JPH05110937A - Shooting and recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To always obtain reproduced image having natural hue by shooting plural images while changing white balance setting each time one still picture is shot by using plural white balance setting values set before shooting. CONSTITUTION:This device is a video camera provided with VTR equipped with image pickup optical systems 101-105 image pickup element 106, and white balance circuit 129 or the like, and the plural still pictures are recorded in a magnetic tape 140 by changing the plural white balance values in respect to one time of release in the case of still picture recording. Namely, the current white balance value decided by a hue control (automatic white balance) function for moving image shooting and the plural white balance values quantatively changing a primary color signal mixing rate are set, and the plural still pictures are obtained by executing shooting in respect to each white balance. This setting of the white balance is executed by a microcomputer 119 corresponding to the state signal of a signal processing circuit 133.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a photographing / recording apparatus such as a video tape recorder integrated video camera capable of recording a still image together with a moving image, and more particularly to white balance control during still image photographing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, in the field of magnetic recording, there is an increasing demand for high-density recording, and even in a video tape recorder (VTR), the tape traveling speed is reduced to perform higher-density magnetic recording. Is coming.

When the running speed of the tape decreases, for example, when an audio signal is recorded by using a fixed head, the relative speed cannot be made large and the reproduced sound quality deteriorates. As one means for solving this, there is a method in which the length of the track operated by the rotary head is made longer than in the conventional case and the time-axis-compressed audio signal is sequentially recorded in the extended portion. Specifically, in the rotary 2-head helical scan type VTR, the magnetic tape was wound around the rotating cylinder by 180 degrees or more in the past, but in this method, the rotating tape is wound by (180 + θ) degrees or more, and extra winding is performed. This is a method of recording an audio signal that has been PCM-compressed and time-axis-compressed in the portion of θ ″.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a tape running system of a VTR by such a method, and FIG. 2 is a diagram showing recording tracks on a magnetic tape by the VTR shown in FIG. 1 in FIG.
Is magnetic tape, 2 is a rotating cylinder, 3 and 4 are cylinders 2.
Head 5 attached to the magnetic tape 1 is a video signal recording area portion (video area) of a track formed on the magnetic tape 1, and 6 is a PCM audio signal recording area portion (audio area). The video area 5 is traced by the heads 3 and 4 at 180 degrees of the rotating cylinder 2,
Further, the audio area 6 is traced by θ of the rotary cylinder 2.

As an example of applying the method of recording a digital signal in another area while recording a video signal as described above, it has been proposed to record a still image in the digital signal recording area 6 as a digital signal. ing. If the image is a still image, it is possible to record all the information on the magnetic tape 1 by scanning the PCM area a plurality of times. According to this method, not only can a still image be captured using the same recording medium as the same image capturing device as that for the moving image capture, but also the tape running in the conventional VTR is stopped and the video signal of the same track is reproduced. It is possible to obtain a high-quality still image from a still image.

[0006]

However, the conventional example as described above has the following drawbacks because a still image is intended to be captured by a camera originally designed for capturing a moving image.

(1) If the subject changes abruptly at the moment of shooting a still image, the automatic white balance adjustment (hue adjustment) cannot catch up with the change, and the hue, saturation, etc. differ from the actual color. It may be photographed.

(2) When so-called color skipping occurs due to a sudden change in the color temperature of the light source, it takes a little time to reproduce the actual color, so a still image taken during that time is not It becomes a natural color.

(3) Since the white balance is set by the average of the color signals of one screen being white, the color of a part of the screen cannot be reproduced in some cases. For example, in the case of still image shooting in which a person is standing in front of a large red building, red is determined to be white, so that the color of the bare body may not be natural.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned drawbacks, and its purpose is to prevent abrupt change of a subject or abrupt change of color temperature of a light source during photographing of a still image.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a photographing and recording device capable of obtaining a reproduced image having a natural hue.

