JPH0522661A - Electronic still camera system capable of displaying dimensions - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To discriminate a dimension pattern clearly on a screen even to any object by providing a luminance level compressing the luminance signal of an object and not used by the object and displaying the dimension pattern at the luminance level. CONSTITUTION:At time of photographing, distance information and position information on two subjects to be measured are taken in a CPU14 for calculation, and the distance (dimension) between the two subjects to be measured and the dimension pattern to be inserted between them are recorded on a recording medium at the white or black level. On the reproduction circuit, a Y compression circuit 27 compressing a luminance signal for an object is provided, and scale information is inserted near the compressed and idle white or black level among the video signals of the object.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a distance (dimension) between arbitrary two points of an object to be measured captured in the field of view of a finder and a dimensional pattern (hereinafter, referred to as "dimension pattern etc.").
") Is simultaneously displayed with the subject image displayed in the viewfinder and on the TV monitor. More specifically, the luminance level of the subject image is compressed, and the compressed luminance level (density) is used for the above. The present invention relates to an electronic still camera system that displays a dimension pattern and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The applicant of the present invention has a size display system for an electronic still camera in which a size pattern indicating a distance can be included in an image of a subject in order to easily and accurately know the distance between any two points on an object to be measured. Is proposed. This proposal is to insert a scale indicating the distance between two points of the object to be measured on the viewfinder or the reproduction screen. The distance information to the subject is obtained by the AF operation, and those distances are calculated based on the distance information and the like.

[0003]

The density of the dimensional pattern or the like displayed on the viewfinder or the reproduction screen in the above proposal is displayed at a predetermined brightness level regardless of the image of the subject. Therefore, when the luminance level of the subject image in the portion where the dimension pattern or the like is inserted is substantially the same, the problem that the dimension pattern or the like is not clearly displayed occurs. An object of the present invention is to solve the above problem by providing a brightness level that is not used by the object by compressing the brightness signal of the object, and displaying a dimension pattern or the like at the brightness level, for any object. Another object of the present invention is to provide an electronic still camera system capable of clearly identifying the dimension pattern and the like on the screen.

[0004]

In order to achieve the above object, an electronic still camera system capable of measuring and displaying dimensions according to the present invention is an image pickup system means for converting a subject image formed on an image pickup element through a lens system into a video signal. And focusing control means for obtaining zoom information and distance information at the time of focusing of a subject image formed on the image pickup device, and 2 which are captured in the same visual field.
A means for detecting the positions of two measured points on the screen, a character and dimension pattern generating means for outputting a character and dimension pattern at a white level or a black level, and an output of the character and dimension pattern generating means inserted as a video signal. Dimensional data is calculated by the character and dimension pattern inserting means, zoom information and distance information from the focusing control means, and the position information in the screen of the two measured points from the position detecting means. From the recording medium, there is provided control means for sending data relating to the pattern to the character and dimension pattern generating means to output a numerical value, a unit and a dimension pattern signal indicating the distance and recording the data on the recording medium by the character and dimension pattern inserting means. Either the white level or the black level of the brightness signal of the subject to be read is emptied. And a means for synthesizing a numerical value, a unit and a dimensional pattern representing the distance between two image points of a subject read from the recording medium and a Y compression circuit for compressing the luminance signal. When reproduced by playing back, the numerical value, the unit and the dimensional pattern representing the distance displayed together with the subject image are configured to be displayed at a vacant luminance level by compressing the luminance signal of the subject. Further, an image pickup system means for converting a subject image formed on the image pickup element through a lens system into a video signal, and a focus control for obtaining zoom information and distance information at the time of focusing of the subject image formed on the image pickup element. Means, means for detecting the positions in the screen of two measured points captured in the same field of view, and one of the vicinity of the white level or the black level of the brightness signal of the subject image taken from the imaging system means. A Y compression circuit for compressing a luminance signal, a character and dimension pattern generating means for outputting a character and dimension pattern at a white level or a black level, and a character and dimension for inserting the output of the character and dimension pattern generating means as a video signal. The pattern insertion means, the zoom information, the distance information, and the position information obtained by the focus control means, and the object obtained by compressing the luminance signal by the Y compression circuit. When the size display instruction is given during reproduction, the image signal of the subject is read out from the recording medium, the zoom information, the distance information and the position information are read out, and the read distance information is recorded. And the like, and outputs the data to the character and dimension pattern generating means to output a numerical value, a unit and a dimension pattern signal representing the distance between two points to be measured to generate the character and dimension pattern. And a control unit for inserting a numerical value indicating a distance, a unit, and a dimension pattern into the video signal of the subject by the inserting unit, and a numerical value, a unit, and The dimensional pattern is configured to be displayed at a vacant luminance level by compressing the luminance signal of the subject.

