JPH04234292A - Video signal switching device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To perform the readout and reload of storage data in memory provided at a video signal switching device. CONSTITUTION:The video signal switching device which outputs video signals supplied to plural input terminals 11-19 by switching with a change-over switch 2 under the control of a microcomputer is comprised so that the readout and reload can be performed by designating the address of the storage data in the memory 7 storing a program to operate the microcomputer 1 by performing the prescribed operations of operating switches 20, 30 which issue instructions with respect to the operation of the change-over switch 2.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a video signal switching device, and more particularly to a video signal switching device suitable for application to a switching device for a surveillance video camera.

0002

[Prior Art] Conventionally, when video cameras for surveillance are installed at multiple locations, it is conceivable to provide monitor receivers equal to the number of video cameras and have each monitor receiver receive the image of each monitoring location. As the number of places to be monitored increases, the number of monitor receivers as well as video cameras increases, resulting in the inconvenience that the configuration of the monitoring system becomes complicated. In addition, when recording video signals captured by a surveillance video camera on a video tape recorder (VTR) instead of a monitor receiver, the number of VTRs increases as the number of places to be monitored increases. This has the disadvantage of complicating the configuration of the monitoring system.

For this reason, a video signal switching device for surveillance cameras has been put into practical use that switches video signals supplied from surveillance video cameras installed at multiple locations and selectively supplies them to one monitor receiver. .

[0004] This video signal switching device for surveillance cameras is one in which video signals supplied from, for example, a plurality of connected surveillance video cameras are sequentially switched at predetermined intervals and supplied to a single monitor receiver. It is. By using this video signal switching device, supervisors can monitor all locations simply by viewing the video displayed on one monitor receiver, making it easy to configure the surveillance system. At the same time, the supervisor can easily perform monitoring. Furthermore, even when a video signal obtained by a surveillance video camera is recorded on a VTR, by using this video signal switching device, the video signal can be efficiently recorded on a single VTR.

[0005]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] Incidentally, not only this video signal switching device but also many types of electronic equipment have operations controlled by a built-in microcomputer. In this case, various operations are performed according to a main program stored in a memory connected to the microcomputer.

[0006] In this case, it was impossible to read the main program stored in the memory using this device alone. Therefore, when reading or modifying a program when adjusting this equipment, a data processing device such as a personal computer is connected, and the data in the memory is read and modified by the data processing device.

However, preparing and connecting a data processing device such as a personal computer in this way is time-consuming and inconvenient; for example, a service person who repairs a defect in the main program may It is not practical to bring a data processing device such as a personal computer to the installation site for repair. Further, even when the main program is modified to add a new function, it is necessary to connect a data processing device or replace the memory itself, which is inconvenient and time-consuming.

An object of the present invention is to enable easy reading and writing of programs in equipment controlled by a microcomputer based on programs.

[0009]

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention provides, for example, as shown in FIG. 1, a changeover switch that operates under the control of a microcomputer (1) to switch video signals supplied to a plurality of input terminals (11 to 19). In a video signal switching device that switches and outputs a video signal using a switch (2), data stored in a memory (7) that stores a program for operating a microcomputer (1) is transferred to an operation switch (2) that provides instructions regarding the operation of a changeover switch (2). ) can be read by specifying the address using a predetermined operation.

[0010] Furthermore, the present invention provides, for example, as shown in FIG.
In a video signal switching device that switches and outputs video signals supplied to a plurality of input terminals using a changeover switch that is operated under the control of a microcomputer (1), an operation switch (20) provides instructions regarding the operation of the changeover switch (2).
) by specifying the address and inputting the data to be written, the memory () stores a program that operates the microcomputer (1).
7), the stored data can be corrected.

[0011]

[Operation] By doing this, it is possible to read a program that operates a microcomputer that controls the operation of the video signal switching device using only the operation switch that gives instructions regarding the operation of the changeover switch, and the program that operates the microcomputer that controls the operation of the video signal switching device can be read out using Programs can be easily read without using a data processing device such as.

Furthermore, the program for operating the microcomputer that controls the operation of the video signal switching device can be rewritten using only the operation switch that gives instructions regarding the operation of the changeover switch, and the program can be easily modified.

[0013]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of the video signal switching device of this example. This video signal switching device is used for switching the output video of a surveillance video camera, and 1 in the figure is the video signal switching device. A central control unit (CPU) having a microcomputer configuration that controls each circuit of the central control unit 1 is shown.
Under the control of , the changeover switch 2 for video signal changeover is performed. That is, the memory device 7 connected to the central control device 1 has a program stored in advance for executing switching, etc., and when various commands are supplied by key operations etc., the changeover switch 2 is operated based on this program. Execute switching, etc. Also, 11, 12, 13...19 in the figure
denotes first to ninth video input terminals, and the respective input terminals 11, 12, 13, . . . 19 are terminals to which video signals captured and output by a monitoring video camera are supplied. In this case, a maximum of eight video cameras are connected to the first to eighth input terminals 11 to 18, and other video signal switching devices, television tuners, etc. are connected to the ninth input terminal 19.

