JPH07336581A - Image input device and image input method - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To project a marker indication not included in a video signal output in the image input device onto an object. CONSTITUTION:The image input device has a marker projector 3 incorporating a drive circuit 6 operated synchronously with a vertical blanking signal 12 outputted from a synchronizing signal generator 10 in the inside of a television camera device 7. Through the constitution above, since a marker projected onto the object 1 is projected within a vertical blanking period of the video signal, the image pickup range and position or the like are recognized by observing the object 1 and no marker is included in an output video signal 11 itself.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image input device and an image input method, and more particularly to an image input device having a display function of a marker indicating an image pickup range of a subject when a subject such as a document is captured as a video signal. And an image input method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An example of the configuration of a conventional image input device is shown in FIG. The image input device 107 of FIG. 4 has a marker display function, and the subject 10 imaged by the image input device 107 is captured.
It is possible to superimpose a marker on one image and display the superimposed image signal on the display monitor 115.

For the above operation, the synchronization signal generator 11
The marker signal generator 114 generates and outputs a marker synchronized with the synchronization signal generated by 0. Image sensor 108
The video signal processing unit 109
The video signal of the subject 101 image-processed by and the above marker are combined by the video adder 113 and displayed on the display monitor 115. The operator operates the display monitor 115
The relative position between the subject 101 and the television camera device 107 is adjusted while observing the subject image displayed on the screen and the marker in the display monitor 115 to adjust an appropriate imaging position or imaging range.

As a conventional example related to the technical field of the present invention, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-336769, which relates to a technique for switching a display image of a finder, and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-33669, which relates to a technique for displaying a frame-shaped cursor indicating an image pickup range, are disclosed. 14966
There is a gazette.

[0005]

However, in the image input device and the marker method of the imaging range according to the above-mentioned conventional technique, the scanner operates the positional relationship between the subject 101 and the television camera device 107 while looking at the display monitor 115. There is a need. Since the position of the marker on the subject 101 is determined by the relative positional relationship between the subject 101 and the television camera device 107, moving either one also moves the marker position. Therefore, it is necessary to check the marker position every time the subject is moved, and it is difficult to quickly set the display range.

Further, when the marker is displayed on the subject 101 by some method, the image of the marker is also included in the video signal output signal 111, so that the viewer is annoyed by the marker. . In order to avoid this, if the marker is projected onto the subject only during adjustment and the projection is stopped during shooting, it cannot be applied to a moving subject. Therefore, the confirmation of the imaging position and the imaging range involves the problem of having to look at the screen of the finder or the display monitor of the imaging device.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an image input device and an image input method that allow the user to visually recognize the image pickup range, the image pickup position, etc. by looking at a subject without affecting the image pickup.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, the image input device according to claims 1 and 2 has an image pickup means for picking up an image of a subject in synchronization with a synchronization signal, and a predetermined marker projected on the subject. And a marker projecting unit for performing a predetermined marker on the subject during a blanking period of the image pickup, thereby making it possible to visually recognize the image pickup position or the image pickup range.

Further, it is preferable that the marker projects a mask image on a subject by a predetermined light source.

An image input method according to a third aspect of the present invention includes an image pickup step for picking up an image of a subject in synchronization with a synchronization signal, and a marker projecting step for projecting a predetermined marker on the subject during a blanking period of image pickup. The feature is that the imaging position or the imaging range of the subject can be visually recognized without imaging the predetermined marker projected on the subject.

[0011]

Therefore, according to the image input device and the image input method of the present invention, by projecting the marker projected on the subject in synchronization with the synchronizing signal for picking up the subject during the blanking period of the image, By projecting the marker on the subject without including the marker, it is possible to directly visually recognize the imaging position or the imaging range.

[0012]

Embodiments of the image input device and the image input method according to the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
1 to 3, there is shown an embodiment of an image input device and an image input method of the present invention. The image input device of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is a television camera device 7 which is an example of a half mirror 2 which reflects a part of incident light and transmits a part thereof, a marker projector 3 which projects a marker 23, and an image pickup means.
Composed of. FIG. 1 shows this image input device in relation to a subject 1.

The marker projector 3 is shown in FIG.
The display marker 4 on which the marker shown in FIG. 2 is formed, the marker light source 5 that is the projection light source of the marker 23, and the drive circuit 6 that drives the marker light source 5.

The television camera device 7 detects an image pickup element 8 for converting an image of a subject into an electric signal, an electric signal converted by the image pickup element 8, and a video signal processing section for processing the detected signal based on a predetermined procedure. 9 and a synchronization signal generator 10 for generating a synchronization signal for synchronizing the image between the transmitter and the receiver and reproducing the image correctly. In this embodiment, an NTSC video signal 11 is output.

The marker projector 3 and the television camera device 7 are connected to each other, and the vertical blanking signal 12 output from the synchronizing signal generator 10 of the television camera device 7 is transmitted to the drive circuit 6 of the marker projector 3. To be done. The marker projector 3 receives the vertical blanking signal 12, and the driving circuit 6 drives the marker light source 5 in synchronization with the received vertical blanking signal 12. That is, the marker light source 5 emits light in synchronization with the vertical blanking signal 12.

