JPH05167923A - Video signal monitoring device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To generate a monitoring video signal by the wipe synthesis of two input video signals and to monitor the monitoring video signal by one image monitor. CONSTITUTION:Monitoring video signals extracted from output terminals 3, 4 of current and stand-by image systems 1, 2 are wiped and synthesized to one video signal by a video signal synthesizer 11. For example, a screen displayed on the image monitor 12 is vertically divided into two parts through the center and respective images extracted from systems 1, 2 are displayed on the left and right halves of the screen. Thereby the duplexed video signal of two video signals outputted from the current and stand-by systems 1, 2 can be monitored only by one image monitor with an additional function.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a video signal monitoring device used in a television broadcasting station or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent video broadcasting systems such as television broadcasting stations, in order to ensure high reliability, two sets of systems of the same type are often prepared, and a dual system is constructed by using each of them as a working / standby system. Is becoming For this reason, the video signal monitoring system for monitoring the operating state of each system is also equipped with a video signal monitoring device (hereinafter referred to as a video monitor) for each system, or one video monitor via a switch. Was configured to install.

11 and 12 show a conventional video signal monitoring system. In FIG. 11, the video signals of the active video system 1 and the standby video system 2 are taken out from the video output terminals 3 and 4 of the respective systems and sent out as a broadcast program signal from the terminal 6 via the active / standby switch 5. .. On the other hand, the video signals for monitoring taken out from the terminals 3 and 4 are respectively supplied to the current video monitor 7 and the spare video monitor 8, and the operator monitors the state of each system by these two video monitors. In the case of the conventional example shown in FIG. 12, the video signal for monitoring taken out from the terminals 3 and 4 is supplied to the video monitor 10 through the monitor switching device 9 and monitored.

[0004]

According to the conventional monitoring method as described above, for example, in the case of FIG. 11, the number of video monitors increases, which causes a problem of securing the installation place. There was the inconvenience of having to look at two video monitors for surveillance. Further, in the case of FIG. 12, since the video signal that is constantly monitored is the output of the active system, there is a drawback that it is difficult to grasp the state of the standby system.

[0005]

According to the video signal monitoring apparatus of the present invention, a video signal synthesizing device is provided in the video signal monitoring system, and two working and spare video signals are supplied to this synthesizing device to perform wipe synthesizing. To generate one monitoring video signal and display it on one video monitor,
It is possible to monitor the status of the standby video system at the same time.

[0006]

The present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings of the embodiments. FIG. 1 is a basic system diagram of the present invention, in which an active video system 1 and a standby system 2 are provided, and video signals from the respective systems are output to terminals 3 and 4 and passed through an active / standby system switch 5. Then, it is sent out from the terminal 6. On the other hand, the monitor video signals of the respective systems are also taken out from the terminals 3 and 4 and supplied to the video signal synthesizer 11. The two supplied video signals are wipe-combined into a single video signal in the video signal synthesizer 11 and supplied to the video monitor 12.

As described above, in recent television broadcasting stations, in order to ensure high reliability, two systems of the same type, which are the active type and the standby type, are provided. Normally, the active type system is used. When a system failure occurs, it quickly switches to the standby system to stop the broadcast accident. Therefore, both the active system and the standby system always operate in the same manner and handle the same signal, so that the same video signal (image) appears at the respective system output terminals 3 and 4 in FIG.

In view of this fact, FIG. 2 explains the video signal monitoring apparatus according to the present invention in an easy-to-understand manner. The video signals for monitoring taken out from the output terminals 3 and 4 of both the working and standby systems are wipe-combined in the video signal synthesizer 11 to become one video signal. In the example shown in the figure, the screen displayed on the video monitor 12 is vertically divided into two parts from the center of the screen, the screen taken out from the active system appears on the left side, and the image from the standby system appears on the right half. ..

FIG. 3 shows a configuration example of the video signal synthesizer according to the present invention. In the figure, 13 is a current video signal input terminal,
Reference numeral 14 is a preliminary video signal input terminal, and 15 is an external reference signal input terminal. The video signals input from the terminals 13 and 14 are input to the wipe combining unit 21 via the clamp circuits 16 and 17. On the other hand, the working video signal input from the terminal 13 and the preliminary video signal input from the terminal 14 are
It is also supplied to the synchronization switch 18. An external reference signal (black burst signal or the like) input from the terminal 15 is also supplied to the sync switch 18. The sync switch 18 selects one of the supplied signals and supplies it to the sync separation / clamp pulse generation circuit 19. This synchronization switch 18
Is switched by the switching control information input from the terminal 23. The switching control information is a make contact signal TTL level signal or a ground signal which is generally made by a push button switch and supplied. The clamp pulse generated by the sync separation / clamp pulse generation circuit 19 is the clamp circuit 16 or 1.
7 and clamps the working and auxiliary video signals in front of the wipe combiner 21. On the other hand, the sync signal separated by the circuit 19 is also supplied to the wipe signal generator 20, where a required wipe waveform (for example, a waveform for vertically dividing the screen into two parts) for wiping combining the video signals is provided. Is generated. The current video signal and the preliminary video signal that have passed through the clamp circuits 16 and 17 are gate-combined by the wipe compositing section 21 using the wipe waveform, and become one monitoring wipe composite video signal and are taken out from the output terminal 22.

