JPH0514845A - Video tape recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make operation for storing plural still pictures in a picture memory without specific operation, and to confirm the recorded contents and the recorded position of a video tape at a glance. CONSTITUTION:A memory control circuit 28 stores successively a reproduced video signal at the time of reproduction or a broadcast video signal at the time of picture recording in nine areas of the picture memory 30 at the prescribed interval of time instructed by a system control circuit 12. The picture recorded in this way is displayed on a multi-screen by key input from an operating part 14. The system control circuit 12 converts a linear time signal recorded in the video tape at the time of the picture recording and besides, detected by a linear time signal detection circuit 32 into time data. Then, it gives an instruction to an on-screen control circuit 40 so as to superimpose it on each picture of the multi-screen as a linear time counter value.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a video tape recorder, and more particularly to a video tape recorder having an image memory for storing / reproducing video signals and displaying a plurality of still images on a multi-screen. You can check the video tape recorder.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Some conventional video tape recorders of this type have a multi-index search function. This multi-index search function allows the user to operate, or optionally write multiple still images to the image memory and display them on a multi-screen monitor to see what kind of image is recorded on the video tape. It is a function to confirm. Also, by selecting a desired screen, the video displayed on that screen can be cued.

[0003]

However, in this method, it is necessary to play or fast-forward the tape once from the beginning to the end in order to store a plurality of still images in the image memory. In particular, if you use a video tape that once created a multi-screen still image and re-record it from the middle, play the tape from beginning to end again or fast-forward again to create a new multi-screen image. It is necessary to store a plurality of still images in the image memory. This can be recorded and recorded many times, especially on the same videotape.
It is very troublesome to repeat the reproduction. Also, with this method, the time and character information is not displayed on each screen that composes the multi-screen, so it is not possible to confirm where the still image is recorded on the video tape. It was

Therefore, a main object of the present invention is to provide a video tape recorder in which a still image can be easily stored in a memory and the recorded contents and the recording position of the video tape can be confirmed at a glance. is there.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to image storage means for sequentially storing video signals of a plurality of still images at predetermined time intervals during recording / reproduction, and time data obtained by counting signals synchronized with the video signals. Data storage means for storing each of the still images stored by the image storage means, and a video signal output for outputting a video signal in which time data is superimposed on the still images when a plurality of still images are displayed on a monitor. It is a video tape recorder provided with means.

[0006]

When reproducing or recording, a video signal is converted into a digital signal at a predetermined time interval determined by the time length of the inserted video tape, and the digital signal is sequentially and automatically recorded in the image memory. This eliminates the need for an operation for creating a multi-screen still image. Also, counting the signals recorded in synchronization with the video signals during recording,
It is converted into a linear time counter value, and when the video signal of the still image is recorded in the image memory, the linear time counter value at that time is stored for each still image. Then, the time data obtained by the linear time counter value is superimposed on the output video signal as time character information for each screen when displaying on a multi-screen. As a result, the time information is displayed together with the still image on each screen of the multi-screen.

[0007]

According to the present invention, the operation for storing a still image in the image memory is not required, and the still image can be easily stored in the image memory. Therefore, in any case, a multi-screen image is displayed. You can eliminate the hassle of creating. Further, since the time information is displayed on each screen of the multi-screen, the recorded contents and the recording position of the video tape can be confirmed at a glance.

The above-mentioned objects, other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the detailed description of the embodiments below with reference to the drawings.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIG. 1, a video tape recorder 10 of this embodiment includes a system control circuit 12 including a microcomputer, and this system control circuit 12 controls the entire operation. An operation signal is given to the system control circuit 12 from the operation unit 14. The operation unit 14 is shown in FIG.
As shown in, a remote controller 16 and a light receiving unit 18 are provided.
The light receiving section 18 receives the optical operation signal from the remote controller 16 and supplies it to the system control circuit 12. The operation unit 14
May be formed on the main body panel of the video tape recorder 10.

