JPH04311174A - Television monitoring device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a television(TV) monitoring device capable of expanding the image of a required part in a subject image obtained by image pickup and moving the expanded image to a required position on a monitor screen. CONSTITUTION:This TV monitoring device is constituted of a TV camera 1 for photographing a visitor 2, a memory 4 for storing the video signal DS1 of each picture element obtained by the camera 1, a switch 7 for executing access control of data reading from the memory 4 so that the image of a required part of a display image on a monitor part 6 is expanded and the expanded image is moved and displayed to/on a required position of the screen, a write address counter 8, a read address counter 9, an address controller 10, and a setting key 12.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a television monitor device, and in particular, it is capable of enlarging a desired portion of a display image displayed on a monitor and moving the enlarged screen to a desired position on the screen in the upper, lower, left, and right directions. This article relates to a television monitor device that can be used.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a conventional television monitor device.

[0003] In the figure, the television monitor device is
The visitor 2 is imaged and the video signal is displayed on a monitor so that the visitor 2 can be identified even remotely. In detail, the television monitor device includes a television camera 1 that images a visitor 2 and outputs a video signal AS1, inputs the signal AS1, converts it into a digital signal accordingly, and outputs a digital signal DS.
1, and an A/D converter (analog/digital converter) 3 that outputs 1, and the digital video signal DS1 is sequentially inputted, and is stored in association with a predetermined address accordingly.
It includes a memory 4 having a storage capacity of fields. Also,
The television monitor device reads the digital video signal D by accessing the memory 4 and reading desired data.
A motion detection unit 14 and a read address counter 15 provided for deriving S3, a D/A converter (digital/analog conversion 5 and a monitor section 6 for inputting the video signal AS3 and displaying the screen accordingly.

[0004] The movement detecting section 14 reads the digital signal stored in the memory 4 and detects the movement of the visitor 2 . Specifically, the motion detection unit 14 compares and matches one field of image data stored in the memory 4 this time with one field of image data stored in the memory 4 last time, and if the comparison results do not match. If so, it is presumed that the system is trying to determine that visitor 2 has made some kind of movement. At this time, the area of the memory 4 is divided in advance into a plurality of blocks, with an appropriate number of pixels stored therein as one block, and the comparison and matching process is repeatedly executed for each block. The part where it is (
It is presumed that the movement of the visitor 2 is detected by specifying the block).

[0005] The read address counter 15 responds to a detection output signal in which a moving part is specified and is given from the motion detecting section 14, and reads only the data with movement from the memory 4 in the next one field scanning period. Read by addressing. At this time, the video signal of the next new field is stored in the memory 4.

[0006] Furthermore, as mentioned above, since the digital signal from which only the moving parts are extracted is less than the signal for one screen, if the image is displayed as it is, a blank part will be displayed on the monitor unit 6. . In order to prevent this, a digital video signal DS3 is read out from the memory 4 so that the screen to be displayed on the monitor section 6 is enlarged (eg, doubled (area ratio: 4 times)).

Next, the monitoring operation of the television monitor device shown in FIG. 7 will be explained.

The video signal AS1 from the visitor 2, which is captured by the television camera 1, is given to the A/D converter 3 at the next stage, and is sequentially converted into a digital video signal DS1 and written into the memory 4 accordingly. The motion detection unit 14 detects the visitor's 2 movements as described above. The detection output acts on the read address counter 15 to generate a read address signal that causes the moving image to be displayed in the center of the screen of the monitor section 6. The read address signal outputted from the read address counter 15 is applied to the memory 4, and the data of the moving part is read out from the memory 4 in the next field period so that the screen to be displayed is enlarged by this data. The digital video signal DS3 is sent to the D/A converter 5. The D/A converter 5 converts the applied digital video signal DS3 into an analog signal again and converts it into a video signal AS.
3 and feeds it to the monitor unit 6 connected to the next stage. The monitor unit 6 inputs the video signal AS3 and displays it on the monitor accordingly, so that an image based on the signal of the moving part of the video signal captured by the television camera 1 is enlarged in the center of the screen. will be displayed.

