JPH04336887A - Video printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To attain re-retrieval of a specific pattern on a medium in which lots of patterns are recorded by converting additional information into a signal from equal to that of video information, synthesizing video signals, selecting whether or not additional information is to be outputted so as to select the additional information at the time of printing. CONSTITUTION:Movie information, control information and an additional data transferred from a VTR 1 to a video printer 3 via a data bus are inputted to a memory section 31 and a control section 32. Date time information and comment information inputted from a video camera 11 are converted into a video signal by a synthesis signal generating section 38 and it is synthesized with still picture information outputted from the memory section 31 by a synthesizer 37 when a switch 391 is closed and printed on a print paper sheet 4 by a print picture section 33. On the other hand, the information is sent to a print section 34 when a switch 392 is closed and recorded to an area other than the print picture of the print picture section 33 of the paper 4. Moreover, the additional data is subjected to production processing by a bar code signal generator 341 and recorded on the paper 4 by the print section 34. The three kinds of recording are executed by a paper carrying mechanism 334 under the control of the control section 32.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a video printer device for printing a screen corresponding to a video signal reproduced from a video tape recorder.

0002

[Prior Art] With the spread of video tape recorders (hereinafter referred to as VTRs) such as camera-type video tape recorders and stationary video tape recorders, these VTRs
There is a desire to obtain color prints from video signals reproduced from.

Generally, when printing a screen corresponding to a video signal played back from a VTR using a printer, the desired screen in the playback signal from the VTR is captured into a memory in the printer, and the video data is output from this memory at a predetermined speed. is read out and printed out.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing this type of conventional system, in which 81 is a VTR, 82 is a monitor, and 83 is a video printer. The operation of printing a desired screen out of a large number of screens recorded on a tape will be briefly described below.

First, the VTR 81 is placed in a playback mode, and a playback video signal from the VTR 81 is supplied to the monitor 82 and printer 83. While checking the screen displayed on the monitor 82, the operator operates the operation section of the printer 83 at the timing when a desired screen is displayed. In response to this operation, the control section 85 stores data for one frame or one field (hereinafter simply one field) in the memory section 84.
control to record a video signal for a screen (referred to as a screen). After the memory section 84 captures the video signal for one screen, the control section 85 controls the memory section 84 to read out the video signal at a predetermined speed corresponding to the printing speed of the printing section 86. As a result, the printing section 86 can print the desired screen. Note that conventionally, the video signal supplied from the VTR 81 to the printer 83 is generally an analog video signal. Additionally, additional information such as the date and time is superimposed on this video signal in advance, and information such as the shooting date and time is often displayed during playback.

When printing in this way, even when printing multiple screens on the same tape,
After selecting one screen, it takes a relatively long time to print each page, about one minute, and then the next screen must be selected and the same operation repeated. Therefore, when printing a large number of images, the operator must remain at the printing device and operate the system until all of the images have been printed.

[0007]Furthermore, when a user wants to reprint a screen that has been printed once, it is almost impossible to select the same screen again. In other words, using the NTSC system as an example, a VTR records a video signal of approximately 30 frames or 60 fields per second as a moving image, so 12
On a tape capable of recording 0 minutes, approximately 430,000 fields of images are recorded on each tape, and it is impossible to re-search for a specific screen from among these.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION As described above, the conventional video printer apparatus has the following problems when printing a screen corresponding to a video signal.

[0009] One problem is that additional signals such as date and time superimposed on the video signal cannot be deleted even if they are unnecessary. Another problem is that it is almost impossible to search again for a specific screen on a medium in which a large number of screens are recorded.

The present invention has been made in response to the above-mentioned problems, and allows the selection of unnecessary additional information when printing, and also makes it easy to select a specific screen on a medium on which a large number of screens are recorded. It is an object of the present invention to provide a video printer device that allows re-searching.

[0011]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a video printer device that prints a screen corresponding to a video signal reproduced from a video tape recorder, which includes a printing means for printing video information; The apparatus includes a signal converting means for converting additional information into a signal form equivalent to the video information, and a signal synthesizing means for combining the converted signal with the signal of the video information, and it is possible to select whether or not to output the additional information. It is characterized by this.