When a reproduction or recording instruction is given to the system control circuit 12 from the operation section 14, the system control circuit 12 instructs the first switch circuit 20 to select either a reproduced video signal or a broadcast video signal. To do. The first switch circuit 20 operates so as to select a reproduction video signal during reproduction and a broadcast video signal during recording according to an instruction from the system control circuit 12. The luminance signal component of the video signal selected by the first switch circuit 20 is separated by the first video processing circuit 22, and the color difference signal component is demodulated.
These signals are converted into digital signals by the analog / digital conversion circuit 24. Further, the sync signal separation circuit 26 separates the sync signal from the input video signal. In synchronization with this synchronization signal, the memory control circuit 28 including a microcomputer performs control to write the video digital signal converted by the analog / digital conversion circuit 24 in the image memory 30. At this time, the memory control circuit 28 controls to compress and write the video digital signal in the image memory 30 based on the information of which area of the image memory 30 to write the digital signal and which is supplied from the system control circuit 12. To do. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the image memory 30 is divided into nine parts. Therefore, the ratio of compressing the video digital signal is 1/3 in both the vertical and horizontal directions.

The memory control circuit 28 controls the reading of the video digital signal from the image memory 30 in parallel with the control of writing the video digital signal to the image memory 30. The video digital signals to be read are for all areas of area numbers 0 to 8 in the image memory 30 shown in FIG. 3, but the order of the areas to be read is instructed by the system control circuit 12. That is, the area where the linear time counter value when the video digital signal is stored in the image memory 30 is small is read out in order. The linear time counter value is recorded on the tape every 1/60 seconds at the time of recording, and counts the signal read from the tape by the linear time signal detection circuit 32 when the tape is running during playback, fast-forwarding, rewinding, etc. The value is converted into time data by the system control circuit 12. For example, the linear time counter values corresponding to the areas of area numbers 0 to 8 of the image memory 30 are shown in FIG.
When the values are as shown in, the order of the areas read from the image memory 30 is the area numbers 4, 5, 6,
The order is 7,0,1,2,3,8.

The video digital signal read from the image memory 30 by the read control of the memory control circuit 28 is converted into an analog signal by the digital / analog conversion circuit 34 and formed into a video signal by the second video processing circuit 36. .. This signal is selected by the second switch circuit 38 according to an instruction from the system control circuit 12, and is supplied to the on-screen control circuit 40.

The video signal supplied to the on-screen control circuit 40 includes a linear time counter value supplied from the system control circuit 12 by the on-screen control circuit 40 (strictly speaking, when the video signal is recorded in the image memory. The difference between the linear time counter value and the linear time counter value at the time of calling the multi-screen.) Is superimposed on the corresponding still image. FIG. 5 shows an example of an image displayed on the monitor of the multi-screen image signal thus taken out. The time display in FIG. 5 indicates the superimposed linear time counter value, and the number indicates the area number when the still image is stored in the image memory 30. Of these, the area number is not actually displayed.

Next, the operation of the video tape recorder of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flow charts shown in FIGS.
The programs shown in these flowcharts are stored in the ROM 42 in the system control circuit 12 shown in FIG. 2, and the control is performed by the CPU 44. First, a process of storing a video signal in the image memory 30 will be described with reference to FIGS.
A description will be given based on the flow chart shown in FIG.

First, in step S1, it is determined whether the device state has changed by a signal from the device state detection circuit 46.
That is, it is determined whether a tape has been inserted, or whether the tape has changed from the stopped state to the reproducing or recording state. If the device state has not changed in step S1, the process proceeds to step S11. If the device state has changed in step S1, the process proceeds to step S3 and the time counter is reset. This is a process for measuring the duration of the reproduction or recording state and comparing it with the image storage time interval. The time counter is for the CPU 44 to count the time based on the time data from the timer 48 in the system control circuit 12. Then, the process proceeds to step S5, and it is determined whether or not the change in the device state is the insertion of the video tape. If the change in the device state is the insertion of the tape, the process proceeds to step S23.

