT 22 in a specific direction; 23 is a lens optical system; 25 is a finder image projecting section; 26 is a drive means for the optical magnification conversion means 24; 3 is a VTR unit, 31 is a recording signal processing circuit, 32 is a recording head, 33 is a magnetic tape, and 41 is an aspect ratio switching signal input terminal.

First, the operation of the camera section 1 will be explained.

When capturing an image with the current aspect ratio a2, the driving means 15 detecting the signal from the aspect ratio switching signal input terminal 41 applied from the outside removes the optical reduction means 12 from the optical path of the camera section l. The element 13 is compatible with the current aspect ratio a2, and the optical image obtained from the lens optical system 11 is an image with the correct aspect ratio of the image content a2. At this time, for example, if the image shown in FIG. 2(a) is captured, the image shown in FIG. 2(b)' will be obtained.

On the other hand, when capturing an image according to the new standard with an aspect ratio of a1, the driving means 15 moves the optical reduction means 12 to a predetermined portion within the optical path in response to an amount ratio switching signal.

Install. For the optical reduction means 12, for example, an anamorphic optical system lens is used. The anamorphic optical system lens has the function of reducing or enlarging an optical image in a specific direction, and the optical image from the lens optical system 11 is multiplied by az/a in the horizontal direction of the image by this optical reduction means 12. The image is compressed to form an image on the image sensor 13. The image captured at this time has the current aspect ratio a as shown in Figure 2(b).
In the image frame No. 2, a vertically elongated image with the image content compressed by a 1 / a 1 times in the horizontal direction is created.

Next, the operation of the finder section 2 will be described.

When the camera section 1 takes an image with the current aspect ratio az, the image of the input signal of the finder section 2 will be as shown in Fig. 2(b).
'. At this time, in the finder section 2, in conjunction with the drive means 15 of the camera section 1, the drive means 26 that has detected the aspect ratio switching signal removes the optical magnification conversion means 24 from the optical path. Here, the image projected on the CRT 22 with the aspect ratio a2 via the CRT control circuit 21 is shown in FIG.
After passing through the lens optical system 23, the image shown in (dI)' is projected onto the projection unit 25 having an aspect ratio a1.

When an image with an aspect ratio of a is taken with the camera unit 1,
A video signal of an image as shown in FIG. 2(b) is input to the finder section 2. At this time, the driving means 15 of the camera section 1
The driving means 26 in conjunction with the optical magnification converting means 24 are arranged in the optical path. Optical magnification conversion means 2 used here
4 uses an anamorphic optical system lens, etc., as in the camera section 1, and magnifies the image by a 1 / a 2 times in the horizontal direction to project the image shown in FIG. 2 (d, ).

When the aspect ratio of the projection section 25 of the finder section 2 is a2, the optical magnification converting means 24 is removed when shooting at the amount ratio a2, and when the amount ratio is a, the image is reduced by ax/a+ times in the vertical direction. A means is installed, and images shown in FIG. 2 (di)' and (dz) are projected for am+al photography, respectively.

The above is a case where the CRT 22 has an aspect ratio of a3. When using a CRT with a quantity ratio of a, when the aspect ratios of the photographed images are a and at, the CRT 22 displays images as shown in FIG. 2(c)', respectively. (c)'' Therefore, the viewfinder projected image has an amount ratio a.

When photographing, the optical magnification converting means 24 is moved outside the optical path to project the image shown in FIG. It operates to display the output image shown in (d) # of the same figure.

As described above, the optical magnification conversion means 2 is installed in the finder section 2.
4 and its driving means 26, it becomes possible to display the entire angle of view of the photographed image in accordance with the aspect ratio of the photographed image, with the aspect ratio of the image content correct.

In the VTR unit 3, the output video signal from the camera unit 1 is subjected to signal processing by a recording signal processing circuit 31, and then recorded on a magnetic tape 33 by a recording head 32. The recorded video signal corresponds to the image signal shown in FIGS. 2(b) and 2(b)', and the video signal with an aspect ratio a1 is recorded in a horizontally compressed state.

The video signal with the amount ratio a recorded in the VTR section 3 is transferred to the external VTR section 3.
When viewing on a TR and a monitor, after processing the reproduced signal on the VTR side, the image shown in Figure 2 (dl) is output without compression/expansion processing to the monitor with the amount ratio a, and the image shown in Figure 2 (dl) is output to the monitor with the amount ratio a. al
The monitor in the same figure (dt) has been subjected to horizontal compression processing.
An image as shown in ' or an image as shown in the figure (dt) is displayed through vertical compression processing.

