JPH05508287A - Dual standard camera using common CCD sensor - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] Dual standard camera technology field using common CCD sensor The present invention is applicable to the video camera field, especially capable of generating both PAL and NTSC output signals. Concerning a type of electronic video camera.

Background of the invention There are currently two main television scanning standards in use worldwide. That is, rice The total number of TV lines used in Japan and Japan is 525/frame (actually displayed is approximately 484 lines) and 59.94 fields/sec NTSC-M standard and yaw The total number of TV lines is 625/frame (actually displayed is This is the PAL standard of approximately 575 lines) and 50.0 fields/second. These tele The TV standards are based on the ``Handbook of Television Studies'' (written by Blair Benson, McGraw-Hill). (Published by Le Publishing, New York 1986).

TV cameras with tube sensors have NTSC line rate and PAL line rate. This changes the beam deflection circuit to suit each frame. It becomes possible to scan as many lines as needed. On the other hand, semiconductor image sensors such as CCD sensors Television cameras using sensors have a fixed number of pixels in both vertical and horizontal directions. and a fixed image aspect ratio. NTSC format semiconductor image To obtain a PAL format signal from a camera using a digital sensor, Interpolating 575 new usable PAL lines from 84 NTSC lines Both use expensive digital "standard converters" to change frame rates Must. Such standard converters are available for example in New Chassis. Commercially available from AF Associates, Northvale.

However, a non-entertainment device consisting of a full screen TV image There is no need to display it. Instead, unless the image is distorted, 57 5 Utilization Line Display 484 Utilization Line “Window” image on PAL monitor It is possible to do so.

U.S. Patent Nos. 4,426,664 and 4,811,106 include at least Semiconductor sensor array capable of functioning in two frame rates and line scan modes That is, a CCD device is disclosed. These devices have a large number of lines of photosensitive elements. It is configured to correspond to the maximum number of lines that should be displayed. And the selection times Select the number of lines less than or the maximum number of lines to create a suitable image. A display will be made.

The present invention also enables image processing without adding additional lines of photosensitive elements to the array. CCD image processing without the need to incorporate a specific line selection circuit into the image sensor. PAL signal or N A simple, low-cost video card that can be switched to generate either TSC signal. The purpose is to provide a mela.

Summary of the invention A preferred embodiment of the invention includes a common CC that selectively generates PAL and NTSC outputs. A PAL/NTSC camera with a D image sensor array is provided.

This camera uses a horizontal timing signal and a vertical timing signal to transmit the sensed image. NTSC converter to a corresponding output electrical signal at a rate determined by the signal. Built-in format image sensor array. Furthermore, the timing signal generator transmits the first set of vertical timing signals and horizontal timing signals to the image sensor array. to selectively supply the NTSC output signal to the vertical timing signal and and a second set of horizontal timing signals to the image sensor array to output PAL output signals. generate a number. Each output signal is a processed output signal for display on an image monitor. is transmitted to a processor for generating a signal.

When the electronic video camera of the present invention is in NTSC mode, the camera timing is The SC image monitor displays a standard full screen image. Video camera is in PAL mode When switched, the camera timing is adjusted so that the PAL monitor has no geometric distortion. Displays a "windowed" 484-line image with appropriate aspect ratio. will be corrected. This increases the vertical and horizontal amount blanking time by 16% and horizontal This is achieved by increasing the sensor clock rate by 16%. PAL monitor The image above can be centered or moved to a corner of the screen; This allows text or graphics to be placed outside the window.

From the above, the main purpose of the present invention is to generate The purpose of the present invention is to provide a video camera that can be switched smoothly.

Another object of the present invention is to use a semiconductor image sensor, and to use a PAL or NTSC image sensor. To provide a video camera that can be switched to generate even a misaligned output signal. It is in.

Yet another object of the present invention is to produce PAL output images without geometric distortion. We provide video cameras using NTSC format image sensors that can generate There are many things.

The above and other objects of the present invention constitute a part of the present invention and equivalent components have the same reference numerals. It will become clearer from the attached drawings and the following examples.

Brief description of the drawing FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an NTSC format CCD sensor.

Figure 2 shows the number of lines required to display an image on an NTSC video monitor. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the number of pixels and aspect ratio.