[0011]

To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a photographing and recording apparatus capable of photographing a subject and selectively recording both moving images and still images. Hue adjusting means for adjusting the hue according to the data, white balance adjusting means for controlling the white balance in the hue adjusting in the hue adjusting means, instructing means for instructing still image recording, and 1 of the instructing means. Control means for controlling at least two or more still images to be recorded on the recording medium by changing at least two or more of the white balance setting values via the white balance adjusting means in response to the instruction of the number of times. Is provided.

As one form of the present invention, the plurality of white balances set by the control means include a white balance value determined by the hue adjusting means, and the white balance values are used as a reference. , The red component, the blue component, or the green component may include a value of white balance shifted by a predetermined ratio.

As another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a detecting means for detecting a color temperature of a light source for illuminating the subject,
The control means may change the value of the white balance according to the color temperature of the light source detected by the detection means.

Further, as another aspect of the present invention, the control means includes a white balance setting means for sequentially setting a white balance corresponding to each area obtained by dividing one photographing screen into a plurality of areas. It is possible to record the two or more still images with a plurality of white balances corresponding to the respective areas sequentially set by the setting means.

[0015]

According to the present invention, when the release button is pressed during still image shooting, the white balance setting is changed each time one still image is shot by using a plurality of white balance set values set before shooting. Since we are shooting multiple screens and still images, we can extract only the screens that are captured well after that, or combine the multiple screens by appropriate image processing to obtain the playback image with the most natural hue. Is possible.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

(First Embodiment) FIG. 3 shows the circuit arrangement of a video camera according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In this figure,
Reference numeral 101 is a first lens group for focus adjustment, 102 is a variable power lens, 103 is a correction lens, 104 is a diaphragm, 105 is a fixed fourth lens group, and 106 is an image sensor. 107,1
08 and 109 are motors for focus adjustment, magnification adjustment, and aperture adjustment, 110, 111, and 112 are drivers for driving these motors, 113 and
Reference numerals 114 and 115 are encoders for detecting the lens position and the diaphragm state. 116 is an AGC (automatic gain control) circuit, 117 is a high-pass filter (HPF), 118
Is a comparator (COMP) for adjusting the aperture, 119
Is a microcomputer (MPU), 120, 121,
122, 123, 128 are pull-up resistors, 124 is a zoom tele switch, 125 is a zoom wide switch, 1
Reference numeral 26 is a switch for switching between still and movie shooting modes, and 127 is a still image shooting release switch.

Reference numeral 128 is a color separator for extracting color signals, 129 is a white balance (AWB) circuit, 130
Is a signal processing circuit for generating color difference signals and color signals from primary color signals. Reference numeral 132 is a color sensor that detects the color temperature of the light source, and 133 is a signal processing circuit that combines the signal from the color sensor 132 and the signal from the microcomputer 119.

Further, 134 is an encoder for generating an NTSC signal, 135 is an image memory for capturing a still image, 13
Reference numeral 6 denotes a control circuit for controlling recording start and clear of the image memory 135 in accordance with release and recording timings by the release switch 127, and 137 converts an output of the image memory 135 into a signal suitable for recording on the magnetic tape 140. The signal conversion circuit, 138 is an amplifier, and 139 is a head.

When there are a plurality of image memories to be used as indicated by reference numeral 135, the circuit configuration around these image memories is as shown in FIG. In this figure. 1101,
Reference numerals 1102 and 1103 denote image memories, 1104 denotes a switch for selecting a memory for storing still images, and 1105.
Is a switch for selecting which memory content is read and recorded on the magnetic tape 140. Control circuit 136
Needs to control the switches 1104 and 1105 in synchronism with the timing of recording and release, so that the microcomputer 119 and the signal conversion circuit 137 communicate with each other.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, when a still image is recorded in the PCM audio signal recording area on the magnetic tape 140 at the same head / tape relative speed as that at the time of moving image recording / recording, for example, a winding angle of 30 °. Attempting to record a still image in the PCM audio signal recording area requires a recording time of several to several tens of track, that is, several to several tens of vertical synchronization periods, and there is a possibility that a shutter chance during that period may be missed. Come on. However, if a plurality of image memories 1101 to 1103 are used as shown in FIG. 4, the still image information is stored in one memory and then the next still image is stored in another memory without immediately recording on the tape. As a result, there is an advantage that it is not necessary to miss a photo opportunity.