[0005]

The present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings. Figure 1 shows the distance (dimensions) between two DUTs.
It is a figure for demonstrating the principle of calculation. A state in which two DUTs 53 and 54 are captured within the field of view of the finder is shown. Considering that the object 53 to be measured is present at a coordinate position Q on a plane perpendicular to a straight line passing through substantially the center of the lens system, the center of the other object to be measured 54 is substantially the same as the center of the plane, and It is considered to exist at the coordinate position P of another plane parallel to the plane. Therefore, the coordinate positions Q and P are imaged at the corresponding positions on the CCD image pickup device surface, and the coordinate positions Q and P can be detected on the CCD image pickup device surface. When the AF distance measuring frame is moved and brought onto the object to be measured 53, the object to be measured 53 is focused, and the distance information Lq to the object to be measured 53 is obtained from the information on the position of the focus adjustment lens at that time. Obtainable. Further, the position Q on the screen where the object to be measured is present can be obtained from the position of the distance measuring frame. The AF distance measuring frame can be moved by controlling the gate circuit that drives the CCD. The distance information Lp is similarly applied to the DUT 54.
And the position information P on the screen can be obtained. Here, the distance between the coordinate positions PQ is L, the distances from the CCD image pickup device 50 to the coordinate positions P and Q are 1 ₂ and 1 ₁ , respectively.
When the angles formed by the coordinate positions P and Q with respect to the optical axis are θ ₂ and θ ₁ , L is expressed by the following equation. L = {(1 ₁ sinθ ₁ +1 ₂ sinθ ₂ ) ² + (1 ₂ cosθ ₂ -1 ₁ cosθ ₁ ) ² } ^1/2

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example in which a numerical value indicating a distance, a unit and a dimensional pattern are displayed in the viewfinder or the reproduction screen. FIG. 2A shows a case where a dimension between two measurement objects (trees) is displayed, and the dimension pattern 5 is placed between the trees 53 and 54.
5 is a numerical value and a unit (20
m) 56 is displayed. FIG. 2 (b) shows a case where a dimension between both ends of a measured object (cigarette) is displayed. A dimension pattern 59 indicating between the both ends 57 and 58 is displayed in parallel with the cigarette 61, and a numerical value and a unit indicating the dimension are shown in the vicinity thereof. (8 cm) 6
0 is displayed. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a dimensional pattern and units. Various patterns can be used as the dimension pattern.

FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram showing an embodiment of the electronic still camera system according to the present invention. The image pickup system means 4 comprises a lens system 1, a diaphragm 2 and a CCD image pickup device 3. The lens system 1 is composed of a master lens, a focus adjustment lens, a variable power lens (zoom lens) and the like, and a diaphragm 2 is incorporated in the rear part thereof. The iris including the focus control means, the autofocus control circuit 18 is configured to include a drive unit for driving the focus adjustment lens and the variable power lens of the lens system 1, a drive unit for driving the diaphragm, and a control unit for controlling these. ing. The iris / autofocus control circuit 18 controls driving by a control signal sent from the CPU 14 including a control means.

The CPU 14 is the shutter control circuit 1
When the CCD driver 17 is activated via 6 to drive the CCD image pickup device 3, the subject image is taken into the circuit of the recording system through the image pickup system means and is displayed on an electronic viewfinder (not shown). In addition to the above operation, the iris / autofocus control circuit 18 drives the focusing lens based on the high frequency signal extracted from the video signal to perform the focusing operation. Information indicating the position of the focus adjustment lens (distance information) is sent to the CPU 14 during the focusing operation process and during focusing. When a zoom operation is performed and a zoom signal is input from the CPU 14, the variable power lens is driven to enlarge or reduce the subject to a desired size. In addition to this, the iris and auto-focus control circuit 18 receives brightness information from the video signal and drives and controls the diaphragm 2 so that the subject is properly exposed. The dimension display mode switch 38 is for setting the camera to the dimension measurement display mode.