The present invention also provides a video printer device that prints a screen corresponding to a video signal reproduced from a video tape recorder, which includes printing means for printing video information, printing means for printing additional information, and the additional information. The apparatus includes a signal converting means for converting information into a signal form equivalent to video information, and a signal synthesizing means for combining the converted signal with the signal of the video information, and outputs the additional information using either a printing means or a printing means. This feature is characterized in that it is possible to select whether or not to do so.

[0013]

[Operation] After converting additional information such as date and time into a signal format equivalent to video information, this converted signal is combined with the video signal. Next, select whether to output additional information. This eliminates the need to impose and synthesize additional information on the video signal in advance, and whether or not to display the additional information can be selected at the time of printout. Furthermore, it becomes possible to re-search for a specific screen on a medium in which a large number of screens are recorded.

[0014]

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

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing a recording pattern on a tape, which is a recording medium used in an 8 mm VTR to which the present invention is applied.

The video signal 18 is sent to the rotating drum 206 of the VTR.
A total of 185 degrees of analog signal section (video area VA) including 0 degrees and 5 degrees of scan end section, PCM (pulse code modulation) data (audio area AA), and this terminal section (
A total of 4 digital signal sections of additional data for area PA)
The tape T is loaded three times for a total of 228 degrees. In other words, ■Still images converted into PCM data (
SV) information is recorded at approximately 35 degrees in the center of area AA.

[0017] Additional information such as time-coded shooting date and time is recorded in 40 bits of words (WD) WD0 to WD4 each consisting of 8 bits in the rear data area of area PA.

The combination of (1) and (2) makes it possible to search for a desired specific screen from among a large number of screens regarding high-quality digital still image information.

First, the general flow of the operation of the video print system will be explained with reference to FIG.

Video information and additional data such as control signals and date/time information transferred from the VTR 1 to the video printer 3 via a data bus for a digital I/F (interface) are stored in a memory section 31 and a control section 32, respectively. is input. This control section 32 performs data selection and operation control.

Date and time information and comment information input from the character generator of the video camera 11 are converted into video signals by the composite signal generator 38 in order to be visualized as video signals, and when the switch 391 is closed, the comment information is converted by the composite signal generator 37 to It is combined with the still image information output from the memory section 31 and printed on the print paper 4 by the printing section 33.

On the other hand, the same information as described above is supplied to the printing section 34 when the switch 392 is closed, and is normally recorded on the printing paper 4 other than the printing area of the printing section 33 by the printing head. Of course, print within the printing area,
Composite printing may also be performed on the print paper 4.

Furthermore, the additional data WD0 to WD1 may be generated as digital binary information by the bar code signal generator 341, and recorded onto the print paper 4 by the printing section 34. When recording, the switch 393 is controlled to be closed.

In this way, the above three types of recording are performed on the same paper 4, but paper feeding and positioning are controlled by the control section 32.
This is executed by the paper feeding mechanism 334 under the control of.

In addition, a calendar & clock 36 is built in to perform time-related processing such as the date and time at the time of printout and overall timer control, and this processing is performed by the additional information processing circuit 35 using the
It is processed together with other data.

The switches 39 (391 to 393) are operated by an operating section 321 that handles manual operation buttons such as the mode changeover switch 30 provided on the printer 3. The operation contents are detected by the operating section 321 and processed by the control section 32. ) is selectively processed as a signal. In addition, the sensor part 322 is printed in the example of FIG. 6 (composite mode).
This is a detection processor that is responsible for reading the barcode information shown at the bottom left of the screen. The above operations and operations are performed while being checked on the video and audio (AV) monitor 2 connected to the VTR 1.

Next, an overview of a digital still image recording system called PCM-SV will be explained with reference to FIG.

The video signal captured and output by the video camera 41 is converted into three types of signals: Y (luminance), RY (red color difference), and B-Y (blue color difference) by the signal processing circuit 42. After being converted, each A/D converter 431 to 43
3 into a digital signal. Subsequently, the three types of signals are processed by the time division multiplexing circuit 43 to become serial data, and stored in the memory 44, for example, as shown in "MAP". Writing to the memory 44 is performed at a high video rate, while reading is performed at a low bit rate in accordance with the audio rate of the PCM circuit 45 at the subsequent stage.