The above-mentioned series of motion part extraction and motion part enlargement operations are performed continuously every field, and the video imaged by the television camera 1 is displayed on the monitor unit 6 in real time, and the video image is If a moving part is detected, it will be displayed as an enlarged image in the center of the monitor screen.

0010

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] According to the above-mentioned conventional television monitor device, the signal of the moving part of the subject is extracted based on the video signal AS1 obtained by imaging with the television camera 1. Since the moving part is set to be enlarged and displayed in the center of the monitor screen of the monitor unit 6, the face of the visitor 2 that the photographer most wants to be photographed may not be enlarged and displayed in the center of the monitor screen. do not have. For example, if the visitor 2 moves his hand, the movement detection unit 14 effectively detects the hand movement, and accordingly, the visitor 2's hand is enlarged and displayed in the center of the monitor screen of the monitor unit 6. There were problems such as the face of the person protruding from the screen.

[0011] Furthermore, if there is movement of a passerby in the background of the visitor 2, the movement detecting section 14 can effectively detect the movement of the passerby, even though the visitor 2 is stationary. There was also the problem that the image on the monitor screen was constantly moving, making it restless and extremely difficult to view.

As described above, in a system in which the motion detecting section 14 is provided to detect a moving part in a video signal and automatically enlarge and display the moving part on the monitor screen,
A desired image is not necessarily displayed on the monitor screen.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a television monitor device that operates so that an image of a desired part of a subject image is enlarged accurately and in real time and displayed at a desired position on a monitor screen. It is to be.

[0014]

[Means for Solving the Problems] A television monitor device according to the present invention includes an imaging means, and inputs a first video signal obtained by imaging with the imaging means, and converts the image into a digital signal for each pixel accordingly. a first conversion means for converting, a storage means for storing the digital signal converted by the first conversion means, and an access means for alternately writing and reading the digital signal in the storage means for each pixel. a designating means for designating a reading portion of a digital signal stored in the storage means which is externally operated; access control means for controlling the access means to read each digital signal consecutively a plurality of times; and a second video signal for converting the digital signal read by the access means into an analog signal and outputting a second video signal. 2 conversion means, and a monitor means for displaying the second video signal converted by the second conversion means on a monitor.

[0015]

[Operation] The television monitor device according to the present invention is configured as described above, and the access control means activated by the specifying means controls the access control means to access the desired video signal obtained by the imaging means stored in the storage means. only the partial signal,
The access means is controlled so that each pixel is read out multiple times in succession, and the monitor means inputs the signal thus read out as a second video signal via the second conversion means, and converts the signal read out in this way into a second video signal. Display on monitor. Therefore, the image of the subject desired by the user via the designation means is enlarged and displayed in the center of the monitor screen in real time and accurately.

[0016]

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

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a television monitor device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The television monitor device shown in the figure is capable of moving a desired part of the monitor screen to the center of the monitor screen by operating a button while projecting a video signal obtained by imaging on the monitor, and increasing the area ratio by four times. It is configured so that it can be enlarged and displayed.

In the television monitor device according to this embodiment, the subject is a visitor, but the subject to be displayed on the monitor is not specified by the visitor.

[0020] The illustrated television monitor device is
A television camera 1 that captures an image of the image and outputs a video signal AS1 accordingly, and A that inputs the signal AS1 and converts it into a digital signal for each pixel and outputs a digital video signal DS1.
/D converter 3 and a memory 4 which receives the digital video signal DS1 and stores it by specifying an address.
including. The television monitor device also has a D/A that inputs the digital video signal DS2 read from the memory 4, converts it into an analog signal, and outputs the video signal AS2.
It includes a converter 5 and a monitor section 6 that inputs the video signal AS2 and displays the screen accordingly. The television monitor device also provides a write/read address signal W/read for writing data or reading data for each pixel in the memory 4.
R, a write address counter 8 which supplies a write address signal WS to one input side of the switch 7, a read address counter 9 which supplies a read address signal RS to the other input side of the switch 7, and the address counter The address controller 10 includes an address controller 10 for driving and controlling counting operations of 8 and 9, a timer 11 provided in association with the controller 10, a setting button 12 operated from the outside, and a synchronization separation circuit 13.

