JPH06284328A - Image pickup device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a stable clear picture by stopping the new storage of the picture in a frame memory when a camera shakes or a focus is not matched, and outputting previous data stored in the frame memory. CONSTITUTION:A discriminator 13 checks a picture quality based on data fetched by a camera 8, and checks the state of the camera itself by directly receiving a signal indicating the state of the camera itself. At the time of judging that the deteriorated picture is outputted from the camera 8 side according to the result of the check, the discriminator 13 controls the data in a frame memory 9 not so as to be updated, and the picture in a satisfactory state before it is deteriorated so as to be outputted to a monitor 10 or a line interface 12. Then, only a luminance signal among the data inputted from the camera 8 is inputted to the discriminator 13, and the discriminator 13 detects a moving vector from the luminance signal, judges that the camera is shaking when the size of the moving vector is more than a threshold value, and applies a control signal to the memory 9, and a signal for temporary stop to a recorder 11.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image pickup device such as a video camera for inputting a video image through a lens and outputting an electric video signal.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 show basic configuration diagrams of a conventional method. FIG. 5 shows an example of recording and displaying an image using a camera, and FIG. 6 shows an example of displaying an image captured by the camera and communicating using a telephone line.

In FIG. 5, 1 is a camera, 2 is a monitor,
Reference numeral 3 is a recording device such as a VTR. Here, camera 1
The image taken in is displayed on the monitor 2 as it is, and is recorded by the recording device 3 if necessary. In FIG. 6, 4 is a camera, 5 is a memory, 6 is a monitor, and 7 is a line interface unit. Here, the image captured by the camera 4 is once stored in the memory 5 and displayed on the monitor 6. Further, the data stored in the memory 5 is passed to the line interface unit 7, is subjected to data compression, and is communicated with the outside through the line. Further, the data transmitted from the outside is received by the line interface unit 7, the data is decompressed and stored in the memory 5, and displayed on the monitor 6. In both cases of FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, the image captured by the camera is always displayed or recorded as an image due to camera shake or an image with focus shift.

[0004]

However, in the prior art, even when the camera shakes or is focused at the time of shooting, an image in the transitional state is sent from the camera side. There was a problem that unsightly images were displayed or recorded due to movement or unexpected movements.

The present invention provides an image pickup apparatus capable of obtaining a stable and clear image even when the camera shakes or is in focus at the time of shooting, or when the camera moves or is unexpectedly moved. The purpose is to provide.

[0006]

According to the present invention, a frame memory is provided, a photographed image is digitally converted and stored at any time, and a luminance signal of the image is used to detect when the camera shakes or is out of focus. In that case, the storage of a new image in the frame memory is stopped, and the data stored in the immediately preceding frame memory is output.

[0007]

According to the present invention, a new image is not stored in the frame memory when an image due to camera shake or when the image is out of focus, and the image stored before deterioration is output as it is. Therefore, it is possible to obtain a good image.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows the basic configuration of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 8 is a camera, 9 is a frame memory for storing one screen image, 10 is a monitor, 11 is a recording device such as a VTR, 12 is a line interface, and 13 is a determiner.

The judging device 13 checks the image quality based on the data taken in by the camera 8 or receives a signal notifying the condition directly from the camera 8 to check the condition of the camera itself. Accordingly, when the deteriorated image is output from the camera 8 side, the data in the frame memory 9 is controlled so as not to be updated, and the image in a good state before the deterioration is output to the monitor 10 or the line interface 12. Further, a signal for performing a pause is output to the recording device 11 so that the image is not recorded when the image is strange. In addition, when the state of the camera 8 is calm and the determining unit 13 determines that the image is normal, the determining unit 13 issues a permission for capturing to the memory 9 and a new image is displayed on the monitor 10.
And the new data is output to the line interface unit 12. Further, a signal for canceling the pause is sent to the recording device 11 to restart recording.