When the CPU 14 receives a release operation signal, the CPU 14 sends a control signal to the CCD driver, and the CCD image pickup device 3
Then, the charge accumulated until then is discharged to start the transfer, and the transfer is ended after a predetermined time (shutter time) has elapsed. The CCD image pickup device 3 sends an electric signal of a subject image to a recording system circuit. In the recording circuit, the CCD image sensor 3
Is inputted to the color matrix circuit 5 and the Y process circuit 9. The color matrix circuit 5 subtracts the Y (luminance) signal and the chroma signal and outputs a color difference signal. On the other hand, the Y process circuit 9 uses a timing pulse from the timing generator 21 to insert a synchronizing signal or the like to create a predetermined luminance signal. A part of the output of the Y process circuit 9 is sent to the contrast detection unit 20. The contrast detector 20 detects the brightness of the luminance signal at the timing of the pulse supplied from the timing generator 21, and sends the detection information to the CPU 14. The CPU 14 analyzes the detection information and sends a control signal to the iris / autofocus control circuit 18 for the above-mentioned exposure control.

The character and size insert circuit 6 is a circuit for inserting a scale signal (a numerical value indicating the distance between two objects to be measured, a unit and a size pattern signal) into the color difference signal. The character and size insert circuit 10 is a circuit for inserting the scale signal into the luminance signal.
These character and size insert circuits 6 and 10 operate only when a scale signal is being sent from the character and size pattern generator 19, and the color matrix circuit 5 and the Y process circuit 9 form a color difference signal and luminance that form an image of the subject. When signals are supplied, scale signals are not inserted in those signals. Therefore, the character and size insert circuits 6 and 10 output the image signal of the subject and the image signal in which only the scale signal is inserted at different timings. The character and size pattern generator 19 is a circuit that outputs a white level scale signal.

The color difference signal and the luminance signal which have passed through the scale insert circuits 6 and 10 are sent to a recording processing circuit 7 which is composed of an emphasis circuit, a modulator and a synthesizer. The recording processing circuit 7 performs emphasis processing on the color difference signal and the luminance signal, FM-modulates them, and then synthesizes them. The combined signal is recorded on a predetermined track of the video floppy 24 by the magnetic head 25. Here, when the scale signal is also taken in, the video signal of only the scale signal is set and recorded on the even numbered tracks, and the image signal of the subject is set and recorded on the odd numbered tracks. The information in which the track number of the image of the subject and the track number of the image of only the scale signal are associated is stored in the memory built in the CPU 14.

The VFD (Video Floppy Driver) interface circuit 22 is controlled by the CPU 14 to control the VFD2.
The drive control of the spindle motor in 3 is performed, and the video floppy 24 is rotated at a predetermined speed and phase. Further, the head drive motor is driven to drive the magnetic head 25.
Is moved to the track of the video floppy 24 instructed by the CPU 14. An LCD 15 is connected to the CPU 14 and various displays showing the state of the electronic still camera are performed.

The circuit part on the right side of the alternate long and short dash line is a part showing a reproducing system. Under the control of the CPU 14, the video signal of the object of a predetermined odd numbered track recorded on the video floppy 24 is read out to the reproduction processing circuit 26 including a Y / C separation circuit, a demodulator and a de-emphasis circuit. The reproduction processing circuit 26 separates the read image signal of the subject into a luminance signal modulation wave and a color difference signal modulation wave, demodulates them, and restores the original characteristics. Y compression circuit 2
Reference numeral 7 is for compressing the demodulated luminance signal. The original luminance signal of the subject (the luminance signal before compression) is inserted within a narrow luminance signal level range excluding the vicinity of the white level. The demodulated RY and BY color difference signals are subjected to synchronization processing by an RY / BY synchronization circuit 29, and the synchronized signal and the compressed luminance signal of the Y compression circuit 27 are combined. NT
It is input to the SC encoder 30. The NTSC encoder 30 converts these signals into NTSC signals and converts the converted N
The TSC signal is sent to the A / D converter 33.

The output of the A / D converter 33 is temporarily stored in the address space of the memory 34 indicated by the memory control circuit 37 instructed by the CPU 14. CPU1 here
In the case where the instruction to display the dimensions at the same time is given by the key input, the reference numeral 4 reads the predetermined odd numbered track and the set even numbered track number information from the built-in memory,
The VFD interface circuit 22 is controlled to move the magnetic head 25 to the even-numbered track. When the magnetic head 25 is positioned at the even-numbered track, the video signal of only the scale signal is read. The read video signal of only the scale signal is processed in the same manner as the video signal of the subject, and is converted into a digital signal by the A / D converter 33. The Y compression circuit 27 outputs a through signal when a scale signal is input. The memory control circuit 37 stores the video signal of only the scale signal in an address space different from the address space of the memory 34 in which the video signal of the subject is stored. After that, the video signal of only the subject and the scale signal in the memory 34 is simultaneously read and synthesized by the memory control circuit 37, and converted into an analog signal by the D / A converter 35. The scale signal combined with the video signal of the subject at this time is a white level signal. The D / A converted analog signal is amplified by the video amplifier 36 and output from the video output terminal.