The A/D converter 3 samples the applied video signal AS1 for each pixel in synchronization with a predetermined sampling pulse SP, and outputs a digital video signal DS1. The sampling pulse SP is generated inside the A/D converter 3 and is simultaneously applied to the switch 7 and the write and read address counters 8 and 9 connected to the next stage.

The memory 4 is a digital memory capable of storing one field worth of video signals for each pixel. Write/read address signal W given from the switch 7
/R to the address specified by A/D converter 3.
It operates to write the signal DS1 given from the write/read address signal W/R, and to read the signal DS1 stored at the address specified by the write/read address signal W/R and output it as a digital video signal DS2.

The switch 7 includes two input terminals and one output terminal. A write address signal WS is applied from a write address counter 8 to one side of the two input terminals, and a read address signal RS is applied from a read address counter 9 to the other side. The switch 7 operates so that its signal input side is switched in response to the sampling pulse SP, and the signal applied to the switched input terminal is led out to the output side. Therefore, the write/read address signal W/R derived from the output terminal of the switch 7 includes either the write address signal WS or the read address signal RS.

The synchronization separation circuit 13 receives the video signal AS1 output from the television camera 1, extracts only the synchronization signal components including the horizontal synchronization signal HD and the vertical synchronization signal VD, and outputs the synchronization signal HV. do.

[0025] The setting button 12 is operated externally.
Accordingly, a setting signal S1 is outputted to move a desired portion of the image displayed on the screen of the monitor unit 6 to the center of the screen and enlarge it.

The address controller 10 receives the synchronization signal HV and the setting signal S1, and accordingly outputs a write start signal W1, a horizontal read start signal HS, a vertical read start signal VS, and an enlargement mode designation signal ZS. Output. Further, the timer 11 is provided in association with the address controller 10. address controller 1
0 is such that the timer 11 measures the period during which the setting signal S1 is continuously applied, and adjusts the output timing of the horizontal read start signal HS or the vertical read start signal VS in response to the measured data. Operate. Specifically, when the address controller 10 is supplied with the synchronization signal HV, it outputs a write start signal W1, a horizontal read start signal HS, and a vertical read start signal VS in response. Further, when the address controller 10 receives the synchronization signal HV and the setting signal S1, it outputs the enlargement mode designation signal ZS and adjusts the timing of the horizontal readout start signal HS and the vertical readout start signal VS. output while Details of this signal output will be described later.

When the write address counter 8 receives the write start signal W1, it outputs a write address signal WS in synchronization with the sampling pulse SP. The write address signal WS is applied to one input terminal of a switch 7 connected to the next stage. The read address counter 9 receives the vertical read start signal VS,
Horizontal direction read start signal HS and enlargement mode designation signal Z
Given S, the sampling pulse SP
A read address signal RS is output in synchronization with the . The read address signal RS is applied to the other input terminal of the switch 7 connected to the next stage.

The write address counter 8 and the read address counter 9 have a maximum count value set in advance in relation to the size of the memory 4, and even if the set maximum count value is exceeded, the counting operation continues. There's nothing to do. In particular, when the read address counter 9 is given the enlargement mode designation signal ZS, it determines that the image enlargement mode of the monitor screen is currently designated, and has the same count value output cycle as in normal times. However, the update speed of the count value is halved. Therefore, the read address signal RS with the same content is sent two times in a row.
will be output twice. The maximum count value in this enlargement mode is also stored in advance.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are diagrams for explaining the movement and enlargement of an image according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 3A to 3D are diagrams for explaining the timing of a video signal, a scanning signal, and a horizontal readout start signal during image enlargement according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 4(a) to 4(c) show the input/output timings of the horizontal read start signal, the write/read address signal, and the data read/written to the memory during image enlargement according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the contents.

Next, the movement and enlargement of an image on the monitor screen of the television monitor device shown in FIG. 1 will be explained.

