JPH0765150A - Image composing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To compose an image while decreasing the number of components and reducing adjustment places. CONSTITUTION:Color decoders 10a-10d convert a one-bit signal into 8-bit title color data, mute color data, frame color data, and on-screen character color data. Those data and gradational image data are sent to input ports 8a-8e. A signal selection control circuit 11 makes a selector 8 select color data having top priority among plural inputted color data. Composite image data outputted from the output port 8f of the selector 8 are converted by a D/A converter 13 into an analog signal. This composite image is displayed on a monitor 16 or printed out.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image synthesizing apparatus used in a video printer, and more specifically, a gradation image,
The present invention relates to an image synthesizing device for synthesizing various images such as a title image, on-screen characters and a mute screen.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Images captured by a video camera can be converted into hard copies by a video printer as they are, or can be converted into hard copies by embedding and combining title images such as title names and shooting dates, and then converting them into hard copies. Is used as. Further, in the video printer, on-screen characters for notifying the display of time, operation information, and troubles are combined and displayed on the screen of the monitor television.
Furthermore, when the captured image data is erased or when only the title image is displayed, a mute image with a white or blue background is combined with the title image and displayed.

For example, a general method of synthesizing a gradation image and a title image at the time of monitoring is to use a gradation image memory and a title image memory and use the gradation input from an electronic still camera or a movie. The image data is written in the gradation image memory, and similarly input title image data is written in the title image memory. The gradation image data is read from the gradation image memory, and the D / A converter converts the gradation image data into an analog video signal. The title image data is read from the title memory in synchronization with this.
A circuit for outputting a signal (color signal) having an arbitrary offset voltage (luminance level) is provided for the title image, and the scanning timing for displaying the title image by switching the analog switch depending on the presence or absence of the title image data. At the time of, a color signal is output instead of the analog video signal. The synthesized video signal thus synthesized is converted into an NTSC signal and then sent to a monitor to display a synthesized image on the screen. At the time of printing, a composite image signal is sent to the printing system to print the composite image by, for example, thermal recording.

Further, when synthesizing on-screen characters, the on-screen characters are prioritized, and the color signals of the pixels of the on-screen characters are extracted by analog switches at the pixels where the on-screen characters are displayed.

[0005]

However, as described above, in the method using the analog switch, a D / A converter is required each time the number of images to be combined increases.
As the circuit becomes complicated, it becomes necessary to adjust the level of the output signal of each D / A converter, which leads to an increase in cost.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide an image synthesizing apparatus having a small number of parts and a small number of adjustment points.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention according to claim 1 determines the presence or absence of image data of each image for each pixel and based on a predetermined priority order. A means for deciding what to be selected and a selector for selecting and outputting the image data selected by the deciding means from the plurality of image data being input are provided. Since digital synthesis is performed in this way, a separate D / A converter is not required.

The invention according to claim 2 is the image synthesizing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of images are a gradation image, a title image, an on-screen character, and a mute screen, and the order of priority thereof is , On-screen characters, title image, mute screen, and gradation image in that order.

[0009]

1 is a block diagram of a video printer using the present invention. A video camera or a video player is connected to the input terminal 1, and a video signal of a reproduced image (gradation image) is sent to the RGB demodulation circuit 2 via the input terminal 1, where a red signal and a green signal are transmitted. Signal and blue signal are separated. These signals are sampled for each pixel by the A / D converter 3, and then converted into a digital signal of 1 byte (8 bits) for each pixel for each color. The obtained red gradation image data, green gradation image data, and blue gradation image data for each pixel are sent to the red frame memory 4a, the green frame memory 4b, and the blue frame memory 4c, respectively, and the memory controller 7 Are written to the addresses specified in.

The title such as the title and date and time of the gradation image is
It is converted into a video signal by using a titler or by photographing an original with a video camera. This video signal is sent to the binarization circuit 5 via the input terminal 1, each pixel of the title image is converted from the luminance signal level into 1-bit title data, and sent to the title memory 6. In the title memory 6, the data of "1" is written to the address designated by the memory controller 7 only for the pixels of the portion to be displayed as the title image such as the characters of the title or the illustration.