Next, as a second embodiment of the present invention, an example of a viewfinder image projected by changing the scan on a CRT will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a second embodiment of the present invention, in which 22 is a CRT 27 with an aspect ratio of a3.
In the control circuit 21, 28 is a vertical scanning control section, 28 is a horizontal scanning control section, and 29 is a driving device that changes the magnification ratio of the lens optical system.

In the figure, when the camera unit 1 takes an image with an aspect ratio at, the input image of the finder unit 2 is as shown in Figure 2 (b
)', the CRT control circuit 21 operates in the same manner as in the first embodiment, and a (C
)′ image is displayed. The image on the finder image projection unit 25 after passing through the lens optical system 23 is shown in the same figure (dl).
' becomes.

Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of an image explaining the operation of Figure 3.
Parts corresponding to (a) in the figure are omitted.

When an image with an aspect ratio of a is taken in FIG. 3, CRTTiA@
The vertical scanning control section 27 in the circuit 21 compresses the width of the vertical scanning period on the CTR 22 by az/aH times. Fourth
The figure shows the input image (b) to the finder section 2 at this time and the CR
This is the display image (C) of T22, where 51.53 is the CRT scanning start point of each frame, and 52.54 is the CRT scanning end point. In CRT22, this scanning start point is set from 51 to 5.
3, the end point is moved from 52 to 54, and within this vertical scanning period, 525 scanning lines for one frame in the CNTSC system are compressed and scanned. In other words, an image as shown in FIG. 2 (d2) is created with a quantity ratio a! projected on the CRT 22, the quantity ratio a,
The image shown in FIG. 2(d) is projected on the finder projection section 25 of the camera.

At this time, the entire viewing angle is projected with the correct aspect ratio of the image content, but the image is smaller than when the video signal has the amount ratio a. One way to correct this is to use means for driving the lens optical system in order to simultaneously compress and expand the image and change the magnification of the image projected onto the finder projection section 25.

The driving device 29 of the lens optical system 23 is actuated by the aspect ratio switching signal, and works in conjunction with the camera section 1 and the vertical scanning control section 28 when photographing with the aspect ratio a, and changes the entire projected optical image of the lens optical system 23. is magnified by at/at times both vertically and horizontally, and only the scanning period on the CRT 22 is displayed as shown in FIG. 4 (dI).

When the aspect ratio of the finder projection section 25 is set to at, there is no particular need for magnification conversion of the drive device 29 and the lens optical system 23, and the CRT 22 image copy is outputted to the imaging lens 25 in an equal image form. The image shown in FIG. 2 (d2) or (ax)' is displayed.

Next, a third embodiment will be described using FIG. 5.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a third embodiment of the present invention, and 43 is a video signal compression/expansion circuit.

It is assumed that the finder section 2 has a CRT 22 with an aspect ratio of a and a projection section 25 with an amount ratio of a, and the CRT control circuit 21 and lens optical system 23 do not particularly have compression/expansion or enlargement processing functions.

When photographing with an aspect ratio of a, an image shown in FIG. 2(dx)' is projected on the CRT 22 and finder image projection section 25. The signal taken with the amount ratio at is C of the amount ratio a,
Since the image is displayed as a horizontally expanded image on the RT 23, the video signal compression/expansion circuit 43
Compress the output signal horizontally by 1x az/a,
The finder projection unit 25 obtains the output image shown in FIG. An example of this is one in which the signal is compressed and expanded in the time axis for each horizontal scanning question.

Next, an embodiment in which the video signal compression/expansion circuit 43 is used and the reproduction function is provided to the VTR unit will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a fourth embodiment of the present invention, in which 34 is a playback head, 35 is a preamplifier, and 36 is a block diagram illustrating a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a reproduction signal processing circuit, 37 is a reproduction signal selection switch, and 3 is a reproduction signal processing circuit;
8 is a reproduction signal output terminal, 44 is a video signal changeover switch, and the CRT 22 and finder projection section 25 have an aspect ratio of a.

During recording, the video signal changeover switch 44 conducts to the output side of the camera unit 1 and inputs the video signal to the compression/expansion circuit 43, so that the same operation and image output as in the third embodiment described above are achieved.

Also, during playback, the playback head 34 is moved from the magnetic tape 33.
The signal obtained is amplified by a preamplifier 35 and then subjected to signal processing by a reproduced signal processing circuit 36.

During playback, the video signal changeover switch 44 is switched to the output side of the playback signal processing circuit 36 and conducts to the compression/expansion circuit 43. The compression/expansion circuit 43 horizontally performs equal magnification and az/
a It has a 1x compression function and can switch and select projected images using an external aspect ratio switching signal. In this embodiment, the angle of view of the captured image is not impaired, but the image content may be compressed in the horizontal direction more than necessary. In this case, if you look at the reproduced image and switch the operation of the compression circuit 43 to select an image with the correct aspect ratio of the image content,
In the RT 22 and the projection section 25, the
” image will be displayed.

