JPH0379191A - Input/output device for image communication - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain realism just like observers are in front of a user by inputting images from multiple spots and fitting one continuous still picture, which corresponds to the arrangement of all display devices, to an unmovable part such as a background, etc., by chroma key synthesization when the images are independently displayed in the plural display devices. CONSTITUTION:A background panel, which is uniformly blue, is set at the back of the observer of the display device. To the video input terminal of a special effect equipment 6 to output a video signal to a display device 1-1, the video signal of a picture from a picture memory 8 and a video signal from a television camera 5-1 at a spot B are inputted. To the key signal input terminal of a channel ch1 in the equipment 6, a key signal is inputted from the channel ch1 of a chroma key device 7. To the video input terminal of the channel ch1 in the device 7, a video signal is inputted from the television camera 5-1 at the spot B. Samely, the video signal of a spot C is inputted to a display device 1-2 and the video signal of a spot D is inputted to a display device 1-3. As a result, an observer sees the observers at the spots B, C and D under the same background.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Technical field to which the invention pertains) The present invention relates to an input/output device for image communication with a high sense of realism.

(Prior Art) Image communication input/output devices used in video conference systems, etc. are equipped with a display/photographing device for transmitting and receiving images in addition to a voice transmitting/receiving device. It is an input/output device with excellent realism that gives you the feeling of being there.

The basis of a video conference system is two-way communication between two points, but recently, video conference systems that connect three or more points have been developed.

Conventionally, the image display/capturing part of such communication devices includes:
A configuration in which a display device such as a CRT display and a photographing device such as a television camera are arranged closely together has been used.

When displaying a multipoint video conference, there are cases in which one display device is assigned to each point, and cases in which a plurality of points are displayed on one display device. In the latter case, when multiple points are displayed on one display device, the number of display pixels per point is reduced, making it impossible to display at high resolution, and therefore, the sense of presence is not sufficient.

On the other hand, as illustrated in FIG. 6, there are three points A and B.

One display device 1-1.1-2゜1 for each point in C
-3, the resolution is sufficient, but since the backgrounds 2-1.2-2.2-3 surrounding the person at each point are different, the display images of each point A, B, and C are displayed at the same time. When observed, there was a drawback that there was no connection between the backgrounds 2-1.2-2.2-3, and it was difficult to get the feeling that the meetings were being held at the same location.

(Objective of the Invention) An object of the present invention is to provide an input/output device for image communication that can be used in an image communication system that connects at least three or more points to provide a high sense of realism.

(Structure of the Invention) (Characteristics of the Invention and Differences from the Prior Art) The most important feature of the present invention is that in an image communication system that connects multiple points, each of the multiple points is connected to a separate display device 1 -
1.1-2. When displaying in 1-3, as shown in Figure 1(a), the movement of the human images at each point A, B, C (in this case, observers a, b, c), etc. Certain parts are displayed as they are, and static parts such as the background 2-1.2-2゜2-3 are prepared in advance so that they become one continuous still image corresponding to the arrangement of all display devices. Using still image data 3-1.3-2.3-3 as exemplified in FIG. 1) to form a composite image 4-1.4-2.4-3 as shown in FIG. 1(C).

Further, the display device 1-1.1-2.1-3 has one screen 10 and an N-
1 video projector - 11-1, 11-2, 11
-3, by making adjacent projection screens on the screen have overlapping parts, one display surface can be made into a seamless one.
The point is that it is a continuous screen.

As a result, participants in image communication at each location can feel as if they are holding a conference or the like in the same space, making it possible to communicate with an excellent sense of realism.

Conventional input/output devices for image communication between multiple points have used chromakey compositing means to inject and synthesize one person and the background within one display device, but as in the present invention, multiple displays The difference is that when the devices are arranged, they are considered as one display device as a whole, and a continuous background image is not embedded.

Therefore, with the conventional technology, it is difficult to perceive the same space over the entire display surface, and an excellent sense of realism cannot be obtained.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained in detail based on examples.

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 2(a) is a block diagram showing the configuration of an input/output device for image communication for four points (points A, B, C, and D). The image communication input/output device for point A is located at 3 adjacent locations.
a display device 1-1.1-2.1-3, and three television cameras 5-1 as photographing devices arranged above (or below) each display device and facing toward the viewer. .5-
2.5-3 and 3 channels (channel chi,
A special effects device 6 having input/output terminals for channels (ch2, ch3), and a chromakey device 7. The image contents illustrated in FIG. 2(b) are located on three consecutive screens (screens,
) It is composed of an image memory 8 having still image data.