Writing/reading of these memories 44 (R/
W) and addresses are controlled by the system control circuit 49 and the memory control circuit 441 that receives it. Still image data that has been subjected to such data rate conversion is
The data is recorded on a magnetic tape 48 by a recording (REC) amplifier 46 and a rotary head 47 of the VTR. This PCM-SV
The data corresponds to 43 degrees near the start end in the scanning direction on the recording pattern in FIG.

Next, a specific example of executing printout will be explained.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the general structure of a VTR as an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of the entire system including the VTR of FIG. In Figure 1, 1 is V
The input video signal is, for example, a VTR.
It is assumed that a captured video signal from an integrated video camera 11 and a video signal from a stationary VTR 12 are used, and in this example, the VTR 1 shown in FIG. 2 corresponds to the recorder portion of the stationary VTR 12, for example. Note that the configuration shown in FIG. 2 can also be used as a recorder part in the VTR-integrated video camera 11.

The video signal reproduced by the VTR 1 is supplied to the monitor 2 as an analog signal. The operator operates the VTR 12 while viewing the image displayed on the monitor 2. That is, when the desired screen to be printed approaches, the desired screen is played by operating the pause button 120 or the well-known jog/shuttle dial 121 that freely changes the playback speed, and by fast forwarding, rewinding, slow playback, etc. Feed the tape until the desired screen is displayed, then stop the tape. In this embodiment, the print designation button 122 is operated with the desired screen displayed, and processing data for printing is recorded on the tape.

[0033] Such an operation will be explained in detail below with reference to FIG. 2.

First, the VTR 12 is put into playback mode by operating the key operation unit 200 shown in FIG. At this time, the system controller 201 controls each part of the apparatus according to control signals from the key operation section 200. For example, the system controller 201 controls a capstan motor 203 and a drum motor 204 via a servo circuit 202, and controls switches 209, 210, 212 via a selection signal generator 225.
a, 212b, 214, 215, and 220. Of course, in this playback mode, the dial 121,
The playback speed is changed as appropriate by operating the pause button 120 or the like. This change can be realized by changing the rotation speed of the capstan motor 203, and further, by changing the rotation speed of the drum motor 204, the relative speed between the heads Ha, Hb and the tape T can be kept constant. It is assumed that the difference in inclination between the head trace locus and the track is always compensated for by the head moving mechanisms Ma and Mb. In such a playback mode, the playback video signals from the recording and playback heads Ha and Hb provided on the drum 206 are converted into continuous signals through the PB side terminals of the switches 212a and 212b, the amplifiers 213a and 213b, and further through the switch 214. The signal is then input to the video reproduction signal processing circuit 218. The video signal from this video playback signal processing circuit 218 is connected to the PB side of the switch 220 and the N side of the switch 229.
output to monitor 2 via the side.

On the other hand, the digital data reproduced from the audio area AA and data area PA in FIG. The converter 230 converts it into an analog signal and outputs it, and if it is still image data, it is temporarily stored in the image memory 217 via the SV side terminal of the switch 251.

The operator searches for a desired screen by operating the dial 121 and the like while checking the output image of the monitor 2. Then, at the timing when a desired screen is displayed, the pause button 120 is operated to put the VTR 12 into still image playback mode. In this state, cue signal input button 122
When operated, this information is sent from the key operation unit 200 to the system controller 201. The operations described above are related to screen selection.

By rewriting the header portion of the track corresponding to the selected screen in this way to the INDEX state for cueing, the screen specification can be recorded on the tape. This corresponds to the head 1.26H of the PA section in FIG. By detecting this cue signal, it becomes possible to easily search even when it is desired to print the same screen again.

In addition, printer control data (hereinafter referred to as print data) such as the number of prints is generated by the print data generator 224, sent to the code data encoder 208, and similarly sent to the display signal generator 222. . Here, the reproduced video signal outputted via the switch 220 and the output signal of the display signal generator 222 corresponding to the print data are mixed in an adder 226, and characters indicating the print data are added to the image to be printed. A video signal corresponding to the multiplexed screen is converted into a digital signal by an A/D converter 227. A/D converter 2
The output of 27 is supplied to the image memory 217, but at this time, the print data generator 224 is connected to the memory control circuit 216.
According to the instruction, one frame worth of video signal is taken in from the A/D converter 227 and read out repeatedly. As a result, the video signal from the image memory 217 is converted into an analog signal by the A/D converter 223 and output to the monitor 2 via the S side of the switch 229.