In the first embodiment of the present invention, the current white balance value determined by the hue adjustment (auto white balance) function for moving image shooting and the primary color signal mixture ratio are changed by a predetermined amount. A plurality of still images are obtained by setting a plurality of white balance values and shooting for each white balance. The white balance is set by the microcomputer 119 according to the state signal of the signal processing circuit 133, that is, the microcomputer 119 transmits a selection signal to the signal processing circuit 133 for the setting, and the white signal is sent via the signal processing circuit 133. This is performed by controlling the balance circuit 129.

First, a procedure for photographing a still image will be briefly described. FIG. 5 shows the concept of the still image recording method.
When a release button (release switch) 127 is pressed in the field or frame memory 135 for once capturing a still image, the image at that moment is captured. The captured video signal is the PCM area 1 as described in the conventional example.
It is recorded at 46. At this time, the first still image is recorded in the areas 1201, 1202, 1203 in order. It is said that this recording usually requires a time of ten to several tens of vertical synchronization periods.

FIG. 6 shows the appearance of a video camera incorporating the circuit of FIG. In the figure, 201 is the entire video camera, and 202 is a zoom switch having the same function as the zoom tele switch (T) 124 and the zoom wide switch (W) 125. Switching of the shooting mode selector switch 126 or the release switch 12
FIG. 7 shows the procedure for switching the still / moving image shooting mode when 7 is pressed.

In the flowchart of FIG. 7, when the switching processing program is started in step 301, it is checked in step 302 whether the release switch 127 is pressed during the moving image mode or the switch position of the photographing mode switching switch 126. , Still image mode (S
V) or movie mode (MV). That is, in step 302, in addition to the switch state of the shooting mode changeover switch 126, the still image mode is selected if the release switch 127 is pressed even if this switch 126 is on the moving image side. Step 3 when you select the video mode
When the moving image recording process is performed in 03 and the still image mode is selected, the release switch 12 is pressed at the time of still image shooting in step 304.
It is determined whether or not 7 is pressed, and if the determination is affirmative, a still image shooting process is performed in step 305.

As an example of a camera having three image memories as shown in FIG. 4, when the still mode is selected in step 302, the process waits until the release button 127 is pressed in step 304. During this waiting, in step 306, for example, the processing shown in FIG. 8 is performed. That is, in step 401, the current white balance set value determined by the automatic white balance (AWB) is read from the signal processing circuit 133, and the set value is set as the white balance B to the microcomputer 11
The data is stored in RAM.B in the RAM area in 9. Next, in step 402, the ratio of the R signal (red signal) is increased by, for example, 20% relative to the white balance B set in step 401, which is designated as white balance A,
RAM in the RAM area in the microcomputer 119
・ Remember A. In the next step 403, step 40
As in the case of 2, the B signal (blue signal) or the green signal is relatively increased by 20%, and the white balance C
And is stored in the RAM C in the microcomputer 119. The ratio of color change and the combination of colors in steps 402 and 403 are not limited to this, and can be set arbitrarily. While performing the above processing from step 401 to step 403, it waits until the release button 127 is pressed. When the release button 127 is pressed during the moving image mode, the processing from step 401 to step 403 needs to be performed at least once.

When the release button 127 is pressed and it is determined that the shutter release button is on, the still photographing process of step 305 is performed. In this step 305, further steps 404,
It is divided into processes 405, 406, 407, 408, and 409. In steps 404, 405, and 406, the set values are called from the RAM in the microcomputer 119, the white balance is set to the set values of A, B, and C described above, three still images are shot, and the shot image information is displayed. The field memories 1101, 1102 and 1103 are respectively stored. In the next step 407, recording on the magnetic tape 140 is permitted. Next Step 408
Then, it is determined whether or not the recording on the magnetic tape from the field memory operated by another program is completed, based on the presence or absence of the recording completion signal. Step 1 when recording is completed
The processing shifts to 409, recording on the magnetic tape 140 is prohibited, and the processing returns to step 302 in FIG. 7. With the processing so far,
By pressing the release button 127 once, three still images with different white balance settings are recorded.

