JPH0437376A - Video camera with still pickup function - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent inversion of a pickup time by continuing pickup image recording with the storage of a still picture only in the stage when a 1st contact is closed and rewinding a magnetic tape and starting the recording of the still picture in the stage when a 2nd contact is closed. CONSTITUTION:When the operator operates a 2-stage shutter 13 into a 1st release state and the state is maintained, a process circuit 2 sends a composite signal resulting from conversion of a component signal fed from a matrix circuit 1 to a video section output terminal 12 and also sends it to an A/D converter 3. The A/D converter 3 converts the signal into a digital signal, it is fed to a video memory 4. The memory 4 stores it as still picture information. When the shutter 13 is set to a 2nd release state, the process circuit 2 uses a control signal fed from a system controller 7 so as to replace a signal having been sent to the output terminal 12 so far into a composite signal resulting from the conversion of still picture information fed from a digital signal processing section 6.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a video camera with a still image capture function that can also capture still images while capturing a moving image.

[Conventional technology - When recording the image information of a moving image being shot with a video camera on a magnetic tape, there is a case where it is desired to record the image of one scene during shooting on the magnetic tape as a still image. I have a request.

One way to realize these demands is to provide a video camera with a shutter for capturing still images, and also provide a memory within the video camera device to store one screen worth of captured image information, that is, field information. One possible method is to read field information of an image continuously from the memory for a certain period of time and record the still image information on a magnetic tape.

The operation of the video camera configured in this way is shown below. The shutter is a shutter that performs two-stage operation, and the shutter is in a half-pressed state (hereinafter referred to as the second release state) in which only half of the shutter stroke is pressed. Information on the photographed image that is desired to be recorded on the magnetic tape as a still image is written into the memory, and the still image is displayed on, for example, a viewfinder for the operator to confirm. Then, when the operator judges that the still image is suitable, the operator enters the fully pressed state (hereinafter referred to as the second
In this state, the still image information is continuously read out from the memory for a certain period of time, and the read still image information is recorded on the magnetic tape.

[Problem to be Solved by the Invention] However, when the above-mentioned operation is performed, the magnetic tape is operating in a moving image recording state from the first release state to the second release state. Therefore, video image information continues to be recorded on magnetic tape. When the second release state is reached, the still image information at the time of the first release state is recorded on the magnetic tape. Therefore, when the magnetic tape is played back after recording and the photographed image is displayed on the screen, the still image information The image information of the video that was displayed on the screen immediately before the display of the still image and the still image are reversed in the captured time, meaning that the video information that was taken later is displayed on the screen before the still image, making it difficult to use. The problem was that it gave people a sense of discomfort.

The present invention was made in order to solve these problems, and it is possible to record still images on magnetic tape while shooting a moving image, and it is possible to record still images on a magnetic tape while still shooting a still image, and there is no reversal of the shooting time between moving images and still images. The purpose is to provide a video camera with functions.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention provides a two-stage switch having first and second contacts, photographed image information converted into an electric signal, and still image information sent out by a digital signal processing section. a process circuit that converts either the photographed image information or the still image information into a predetermined signal and sends it out using a control signal sent from the control section; a digital signal processing section that quantizes photographed image information supplied from the camera, stores it as still image information, and sends it to the process circuit; and a control unit configured to send a control signal to the process circuit, the digital signal processing unit, and the video unit according to the contact states of the first and second contacts of the two-stage switch. It is characterized by

[Function] The digital signal processing unit quantizes the captured image information supplied from the process circuit using the control signal sent by the control unit when the first contact of the two-stage switch is operated to the on state, and converts it into a still image. It is stored as image information, and this still image information is sent to the process circuit.

When the first contact is turned on, the process circuit converts the photographed image information into a predetermined signal using a control signal sent by the control section, and sends out the signal.

When the second contact of the two-stage switch is turned on, the still image information is converted into a predetermined signal and sent out using a control signal sent from the control section.

When the first contact is turned on, the video means runs the magnetic tape in the forward running direction in response to a control signal sent by the control unit, and transfers the photographed image information sent by the process circuit to the magnetic tape. Let it be recorded. In addition, when the second contact is operated to the ON state, the control signal sent from the control unit rewinds the magnetic tape to the point corresponding to the time when the first contact was operated, and this rewinding is also performed. During this period, recording to the magnetic tape is stopped. After the above rewinding is completed,
The video means records the still image information on the magnetic tape by running the magnetic tape in the forward running direction.

[Example] Charge-coupled device (hereinafter referred to as CCD) that converts a captured image into an electrical signal
), and the luminance (Y) signal and color difference (R-Y, B-Y
The output side of the matrix circuit 1 which creates a component signal consisting of ) signals is connected to a process circuit 2 which encodes the component signal and creates a composite signal in accordance with, for example, the NTSC system. The output side of the process circuit 2 is connected via a video section output terminal 12 to an A/D converter 3 and a video section (not shown) that performs operations such as recording captured image information on a magnetic tape.