Figure 3 shows centering from an NTSC format sensor on a PAL video monitor. FIG.

Figure 4 shows the upper right hand corner of the image in Figure 3 on a PAL video monitor. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a offset window.

FIG. 5 is a block schematic diagram of a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Figure 6 shows the timing generator of Figure 5 when provided with an NTSC output signal. FIG. 3 is a timing chart diagram showing some signals supplied by the controller.

Figure 7 shows that a centered window image PAL output signal is provided. A timing diagram showing some signals provided by the timing generator of Figure 5 at a time. FIG.

Figure 8 provides the PAL output signal for the upper right-hand corner offset window image. 5 shows some signals provided by the timing generator of FIG. FIG.

Detailed description of the invention Figure 1 shows Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester, New York. NTSC format CCD sensor such as Kodak KAI-0370C sensor 1 Indicates 0. The sensor 10 has an effective light position of 484 vertical x 768 horizontal and a 4:3 vertical This produces the NTSC format image shown in Figure 2. It will be done. Although the present invention is described with respect to the KAI-0370C sensor, it is not limited to this. NTSC format sensors can also be used. Number of effective lines of sensor 10 and The image RMFLr ratio was selected to be compatible with the R5-170A rNTSCJ standard. , so that a properly encoded signal from this sensor can be sent to an NTSC monitor. 40 (FIG. 5). The display update rate of the NTSC monitor 40 is 5 per second. 9°94 fields, each consisting of 242 displayed lines. Interlaced fields constitute one frame. CCD sensor 10 The number of effective lines is equal to the number of lines displayed on the monitor 40. NTSC image The number of horizontal pixels in the sensor is determined by the horizontal readout frequency of the sensor being NTSC- It can be selected to be a multiple of the color subcarrier frequency (approximately 3.58 MHz). Although it is advantageous, there are some aspects that can be selected arbitrarily. The horizontal readout frequency of the sensor is It varies depending on the number of pixels and the valid line period during which the pixels are read. this The valid line period is approximately 52.46 microseconds for the R5-17OA standard. Ru. The KAI-0370C clock frequency used for NTSC display is NTSC It is equal to four times the subcarrier frequency, or about 14.32 MHz.

The PAL-B color television standard is also based on a 4:3 aspect ratio, but the NTSC Approximately 575 effective lines are used instead of the 484 effective lines in the case (Figure 3). . The PAL-B display update rate is exactly 50.00 fields per second, making it possible to The in time is approximately 51.95 microseconds. NTSC setting is better than PAL display. Since the number of effective lines is smaller in the case of a sensor, a special line is This device, which performs digital interpolation to the AL standard converter, is expensive and unattractive. Full screen image from NTSC sensor onto PAL display unless poor solutions are used There is no way to generate .

However, we have discovered that in many scientific and medical devices, P We have found that it is not necessary to generate a full screen image on an L display. the Instead, the 484 valid line from the NTSC sensor goes directly onto the 484 PAL line. The remaining 91 valid lines on the PAL display are set to black. or can be used for other purposes. However, the problem is displayed on the PAL monitor. The 484-line image shown is stable and has no geometric distortion. be. A visible image of the KAI-0370CNTSC sensor on a PAL monitor. One way to generate images is to use an image sensor in the middle 484 lines of a PAL display. This means that 484 lines of data are read out. This includes PAL valid line time using a clock frequency equal to the number of horizontal pixels divided by , which is approximately 76 810.00005195 or equal to 14.78 MHz. Unfortunately, the table The image shown shows severe geometric distortion. This is (575-486)15 This is because it is vertically compressed by a factor equal to 75-16%. but , not compressed horizontally. In this way, the aspect ratio of the displayed image is poor, and the The object appears wider than it actually is.