At the time of monitoring or printing, the frame memories 4a to 4c sequentially read the gradation image data of each pixel by the memory controller 7 and send it to the input port 8e of the selector 8. When title synthesis is instructed, the system controller 9 instructs the memory controller 7 to read the title. The memory controller 7 reads the title data written in the title memory 6 in synchronization with the reading of the frame memories 4a to 4c, and sends the title data to the color decoder 10a. The title data is also used as a title determination signal in the signal selection control circuit 11
Also sent to.

When instructed to display the mute screen, the system controller 9 sends a mute signal to the color decoder 10.
Send to b continuously. This mute signal is also sent to the signal selection control circuit 11 as a mute determination signal. When the frame insertion is instructed, the system controller 9 sends a frame signal to the color decoder 10c to display or print a frame having a preset width around one screen. The frame signal is also used as a frame determination signal in the signal selection control circuit 1.
Sent to 1.

The character character generator 12 receives from the system controller 9 a character designation command for on-screen characters representing operation guidance, failure content, date and time, and reads the character pattern data of each character from the character ROM 12a. Character pattern data is sent to the color decoder 10d in dot units according to a timing signal generated by the system controller 9. The character pattern data is also sent to the signal selection control circuit 11 as a character determination signal.

When the color of the title image is designated by the user, the system controller 9 designates the title color in the color decoder 10a. Similarly, the system controller 9
Specifies the mute color in the color decoder 10b when the mute color is specified, and the color decoder 10b when the frame color is specified.
Specify the frame color in c. The on-screen character color is preset in the color decoder 10d. The on-screen character color may be changeable.

The color decoders 10a to 10d respectively supply a title color and a title color each time a signal or data is input.
Generates 24-bit red, green, and blue data of a total of 8 bits for each color determined corresponding to the mute color, frame color, and on-screen character color. The color decoder 10a sends the generated title color data to the input port 8a of the selector 8. Similarly, the color decoder 10b sends the mute color data to the input port 8b, the color decoder 10c sends the frame color data of each color to the input port 8c, and the color decoder 10d sends the on-screen character color data to the input port 8d. send.

As shown in FIG. 2, the signal selection control circuit 11 causes the input port of the color data corresponding to the determination signal having the highest priority to be selected from the input determination signals, and all the determination signals are selected. When not input, a selection signal for selecting the input port 8e to which the gradation image data is input is output to the selector 8. From the highest priority, the character determination signal, the title determination signal, the mute determination signal,
The order of the frame determination signal is.

The selector 8 outputs 2 for various color data.
Equipped with input ports 8a to 8e each having a 4-bit (8-bit for one color) input port, the input port is switched according to a selection signal, and the 24-bit color data output to the input port is output. Output from the output port 8f having a terminal. In this way, image synthesis is performed with digital data, and the synthesized image data of each color is output from the output port 8f.
Is output to the D / A converter 13 or the image processing circuit 14.

During monitoring, the 8-bit composite image data for each color is input to the D / A converter 13. The composite image data is converted into an analog signal by the D / A converter 13, and then converted into an NTSC signal by the encoder 15. This NTSC signal is displayed on the monitor (home TV) 16 as a composite image. By observing the monitor 16, it is possible to know the composite state of the gradation image, the title image, the background of the mute color, various images of the frame, and whether the color of each image is proper. Further, by displaying the on-screen characters, it is possible to know the operation guidance of the video printer, the occurrence of a failure, and the time.

At the time of printing, the image processing circuit 14 performs a masking process using the composite image data of the three colors or converts the composite image data of yellow, cyan and magenta. Of the three-color composite image data, only the color to be printed, for example, the yellow image data is extracted and sent to the head driver 17. The head driver 17 selectively drives a plurality of linear heating elements of the thermal head 18 in accordance with image data, and the thermal recording paper 1
A yellow image is thermally recorded line 9 on a line-by-line basis. The thermal recording paper 19 is used in combination with optical fixing to thermally record a composite image in the three-color frame sequence.