The output side of an A/D converter 3 that digitally converts the composite signal supplied from the process circuit 2 is connected to a video memory 4 consisting of a dynamic RAM (D-RAM). The video memory 4 includes the above-mentioned first and second
The system controller 7 to which the two-stage shutter 13 that performs the release operation is connected is set to the first release state by a control signal sent by the controller 9 based on a control signal sent when the operator operates the shutter to the first release state. At this time, digitally converted photographic image information for one field supplied from the A/D converter 3 is stored as still image information. The output side of the video memory 4 is connected to the process circuit 2 described above via the D/A converter 5, and after the video memory 4 stores still image information as described above, the controller 9 sends out the still image information. The stored still image information continues to be output to the process circuit 2 via the D/A converter 5 in accordance with the control signal. still,
The A/D converter 3, video memory 4 and D/D converter 3 described above
The A converter 5 forms a digital signal processing section 6. Also, if the operator does not shift to the second release state,
When the first Luries state is also canceled, the controller 9 sends a signal to the video memory 4 to stop sending out the still image information in response to a control signal sent by the system controller 7, and the still image is transferred from the video memory 4. There will be no more information sent.

As is clear from the above description, photographed image information is supplied to the process circuit 2 from the matrix circuit 1 regardless of whether or not the operator operates the two-stage shutter 13, and the operator also operates the two-stage shutter 13. When the camera is operated to the first release state, still image information is supplied from the digital signal processing section 6.

That is, when the operator is not operating the two-stage glosser 13 and when the operator is operating it in the Lullies state, the process circuit 2 is supplied with a control signal supplied from the matrix circuit 1 by the system controller 7. Photographed image information is sent to the video section via the video section output terminal 12, and when the operator operates the two-stage shutter 13 to the second release state, the information is sent to the video section output terminal 12 by a control signal supplied from the system controller 7. The information to be sent to is changed from the photographed image information to still image information supplied from the digital signal processing section 6.

The system controller 7 also includes a servo circuit 8 connected to the capstan motor IO for transporting the magnetic tape and controlling the rotation of the capstan motor IO when the two-stage shutter 13 is operated to the second release state by the operator.
In response, a control signal is sent to change the running of the magnetic tape from the forward running direction to the reverse direction and rewind the magnetic tape to the point corresponding to the point in time when the operator operated the two-stage shutter 13 to the first release state. . Furthermore, during the time required for rewinding the magnetic tape as described above, the system controller 7 sends a control signal to the recording amplifier 11 to stop recording so as not to send recorded information to the rotating magnetic head that records information on the magnetic tape. Send.

The operation of the video camera with a still photographing function configured as described above will be explained below.

When the operator selects to shoot a moving image in the normal shooting state, that is, when the operator does not operate the two-stage glosser 13, the signal is converted into an electrical signal by the CCD and converted into a component signal by the matrix circuit 1. The captured image information is sent to the process circuit 2. Since the two-stage shutter 13 is not operated, the process circuit 2 uses the control signal supplied from the system controller 7 to convert the component signal of the captured image information supplied from the matrix circuit 1 into a composite signal, and converts this into a composite signal. Video section output terminal 12
It is sent to the video department via. Therefore, in the video section, the photographed image information sent from the recording amplifier 11 from the track TI (indicated by T in pronunciation) shown in FIG. 2 to the track T3 is recorded on the magnetic tape by the rotating magnetic head.

Next, when the operator operates the two-stage shutter 13 to the Lullies state and maintains this state while the moving image is being recorded as described above, the system controller 7 sends a control signal to that effect to the process circuit 2. and sends it to the controller 9. Therefore, the process circuit 2 sends a composite signal obtained by converting the component signal supplied from the matrix circuit 1 to the video section output terminal 12 as described above, and also sends it to the A/D converter 3.

The A/D converter 3 digitally converts the supplied composite signal and sends it to the video memory 4. The video memory 4 stores a single frame that is supplied to the process circuit 2 and digitally converted by the A/D converter 3 when the operator operates the second-stage shutter I3 to the Lullies state using a control signal sent by the controller 9. The captured image information corresponding to the number of images is stored as still image information. After the captured image information is stored, the video memory 4 is
The stored still image information for one minute of l-feel is stored in D.
continues to be sent to the process circuit 2 via the /A converter 5. As mentioned above, in the Luries state, the composite signal of the captured image information sent from the matrix circuit I is sent from the process circuit 2 to the video section output terminal 12, so as shown in FIG. The moving image information transmitted by the matrix circuit 1 is also recorded on the magnetic tape from the track T4 after the operation to the Lullies state. Further, the digital signal processing unit 6 is the photographed image information when the operation is performed in the Lullies state.
The still image information supplied to the process circuit 2 is visually displayed on, for example, a viewfinder, and by checking this, the operator can decide whether or not to record the still image information on the magnetic tape. .