In the arrangement of the respective devices, the subject 1, the half mirror 2 and the television camera device 7 have the same optical axis a.
Set on. The half mirror 2 is set with an elevation angle of 45 ° with respect to the optical axis a. The optical axis b of the marker projector 3 and the optical axis a are 90 ° and 45 ° with respect to the half mirror 2, and the optical axis a and the optical axis b are on the surface of the half mirror 2. It is set at the intersecting position. In these relationships, the light ray of the optical axis a is transmitted through the half mirror 2, and the light ray of the optical axis b is reflected by the surface of the half mirror 2.

In the above structure, the image of the subject 1 is
After passing through the half mirror 2, it is converted into an electric signal which is a video signal by the image pickup device 8 in the television camera device 7.
This video signal is sent to the video signal 1 via the video signal processor 9.
It is output as 1. The output of the video signal 11 is synchronized with the sync signal generated by the sync signal generator 10.

On the other hand, on the subject 1, the projection image of the display marker 4 projected from the marker projector 3 is reflected by the half mirror 2 and displayed. The marker 23 has a shape such that the imaging range included in the video signal 11 and the center position of the imaging can be easily understood. The projected marker 23 is
It is an example of a shape in which a mask is formed on the display marker 4. Figure 2
An example of the marker 23 shown in is composed of four L marks 23a to 23d indicating the boundaries of the imaging range and a cross mark 23e indicating the center position of the imaging in the viewable range 21 of the finder. L mark 2 for subject 1
3a to 23d and a cross mark 23e are projected.

The marker light source 5 of the marker projector 3 emits light in synchronization with the vertical blanking signal 12 generated by the synchronization signal generator 10 of the television camera device 7. Figure 3
The time relationship between the video signal 11 and the marker 23 projected from the marker projector 3 is shown. Video signal 31 of FIG.
Within the vertical blanking period T between a and the video signal 31b (or the video signal 31b and the video signal 31c),
The drive circuit 6 of the marker projector 3 operates. The marker projection period 33a (or 33 in the vertical blanking period T)
In b), the marker 23 is projected onto the subject 1.

On the other hand, during the period of the video signal 31, the drive circuit 6 does not operate and the marker 23 is not projected on the subject 1. Since the marker 23 is continuously projected only during the marker projection period 33, a person who looks at the subject 1 sees the marker 23 on the subject 1 without flicker due to the afterimage effect. However, the marker 23 is not included in the imaging of the video signal 11.

As described above, in the image input apparatus and the image input method of this embodiment, the marker projection period 33 of the marker projector 3 is changed to the vertical blanking period T of the image pickup.
By projecting in synchronization with, it is possible to know the imaging range, the center of imaging, etc. directly on the subject. Therefore, it is not necessary to look at the screen of the display monitor to confirm the relative positional relationship between the imaging range and the part of the subject to be imaged. Moreover, the marker 23 displayed on the subject is not included in the video signal.

Although the above-described embodiment is a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the present invention is not limited to this, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. For example, the optical axis of the television camera device 7 and the optical axis of the marker projector 3 are aligned with each other by using a half mirror for projecting the marker onto the subject. However, if the television camera device 7 and the marker projector 3 are installed close to each other and the markers are projected with their optical axes substantially coincident with each other, it is configured so that the substantial confirmation of the imaging range is not hindered. It is also possible.

[0023]

As is apparent from the above description, the image input device and the image input method of the present invention capture an image by projecting a marker onto a subject during a blanking period of the image synchronized with a synchronization signal of the image capturing. The position, the imaging range, and the like can be visually recognized by directly looking at the subject. Further, since the marker projected onto the subject is not included in the image signal and can be projected onto the subject at all times, it is easy to confirm the imaging state.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an image input device and an image input method of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a marker.

FIG. 3 is a timing chart for explaining the operation of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a conventional image input device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Subject 2 Half Mirror 3 Marker Projector 4 Display Marker (Mask) 5 Marker Light Source 6 Driving Circuit 7 Television Camera Device 8 Image Sensor 9 Video Signal Processor 10 Sync Signal Generator 11 Video Signal 12 Vertical Blanking Signal 13 Video Adder 14 Marker signal generator 15 Display monitor

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An image pickup means for picking up an image of a subject in synchronization with a synchronization signal, and a marker projecting means for projecting a predetermined marker on the subject, wherein the predetermined marker is set on the subject during a blanking period of the image pickup. An image input device, wherein the image pickup position or the image pickup range can be visually recognized by projecting the image onto the image input device. 2. The marker projects a mask image onto the subject by a predetermined light source.
The image input device described. 3. An image pickup step of picking up an image of a subject in synchronization with a synchronization signal, and a marker projecting step of projecting a predetermined marker onto the object during a blanking period of the image pickup. An image input method, which enables visual recognition of an imaging position or an imaging range of the subject without capturing a predetermined marker as a video signal.