FIG. 4 shows a second video signal synthesizer according to the present invention.
3 is added to the configuration example of FIG. 3, a synchronization detection and synchronization switching controller 24 is added, the synchronization switching device 18 is automatically switched, and a function of outputting a switching control signal to the output terminal 25 is also added. It is a thing. The video signals input from the terminals 13 and 14 are clamp circuits 16 and 17 and the synchronization switch 18
Is input to the synchronization detection and synchronization switching controller 24. on the other hand,
The external reference signal input from the terminal 15 is also used for the synchronization switch 18
Is input to the synchronization detection and synchronization switching controller 24. The synchronization detection / synchronization switching controller 24 has a function of automatically switching the synchronization switching device 18 for switching the synchronization signal applied to the wipe-combined video signal to any one of the working / standby / reference.

In the sync detection and sync switching controller 24, terminal 1
Check whether the sync signal of the input video signal input from 3, 14 is normal or abnormal, and give the normal sync signal or the sync signal of the external reference sync signal input from the terminal 15. Is determined, and the synchronous switching device 18 is automatically selected from any one of working, standby, and standard, and is controlled and
The switching control signal is also output to the output terminal of No. 5.
The control output for switching the synchronous switching device 18 and the output of the switching control output terminal 25 are a make contact signal, a TTL level signal, or a ground signal which is generally made by a relay and supplied. When the two input video signals are, for example, signals sent from a remote place via a satellite, the video signals may be buried in noise or the level of the sync signal may be abnormally lowered. When such a video signal is wipe-combined, the sync signal added to the composite signal becomes dirty, and the screen on the monitor is disturbed and cannot be monitored. By using this configuration, such a situation can be avoided. There are advantages.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a third example of the image synthesizer according to the present invention. Based on the configuration example of FIG. 3, a color phase detection and alarm output device 26 and an alarm output terminal 27 are added to obtain an input image. The signal is compared with the external reference input signal, and when the color phase difference exceeds the standard value, an alarm output function is added. The video signals input from the terminals 13 and 14 are input to the clamp circuits 16 and 17, the synchronization switching device 18 and the color phase detection and alarm output device 26. On the other hand, the external reference signal input from the terminal 15 is input to the synchronization switch 18 and the color phase detection and alarm output device 26. The color phase detection and alarm output device 26 is
When the color phase of the input video signal input from the terminals 13 and 14 is compared with the color phase of the external reference signal input from the terminal 15, and the color phase difference is equal to or more than the standard value (eg ± 5 °), for example, Outputs alarm information such as "working side error" or "spare side error", and alarm output terminal 2
It is output to 7. The alarm output that is output from the terminal 27 is generally a make contact signal that is generated and output by a relay,
It is a TTL level signal or a ground signal.

FIG. 6 shows a fourth embodiment of the video signal synthesizer according to the present invention.
In the figure showing the example of FIG. 3, based on the configuration example of FIG. 3, a horizontal phase detection and alarm output device 28 and an alarm output terminal 29 are added, the input video signal is compared with an external reference signal, and the horizontal phase difference is a standard value. When the above is reached, a function for outputting an alarm output is added. The video signals input from the terminals 13 and 14 are input to the clamp circuits 16 and 17, the synchronization switching device 18, and the horizontal phase detection and alarm output device 28. On the other hand, the external reference signal input from the terminal 15 is synchronized with the synchronization switch 18
And the horizontal phase detection and alarm output device 28. The horizontal phase detection / alarm output device 28 compares the horizontal phase of the input video signal input from the terminals 13 and 14 with the horizontal phase of the external reference signal input from the terminal 15, and determines the horizontal phase difference is a standard value (for example, (± 1.5 μsec) or more, alarm (for example, working side abnormality or standby side abnormality)
Is output to the alarm output terminal 29.
The alarm output output from the terminal 29 is a make contact signal, a TTL level signal, or a ground signal which is generally produced by a relay and output.