When the operator wishes to record the still image information, the operator operates the two-stage shutter 13 to the second release state. Therefore, the system controller 7 sends control signals to the process circuit 2, servo circuit 8, and recording amplifier 11 based on the output signal of the two-stage shank 13.

The process circuit 2 uses a control signal supplied from the system controller 7 to convert the signal previously sent to the video section output terminal I2 into a digital signal processing section that converts the composite signal obtained by converting the component signal supplied from the matrix circuit 1 into a digital signal processing section. The still image information supplied from 6 is switched to a converted component signal. Therefore, a composite signal of still image information is sent from the process circuit 2 to the video section via the video section output terminal 12.

On the other hand, in response to a control signal sent by the system controller 7, the servo circuit 8 stops the running of the magnetic tape, and then the magnetic head rotates on the track T4 at the point in time when the first Luries state shown in FIG. 2 is operated. A control signal is sent to the capstan motor 10 to rewind the magnetic tape to the position A so that it can be scanned in the next step. Therefore, the magnetic tape is rewound to the above position A. In order to prevent the composite signal of the still image information supplied to the video section from being recorded on the magnetic tape during the time required for rewinding the magnetic tape (this stops transmitting signals while the magnetic tape is being rewound by a control signal supplied from the system controller 7.

Then, when the magnetic tape is rewound to the position of the E memory, the servo circuit 8 causes the capstan motor 10 to run the magnetic tape in the forward running direction in response to a control signal from the system controller 7, and starts running the magnetic tape. At the same time, the recording amplifier 11 starts transmitting the still image information signal according to a control signal from the system controller 7.

Therefore, still image information is recorded on the magnetic tape for a preset time from track T4 shown in FIG. 2A. In this way, when the first Luries state is operated and the second release state is subsequently operated, still image information is recorded on the magnetic tape from the moment the first Luries state is operated, so the recorded information is played back and displayed on the screen. In this case, no temporal reversal phenomenon occurs in the reproduced image.

Note that if the second release state is not operated after the first release state is operated, the signal is continuously sent from the matrix circuit 1 via the process circuit 2 even after the first release state is operated as described above. The captured image information of the moving image is recorded on the magnetic tape. When the operator cancels the operation in the Lullies state, the digital signal processing section 6 receives control signals from the system controller 7 and the controller 9.
The sending of the still image information to the process circuit 2 is then completed.

In the above embodiment, the operator maintains the second-stage shutter 13 in the half-pressed state in order to maintain the Lullies state, but under the control of the system controller 7, -
When the operation is performed in the first Lullies state, the operator then
Even if the hand is released from the stage shutter 13, the first release state is maintained for a predetermined time, and if the operator operates the second release state within this predetermined time, the above-mentioned still image information is recorded, and the second release state is maintained. If the 2-release state is not operated, the initial state may be restored.

[Effects of the Invention] As detailed above, according to the present invention, when the operator attempts to record still image information on a magnetic tape, digital signal processing is performed at the stage when the first contact of the two-stage switch is operated. By simply storing still image information on the magnetic tape, recording of photographed image information continues on the magnetic tape. Then, at the stage when the second contact is operated, the magnetic tape is rewound to the point corresponding to the point in time when the still image information was stored in the digital signal processing section, and recording of the still image information on the magnetic tape is started from that point. With this configuration, still image information can be recorded on the magnetic tape while a moving image is being shot, and a reversal phenomenon of shooting time between moving images and still images does not occur.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the video camera with methyl photography function of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is for explaining the state of recording information on a magnetic tape to be sent by the video camera shown in FIG. 1. This is a diagram. 2 Process circuit, 4...Video memory, 6-Digital signal processing section, 7 System controller, 9-Controller.

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) A two-stage switch having first and second contacts is supplied with photographed image information converted into an electrical signal and still image information sent out by a digital signal processing section, and converted into a control signal sent out by a control section. a process circuit that converts either the photographed image information or the still image information into a predetermined signal and sends it; and a process circuit that quantizes the photographed image information supplied from the process circuit at a time instructed by the control signal. a digital signal processing unit that stores still image information and sends it to the process circuit; a video unit that controls the running direction of the magnetic tape and the recording operation on the magnetic tape according to the control signal; A video camera with a still photographing function, comprising: a control section that sends a control signal to the process circuit, the digital signal processing section, and the video means according to the contact states of the first and second contacts.