In order to prevent geometric distortion, we The horizontal dimension of these images should be 4841575 times the PAL active display width. I found out. To display an undistorted image on a PAL monitor, the display must be The image aspect ratio of the play is the aspect ratio of the image captured by the sensor, i.e. 4 ; is true because it must be equal to 3. PAL display In the image from the NTSC sensor above, only 484 out of 575 lines are displayed. Since the image is compressed by about 16% in the vertical direction, it is necessary to prevent geometric distortion. The image must also be compressed horizontally by the same 16% factor. this is real This was achieved by reducing the line time by 16%, which corresponds to the actual sensor readout time. (51,95-(reduced effective line time)) 151.95-0° It is expressed as 16. This resulted in a reduced sensor readout time of 43.64 mi. It becomes a cross second. Therefore, the KAI-0370C required to obtain undistorted PAL display A suitable horizontal clock frequency for the sensor is approximately 76810.00004364 , or approximately equal to 17.60 MHz. This method can be used with any NTSC format. be used as a method to select the horizontal clock frequency for the sensor. Accordingly, the PAL display appears as shown in FIG. The outer 16% of the PAL display is blank. The image in the center of the screen is displayed properly, although it appears black due to the king. 17. A clock frequency of 60MHz allows 912 bits during a PAL-B valid line period. The cell clock period is increased by 1-fT.

Adjusts the start of sensor readout period for PAL line and field sync signals By doing this, you can display the central image “Window ” can be moved. Furthermore, the appropriate video signal level By switching to the outside of the image “window” as shown in Figure 4, Set the displayed area to the desired color or text to this external window. It is now possible to add text or graphics. Text shown in Figure 4 The circuitry necessary to generate the color background and color background will not be described in detail here. I mean, Such circuits are well known in the art and are ・Is it incorporated into standard broadcast video equipment made by Ampex Corporation located in City? It is et al.

Figure 5 shows the NTSC using KAI-0370CNTSC format sensor 10. /PAL camera 20, model KDSP-A100 CFA processor 13, and This shows model KDSP-A230 RGB boss processor 14. These parts are manufactured by Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester, New York. It is manufactured by Tracolor Imaging System” (Authors: Ni, A., Barulski et al., IEEE Tra ns, on Consumer Electronics, Vol, 35°No. , 3. pT), 382-389. Aug, 1989). tortoise Also inside La 20 is “The EBS-1, an EPROM-Ba5ed 5 equencer ASCI, -CICC'88 Technical Dig est, pp, 15.6.1-15.6.4. May 1988 timing generator 17 consisting of an integrated circuit, etc., and Phoenix, Alisina; Integrated circuit NTSC/PAL encoder module sold by Motorola, Inc. A color encoder 16, such as a Dell MC1377, may be provided. Furthermore , analog signal processor 11. A/D converter 12.3 channel D/A converter converter 15 and the labeled output when selected by switches 24 and 26. Four selectable oscillators 18, 19, 21 and 22 are arranged to generate force signals. There is. Camera 20 supplies an NTSC signal to drive an NTSC monitor 40 Switch from the function to supply PAL signals for driving the PAL monitor 50. It is possible to change the This is controlled by switch 2'3-27. Operate Considering the convenience of the computer, each switch 23-26 is installed so that they can be operated simultaneously. can be used to configure a single user-controlled switch.

The sensor 10 receives the PAL/N signal from the timing generator 17 via a voltage converter 28. Different control signals are received depending on the state of the TSC mode switch 23. voltage converter connects the 0-5 volt logic signal provided by timing generator 17 to sensor 10. For the appropriate voltage level required by, e.g. vertical CCD clock ΦV, -8 to +7 volt signal and -9 to + for horizontal CCD clock ΦH 2 volts, respectively, using circuits well known to those skilled in the art. timing Generator 17 generates sensors IO and IO when switches 23 and 24 are properly set. Proper timing for NTSC or PAL operation of all other major camera components is programmed to generate a signal.

FIG. 6 shows the timing provided by the timing generator 17 to the sensor 10 in NTSC mode. indicates the signal being supplied. Timing waveforms 102 and 104 are provided to sensor 10. By controlling the vertical clocks ΦVI and ΦV2, the KAI-0370C 489 lines of optical elements of the sensor (484 effective lines + 5 lines of light blocking pixels) ) is transferred to the horizontal register 9 in FIG. Waveform 102 and 104 includes 495 pulses per frame. The reason is that the 489 line of the optical element Six additional clock phases are required per frame to transfer to the horizontal read register. This is because it is essential. Each waveform 106, 108, 110 and 112 corresponds to odd and even numbers. Update ΦVI and ΦV2 during the number field vertical blanking interval. as shown in detail. "Third level" pulses 107 and 111 correspond to the optical diode in FIG. It controls the transfer of the ode signal charge to the vertical transfer register 7. pulse 1 09 and 113, the first line of each light blocking pixel is odd and even field. Indicates that video line number 17 is transferred to horizontal register 9 at the start point. This results in activity at the end of the normal NTSC vertical blanking interval. You can get video images.