In the monitoring method described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, the alarm information output can be used to drive, for example, a voice synthesizing device to notify the observer of an abnormality by voice. There is an advantage that the effect of monitoring can be further improved.

FIG. 7 shows a fifth embodiment of the video signal synthesizer according to the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of FIG. 4 based on the configuration example of FIG. 4, in which a monitoring video signal switching controller 30 and a control input terminal 31 are added, and a switching control function for switching the video output signal of the wipe synthesizer 21 is added. is there. The video signal output to the terminal 22 is
Normally, a video signal obtained by wiping and combining the active video signal and the preliminary video signal is output. For example, when a failure occurs in the current video signal or the backup video signal, the video screen on the failed side is disturbed, and in some cases only the video signal with the normal screen (for example, half the screen of the video monitor) is monitored. It will cause problems. The monitor video signal switching controller 30 receives information from the control input terminal 31 to the video monitor to control which signal among the three types of the current video signal, the spare video signal, and the wipe composite video signal is selected, and the wipe composite device. The video output signal of 21 is switching-controlled using the control information, and a desired video signal is output to the output terminal 22. The control signal input to the control input terminal 31 includes the mode input signal of the video monitor and the synchronous switching control output terminal 25.
There is also an effect of controlling the surveillance video signal switching controller 30 by supplying the control output outputted from the. The output from the control input terminal 31 and the video signal output switching controller 30 is a make contact signal, a TTL level signal, or a ground signal which is generally made by a relay and output.

FIG. 8 shows a sixth video signal synthesizer according to the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the above, based on the configuration example of FIG. 7, a character information superimposing device 32 is added to provide a function of superimposing character information such as working, spare, and working / spare on a video monitor screen. It is added. If a screen other than the wipe-combined video signal is displayed while monitoring the video signal output from the video signal composite output terminal 22 on the video monitor, whether the screen is the current video signal or only the preliminary video signal It is extremely difficult to determine if this is the case. The control output of the video signal output switching controller 30 is supplied to the wipe synthesizer 21 and the character information superimposing device 32. The character information superimpose device 32 inputs the video output signal of the wipe synthesizer 21, receives the control output signal of the monitor video signal switching controller 30, and receives the active, standby, active / spare, etc. of the input video signal. Insert character information, 2
A desired video signal is output to the video signal synthesis output terminal 2 of FIG. The control input of the character information superimposing device 32 is
The same as the control input of the wipe synthesizer 21, generally a make contact signal and a TTL level signal produced and output by a relay,
Alternatively, it is a ground signal. According to this monitoring method, there is an advantage that it is possible to clearly confirm what kind of video signal the screen currently being monitored is based on the superimposed text information.

FIG. 9 shows a seventh embodiment of the video signal synthesizer according to the present invention.
4 is a diagram showing an example of FIG. 3 based on the configuration example of FIG. 3, and a color phase adjuster 33 is added, and a function of matching the color phases of two input video signals at the time of initial setting is added. At the time of initial setting (during aging), when the video signal obtained by wiping and combining the two input video signals is monitored on the video monitor, if the color phase between the two input video signals does not match, as shown in Fig. 2. The colors change between the right side and the left side of the screen when wipe composition is performed, which makes it difficult to determine which is normal during screen monitoring. The working video signal and the preliminary video signal input from the terminals 13 and 14 are input to the color phase adjuster 33. The output of the color phase adjuster 33 is input to the clamp circuits 16 and 17 and the synchronization switcher 18. The color phase adjuster 33 adjusts the color phase of the preliminary video signal input from the terminal 14 based on the color phase of the current video signal input from the terminal 13 at the time of initial setting (at the time of secular change), and Outputs a video signal in which the color phase of the video signal matches the color phase of the preliminary video signal. In the above description, it is needless to say that the color phase of the active video signal is desired to be used as a reference, or the color phase of the auxiliary video signal is used as a reference to adjust the color phase of the active video signal.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an eighth example of a video signal synthesizer according to the present invention. Based on the configuration example of FIG. 3, a dividing section movement controller 34 is added to wipe-divide a video signal obtained by wipe synthesis. The dividing line movement control function is added to move the boundary line of. The dividing unit movement controller 34 has a function of changing the wipe waveform generated by the wipe signal generating unit 20 to an arbitrary size and moving the dividing line of the dividing unit. In the screen of the video monitor in which the active video signal and the auxiliary video signal are vertically divided into two, the left half is normally used as the active video signal and the right half is monitored as the standby video signal as one screen. If the boundary line divided into two is moved to the right side, the screen on the side of the working video signal becomes large, and if the boundary line is moved to the left side, the screen on the side of the preliminary video signal becomes large. By arbitrarily moving the boundary line in this manner, a required wipe composite video signal can be obtained. The control output signal of the dividing unit movement controller 34 is a make contact signal, a TTL level signal, or a ground signal which is generally produced by a relay and output. This monitoring method has an effect that it can be weighted to which of the two video signals is to be the subject of monitoring.