If the television camera 1 shown in FIG. 1 takes an image of the visitor 2, and the visitor 2 is shown in the upper left corner of the monitor screen of the monitor unit 6 as shown in FIG. 2(a), then the photographer The user presses the right button and the lower button of the setting button 12 so that the image of the visitor is displayed in the center of the monitor screen. At this time, the monitor screen on the monitor unit 6 moves from the upper left screen set as shown in FIG. Become. At this time, writing and reading of image data in the memory 4 is performed as follows.

Note that, as shown in FIG. 2(b), the memory 4 has a two-dimensional pixel array, and the pixel array is (0,
0) to (m-1, n-1).

[0035] Setting button 1 on the television monitor device
If 2 is not operated and screen enlargement is not specified,
Address controller 10 responds to input of synchronization signal HV applied via synchronization separation circuit 13 to output write start signal W1, vertical read start signal VS, and horizontal read start signal HS. The write start signal W1 acts to cause the write address counter 8 to output a write address signal WS in synchronization with the sampling pulse SP. Further, the vertical read start signal VS and the horizontal read start signal HS act to cause the read address counter 9 to output a read address signal RS in synchronization with the sampling pulse SP.

Since the signal input side of the switch 7 is alternately switched in response to the sampling pulse SP, the write/read address signals W/
R contains the write address signal WS and read address signal RS alternately and is applied to the memory 4.

The memory 4 receives the digital video signal DS1 for each pixel obtained by sampling in synchronization with the sampling pulse SP in the A/D converter 3 at the previous stage, and the digital video signal DS1 is included in the write/read address signal W/R. Writes to the address specified by the write address signal WS, reads out the signal DS1 written immediately before by the read address signal RS included in the signal W/R given immediately after writing, and converts it into a digital video signal DS2. It operates to derive it.

The digital video signal DS2 is converted into a video signal AS2 via the D/A converter 5, and then displayed on a monitor screen in the monitor unit 6.

As described above, when enlargement of the subject is not desired, writing and reading of data for each pixel in the memory 4 is performed alternately in response to the switching operation of the switch 7. The screen is displayed on the monitor unit 6 while being updated for each field screen.

As described above, if the visitor 2 moves while the screen is being displayed, and the visitor 2 is displayed in the upper left corner of the screen as shown in FIG. First, the setting button 12 is operated so that the image of the person 2 is displayed in the center of the monitor screen. At this time, in order to move the visitor image in the upper left to the center, it is sufficient to move the image to the lower right, so the photographer presses the setting button
Press the right and down buttons. In response to pressing this button, the setting button 12 outputs a setting signal S1 including a signal indicating the screen movement direction and enlargement.

Note that the signal S1 moves and enlarges any of the lower left, upper left, upper right, and lower right partial screens of the same monitor screen, as shown in FIG.
It is assumed that the image will be projected in the center of the screen by multiplying the image. In other words, (
Extract only pixel data of size (0, 0) to (m-1, n-1) from 0, 0) to (m/2, n/2) and
It is sufficient to perform enlargement processing to correspond to . This can be achieved by controlling data reading and writing operations in the memory 4. Specifically, the setting signal S1 is given to the address controller 10. address controller 1
0 determines that a video signal is being captured by a television camera in response to being given a synchronization signal HV,
Furthermore, in response to the application of the setting signal S1, it is determined that movement and enlargement of the upper left screen in the lower right direction as shown in FIG. 2A is specified.

The address controller 10 inputs the applied synchronization signal HV, and accordingly controls the blanking area BL and valid area M of FIG. 3(a) included in the video signal AS1.
It is divided into U. In detail, address controller 1
0 acts to disable the outputs of the write address counter 8 and read address counter 9 in the blanking area BL, and activates the outputs of the counters 8 and 9 in the valid area MU. It acts to output a start signal W1, a vertical read start signal VS, and a horizontal read start signal HS.