[0015] Then, the video signals obtained from the video cameras and the like to the video input terminals 11, 12, 13, . Outputs video signals from cameras, etc. In this case, the switching based on the control of the central controller 1 can be performed in an automatic switching mode in which the switching is automatically performed sequentially at a predetermined cycle, a manual switching mode in which switching is performed in response to manual operation, or by inputting an alarm signal, etc., which will be described later. It has a forced switching mode.

In this case, in this example, the central control device 1
When switching is performed under the control of each input terminal 11 to 19
The switching is performed within the vertical blanking period of the video signal obtained. That is, the central control device 1
When it becomes necessary to switch input video, a switching signal is output after waiting for the supplied video signal to enter a vertical blanking period. Note that the vertical blanking periods of the video signals obtained at each input terminal 11 to 19 are set to the same timing.

The video signal selected by the selector switch 2 is supplied to the output terminal 4 via the superimpose circuit 3. By connecting a monitor receiver or a VTR to this output terminal 4, it is possible to display an image of the monitored place on the monitor receiver or to display an image of the monitored place on the VTR.

Reference numeral 5 in the figure indicates a character generation circuit, and this character generation circuit 5 is equipped with a memory (not shown) for storing character data such as characters and symbols, and the stored character data is transmitted to the central control unit. 1 and supplies it to the superimpose circuit 3. Then, the character data supplied to the superimpose circuit 3 is superimposed on the video signal supplied from the changeover switch 2, and the video signal with this character superimposed is output to the output terminal 4.
supply to. This superimposed character data includes numbers indicating the selected camera number, date and time, characters indicating the setting status of various operation modes, and the like. That is, when switching the input video signal normally, characters indicating the selected camera number, date and time are superimposed on the output video signal, and characters are displayed on the corner of the screen of the monitor receiver connected to the switching device. Display the selected camera number and current date and time. Furthermore, when various operating modes are being set, a character indicating the setting status of the mode being set is superimposed, and the setting status is displayed on the screen of the monitor receiver connected to the switching device.

Further, in the figure, 20 indicates an input selection switch, and 30 indicates an active switch. Each of the switches 20 and 30 is composed of eight switches from first to eighth corresponding to the eight video cameras connected to the video input terminals 11 to 18, and as shown in FIG. They are arranged on the front panel of the signal switching device, and operation commands for the respective switches are supplied to the central control device 1. In this case, each switch 20, 30 is
The lights can be turned on individually under the control of the central control device 1.

The input selection switch 20 can specify the video camera (input terminal) selected by the changeover switch 2, and can also specify the currently selected video by the above-mentioned lighting function under the control of the central control device 1. Turn on the switch number corresponding to the camera. Further, the active switch 30 can instruct the video camera to be selected in the automatic switching mode, and lights up the switch numbered corresponding to the selected video camera under the control of the central control device 1. In addition, in this example, by operating the input selection switch 20 and the active switch 30, it is possible to modify the data stored in the memory device 7, which will be described later, and the input selection switch 20 and the active switch 30 have a lighting function. This allows the data stored in the memory device 7 to be displayed.

Further, reference numeral 6 in the figure indicates a setting switch, and this setting switch 6 is composed of a plurality of keys, etc., and the operation command of each key is supplied to the central control unit 1. There are some that are arranged on the front panel together with 30, and others that are composed of dip switches and the like and are arranged on the back. In this case, various modes controlled by the central controller 1 can be set by operating each key. When making these settings, the settings can be confirmed by displaying them on the screen of a monitor receiver connected to the video signal switching device. That is, when setting various modes, etc., the character data from the character generation circuit 5 is superimposed in the superimpose circuit 3, so that characters and numbers indicating the setting state etc. are added to the video signal output from the output terminal 4. Contains information such as.