Waveforms 114 and 116 show ΦvI and and Φv2 in more detail. Waveforms 120 and 122 are horizontal clock The voltage in the horizontal register 9 is determined by how the resistors ΦH1 and ΦH2 are controlled. 2 shows how the load is read out via the floating diffusion output structure 8 shown in FIG.

ΦH1 and ΦH2 cycle between high and low 791 times, resulting in 768 photoactivations. pixel, 12 dark reference pixels, 9 major window shift register phase, and 2 tre The ring empty shift register phase is read as shown in line content diagram 126.

The ΦR signal 124 connects the floating diffused output structure 8 of FIG. 1 after each pixel transfer is completed. Used to reset.

Timing waveforms 120, 122 and 124 have ΦH1, ΦH2 and ΦR of 14°. operating at a clock frequency of 32 MHz, and that ΦH1 and ΦH2 are approximately 55. 3 microseconds of activation, which causes the effective video image to become normal. -'ζ will be read during the NTSC valid video line period.

FIG. 7 shows the signal supplied from the timing generator 17 to the sensor 10 in PAL mode. A “centered” image window is shown in FIG. sea bream The timing waveforms 202.204.206.208.210 and 212 are KAI-0 Controls when the 489 line of the 370C sensor is transferred to the horizontal register.

Compared to a PAL format sensor, the light output during one field on the KAI-0370C is Since the number of lines is 45 fewer, the first line transfer of each field requires 209 pulses. And line number 45 indicated by 213 is delayed by an additional 23 lines, and this This results in a vertically centered image.

Timing waveforms 214, 216, 220, 222 and 224 are 64.0 μsec PA This figure shows the L line time in more detail. Waveforms 220 and 222 are horizontal curves. How locks ΦH1 and ΦH2 are 17.60 during the middle of the PAL line μ44, corresponding to a horizontal clock frequency of MHz, high and low during a 9 second period of 79 Indicates whether to cycle once.

FIG. 8 shows the timing provided to sensor 10 by timing generator 17 during PAL mode. Timing signal with "Top Right Hand Corner Offset" window image show. Provide these signals during PAL mode instead of those shown in Figure 7. Timing generator 17 is programmable or 17 (not shown) to the signal in FIG. 8 (corresponding to the offset PAL window in FIG. 4) or the signal in FIG. (compatible with AL window) or to use during PAL mode. can be used for.

Timing waveforms 302, 304, 306, 308, 310 and 312 are The first line transfer of the field is line number 2 indicated by pulses 309 and 313. 2, which causes the image to be displayed on top of the PAL monitor. 45 black lines are formed in one field at the bottom of the display.

Timing waveforms 314, 316, 320 and 322 are 64.0 μsec PAL lines The time is shown in more detail. Waveforms 320 and 322 are shown in FIG. 7 during the horizontal readout period. Instead of the middle of the line period in the case of waveforms 220 and 222 in Shows how it is shifted to the end of the line period. For first line transfer , by selecting between line numbers 22 (Figure 7) and 67, the image (selected line number ) from the top of the screen to the bottom of the screen.

The color encoder 16 is set when the PAL/NTSC mode switch 25 is set properly. When the RGB signal from the D/A converter 15 is When following the SC scanning standard, and the appropriate color subcarrier frequency 26 to the color oscillator input to encoder 16. or NTSC color signals. NTSC monitor 40 Alternatively, visual confirmation of the output to the PAL monitor 50 can be controlled by the position of the switch 27. It is.

Instead of controlling PAL/NTSC features via a user-selectable switch, the PAL mode or NTSC mode, which is the electronic component indicated by each block in 5. Insert into a PC board that incorporates an oscillator and jump wires for one of the By doing so, it can be configured so that it can be set at the factory.

Although what is considered to be a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been shown above, the essential aspects of the present invention are It is clear that various improvements and changes can be made without departing from the technical philosophy. be. Accordingly, such changes and improvements that are within the scope of this invention are covered by the appended claims. All are covered by the description of the range.