Next, an operation and a recording operation for setting the dimension display mode and photographing will be described. AF after pressing the dimension display mode switch 38
When the distance measuring frame is moved to a desired subject and stopped, a focusing operation is performed on the subject, and the position information (distance to the subject) of the focus adjustment lens at that time is loaded into the CPU 14. At the same time, the CPU 14 can know the position of the subject on the screen depending on which gate circuit of the CCD 3 is controlled. By subsequently performing the key operation, the distance and position information for the next subject can be obtained. When the CPU 14 obtains the distance and position information for the second object to be measured, it calculates and obtains the distance between two points of the object to be measured. In addition, the dimension-related data is calculated by calculating the distance, position, and zoom information of the two objects to be measured.

When the photographer presses the release button halfway down, data relating to the dimension is displayed as character and dimension pattern generator 19
The image of the subject is displayed on the screen of the electronic viewfinder (not shown) along with the line segment pattern, the numerical value indicating the distance, and the unit. When the photographer presses the release button again after checking the dimensioned screen with the electronic viewfinder, the video signal of the subject is recorded on the odd numbered tracks, and the video signal of only the scale signal is recorded on the even numbered tracks. . When it is desired to display a line segment pattern or the like during playback, when the playback operation is performed after pressing the dimension display mode switch 38, the line segment pattern, the numerical value and the unit indicating the distance are displayed on the image of the subject on the screen of the playback monitor. Is displayed. These line segment patterns and the like are displayed in white level. In this embodiment, the vicinity of the white level of the brightness signal is used as the brightness level of the scale display, but the vicinity of the black level may be used.

FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, a Y compression circuit is inserted on the recording side, and data relating to dimensions is stored in the ID area, and a line segment pattern, a numerical value indicating a distance, and a scale signal of a unit are generated during reproduction. . DPSK (Di
A differential phase shift keying) processing circuit 40 is provided on the circuit side of the recording system, and the phase-modulated ID information is combined with the video signal of the subject in the recording processing circuit 9. A DPSK demodulation circuit 41, a character and size pattern generator 43, and a character and size pattern insert circuit 42 are provided on the circuit side of the reproduction system. The switch 44 is for selecting the dimension display. The other components are shown in FIG.
Characters and dimensions from the circuit of Insert circuit 6 and 1
0, character and size pattern generator 19, A / D
There is essentially no difference except that the converter 33, the memory 34, the D / A converter 35 and the memory control circuit 37 are deleted. In this embodiment, since the compressed luminance signal of the subject is recorded in the dimension display mode shooting, the subject image of the compressed luminance signal is displayed on the reproduction screen even if the user does not want to display the dimension.

Although the above is an example of the case of the analog recording type electronic still camera, the present invention can be applied to the digital recording type electronic still camera. In such a case, the video signal of the subject is D / A converted and then recorded in a semiconductor memory, for example, an IC memory. The dimensional information is coded information and therefore has good consistency. When the size display is instructed at the time of photographing, the semiconductor memory stores the digital data of the object and the scale signal in the same address space or different associated address spaces. In the reproduction, if they are stored in the same address space, the video of the subject on which the line segment pattern and the like are displayed is reproduced if read out as it is. In the case where they are stored in different address spaces, it is possible to reproduce the image of the subject by selecting whether to insert the line segment pattern or the like.

The line segment pattern between the two objects to be measured in the present invention is inserted to indicate which subject is the dimension, and it is only possible to confirm which subject is shown. It does not have to be accurately inserted between the two DUTs as long as it exists. Therefore, the accuracy of the position information supplied to the circuit for inserting the line segment pattern into the video signal of the subject is not required. The display position of the line segment pattern can be changed as necessary. In the above embodiment, the case of displaying the numerical value indicating the distance, the unit, and the line segment pattern has been described, but it is possible to delete some of these and display them. The display position of the numerical value and the unit is at the lower right of the line segment pattern, but it may be displayed at any of the upper, lower, left and right positions of the line segment pattern. The color and density of the line segment pattern can be selected according to the background color. The distance between two objects to be measured is calculated by assuming two parallel planes including these measurement points, but it is calculated as a spherical surface including these measurement points and considering the solid angle. It is also possible. It is also possible to express it in a vector manner as a display method of the position information of the measurement point. In the present invention, the distance to the measured point is obtained from the lens position information,
A distance measuring sensor may be provided separately to obtain the value. It is also possible to display the dimensions in conjunction with the strobe.