Here, a back shadow plate with a front image (or green color) was installed uniformly behind the second observer of the display device, but it was used for image communication for other points B, C, and D, which are not shown here. The input/output devices also have exactly the same configuration as at point A.

The video input terminal of the special effects device 6 (this will be referred to as channel chi), which outputs the video signal to the display device 1-1 on the left side facing the display device, receives the video signal of the screen ■ from the image memory 8. , At point B, a video signal from a television camera was input. The key signal input terminal of channel chi of special effects device 6 is connected to channel c of chromakey device 7.
I input the key signal from hi. A video signal from a television camera at point B was input to the video input terminal of channel chi of the chromakey device 7.

Similarly, for display device 1-2 in the center facing display device 1, change the connection of channel chi to channel ch2, and send the video signal of screen ① from image memory 8 and the video signal from the TV camera at point C. I input it. Furthermore, to the display device 1-3 on the right side when facing the display device, change the connection of the above channel chi to channel ch3, and input the video signal of the screen ■ from the image memory 8 and the video signal from the TV camera at the point. did.

The arrangement of opponent points displayed on the three display devices is point A.
As shown in Fig. 3, point B (B), point C (C), and point D (D) are displayed. FIG. 3(a) is a view seen from above, and FIG. 3(b) is a view seen from the observer 9.

As shown in Figure 4, this means that point A, point B, C,
This means that D and D virtually face each other. Therefore, on the three display devices at point B, point C, point D, and point A were displayed in this order from the left toward the display device. The display devices at the remaining points C and D displayed the same rules.

As a result, observer 9 at point A sees points B and C.

Since the M observers of D were seen side by side in front of the same background, it was possible to feel as if they were right in front of one's eyes. Furthermore, since the am users at other points B, C, and D can have a similar feeling, communication with an excellent sense of realism is possible.

(Example 2) As a display device, one screen 10 and three video projectors 11-1 and 11 are used as an example in FIG.
-2 and 11-3, except that the adjacent projection screens on the screen 10 had overlapping parts so that the display surface was displayed as one continuous screen without a seam. The configuration was similar.

Figure 5(a) is a view from above, and Figure 5(b) is I! l
! This is a diagram seen from the celebrant.

Using this technology, as a result of image communication from four locations, viewers at other locations can see the same background lined up and feel as if they are right in front of their eyes, making it extremely realistic. Communication with an excellent feel is possible.

In the embodiments described above, an example of a device for image communication at four points has been shown, but by reducing the number of display devices, imaging devices such as television cameras, and still image data by one each compared to the number of points, three points can be used. It is possible to produce an input/output device for image communication that can be installed at any point higher than the point.

(Effects of the Invention) As explained above, the image communication input/output device of the present invention inputs images from multiple points using a plurality of photographing devices, and
When displaying it independently on multiple display devices, one continuous still image corresponding to the arrangement of all display devices is inserted into the stationary part such as the background by chromakey composition.
All observers at each point displayed on all display devices appear to exist in the same background, providing a sense of realism as if they were right in front of their eyes.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the basic display of the input/output device for image communication of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram of one point in the embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the configuration of the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the display state of a conventional image communication input/output device. . 1-1.1-2.1-3...Display device, 5-1.5-
2゜5-3...TV camera, 6...Special effects device, 7...Chromakey device, 8...Image memory, 9...Observer, 10...Screen,
11-1.11-2.11-3... Video projector

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) In an image communication input/output device that connects at least three or more N points (N≧3), N-1 display devices arranged horizontally adjacent to each other and a position above or below the display device N-1 photographing devices installed facing the direction of the observer, a blue or green background board installed behind the observer, and at least N-1 positionally continuous still image data. Moving parts such as the stored image memory and the observer at point N are displayed as they are, and static parts such as the background become one continuous still image across all N-1 display devices. An input/output device for image communication, comprising: a chromakey synthesis device that uses the still image data to incorporate a moving part of an observer or the like. (2) A display device is composed of one screen and N-1 video projectors, and adjacent projection screens on the screen form a seamless display surface with overlapping parts. An input/output device for image communication according to claim (1).