In step S23, the linear time counter is reset. That is, the count time based on the signal from the linear time signal detection circuit 32 is set to "0: 0.
Set to 0 ". Then, in step S25, "0" is written in the next recording area number storage area 52 in the RAM 50 shown in FIG. That is, the next recording area number of the image memory 30 for storing the video digital signal is set to "0". Then, in step S27, the variable i is set to "0".
Then, the process proceeds to step S29. In step S29, "no storage" data is written in the area flag [i] of the area flag storage area 54 in the RAM 50. Then, in step S31, "1" is added to the variable i,
In step S33, it is determined whether the variable i exceeds the final area number ("8" in this embodiment). The processing from step S29 to step S31 is performed in step S
In step 33, the process is repeated until the variable i exceeds the final area number. Then, in step S35, the memory control circuit 28 is instructed to write the blue back video digital signal in the image memory 30. That is, if the image memory 30 has an area in which neither a reproduced video signal nor a broadcast digital video signal is stored, the screen in that area becomes a blue back screen during multi-screen display. Then, the process returns to step S1. In this way, the linear time counter and the image memory 30 are initialized by the processing of steps S23 to S35.

If the tape has already been inserted in step S5, the flow advances to step S7 to determine whether or not the change in the device state is the reproduction state. If the change in the device state is the one in the reproduction state in step S7, the process proceeds to step S37, and the first switch circuit 20 is instructed to select the reproduction video signal.
Then, in step S41, the variable i is set to "0". After that, in step S43, it is determined whether or not the data "no memory" is written in the area flag [i] of the area flag storage area 54. If the data of "no memory" is written, that is, if no video digital signal of the reproduced video signal or the broadcast video signal is stored in the area indicated by i of the image memory, the process proceeds to step S47 and "1" is added to i. Is added, the process proceeds to step S49, and it is determined whether the variable i exceeds the final area number of the image memory 28. If the variable i does not exceed the final area number of the image memory 30 in step S49, the process returns to step S43.

In step S43, if "no storage" data is not written in the area flag [i], that is, in the area indicated by the variable i of the image memory 30, either the reproduced digital video signal or the broadcast digital video signal is displayed. If is stored, the process proceeds to step S45. In step S45, whether the linear time counter value recorded in LTC [i] of the linear time counter value storage area 56 in the RAM 50 is within the time interval of the linear time counter value ± image storage time interval at that time To judge. If LTC [i] is not within the time interval of the linear time counter value ± image storage time interval, the process proceeds to step S47, and the variable i exceeds the final area number in step S49, or step S49.
At 43, the same process is repeated until an area where a video digital signal of either a reproduced video signal or a broadcast video signal is newly stored in the image memory 30 is found. If LTC [i] is within the time interval of linear time counter value ± image storage time interval in step S45, the process proceeds to step S51. Then, in step S51, the linear time counter value at that time is stored in LTC [i]. Thereafter, the memory control circuit 28 is instructed to write the video digital signal from the analog / digital conversion circuit 24 in the area indicated by the variable i of the image memory 30, and the process returns to step S1.

In this embodiment, the first image is stored in the image memory 30 when reproduction or recording is started. Therefore, according to the determination in step S45,
This prevents the time interval of the video digital signal stored in the image memory 30 from becoming closer than the image storage time interval when the reproduction / stop is repeated within the image storage time interval.

If the variable i exceeds the final area number of the image memory 28 in step S49, step S49
In step 55, the linear time counter value is stored in LTC [next storage area number]. Then, in step S57, the memory control circuit 28 is instructed to write the video digital signal from the analog / digital conversion circuit 24 in the area indicated by the next recording area number of the image memory 30. Thereafter, in step S59, "1" is added to the next storage area number, the next storage area number is updated, and the next storage area number storage area 52 is written. At this time, if the next storage area number exceeds "8", the next storage area number is set to "0". And step S
Return to 1.