As mentioned above, when the upper left part of the monitor screen in FIG. 3(a) is to be enlarged at the center of the screen, the video signal AS1 for one horizontal scanning line is used as shown in FIG. 3(b). For this, a horizontal synchronization signal HD as shown in FIG. 3(c) is extracted by the synchronization separation circuit 13 and provided to the address controller 10. The address controller 10 responds to the input of the synchronization signal HV including the setting signal S1 and the signal HD, so that the data corresponding to the expansion memory area MZ of FIG. 3(a) is transferred to the valid area of FIG. 2(b). As shown in FIG. 3(d), the horizontal read start signal HS is output so as to be expanded to cover the entire MU, excluding the blanking area BL. At this time, although not shown, a vertical read start signal VS is similarly outputted to designate the memory area MZ during expansion. Further, the address controller 10 outputs an enlargement mode designation signal ZS to give a signal to the read address counter 9 to enlarge the upper left image of the original image by four times.

As described above, in the horizontal direction, the rise timing of the horizontal read start signal HS during the horizontal synchronization signal HD period is variably adjusted based on the setting signal S1 output from the setting button 12. Although not shown,
Similarly, for the vertical direction, the vertical direction read start signal V
The rising timing of the vertical synchronization signal S in the VD period is variably adjusted based on the setting signal S1.

Now, the photographer desires to enlarge the upper left image, and as described above, the address controller 10
When the write address counter 8 outputs a signal, the write address counter 8 operates to write the digital video signal DS1 for each pixel into the memory 4 in response to the applied write start signal W1 as in the normal case described above. In parallel, the read address counter 9 operates from (0, 0) of the original image shown in FIG. 2(b) to double the upper left image of the original image.
A read address signal RS is output so that the pixel data stored in the area corresponding to (m/2, n/2) is read twice in both the horizontal and vertical directions and enlarged twice.

Note that when the read address counter 9 is given the enlargement mode designation signal ZS,
It is assumed that the counting operation continues up to a count value corresponding to 2, n/2).

Timing operations for reading and writing data in the memory 4 are shown in FIGS. 4(a) to 4(c). Regarding the horizontal direction, when the horizontal read start signal HS rises, the memory 4 receives the write address signal WS and the read address signal RS alternately by the read/write address signal W/R applied via the switch 7. Since it is specified, the digital video signal DS1 for each pixel
Writing and reading are performed alternately. At this time, the pixel data to be read is the signal R included in the signal W/R.
Since the image is read twice in succession by S, the image is enlarged twice in the horizontal direction during reading. Specifically, when the rising edge of the horizontal read start signal HS in FIG. 4(a) is detected, the W address (write address) is changed as in the normal case, as shown in FIG. 4(b). to 0
It is given while being incremented as 0→01→02→... On the other hand, the R address (read address) is 00 → 00 → 01 → 0 so that the data of the same pixel is read twice.
The same address is given twice in succession: 1→02... Therefore, at this time, the data W (write data) in the memory 4 is given as 00→01→02→... in synchronization with the write/read address signal W/R, as shown in FIG. 4(c). , data R (read data) is similarly synchronized with the write/read address signal W/R from 00→00→01→01→...
The same data will be read out twice in succession.

As described above, when screen enlargement is desired, the pixel data corresponding to the part for which enlargement is desired is written to the memory 4 so that it is immediately read twice. Since the write/read address signal W/R is output, the memory 4 has a memory capacity of one field.
Screen enlargement can be easily achieved. Therefore, the video signal obtained by imaging with the television camera 1 is written to the memory 4 in real time, and the image of the portion specified by the setting button 12 is moved to the center of the screen and enlarged. It will be read out and displayed.

The television monitor device can also move the enlarged screen in a designated direction while the setting button 12 continues to be pressed. This will be explained below.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a display example of a screen for explaining the continuous movement of an enlarged screen of a television monitor device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 6(a) to 6(f) are diagrams for explaining the timings of the video signal, the scanning signal, and the horizontal readout start signal when the screen shown in FIG. 5 continues to move.