The central control unit 1 also includes a memory device 7.
is connected. This memory device 7 is composed of a ROM 7a from which only pre-stored data is read, and a RAM 7b from which the stored data can be rewritten.The ROM 7a is replaceable, and the RAM 7b is used as a backup to prevent loss of stored data. A power source (not shown) is provided. In this case, the read-only ROM 7a stores a main program necessary for the central controller 1 to control various operations. Further, when the central control unit 1 detects that the input selection switch 20 and the active switch 30 have been operated in a predetermined manner, the input selection switch 20 and the active switch 30 are set to the specified address of the memory device 7 under the control of the central control unit 1. Similarly, when the central control device 1 detects that the input selection switch 20 and the active switch 30 have been operated in a predetermined manner, the central control device Memory device 7 under control of 1
The memory data at the specified address can be rewritten. In this case, this memory device 7
To read and rewrite the stored data, it is necessary to input a predetermined password using the input selection switch 20 and the active switch 30 in advance.

Here, the procedure for reading and rewriting data stored in the memory device 7 will be explained with reference to the flowchart in FIG. 3. First, when performing this operation, eight input selection switches 20 are and active switch 30, for a total of 16 switches, 1 to 16
Temporarily set the number. That is, the eight input selection switches 20 are numbered 1 to 8, and the eight active switches 30 are numbered 1 to 8.
are numbered 9 to 16. The input numbers and display numbers described below are performed by operating and lighting switches corresponding to the numbers 1 to 16.

As shown in the flowchart of FIG. 3, by operating a predetermined key of the setting switch 6, the switching instruction by the input selection switch 20 is prohibited and the active switch 3 is disabled.
0 prohibits status setting instructions. In this state,
By operating the input selection switch 20 and the active switch 30, a password for starting reading and rewriting of stored data is input using a several-digit number. For example, if [1234] is set as the start password, first press the button corresponding to number 1 of the input selection switch 20, then press the button corresponding to number 2, number 3, and number 4 in order. Press the corresponding button to input [1234]. Next, the address where the stored data to be read or rewritten exists is input as a 4-digit number. In this case, the memory address number is displayed in hexadecimal, so 1 to
All switches 20 and 30 corresponding to numbers 16 are used.

[0025] After inputting this address,
By pressing the set key 6a (see FIG. 2) in the setting switch 6, the eight input selection switches 20 light up.
The 8-bit data stored at this address is displayed. For example, as 8-bit data [0011000
1] is stored, the input selection switches 20 corresponding to numbers 3, 4, and 8 are lit to display the data of the "1" digit, and the input selection switches 20 corresponding to numbers 3, 4, and 8 are lit, and the other numbers 1, 2, 5,
The input selection switch 20 corresponding to 6 and 7 displays the data of the "0" digit. In addition, by lighting the 8 active switches 30, the 8
Display bit data.

Furthermore, if after inputting an address, two-digit hexadecimal data is input by operating the input selection switch 20 and active switch 30 without pressing the set key 6a, this input data is The data is written to the specified address, and the stored data at the corresponding address is rewritten. In this case, while this rewriting is being performed, each time the input selection switch 20 or the active switch 30 is pressed, the speaker 9 of the alarm circuit 9 (described later)
A warning sound is output from a to prevent data from being input by mistake.

[0027] When the work of confirming or rewriting the data stored in the memory device 7 is completed, the user is prompted to input a password for completing reading and rewriting of the stored data using a several-digit number. By inputting this termination password, the operation mode of this video signal switching device returns to the normal mode.

Next, returning to the explanation of the overall configuration using FIG. 1 again, a clock device 8 is connected to the central controller 1, and the current time data counted by the clock device 8 is transmitted to the central controller 1. and the memory device 7. In this case, based on the current time data supplied to the central control device 1,
A superimpose circuit 3 superimposes numerical character data indicating the date and time on the output video signal. Also, when executing a so-called timer operation that changes the operating state (switching state) depending on time, the central controller 1 controls the predetermined timer operation based on the current time data supplied to the central controller 1. will be held. Furthermore, the current time data supplied to the memory device 7 can be stored in the RAM 7b according to instructions from the central control device 1. That is, when storing some data (for example, data regarding the supply of an alarm signal, which will be described later) in the RAM 7b, it is possible to also store data on the time at which this data was stored.

Further, in the figure, 41, 42, 43...48 indicate the first to eighth alarm input terminals, and these alarm input terminals 41 to 48 are connected to the first to eighth video input terminals 11 to
It is compatible with 8 video cameras connected to 18, and an alarm signal is supplied from a sensor (infrared sensor, etc.) installed at the monitoring location of each video camera.
Alarm signals obtained at the input terminals 41 to 48 are supplied to the central control device 1. When this alarm signal is supplied to the central control device 1, the changeover switch 2 selects and outputs the video signal from the video camera corresponding to the number of the supplied terminal, and also outputs the video signal from the video camera corresponding to the terminal number supplied with the alarm signal. The number and time data are stored in the RAM 7b. Further, an alarm circuit 9 is connected to the central control device 1, and this alarm circuit 9 has a speaker 9a and a warning lamp 9.
b (see FIG. 2), and depending on the set operation mode, when an alarm signal is supplied, a warning sound is output from the speaker and a warning lamp is flashed. A mode in which the warning sound is output and the warning lamp flashes for a preset time (10 seconds, 30 seconds, 1 minute, etc.) and a mode in which it continues until the alarm is canceled are provided.