If the device state has not changed in step S1, the process proceeds to step S11, and first, it is determined whether or not the reproduction state is continued. If it is not in the reproduction state in step S11, it is determined in step S17 whether it is the recording state. If the device state is neither the reproduction state nor the recording state, the process returns to step S1. If the device state is continuing the reproduction state in step S11, the process proceeds to step S13, and it is determined whether the time counter value is larger than the image storage time interval. The image storage time interval may be automatically determined from the total time length of the inserted video tape, or may be determined by the user's key input. Further, it may be stored in the ROM 42 in advance. If the time counter value is equal to or less than the image storage time interval in step S13, the process returns to step S1. Step S
If the time counter value becomes larger than the image storage time interval in 13, the time counter is reset in step S15, and the process proceeds to step S37 to proceed to the first step.
The switch circuit 20 is instructed to select the reproduced video signal. After that, the processing from step S41 to step S59 is performed.

If the recording state is continuing in step S17, the process proceeds to step S19, and it is determined whether the time counter value exceeds the image storage time interval.
If the time counter value is equal to or less than the image storage time interval, the process returns to step S1. If the time counter value is larger than the image storage time interval in step S19, the process proceeds to step S21, the time counter is reset, and the process proceeds to step S39. Then, in step S39, the first switch circuit 20 is instructed to select the broadcast video signal. Then, from step S41 to step S
The processing of 59 is performed.

In this way, steps S1 to S5
By the processing up to 9, the writing processing of the video digital signal to the image memory 28 is performed. Although the writing of the video digital signal to the image memory 30 is limited to the reproduction and the recording in this embodiment, it may be performed at the time of fast-forwarding or rewinding according to the user's selection. ..

By such processing, in the video tape recorder of the present invention, the video signal is automatically stored in the image memory 30 at predetermined time intervals, so that a still image can be easily stored in the image memory. it can. In particular, when the recording / playback is repeated using the same video tape, the trouble of recreating a multi-screen image can be eliminated.

Next, a process for confirming what kind of image is recorded on the entire video tape on the basis of the image digital signal stored in the image memory 30 on a multi-screen as shown in FIG. 13-about the process of cueing reproduction from the still image stored in FIG.
A description will be given based on the flowchart shown in FIG. First, in step S61, it is determined whether or not there is a key input from the operation unit 14. If there is no key input, wait until there is a key input. If there is a key input in step S61, the process proceeds to step S63, and it is determined whether the key input is a tape content confirmation key input. When the key input is the tape content confirmation key in step S63, the process proceeds to step S75. In step S75, the data in each area of the image memory 30 is read in ascending order of the linear time counter value stored in the LTC [n] (n = 0 to 8) of the linear time counter value storage area 56 in the RAM 50, The digital / analog conversion circuit 34 is instructed to output. And step S
Proceeding to 77, the second switch circuit 38 is instructed to select the output signal from the image memory 30. Then LTC
ON so that the difference obtained by subtracting the linear time counter value at the time when the tape content confirmation key is input from the linear time counter value stored in [n] is superimposed on the corresponding position as on-screen character information. Instruct the screen control circuit 40. Then, in step S81, the content confirmation mode of the content confirmation mode storage area 58 in the RAM 50 is turned on, and step S8
3, the selected area number "0" is written in the selected area data storage area 60 in the RAM 50, and step S6
Return to 1.