Next, the field memories 1101 and 110
An example of the recording operation from 2 and 1103 to the magnetic tape 140 will be briefly described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When the program is started in step 1301, it is determined in step 1302 whether recording permission is output, and when recording is permitted in step 407, step 13 is performed.
Move to 03. In step 1303, the counter n is set to n
= 1110, and in the next step 1304, the contents of the memory n at the address indicated by the counter n are set to the magnetic tape 140.
The area 146 is recorded. In the next step 1305, it is judged whether or not the recording on the magnetic tape 140 is completed, and if it is not completed, the processing of step 1304 is continued.
When it is determined in step 1305 that the recording is completed, in the next step 1306, the value of n is incremented by 1 and n =
If n + 1 is not set in step 1307 and n = 1104 in step 1307, the processing from step 1304 is performed, and n = 1102,
The still image shooting of 1103 is repeated. Step 130
When n = 1104 in step 7, recording is completed in step 1308, and a recording completion signal is output. Whether or not the recording is completed is determined in the above step 408 of FIG.
When it is judged that the recording is completed, the steps 408 to 40
9 while the program of FIG. 9 is step 1308.
Then, the process returns to step 1302 and continues to wait for the next recording permission.

Thus, according to this embodiment, the AWB
Based on the current white balance setting value that is automatically determined by (automatic white balance), a still image that is slightly bluish and a still image that is slightly reddish compared to the current white balance can be obtained. Therefore, even if there is a sudden movement of the subject or a change in the light source when shooting a still image, multiple white images can be taken with multiple white balance settings, which reduces the number of shooting failures and allows the hue of the subject to be natural. The user can select the reproduced still image later.

(Second Embodiment) FIG. 10, FIG. 11 and FIG. 12 show the configuration and the operating procedure of the essential parts of the second embodiment of the present invention. In the second embodiment of the present invention, the shooting screen is divided into a plurality of areas, and the white balance is set independently in each area.
In this embodiment, a plurality of still images are obtained with a plurality of white balance settings.

FIG. 10 shows the extracted parts related to the white balance setting of FIG.
The signal system shown in is added. That is, as shown in FIG. 10, the vertical synchronization signal (VD) 501 and the horizontal synchronization signal (HD) 502 are transmitted from the microcomputer 119 to the signal processing circuit 133 for the above-described area division. The synchronization signals 501 and 502 are the microcomputer 1
VD and HD signals controlled by 19, and from these signals 501 and 502, for example, reference numerals 604 and 60 in FIG.
Since the horizontal and vertical coordinates within the screen shown by 3 are known, the area 601 on one frame of the still image can be determined. Then, the signal processing circuit 133 extracts only the color signal in the area 601 from the color signals from the color sensor 132, so that the white balance circuit 129, for example, white balance only in the area 601 where the subject is present. The value can be set. On the contrary, if the color signal of the area 602 corresponding to the outer frame is extracted, the white balance of the area 602 corresponding to the background of the subject can be determined.

For example, the processing shown in FIG. 12 is performed by using the signal processing circuit capable of setting the white balance for each area as described above. Next, this processing procedure will be described.

Similar to the first embodiment, step 3 in FIG.
When the still mode is selected in 02, the process waits until the release button 127 is pressed in step 304. During this standby, for example, the processing shown in FIG. 12 is performed. That is, if the release button 127 is not depressed, step 701 is performed.
Then, in step 701, the white balance calculated from the current entire screen is set, and this set value is set as the white balance B in the RA in the microcomputer 119.
Store in MB. Next, in step 702, the VD 501,
The white balance in the central area 601 is set based on the sync signal of the HD 502, and the set value is set as the white balance A.
Store in A. Further, in the next step 703, the white balance in the area 602 of the outer frame is set, and the set value is set as the white balance C to the microcomputer 1
It is stored in the RAM C in 19. Step 701 above
While performing the processing from step 703 to step 703, it waits until the release is performed by pressing the release button 127.
When the release button 127 is pressed during the moving image mode, the steps 701 to 7 are performed at least once.
It is necessary to perform the processing up to 03.