Normally, when the VTR shown in FIG. 2 is in the recording mode, the video signal input to the video recording signal processing circuit 207 is converted into a signal form suitable for recording and supplied to the switch 210. On the other hand, the audio signal or still image data digitized by the A/D converter 230D is also read out from the image memory 217 after being reduced to a data rate equivalent to that of the audio signal.
0 indicates the AUD terminal for audio, and the S terminal for still images.
Selection of the V terminal is performed. This selected signal or data is encoded by code data encoder 208 and provided to switch 210 via normally closed switch 209. The switch 210 connects the video recording signal processing circuit 207 to the amplifiers 211a and 211b during the period when the heads Ha and Hb trace the video area VA in FIG. Code data encoder 208 to amplifier 211
a, 211b.

When recording, the switch 209 is controlled by the signal C3 from the selection signal generator 225, and the head H
It is turned on only during the period when a and Hb are traced. In addition, the switches 212a and 212 are switched only during this period by the signal C1.
2b is connected to the REC side. This allows data encoded by the code data encoder 208, cue signals, time codes such as date and time information, etc. to be recorded in the data area PA on the tape T.

Data area PA is 1.5H of video signal.
(Horizontal scanning period). That is, the aforementioned switch 209 is turned on only during the period corresponding to this 1.5H. As shown in FIG. 3, this 1.5H area is divided into a 1.26H header section and a 0.24H data section. A cue signal, which will be described later, is recorded in the header section, and the above data is recorded in the data section. As shown in FIG. 3, the data section includes five words WD0 to WD4, start identification data S, end identification data E, and a CRC for error correction.
C is recorded. Each word WD0 to WD4 consists of 8 bits, and the contents of each word are as shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 a shows the shooting date, day of the week, and error correction code in date mode, FIG. 5 b shows the shooting time, minute and second, frame number, and error correction code in time mode, and FIG. In this mode, hours, minutes, and seconds from the beginning of the tape, frame number, and error correction are each expressed in 8 bits. Note that each mode in FIG. 5 may be selected as appropriate, or a plurality of modes (for example, a and c in FIG. 5) may be alternately recorded on the track.

A cue signal indicating the print position is recorded in the INDEX area. At this time, the system controller 201 drives the capstan motor 203 at the same speed as during normal recording, and records a cue signal for 10 seconds in the header section. For example, the header section usually has a frequency of 2.9MHz.
The carrier signal is 5 in the part corresponding to the above 10 seconds.
．． An 8 MHz carrier signal is recorded.

Next, an explanation will be given of the operation when printing the print designation screen from the tape on which the print designation screen has been set in this manner.

First, when a tape with a print designation screen set is loaded into the VTR 12 and a print command is issued using the key operation unit 200, the system controller 201 drives the capstan motor 203 and drum motor 204 via the servo circuit 202. Then, while transporting the tape T at high speed, the signal from the print data area PA is reproduced. At this time, the switches 212a and 212b are connected to the PB side, and the switch 214 connects the amplifiers 213a and 213b to the code data decoder side. The switch 215 is turned on at the timing when the heads Ha and Hb trace the print data area PA, and the code data decoder 219
outputs "1" as a cue signal when the reproduction signal of the header section is 5.8 MHz. This cue signal is “1”
”, the system controller 201
stops the conveyance of the tape T. After this tape T stops,
Print the playback screen as shown below.

When the tape T is stopped, the heads Ma and Mb on the head moving mechanism each trace the recorded track of the designated screen, and the reproduced video signal at this time is sent to the video reproduction signal processing circuit 218 and the adder 226. ,A/
The image is taken into the image memory 217 via the D converter 227. In addition, the print data is sent to the code data decoder 219.
The signal is input to the printer control signal generator 221 which functions as an interface. When these captures are completed, the data stored in the image memory 217 and the print control data output from the printer control signal generator 221 are transferred to the printer data bus 228.