Further, the reproduced signal is outputted from the output terminal 38 by switching the switch 37 to switch between a signal subjected to compression processing and a signal not subjected to compression processing.

Next, in the above embodiment, the operation of the compression/expansion circuit 43 is switched according to the aspect ratio of the reproduced signal, and the viewfinder projection section 2
5. Regarding the case where the image content is always displayed in the correct aspect ratio,
This will be explained using FIG.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a fifth embodiment of the present invention, in which 40 is a discrimination signal addition circuit that adds an aspect ratio detection signal to a recording signal, and 39 is a discrimination signal addition circuit that adds an aspect ratio detection signal to a recorded signal; 45 is a switch for an aspect ratio switching signal that is switched during recording and playback. A 0 discrimination signal addition circuit 40 is used to detect, for example, when shooting at an aspect ratio of a. The same ratio detection signal is added to the blanking period of the signal only during this period.

When reproducing a signal with an aspect ratio of a, the reproduced signal processing circuit 3
A discrimination signal detection circuit 39 detects the aspect ratio detection signal from 6 and outputs an amount ratio switching signal. The amount ratio switching signal switch 45 switches the signal between recording and playback, and during playback, the signal output from the discrimination signal detection circuit 39 is input to the video signal compression/expansion circuit 43, so that the same aspect ratio as during recording is achieved. Make a judgment. The reproduced signal inputted from the video signal changeover switch 44 to the companding circuit 43 is subjected to horizontal compression processing similar to that during recording, so that the signal with the amount ratio a becomes the signal with the amount ratio a2 in FIG. 3 (dl)'. The viewfinder image shown in the figure (dl)'' is obtained.

Next, returning to FIG. 5, the case where the video signal compression/expansion circuit 43 performs equal magnification and az/a 1 times compression processing in the vertical direction of the image will be described.

Vertical compression and expansion processing of video signals uses the correlation between horizontal scanning lines to perform interpolation and thinning between each scanning line.Here, by the above-mentioned operation, the number of horizontal scanning lines in the video signal period is reduced to 3. /4 times, that is, at/a 1 times. Switching between equal magnification and compression in this circuit is the same as with or without vertical control in the second embodiment, and if the output image of the finder has an aspect ratio of a3 and the CRT 22 also has an amount ratio of a2, it is possible to shoot at an amount ratio of a1 or at. The signal is shown in Figure 2 (dri or (dz)
The image will be as shown in '.

In the embodiments described above, the same signal from the aspect ratio switching signal input terminal 41 is generated by operating the selector switch selected by the user.

Here, another embodiment of the camera section 1 will be shown.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a sixth embodiment of the present invention, and is an example in which the camera section 1 includes aspect ratio switching signal monitoring means and uses a signal compression/expansion circuit.

In the figure, reference numeral 16 denotes an aspect ratio detection means for detecting the aspect ratio of a photographed image from the shape characteristics of the optical reduction means 12 used and outputting the same switching signal.

Here, the optical reduction means 12 does not have a driving means, and the aspect ratio detection means 16 detects the quantity ratio from the reduction means 12 inserted according to the user's selection, and compresses or expands the output signal of the camera section 1.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a seventh embodiment of the present invention, showing a case where an image light source other than a CRT is used for the finder section 2, and an LCD 52 is used as the image light source of the finder section 2. , finder section 2 is LCD5
2 and its control circuit 51, and the finder section 2 is an LC
It consists of a D52, its control circuit 51, a light emitting fi53, a lens optical system 23, and a finder projection section 25. However, in this embodiment, the compression/expansion is performed by the signal compression/expansion circuit 43.

As in the third embodiment, the signal subjected to time-base compression processing etc. by the signal compression/expansion circuit 43 is outputted as an image on the LCD by the LCD control circuit 51. The LCD image is projected onto the lens optical system 23 by light emission [53], and is imaged on the finder projection section 25. The signal is compressed and expanded in the same manner as in the previous embodiment.
Depending on the aspect ratio of the CD 52 and the finder projection section 25, the same projection image is obtained by switching according to the amount ratio switching signal.