When the release button 127 is pressed and it is determined in step 304 that the shutter release is selected, the still image capturing process in step 305 is performed. Step 305 is the first in FIG.
Similar to the embodiment, the processing from step 404 to step 409 is divided. First, steps 404, 405, 40
In step 6, the white balance set value is called from the RAM in the microcomputer 119, and the white balance is adjusted to the set value, whereby A, B and C are respectively set.
The white balance is set to, the still image is photographed with each of the set white balances, and the photographed still image information is stored in the respective field memories 1101, 1102, and 1103. Then step 407
Then, the recording of the magnetic tape 140 is permitted, and in step 408, the recording is kept waiting. When the completion of recording is notified by, for example, the microcomputer 119 of the recording system, step 4
08, the recording on the tape 140 is prohibited until the writing to the next memory is completed in step 409.

Recording from the image memories 1101 to 1103 to the magnetic tape 140 is controlled by the recording system microcomputer 119 by the control procedure shown in FIG. 9, as in the first embodiment.

In the present embodiment, a plurality of still images can be obtained by sequentially changing the white balance set for each area by the above-described operation, so that the still image of a natural hue is not affected by the background color of the subject. You can select the image later. Further, it is also possible to obtain a reproduced image in which a natural color is reproduced in a wide range by combining a plurality of screens by image processing.

(Third Embodiment) FIGS. 13 and 14 show the operation procedure of the third embodiment of the present invention. Similar to the second embodiment, the third embodiment is an embodiment in which the white balance can be set for each area and only one field memory is used.

In this embodiment, as in the second embodiment, as shown in FIG.
The signal processing circuit system shown in 0 determines the white balance of the regions 601 and 602 shown in FIG. 11, for example.
Then, similarly to the first and second embodiments, when the still mode is selected in step 302 in FIG. 7, the process waits until the release button 127 is pressed in step 304. During this standby, for example, the processing shown in FIG. 13 is performed. That is, the white balance calculated from the current entire screen is set in step 1001 of FIG. 13, and this set value is set as the white balance B, and the microcomputer 11
It is stored in the RAM 2 in the RAM 9. Then in step 1002,
Central area 6 based on VD501 and HD502 sync signals
The white balance in 01 is set, and the set value is stored in the RAM 1 in the microcomputer 119 as the white balance A. In the next step 1003, the white balance in the area 602 of the outer frame is set, and the set value is stored in the RAM 3 in the microcomputer 119 as the white balance C. Step 100 above
While performing the processes from 1 to step 1003, the process waits until the release is performed by pressing the release button 127. When the release button 127 is pressed during the moving image mode, it is necessary to perform the processing from step 1001 to step 1003 at least once.

When the release button 127 is pressed and it is determined in step 304 that the release button is on, the still photographing process of step 305 'is performed. The step 305 'is divided into steps 1004 to 1011. First, in step 1004, n = 1 is set, and then step 1
In 005, the white balance setting value written in RAMn is called (this setting value is initially A),
Adjust the white balance to that value. Next step 1
In 006, a still image is captured with the white balance setting, and the captured still image information is stored in the image memory 135. Subsequently, in step 1007, recording from the memory 135 to the tape 140 is permitted, and in the next step 1008, the process waits until the recording is completed.

When it is determined that the recording is completed, step 1
In 009, recording on the tape 140 is prohibited until it is stored in the next still image information memory 135. Next Step 101
If n = n + 1 by addition at 0, the following step 101
At 1, a determination process is performed as to whether n = 4. If n ≠ 4, the process returns to step 1005, and the white balance is set to the set value stored in the next RAM in step 1005, and the processing from step 1006 is executed again. If n = 4, the process of step 305 'is terminated and step 30
Return to 2.