[0020]

As described above, the electronic still camera system capable of displaying dimensions according to the present invention compresses the luminance signal of the image signal of the object in the dimension display mode, and compresses the white signal near the empty white level or near the black level. Is used as the scale display brightness level. Therefore, the distance and scale displayed together with the image signal of the subject are displayed at a level having a different density from the surrounding image regardless of the image of the subject, and the scale and the like can be easily read.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a principle of calculating a distance (dimension) between two measurement points captured in a field of view of a finder.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a viewfinder in the finder and a reproduction screen displaying a dimensional pattern, a numerical value indicating a distance, and a unit.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing examples of various dimensional patterns.

FIG. 4 is a circuit block diagram showing an embodiment of an electronic still camera system capable of displaying dimensions according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a circuit block diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Lens 2 ... Aperture 3 ... CCD 4 ... Imaging system means 5 ... Color matrix 6, 10 ... Letter and size Insert circuit 7, 11 ... Recording processing circuit 8, 27 ... Y compression circuit 9 ... Y process circuit 14 ... CPU (control means) 16 ... Shutter control circuit 17 ... CCD driver 18 ... Iris, auto focus control circuit 19 ... Character and dimension pattern generator 20 ... Contrast detector 21 ... Timing generator 22 ... VFD interface circuit 23 ... VFD (Video Floppy Driver) 25 ... Magnetic head 26, 28 ... Regeneration processing circuit 33 ... A / D converter 34 ... Memory 35 ... D / A converter 36 ... Video amplifier 37 ... Memory control circuit

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An image pickup system means for converting a subject image formed on an image pickup device through a lens system into a video signal, and zoom information and distance information at the time of focusing of the subject image formed on the image pickup device. Focusing control means, and means for detecting the positions on the screen of two measured points captured in the same field of view,
From the character and dimension pattern generating means for outputting the character and dimension pattern at a white level or the black level, the character and dimension pattern inserting means for inserting the output of the character and dimension pattern generating means as a video signal, and the focusing control means. Size information is calculated based on the zoom information and distance information of the above and the position information on the screen of the two measured points from the position detecting means, and the data related to this dimension is sent to the character and dimension pattern generating means. A control means for outputting a numerical value, a unit and a dimension pattern signal representing the value and recording the same on the recording medium by the character and dimension pattern inserting means, and one of a white level or a black level of the luminance signal of the subject read from the recording medium. A Y compression circuit for compressing a luminance signal so as to leave a space, and the recording medium. A means for synthesizing a video signal of a subject read from the device and a numerical value, a unit, and a dimension pattern representing a distance between two points to be measured is provided, and represents a distance displayed together with the subject image when a dimension display instruction is reproduced. An electronic still camera system capable of displaying dimensions, which is configured to display a numerical value, a unit, and a dimensional pattern at a vacant luminance level by compressing a luminance signal of a subject image. 2. An image pickup system means for converting a subject image formed on an image pickup element through a lens system into a video signal, and zoom information and distance information at the time of focusing of the subject image formed on the image pickup element. Focusing control means, and means for detecting the positions on the screen of two measured points captured in the same field of view,
A Y compression circuit for compressing a luminance signal so as to leave the luminance signal near the white level or the black level of the luminance signal of the subject image taken in from the image pickup system means, and a character for outputting a character and a dimension pattern at the white level or the black level. And dimension pattern generating means, character and dimension pattern inserting means for inserting the output of the character and dimension pattern generating means as a video signal, zoom information, distance information and position information obtained by the focusing control means, and the Y compression. The video signal of the subject, whose luminance signal has been compressed by the circuit, is recorded on the recording medium, and during playback, when the dimension display instruction is given,
The video signal of the subject is read from the recording medium, the zoom information, the distance information, and the position information are read, data regarding the dimension is calculated based on the read distance information, and the data is sent to the character and dimension pattern generating means. Control means for outputting a numerical value, unit, and dimension pattern signal indicating the distance between two measured points, and inserting the numerical value, unit, and dimension pattern indicating the distance into the video signal of the object by the character and dimension pattern inserting means. When a size display instruction is made and the image is reproduced, the numerical value, unit, and size pattern representing the distance displayed together with the image of the object are displayed at a vacant brightness level by compressing the brightness signal of the object. An electronic still camera system capable of displaying dimensions. 3. A means for inserting a video signal of a numerical value, a unit and a dimensional pattern representing the distance output by the character and dimensional pattern generating means into an image of a subject displayed on an electronic viewfinder. Claim 1
An electronic still camera system capable of displaying the described dimensions.