The printer 3 prints the video data from the printer data bus 228 according to the control data, and when printing is completed, sends data to the data bus 228 indicating the end of printing. The print completion data from the printer 3 is sent to the system controller 201 via the printer control signal generator 221, and accordingly, the VTR 12
starts transporting the tape at high speed in order to search for the next specified screen.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show examples of print applications output from the system according to such an embodiment.

FIG. 6 shows an example of printing when the video composition mode is selected by the mode changeover switch 30. In FIG. 1, a digital video signal is supplied to a memory section 31 and control data is supplied to a control section 32 from the VTR section 1 via a data bus. When printing the date and time in the video composition mode described above, the switch 391 is connected to the terminal MIX side. The date and time information output from the control section 32 is converted into a video signal by the composite signal generation section 38, and superimposed on the video signal output from the memory section 31 by the synthesizer 37. This combined state is printed out to the video area by the printing section 33.

In FIG. 6, the print data of WD0 to WD4 described above is recorded in the lower left part as a bar code. If the printer 3 is provided with the function of recording and reproducing this barcode, it becomes possible to search for the original video signal on the tape T from this printout.

FIG. 7 shows an example of printing when the character separation mode is selected by the mode changeover switch 30. To execute this print mode, switch 392 is connected to terminal SEPA. The additional information processed by the control section 32 is printed by the printing section 34 in areas other than the video area. In this example, the shooting date is extracted from the time code recorded in the subcode area (PA period in FIG. 3) by the video camera 11, and the time information of the calendar & clock unit 36 in the printer 3 is used The shooting date and printing date shown in the lower part of FIG. 7 can be printed out separately from the video.

In addition to the shooting date, the frame number from the beginning of the tape can be recorded in the time code in the print data WD0 to WD4, but by using this information, the video signal on the tape T and the PCM - SV recorded portions can be easily searched. Further, if additional information such as the date is not required, it can be easily realized by turning off the switch 39.

In the above-described embodiments, a tape-shaped medium is used as the medium, but the medium is not limited to this, and may be a disk-shaped medium, or may be in another form, such as a solid-state memory. Further, in this embodiment, a television signal is taken as an example of the video signal, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a still image such as an electronic file may be used.

[0054]

As described above, according to the present invention, there are provided printing means for printing video information, signal conversion means for converting additional information into a signal form equivalent to the video information, and converting the converted signal into the video signal. By making it possible to select whether or not to output the additional information, there is no need to impose and combine additional information such as date and time on the video signal in advance on the premise of printing out. Since the display or non-display of the image can be selected at the time of printing out, the degree of freedom in image expression can be increased. Furthermore, since a dedicated print head for black and white binary character data can be used instead of a thermal transfer printing system for images, other additional information can also be clearly output. In addition, a barcode can also be printed out using the black and white printing means at the print end, so it can be used also as a barcode printer.

Furthermore, the above barcode can be used to make it possible to re-search for a specific screen on a medium in which a large number of screens are recorded.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overview of a system of a video printer device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an outline of a VTR as an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a recording pattern on a tape of a VTR implemented in the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a PCM-SV used in the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of an example of time code recording implemented in the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an example of printing in a compositing mode implemented in the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an example of printing in separation mode implemented in the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating a conventional system for performing video printing.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 VTR (video tape recorder) 2 Monitor 3 Video printer 4 Print paper 11,41 Video camera 31 Memory section 32 Control section 33 Printing Department 34 Printing section 200 Key operation section 201 System controller

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A video printer device that prints a screen corresponding to a video signal reproduced from a video tape recorder, comprising a printing means for printing video information, and a signal converter for converting additional information into a signal form equivalent to the video information. 1. A video printer apparatus, comprising: a means for combining a converted signal with a signal of said video information; 2. A video printer device that prints a screen corresponding to a video signal reproduced from a video tape recorder, comprising: printing means for printing video information; printing means for printing additional information; and a signal synthesis means for synthesizing the converted signal with the video information signal,
A video printer device characterized in that it is possible to select whether to output the additional information using printing means or printing means.