The recording procedure from the image memory 140 to the magnetic tape in this case is as shown in FIG. 14, for example. First,
This process is started in step 1401 and then step 140
In step 2, it is determined whether or not recording is permitted. If the recording is permitted, the contents of the memory 135 are recorded on the tape in the next step 1403, it is determined in the following step 1404 whether or not the recording is completed, and the process is returned to step 1402 when the recording is completed.

In the present embodiment, although there is a time lag of the weak crown due to the still image taken by the above operation,
Since it is not necessary to use a plurality of memories as in the first and second embodiments, the manufacturing cost can be reduced, and the intended subject color can be obtained without being affected by the background other than the subject. You can select the still image that most beautifully reproduced. In addition, by combining a plurality of screens by image processing, it is possible to obtain a reproduced image in which a natural hue is reproduced in a wide range.

[0043]

As described above, according to the present invention,
In a camera that can shoot movies and still images,
When the release button is pressed during still image shooting, multiple white balance setting values set before shooting are used to change the white balance setting each time one still image is shot, and multiple screens are shot. Therefore, even if the color temperature of the subject or light source changes rapidly during still image shooting, multiple still images can be obtained with multiple white balance settings, so the colors of the subject are faithfully reproduced. The selected still image can be obtained by selecting it later. In addition, by setting multiple white balances for each screen area and shooting multiple still images, it is possible to prevent inappropriate hue adjustment in some areas within one screen, and to use image processing. By combining a plurality of screens and the like, it is possible to obtain a reproduced image in which the color of the subject is beautifully reproduced over a wide area.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view showing a tape traveling system of a conventional VTR.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing recording tracks on the magnetic tape of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of the video camera according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration around the image memory of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a recording mode in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic front view showing the outer appearance of the video camera according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the overall operation of the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a detailed procedure of a standby process and a still shooting process of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a recording operation procedure on the magnetic tape in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of main parts of a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a plan view showing an example of area divisions on a photographing screen according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a detailed procedure of a standby process and a still shooting process in the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing detailed procedures of a standby process and a still shooting process according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a flow chart showing a recording operation procedure on a magnetic tape in a third embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 101 to 103, 105 Lens 106 Image sensor 116 Automatic gain control circuit 119 Microcomputer 124 Zoom tele switch 125 Zoom wide switch 126 Shooting mode selector switch 127 Release button 128 Color separator 129 White balance circuit 130, 133 Signal processing circuit 132 Color sensor 135 Image memory 136 Control circuit 140 Magnetic tape 202 Zoom switch 501 Vertical sync signal 502 Horizontal sync signal 601 Central area 602 Outer frame area 1104, 1105 Switch 1201, 1202, 1203 Recording area

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A photographing and recording apparatus capable of photographing a subject and selectively performing both moving image recording and still image recording, and a hue adjusting unit for performing hue adjustment according to the color data of the subject, and the hue adjusting unit. White balance adjusting means for controlling the white balance in the hue adjustment in the adjusting means, instructing means for instructing still image recording, and in response to one instruction of the instructing means, through the white balance adjusting means. A photographing and recording apparatus comprising: a control unit that controls at least two or more still images to be recorded on a recording medium by changing at least two or more of the white balance set values. 2. The plurality of white balances set by the control means includes a white balance value determined by the hue adjusting means, and a red component, a blue component, or a green component based on the white balance value. The photographing and recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein only the components include a white balance value shifted by a predetermined ratio. 3. A detection unit that detects a color temperature of a light source that illuminates the object, and the control unit changes the value of the white balance according to the color temperature of the light source detected by the detection unit. The photographing and recording apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that. 4. The control means includes a white balance setting means for sequentially setting a white balance corresponding to each area obtained by dividing one photographing screen into a plurality of areas, and each of the white balance setting means sequentially sets the white balance. 4. The photographing and recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the two or more still images are recorded with a plurality of white balances corresponding to the areas.