The effect of the monitoring has been described above with reference to each of FIGS. 3 to 10, but it goes without saying that an effective monitoring method can be constructed by combining all or some of these methods. is there.

As described above, according to the present invention, a video signal synthesizer is provided for monitoring a duplicated system so that one video monitor can monitor the status of the current / preliminary image, and thus the status of the current / preliminary system. Is possible.

This has the following effects. 1. Monitor multiple video signals with a single device without increasing the number of video monitors. 2. The operator can monitor the operating status of both the active and standby systems with a single video monitor. 3. Since the current system image and the standby system image are displayed adjacent to each other on one screen, it is possible to compare and monitor various characteristics such as the level, saturation, hue and noise of the video signal, and the program transmission system. It is possible to switch between the current and the spare with peace of mind.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a first example of a video signal synthesizer according to the present invention in the embodiment of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a second example of a video signal synthesizer according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a third example of a video signal synthesizer according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a fourth example of a video signal synthesizer according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a fifth example of a video signal synthesizer according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a sixth example of a video signal synthesizer according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a seventh example of a video signal synthesizer according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an eighth example of a video signal synthesizer according to the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a conventional video signal monitoring device.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing another example of a conventional video signal monitoring device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Active video system 2 Spare video system 3 Active system video signal output terminal 4 Spare system video signal 5 Active / spare system selector 6 Broadcast program sending terminal 7 Active system video monitor 8 Spare system video monitor 9 Active / spare system signal monitor switch Device 10 Video monitor 11 Video signal synthesizer 12 Video monitor 13 Current video signal input terminal for monitoring 14 Preliminary video signal input terminal for monitoring 15 External reference signal input terminal 16, 17 Clamp circuit 18 Sync switch 19 Sync separation and clamp pulse Generating circuit 20 Wipe signal generating section 21 Wipe synthesizing section 22 Video signal synthesizing output terminal 23 Synchronous switching device control input terminal 24 Synchronous detection and synchronous switching controller 25 Switching control output terminal 26 Color phase detection and alarm output device 27 Alarm output terminal 28 Horizontal phase Knowledge 及 alarm output unit 29 the alarm output terminal 30 monitors video signal switching controller 31 controls the input terminal 32 character information superimposition device 33 color phase adjuster 34 dividing unit movement controller

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Kiyoshi Imamura 3-20-4 Nishishimbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo Inside NEC Engineering Co., Ltd. (72) Inori Inori Iwataki 3-20-4 Nishishinbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo No. within NEC Engineering Co., Ltd.

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A wipe waveform generator for wipe combining two video signals, a mixer for wipe combining two video signals, and a sync signal switcher for switching between the two video signals and an external reference signal. A video signal monitoring device, comprising: a video monitor for displaying the composite signal. 2. A synchronization signal to be added to a wipe-synthesized video signal, receives two input video signals or an external reference signal, checks whether the sync signal of the input video signal is normal or abnormal, and synchronizes the normal one. 2. The video signal monitoring device according to claim 1, further comprising a synchronization signal abnormality detection automatic switching control circuit for switching between applying a signal or applying a synchronization signal of an external reference signal. 3. A color phase detection method that compares the color phases of two input video signals with the color phase of an external reference signal, and outputs an alarm when the color phase difference exceeds a preset reference value. The video signal monitoring device according to claim 1, further comprising an alarm output circuit. 4. A horizontal phase detection and alarm which compares the horizontal phases of two input video signals with the horizontal phase of an external reference signal and outputs an alarm when the horizontal phase difference exceeds a preset reference value. The video signal monitoring device according to claim 1, further comprising an output circuit. 5. A switching control circuit is added so as to switch which one of the video signal, the other video signal and the video signal obtained by wiping and combining the two video signals is switched. Item 1. A video signal monitoring device according to item 1. 6. A video signal monitor according to claim 5, wherein means for superimposing character information indicating "active", "spare", "active / spare", etc. is added to each of the monitor video signals. apparatus. 7. A video signal monitor according to claim 1, further comprising a function for adjusting a color phase of the input video signal so that the video signal looks like a very natural one when the wipe combination is performed. apparatus. 8. The video signal monitoring apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a wipe moving means capable of arbitrarily moving a boundary line of the wipe division.