The video signal switching device of this example also has a timer function. That is, by setting the time and various setting conditions by operating the setting switch 6 and storing the set contents in the RAM 7b, when the time counted by the clock device 8 reaches the set time, the central control device 1 It operates according to the settings set by the control. For example, this timer function allows you to change the location to be monitored during the day and at night.

Furthermore, the central control device 1 of this example has control data bus lines 1a and 1b for communicating control data with other video signal switching devices and computer devices. Control data is communicated with the device connected to the connection terminal 1b.

The functions of this video signal switching device described above are performed under the control of the central control device 1, and this control is performed based on the main program stored in the memory device 7.

According to the video signal switching device of this example configured as described above, video signals supplied from a plurality of monitoring video cameras, etc. to each of the video input terminals 11 to 19 are switched according to the set mode. By switching under the control of the central control device 1, the video signal is output from the output terminal 4, and the video signal obtained at the output terminal 4 is supplied to a monitor receiver or VTR.
Multiple locations can be monitored efficiently. in this case,
The data stored in the ROM 7a and RAM 7b constituting the memory device 7 can be read by operating the input selection switch 20, the active switch 30, etc., and in the case of the RAM 7b to which stored data can be written, it can be rewritten. Even without connecting a data processing device such as a personal computer, stored data, especially control programs, can be easily read and rewritten. Therefore, for example, repairs based on defects in the main program necessary for operating the central control device 1 can be easily performed using only the video signal switching device. Since repairs can be made using only this video signal switching device, there is no need to take the video signal switching device to a service center equipped with repair equipment when performing such repairs, and the device can be left in its installed state. Since repairs are possible, repairs can be made based on defects that occur during actual use when a video camera, monitor receiver, etc. are connected. Furthermore, when making improvements such as modifying the main program and adding new functions, there is no need to connect a data processing device or replace the memory device 7, making it easy to make improvements. can. Furthermore, even if the stored data is simply read without rewriting the stored data, the version of the written program can be determined by reading the identification code of the attached memory device 7. This makes it convenient for repairs, etc.

Note that since the input selection switch 20, active switch 30, etc. are used as keys and display means for operations for reading and rewriting data stored in the memory device 7, dedicated keys and display means are used. No means are required, and the configuration of the video signal switching device does not become complicated. Furthermore, since the stored data cannot be read or rewritten unless the password is entered, this stored data will not be read or rewritten under normal usage conditions, and the user will not be able to accidentally rewrite the stored data. do not have. Also, when rewriting the stored data based on the above-described operation, a warning sound is output from the speaker 9a of the alarm circuit 9, so that the person performing the rewriting work is alerted and erroneous operations are prevented.

In the above embodiment, a monitoring video camera is connected to each video input terminal, but other video signal sources may be connected to this video input terminal. Furthermore, the operating procedure for reading and rewriting the data stored in the memory is merely an example, and the reading and rewriting may be performed using other operations.

[0036]

According to the present invention, data stored in a memory can be easily read and rewritten using only a video signal switching device, and for example, a program for operating a microcomputer that controls the operation of this video signal switching device. can be easily read out, and repairs and improvements to this video signal switching device can be easily performed.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a video signal switching device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a front panel of an embodiment of the video signal switching device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart diagram for explaining one embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Central control device 2 Selector switch 3. Superimpose circuit 4 Output terminal 5 Character generation circuit 6 Setting switch 7 Memory device 7a ROM 7b RAM 8 Clock device 9 Alarm circuit 11-19 Video input terminal 20 Input selection switch 30 Active switch 41-48 Alarm input terminal

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A video signal switching device that switches and outputs video signals supplied to a plurality of input terminals using a changeover switch operated under the control of a microcomputer, comprising:
A video signal switching device in which data stored in a memory storing a program for operating the microcomputer can be read by specifying an address through a predetermined operation of an operation switch that instructs the operation of the changeover switch. 2. A video signal switching device that switches and outputs video signals supplied to a plurality of input terminals using a changeover switch operated under the control of a microcomputer, comprising:
The data stored in the memory storing the program for operating the microcomputer can be corrected by specifying an address and inputting the data to be written by specifying the address and inputting the data to be written by specifying the address and inputting the data to be written by the specified operation of the operation switch that gives instructions regarding the operation of the changeover switch. A video signal switching device that makes it possible to