A keyboard 20 is connected to the system controller 9. By operating the keyboard 20, image capture, title color designation, mute color designation, frame color designation and mute, It is possible to give an instruction for framing, title composition, and printing.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be described. First, the keyboard 20 is operated to give an instruction to capture a gradation image. The video signal reproduced by a video camera, etc.
It is taken into the video printer via the input terminal 1. The captured video signal is signal-converted by the RGB demodulation circuit 2 and the A / D converter 3, converted into 8-bit gradation image data for each color, and written in the frame memories 4a to 4c by the memory controller 7. The written gradation image data of each color is sequentially read out for each pixel, and the selector 8
Is sent to port 8e.

Since the signal selection control circuit 11 does not have all the determination signals at this time, it sends the selection signal for selecting the gradation image data to the selector 8. The selector 8 selects the input port 8e by this selection signal and outputs the gradation image data of each color from the output port 8f. Output port 8f
The output gradation image data of each color is displayed on the monitor 16 via the D / A converter 13 and the encoder 15 as shown in FIG.

When the title image is to be combined with the gradation image, the keyboard 20 is operated to give an instruction to load the title. A title image taken by a video camera or the like is taken into the video printer via the input terminal 1. The video signal of the captured title image is binarized by the binarization circuit 5.
From the luminance signal level, each pixel of the title image is 1
Converted to bit title data, title memory 6
Written in.

When the title color is specified by operating the keyboard 20 after inputting the title image, the system controller 9 specifies the title color in the color decoder.
When the keyboard 20 is further operated to instruct the title composition, the memory controller 7 causes the title memory 6
The title data written in is read out for each pixel and sent to the color decoder 10a, where it is converted into 8-bit title color data of each color corresponding to the title color and sent to the input port 8a.

On the other hand, the signal selection control circuit 11 sends the selection signal instructing the selection of the input port 8a to the selector 8 because the title determination signal is input to the pixel having the title data. This selector 8 is an input port 8
A is selected and the title color data is output from the output port 8f. Further, for a pixel having no title data, a selection signal instructing selection of the input port 8e is output to the selector 8. The selector 8 selects the input port 8e and outputs the gradation image data from the port 8f. In this way, the gradation image data and the title data are combined for each pixel. As shown in FIG. 4, a composite image in which a title image of a title color is embedded in the gradation image is displayed on the monitor 16.

At this point, when checking only the state of the title image, the keyboard 20 is operated to specify a mute color and a mute instruction is issued. Since the mute color is designated by the color decoder 10b, the color decoder 10
8-bit mute color data of each color corresponding to the mute color is sent from b to the input port 8b.

At the same time, a mute determination signal is input to the signal selection control circuit 11. For pixels having title data, the title determination signal and the mute determination signal are input to the signal selection control circuit 11, but the title determination signal having a higher priority than the mute determination signal is prioritized. 8a is selected and title color data is output. For pixels without title data, only the mute determination signal is input to the signal selection control circuit 11 without inputting the title determination signal, so the selector 8 selects the input port 8b and outputs the mute color data.

In this manner, the selector 8 outputs the composite image data of the mute color data and the title data, and the monitor 16 displays the composite image of the title image of the title color against the background of the mute color as shown in FIG. Is displayed in. By checking this composite image, it is possible to check whether or not the title image is missing. When the mute instruction is canceled after the title image is confirmed, the mute determination signal is not output, and the composite image of the gradation image and the title image is displayed on the monitor 16 again.

When the user operates the keyboard 20 to specify the frame color and then gives a frame insertion instruction, the system controller 9 specifies the frame color in the color decoder 10c. The system controller 9 also sends a frame signal to the color decoder 10c at the timing of displaying the frame. Further, since the frame determination signal is input to the signal selection control circuit 11, the frame determination signal has a lower priority than the title determination signal, so that the title data is output from the selector 8 in the pixel having the title data. Frame color data is output for pixels for which a frame is displayed without title data. Gradation image data is selected and output for the pixel having no title data and no frame displayed.

On the monitor 16, as shown in FIG. 6A, a frame is displayed around the gradation image, and a composite image in which the title image is fitted is displayed. Also,
When the title combination is canceled, the title image disappears and the gradation image and the frame combined image are displayed as shown in FIG. 6B.
When the mute instruction is given, the frame determination signal has a lower priority than the mute determination signal, and therefore the frame is not displayed.

Further, when it is necessary to display the on-screen characters when only the various synthetic images or gradation images as described above are displayed on the monitor 16, the system controller 9 causes the character character generation circuit 12 to display. To generate character pattern data. This character pattern data is sent to the color decoder 10d,
Further, it is sent to the signal selection control circuit 11 as a determination signal.