In addition, as another example of using an LCD as an image light source,
Some devices use optical magnification conversion means 24 in the finder section 2. Since this optical image obtained from the LCD 52 is compressed and expanded, the same effect as in the second embodiment can be obtained.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, in a video camera that can shoot images with the new standard A1 aspect ratio in addition to the current A2 aspect ratio, the captured image, the viewfinder image light source to be used, and the viewfinder projection unit can be used. Regardless of the aspect ratio, any combination has the effect that the full angle of view of the captured image can be displayed with the correct aspect ratio of the image content.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining one embodiment of the video camera according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram for explaining the operation of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is for explaining a second embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4 is a schematic diagram for explaining Figure 3, Figure 5 is a block diagram for explaining Figure 3.
The figure is a block diagram explaining the third embodiment of the present invention.
The figure is a block diagram explaining the fourth embodiment of the present invention.
The figure is a block diagram explaining the fifth embodiment of the present invention.
The figure is a block diagram illustrating the sixth embodiment of the present invention.
The figure is a block diagram illustrating a seventh embodiment of the present invention. 1... Camera section, 12...
- Optical reduction means, 15... Drive means for optical reduction means, 2... Old finder section, 24
......Optical magnification conversion means, 26...
...Drive device for optical magnification conversion means, 3...Old...
- VTR section, 41... Signal input terminal for aspect ratio switching. Figure 3￥4 (b) Captured image (c) CR7 image (dl) Finder image Figure 5 j Figure 6 Figure 7 Figure 8 n

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A first means for compressing or expanding an image at a predetermined ratio in the horizontal or vertical direction, and the ratio of the length of the image in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction, that is, the aspect ratio is different from each other.
1 or a_2 (a_1>a_2); a second means for compressing or expanding the image in the horizontal or vertical direction; and a second means for compressing or expanding the image in the horizontal or vertical direction; A video camera characterized by comprising a viewfinder section that displays an image without distortion in the ratio of length to width. 2. In claim 1, the camera section includes a lens optical system, an optical reduction means for reducing an image in a certain direction at a predetermined ratio, a solid-state image sensor, and a signal processing for converting captured image information into a video signal. A video camera comprising a circuit. 3. The video camera according to claim 2, wherein the camera section further includes a drive device that inserts or removes the optical reduction means from an optical path in accordance with an aspect ratio switching signal. 4. In claim 2, the camera section further includes aspect ratio detection means for detecting the presence or absence of an optical reduction means, outputting an aspect ratio switching signal, and supplying this to at least the second means. A video camera featuring: 5. In claim 1, the finder unit includes a CRT with an aspect ratio a_2, a projection unit that displays an image, and a video signal captured with an aspect ratio a_1 in the vertical direction a_2/
A video camera comprising: a vertical scanning control circuit that compresses a video signal a_1 times and captures an image with an aspect ratio a_2 and does not perform compression/expansion in the vertical direction. 6. In claim 1, the finder unit compresses a video light source with an aspect ratio a_1 and a video signal captured with an aspect ratio a_2 by a_2/a_1 times in the horizontal direction, and compresses the video signal captured with an aspect ratio a_1. A video camera characterized by having a video signal compression/expansion circuit that does not perform expansion. 7. In claim 1, the finder unit vertically compresses a video light source with an aspect ratio a_2 and a video signal captured with an aspect ratio a_1 to a times a_2/a_1, and compresses the video signal captured with an aspect ratio a_2 with A video camera characterized by having a video signal compression/expansion circuit that does not perform compression/expansion. 8. In claim 1, the finder section (2) horizontally compresses a video light source with an aspect ratio a_1 and a light source of a video signal imaged with an aspect ratio a_2 to a_2/a_1 times, and captures an image with an aspect ratio a_1. 1. A video camera comprising: an optical magnification conversion means that is removed out of the optical path when displaying a video signal. 9. In claim 1, the finder section vertically compresses a light image of a video light source with an aspect ratio a_2 and a video signal taken with an aspect ratio a_1 to a times a_2/a_1, and compresses the light image of a video signal taken with an aspect ratio a_2 with the image taken with an aspect ratio a_2. 1. A video camera comprising: an optical magnification conversion means that is removed out of the optical path when a signal is displayed. 10. In claim 1, the finder unit includes a video light source with an aspect ratio of a_2, a projection unit (25) with an aspect ratio of a_1, and a light source of a video signal imaged with an aspect ratio of a_1 in the horizontal direction by a_1/a_2. 1. An optical magnification converting means that is expanded to a size of 1 and is removed out of the optical path when displaying a video signal captured at an aspect ratio of a_1. 11. The video camera according to claim 1, wherein the finder section includes the second means for compressing and decompressing an image, which can be installed/removed at the user's discretion. 12. The video camera according to claim 1, further comprising video signal recording means for recording the output video signal of the camera section. 13. In claim 12, the video signal recording means comprises:
A video camera further comprising a recording signal playback function. 14. In claim 13, the video signal recording means comprises:
means (40) for adding an aspect ratio detection signal at the time of photographing to the recording signal; detecting the detection signal from the reproduction signal to generate an aspect ratio switching signal; in the reproduction state of the video signal recording means; 1. A video camera comprising: detection means for applying the switching signal to a finder section.