By this processing, the still image stored in the image memory 30 is displayed on the multi-screen. At this time, the linear time counter value is superimposed on each screen as shown in FIG. 5, so that the recording position of each still image in the video tape can be confirmed at a glance. Step S65
If the memory image select key is pressed in,
It proceeds to step S85. In step S85, it is determined whether the content confirmation mode is turned on, that is, whether the multi-screen is displayed on the monitor.
If the content confirmation mode is not turned on, step S61
Return to. If the content confirmation mode is turned on in step S85, the process proceeds to step S87 and the linear time counter value stored in the LTC [j] having the selected area number (here, j) in the selected area data storage area 60. An area number having a larger linear time counter value is written in the selected area data storage area 62. At this time, if there is no area having a linear time counter value larger than that, the area number having the first linear time counter value is selected area data storage area 6
Write to 2. Then, the process returns to step S61.

By this processing, a screen is selected for the cue reproduction described later. In this embodiment, the selection screen is advanced one by one by pressing the select key, but this may be directly selected by the direct key. If the reproduction key has been pressed in step S67, the flow advances to step S89 to determine whether the content confirmation mode is on. If the content confirmation mode is turned on, the selected area number (k here)
Indicates that the video tape is rewound or fast-forwarded to the portion indicated by the linear time counter value stored in LTC [k], and the process proceeds to step S93. If the content confirmation mode is not turned on in step S89, the process directly proceeds to step S93. Then, in step S93, the video tape is reproduced. Thereafter, in step S95, the content confirmation mode is turned off, the process proceeds to step S97, the second switch circuit 38 is instructed to select the reproduced video signal, and the process returns to step S61.

There is a key input in step S61,
If the key is not the tape content confirmation key, the memory image select key or the reproduction key, the process proceeds to step S69 to turn off the content confirmation mode. Then, the process proceeds to step S71, the second switch circuit 38 is instructed to select the reproduced video signal or the broadcast video signal, the process proceeds to step S73, the process corresponding to the input key is performed, and the process returns to step S61.

Among the processes of steps S61 to S97, the process for confirming the tape contents is performed in parallel with the image recording process, so that the multi-screen can be called even during recording / reproducing. Further, in the video tape recorder of this embodiment, since the first screen is stored in the image memory at the time of recording, it is easy to find each of a plurality of programs in the video tape.
In addition, even if the first screen disappears from the image memory due to the playback operation, V is displayed after cueing the nearby screen.
It is possible to find the first screen at the time of recording by using ISS.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a system control circuit and its peripheral circuit of the embodiment of FIG.

FIG. 3 is an illustrative view showing an image memory and its area number.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a linear time counter value corresponding to an image stored in each area of an image memory.

FIG. 5 is an illustrative view showing one example in which a memory image having the linear time counter value shown in FIG. 4 is output to a monitor.

FIG. 6 is an illustrative view showing each area in a RAM.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a part of the operation of storing a still image in the image memory.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a part of the operation of storing a still image in the image memory.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a part of the operation of storing a still image in the image memory.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a part of the operation of storing a still image in the image memory.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an operation for preventing the still image storage time interval in FIG. 9 from becoming shorter than a predetermined time.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the processing when the variable exceeds the total number of areas of the image memory in FIG.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing an operation when there is a key input.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the processing when the tape content confirmation key is input in FIG.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing a process when a memory image select key is input in FIG.

16 is a flowchart showing a process when a reproduction key is input in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 ... Video tape recorder 12 ... System control circuit 14 ... Operation part 20 ... First switch circuit 28 ... Memory control circuit 30 ... Image memory 32 ... Linear time signal detection circuit 38 ... Second switch circuit 40 ... On-screen control circuit 42 ... ROM 44 ... CPU 46 ... Device state detection circuit 48 ... Timer 50 ... RAM 56 ... Linear time counter value storage area

Claims (1)

Claim: What is claimed is: 1. An image storage unit for sequentially storing video signals of a plurality of still images at a predetermined time interval during recording and reproduction, and time data obtained by counting signals synchronized with the video signals. Time data storage means for storing each still image stored by the image storage means,
And a video signal recorder that outputs a video signal that superimposes the time data on the still images when the plurality of still images are displayed on a monitor on a multi-screen.