When the setting button 12 continues to be pressed, the address controller 10 uses a timer 11 to measure the period during which the setting signal S1 output from the setting button 12 continues to be input. At this time, if the input is continuous for one field period (1/60 seconds) or more, the horizontal readout start signal HS and vertical readout start signal VS are changed to the rising timing of the signals gradually in the direction of the next field for each field. Output in a shifted manner. Therefore, if the right button of the setting button 12 is further pressed after enlarging the screen of FIG. 2(a) as described above, the screen of FIG. 2(a) can be expanded for each field as shown in FIG. The enlarged screen shifts to the right. Therefore, the face of visitor 2 gradually moves to the left of the monitor screen. At this time, Figure 6 (
As shown in c) to (f), the address controller 10 is arranged so that the rising edge of the horizontal read start signal HS appears gradually shifted toward the next field for each field in one horizontal synchronizing signal HD. controls its output. Therefore, the read address counter 9 performs a counting operation such that the read start address in the memory 4 is gradually shifted field by field in response to the input of the horizontal direction read start signal HS given by the output control of the address controller 10. Therefore, on the display screen of the monitor unit 6, the enlarged image of the visitor gradually shifts to the left field by field as shown in FIG.

Note that the enlarged screen can be moved in the right direction for each field in the same manner. Further, movement of the enlarged screen for each field in the upward and downward directions can be similarly realized by variably adjusting the rise timing of the vertical readout start signal VS within one vertical synchronization signal VD.

As described above, by continuing to press the setting button 12, the screen can be gradually moved in the direction specified by pressing the button as shown in FIG. The subject image can be moved to a desired position on the monitor screen while looking at the screen.

In the embodiment described above, the setting button 1
Although the movement direction of the subject image on the monitor screen is designated by the operation 2, the position on the screen of the part to be enlarged and displayed in the center may be designated by the operation of the setting button 12.

[0056]

[Effects of the Invention] According to the television monitor device according to the present invention, the photographer can manually move and enlarge the screen on the monitor screen by operating the specifying means while viewing the monitor screen by the monitor means. Therefore, there is an effect that the screen can be moved and enlarged as desired. In other words, the access control means activated by the externally operated designation means controls only the signal of the portion desired by the designation means of the video signal for each pixel obtained by the imaging means stored in the storage means. Controlling the access means so that each pixel is read out multiple times in succession,
The monitor means inputs the read signal as a second video signal via the second conversion means, and displays the signal on the monitor accordingly. Therefore, the desired subject image is accurately enlarged and displayed in the center of the monitor screen in real time.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a television monitor device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are diagrams for explaining movement and enlargement of an image according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 3A to 3D are diagrams for explaining the timing of a video signal, a scanning signal, and a horizontal readout start signal during image enlargement according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 4(a) to 4(c) illustrate a horizontal read start signal and a write/write signal during image enlargement according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the input/output timing of a read address signal and the contents of data read/written to/from a memory.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a display example of a screen for explaining continuous movement of an enlarged screen of a television monitor device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

6A to 6F are diagrams for explaining the timing of a video signal, a scanning signal, and a horizontal readout start signal when the screen shown in FIG. 5 continues to move; FIG.

FIG. 7 is a schematic configuration diagram of a conventional television monitor device.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 TV camera 4 Memory 6 Monitor section 7 Switch 8 Write address counter 9 Read address counter 10 Address controller 12 Setting buttons AS1 and AS2 Video signals DS1 and DS2 Digital video signal ZS Enlargement mode designation signal S1 Setting signal HS Horizontal read start signal VS Vertical read start signal WS Write address signal RS Read address signal W/R Write/read address signal W1 Write start signal Note that in each figure, the same reference numerals indicate the same or corresponding parts.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An imaging means; a first conversion means for inputting a first video signal obtained by imaging by the imaging means and converting it into a digital signal for each pixel;
storage means for storing the digital signal converted by the conversion means; access means for alternately writing and reading out the digital signal in the storage means for each pixel; designation means for designating a readout portion of the digital signal that has been read out; and a designation device that is activated in response to the designation by the designation device and causes the signal corresponding to the designated portion to be read out multiple times in succession for each digital signal of each pixel. access control means for controlling the access means, second conversion means for converting the digital signal read by the access means into an analog signal and outputting a second video signal, and conversion by the second conversion means; and monitor means for displaying the second video signal on a monitor.