At the pixel where the dot of the character of the on-screen character is to be displayed, the character determination signal is input to the signal selection control circuit 11, and the signal selection control circuit 11 outputs the selection signal for selecting the input port 8d. The selector 8 selects the on-screen character color data sent from the color decoder 10d and sends it to the D / A converter 13. In the pixels that do not display the dots of the characters of the on-screen characters, the selector 8 outputs the data corresponding to the determination signal having the higher priority as described above.

In this way, the on-screen character color data of the on-screen character is combined with each color data, and this combined image is displayed. FIG. 7A shows a state in which the gradation image, the title image, and the on-screen characters are combined. Note that FIG. 7B shows a state in which frames are further combined.

When printing is performed, a gradation image to be printed or a composite image in which various images are combined is displayed on the monitor 16, this is confirmed, and the keyboard 20 is instructed to perform operation printing. When instructed to print, the system controller 9 stops the operation of the character pattern data generation circuit 12 so that the on-screen characters are not printed. The combined image data combined by the selector 8 is sent to the image processing circuit 14.

This composite image data is processed by the image processing circuit 14
Sent to. The image processing circuit 14 stores the composite image data for each pixel in a buffer for one line of each color, and masks the composite image data of each color for one line each time the data for one line is stored. After processing, color conversion processing, etc., only the yellow image data is taken out and sent to the head driver 17. The head driver 17 is
The thermal head 18 is driven to thermally record a yellow image line by line on the yellow thermosensitive coloring layer of the thermosensitive recording paper 19. After thermal recording of the yellow image, the thermosensitive recording paper 19 is irradiated with ultraviolet rays of 420 nm to fix the yellow thermosensitive coloring layer.

After the thermal recording of the yellow image, the platen drum makes one rotation and the thermal recording paper 19 is re-heated.
At the position of 8, the thermal recording of the magenta image is started. Even in the thermal recording of this magenta image, the images are recomposed by the selector 8. The image processing circuit 14 stores the combined image data in a buffer line by line, performs masking processing, color conversion processing, etc., and then sends magenta image data to the head driver 17 to drive the thermal head 18. The thermal head 18 thermally records a magenta image line by line on the magenta thermosensitive coloring layer of the thermosensitive recording paper 19. After thermal recording of the magenta image, the thermosensitive recording paper 19 is irradiated with ultraviolet rays of 365 nm to fix the magenta thermosensitive coloring layer.

After thermal recording of the magenta image, a cyan image is thermally recorded line by line on the cyan thermosensitive coloring layer of the thermosensitive recording paper 19. No optical fixing is performed on the cyan thermosensitive coloring layer.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, the priority order when selecting each data is from the highest to the on-screen character, the title image, the mute, the frame, and the gradation image.
A different order may be used.

[0039]

As described above, according to the image synthesizing apparatus of the present invention, since the images are synthesized by the digital data, it is not necessary to provide the D / A converter for each image, and the cost increase is avoided. Since it is not necessary to adjust the output level of each D / A converter, the number of adjustment points can be reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a video printer with a compositing function embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a judgment when selectively outputting each data.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of monitor display of only gradation images.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of monitor display when a gradation image and a title image are combined.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a monitor display when a title image is combined with a mute screen.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of monitor display when frames are combined.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of monitor display when on-screen characters are combined.

[Explanation of symbols]

 4a to 4c Frame memory 6 Title memory 8 Selector 8a to 8e Input port 8f Output port 10a to 10d Color decoder 11 Signal selection control circuit 12 Character character generation circuit

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Internal reference number FI Technical indication H04N 9/74 Z

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. In an image synthesizing apparatus for synthesizing a plurality of images, means for judging the presence or absence of image data of each image for each pixel, and deciding one to be selected based on a predetermined priority order, An image synthesizing device, comprising: a selector that selects and outputs image data selected by the determining means from among a plurality of image data. 2. The plurality of images are a gradation image, a title image, an on-screen character, and a mute screen, and the priority is in the order of the on-screen character, the title image, the mute screen, and the gradation image. The image synthesizing device according to claim 1.