The operation of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 for the first embodiment. In FIG.
Only the luminance signal of the data input from the camera 8 is input to the. In the determiner 13, a motion vector is detected from the luminance signal, and when the magnitude of the motion vector is equal to or larger than the threshold value, it is determined that the camera is shaking, and a control signal is sent to the memory 9 and a pause signal is sent to the recording device 11. give. As a method of obtaining the motion vector, there are a gradient method, a phase correlation method, and the like, but here, the matching method will be described. FIG. 2 shows the internal configuration of the decision unit 13 in FIG. In FIG. 2, 14 is a filter, 15 is a field memory, 16 is a differencer, 17 is an adder, 18 is a searcher, and 19 is a comparator. The luminance signal from the camera 8 is filtered by the filter 14 and stored in the field memory 15, and at the same time, the difference from the data already stored in the field memory 15 one field before is obtained. At this time, one screen is divided into blocks each having a predetermined number of pixels in a motion vector search range, and a difference is calculated for each block. By adding the results for each block by the adder 17, the cumulative result is reflected in the block having the size of the search range. The motion vector can be detected by searching the place where the brightness value is the lowest in this block in the searcher 18 and determining in which direction and how far it is from the center of the block. The obtained motion vector is compared with a threshold value by the comparator 19, and if it is smaller than the threshold value, a normal signal is output, and if it is larger than the threshold value, an abnormal signal is output.

A second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 shows a configuration of a camera and a determiner that detects the movement of the camera and determines whether the movement is larger or smaller than a predetermined movement. In this embodiment, the camera 8 is provided with horizontal and vertical gyros, and the output thereof is input to the judging device 13 '. Here, 20 is a horizontal gyro and 21 is a vertical gyro, which are mounted on the camera. The output signal from the gyro is converted to a digital value in the decision unit 13 ', the horizontal result is compared with the comparator 22 and the vertical result is compared with the threshold value in the comparator 23, and both are smaller than the threshold value. Outputs a normal signal, and outputs an abnormal signal when either of them is larger than the threshold value.

A third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 shows the configuration of a determiner that determines whether the camera and the focus mechanism are operating. The camera 8 has an autofocus function, and inputs a signal indicating that the autofocus is functioning to the determination device 13 ″.
Reference numeral 24 denotes a focus lens driving unit, which indicates that the lens is in focus while the lens is moving, and normal shooting is performed when the lens is stopped. The signal of the state at this time is input to the determiner 13 ″. The determiner 13 ″ outputs a normal signal when the autofocus is not working, and outputs an abnormal signal when the autofocus is functioning. . Also, if you want to focus manually,
Similarly, when the focusing lens is moving, an abnormal signal is output.

[0013]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is determined that the camera is shaking or focusing, and in that case, capturing of a new image in the field memory is stopped, and at the same time, recording of a VTR or the like is performed. Since a temporary stop signal can be given to the device, a normal image without shaking can be output and sent to the other party for display, recording, communication, etc.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a basic configuration diagram of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of the inside of a determiner in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a camera and a determiner according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a camera and a determiner according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a conventional example when connected to a recording apparatus.

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram when a line interface is connected according to a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 8 camera 9 frame memory 10 monitor 11 recording device 12 line interface 13 judgment device 14 filter 15 field memory 16 difference device 17 adder 18 searcher 19 comparator 20 horizontal gyro 21 vertical gyro 22 horizontal comparator 23 Vertical comparator 24 Focusing lens driver

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An image pickup apparatus having a lens for photographing an object and outputting it as an image, a frame memory, means for digitally converting the input image and storing it in the frame memory at any time, and a video signal as a luminance signal. A means for separating into color signals and a means for detecting the movement of the screen on a field-by-field basis from the luminance signal are provided, and when the output result from the means for detecting the movement is larger than a predetermined threshold value, An imaging device characterized by outputting data before updating without updating data in the frame memory. 2. An image pickup apparatus having a lens for photographing an object and outputting it as an image, a frame memory, means for digitally converting the input image and storing it in the frame memory at any time, and a video signal as a luminance signal. A means for separating into color signals is provided, and a shake detection sensor in the horizontal and vertical directions is provided in the image pickup apparatus main body, and when the output of the sensor is larger than a predetermined threshold value, the data in the frame memory is stored. An imaging device characterized by outputting data before update without updating. 3. An image pickup apparatus having a lens for photographing an object and outputting it as an image, a frame memory, means for digitally converting the input image and storing it in the frame memory at any time, and a video signal as a luminance signal. A means for separating into color signals and a means for automatically adjusting the focus are provided, and
An image pickup device comprising means for notifying the outside that focus adjustment is being performed, and outputting the immediately preceding data without updating the data in the frame memory during the focus adjustment.