Figure 1 Figure 2 484 line - Video window Figure 4 with text l line time * fi3.5@stc Figure 6 PAL mode centralization image -Jim timing 1 line time = 64.0 kote Figure 7 Image of upper right hand side in PAL mode 1 line time = 64.0qsec even field Line timing 1 line wealth 791 pixel figure 8 Dual standard camera summary using common CCD sensor The present invention uses a common image sensor to generate PAL and NTSC output. Regarding video cameras. The image sensor converts the detected image into a corresponding output power to electrical signals at a rate determined by horizontal and vertical timing signals.

The timing signal generator selectively images the first set of vertical and horizontal timing signals. The output signal is supplied to the image sensor and generates an NTSC output signal. selectively providing a second set of vertical and horizontal timing signals to generate a PAL output signal; do. The processor processes the generated output signal from the timing signal generator to Generates a processed output signal and displays it on the monitor as a PAL or NTSC signal indicate.

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. Ratio of detected images determined by horizontal and vertical timing signals NTSC format image detection module for converting to corresponding output electrical signals in Ray and selectively providing a first set of vertical and horizontal timing signals to the image sensor; Generates a TSC scan rate output signal and provides a horizontal tie to the image sensor. generator means for selectively providing a scanning signal to generate a PAL scanning rate output signal; and, processing the output signal generated from said generator means for display on an image monitor; processing means for providing a PAL output signal; A PAL/NTSC camera that selectively generates TSC output. 2. A common CCD that selectively generates PAL and NTSC outputs as claimed in claim 1. In a PAL/NTSC camera having a sensor, the PAL and NTSC cameras from the processing means and color encoder means for selectively providing an NTSC composite color signal; A PAL/NTSC camera comprising: 3. Vertical and horizontal reading hands controlled by a clock signal for the incident image an image sensor array that converts the electrical signals into corresponding electrical signals, and processes the electrical signals; and display the resulting image on an image monitor, thereby displaying the resulting image on said monitor. means for displaying the image and controlling said vertical and horizontal readout means from said sensor. means for generating a complete image display on an image monitor using a first scanning standard type; and a second scanning standard type by controlling said vertical and horizontal readout means. means for displaying an image smaller than the full image on the image monitor using A video camera featuring: 4. 4. The video camera according to claim 3, further comprising: forming an electrical signal to a color signal; an analog signal processor that corresponds to the signal from the analog signal processor; A/D converter means for converting into a digital signal; means for processing the digital signal; A business characterized in that it is equipped with means for processing said electrical signal, including: video camera. 5. A common CCD cell selectively generating PAL and NTSC outputs as claimed in claim 2. In a PAL/NTSC camera that has a sensor, it also generates a PAL subcarrier signal. first oscillator means for generating an NTSC subcarrier signal; and second oscillator means for generating an NTSC subcarrier signal; PAL subcarrier signal or said NTSC subcarrier signal in said color according to a desired representation. - switching means for selectively connecting to the encoder means; PAL/NTSC camera. 6. The frame includes vertical and horizontal readout means controlled by a clock signal. an image sensor array having a fixed number of effective lines and a fixed aspect ratio; A fixed number of effective lines and a fixed number of lines per frame are controlled. generates a sensor output signal containing a displayed image window with a fixed aspect ratio and the means to Processes the sensor output signal and generates a camera output signal for displaying on the image monitor. and the camera output signal has a scanning standard that is greater than the fixed number of effective lines per frame. means of using cases; A video camera comprising: 7. 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the camera output signal has a frequency of about 5 per frame. Video camera characterized in that it uses the PAL scanning standard with 75 effective lines . 8. 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the displayed image window is an image model. A device characterized in that it is offset from the center of the screen. 9. 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the displayed image window comprises a plurality of A device characterized in that it can be moved to any position. 10. The frame includes vertical and horizontal readout means controlled by a clock signal. An image sensor array with approximately 484 effective lines per frame and an aspect ratio of 4:3. , controls the vertical and horizontal readout means of the sensor, approximately 484 lines per frame. and a sensor output signal containing a displayed image window with an aspect ratio of 4:3. the means by which it occurs; Processes the sensor output signal and provides a camera output signal for display on an image monitor The camera output signal has substantially more than 484 effective lines per frame. A video camera characterized in that it uses a scanning standard having: