JPH08125910A - Motion vector detection circuit and object tracking camera apparatus using the circuit - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To accurately track an object. CONSTITUTION: When a registration judgement switch 42b is pushed, a registration judgement mode 1 is attained. At the time, in an initial field, a correlation value is obtained in a correlation device 88 based on the integrated color data of a specified detection block stored in a representative color memory 80 and the integrated color data of 25 detection blocks stored in an integrated color memory 82. The correlation value is compared with a prescribed threshold value in a threshold comparison circuit 96, and when more than 80%. of the detection blocks satisfy the condition:(the correlation value) < (the threshold value), the integrated color data of the representative color memory 80 are registered as the representative color of the object. In the other cases, registration is not performed. Also, when the registration judgement switch 42c is pushed, the registration judgement mode 2 is attained. At the time, the correlation value is obtained based on the integrated color data of the specified detection block and the integrated color data of 4 detection blocks stored in the integrated color memory 82. When all the correlation values satisfy the condition:(the correlation value) < (the threshold value), the integrated color data stored in the representative color memory 80 are registered as the representative color.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a motion vector detection circuit and a subject tracking camera device using the same, and more particularly to a motion vector detection circuit used in a video camera for automatically tracking a subject and a subject using the same. The present invention relates to a tracking camera device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a subject tracking technique when a camera is used to photograph a subject moving within a screen, there is a technique utilizing color information. For example, the color information is detected from the video signal in the designated detection block, and the color information is registered as a specific color so as to be used for determining the target object.

[0003]

In this prior art, the color of a portion which is a minute area as the subject, not the color representative of the subject, happens to fall within the designated detection block and most of the detection block is present. Even if it occupies the area of, there is a risk that it will be registered as a specific color. At this time, the area of the color representing the subject becomes smaller than that of the detection block, that is, the subject is greatly influenced by the color of the minute area, and the specific color to be registered is set. However, there is a problem that it is difficult to track an object based on this specific color.

Therefore, a main object of the present invention is to provide a novel motion vector detection circuit. Another object of the present invention is to provide an object tracking camera device capable of accurately tracking an object.

[0005]

A first invention is a motion vector detection circuit for setting a plurality of detection blocks in a motion vector detection area and detecting a motion vector of a subject using color information of the detection blocks. Therefore, the first calculation means for obtaining the first color information data based on the color information of the specific detection block, the second color information data for each desired detection block based on the color information for each desired detection block A motion vector including a second calculation unit and a registration determination unit that determines whether to register the first color information data for motion vector detection based on the first color information data and the second color information data. It is a detection circuit.

A second invention is an object tracking camera device using the above-described motion vector detecting circuit.

[0007]

First, the first color information data of a specific detection block among a plurality of detection blocks set in the motion vector detection area is calculated by the first calculation means, and the second color for each desired detection block is calculated. The information data is calculated by the second calculation means. The color information forming the first color information data and the second color information data is, for example, Y, RY, B.
-Three different color elements such as Y signal, Y, Cr and Cb signals are included.

Then, the correlation means included in the registration determination means detects the correlation value between the first color information data and the second color information data, and the comparison means compares the correlation value with a predetermined threshold value. The registration determination means determines whether to register the first color information data of the specific detection block based on the comparison result. Here, the registration determination means includes a first registration determination means and a second registration determination means, and the selection means selects the first registration determination means or the second registration determination means in accordance with the state of the subject.

When the first registration judging means is used, the second
When the second registration determination means is used, the second color information data for all the detection blocks is calculated by the calculation means, and each detection block around a specific detection block smaller than the total number of detection blocks, for example, diagonally left upper and right. The second color information data of each of the diagonally upper, diagonally lower left, and diagonally lower right detection blocks is calculated by the second computing means.

Then, in the first registration judging means, if the ratio of the detection blocks satisfying "correlation value <threshold value" to all the detection blocks is, for example, 80% or more, the first color information data of the specific detection block is obtained. It is determined to register. The second registration determination means determines that the first color information data of a specific detection block is registered if all the detected blocks to be compared satisfy “correlation value <threshold value”.

As described above, whether or not the registration determining means registers the first color information data of the specific detection block,
That is, it is determined whether the first color information data can be used as the representative color of the subject. Therefore,
As the first color information data for tracking the subject, only the highly reliable first color information data is used. When the first color information data is registered, the object tracking operation is in a standby state, and in the subsequent object tracking operation, the object is tracked based on the registered first color information data. On the other hand, the first
When the color information data is not registered, it is in a standby state for another registration determination operation.

[0012]

According to the present invention, it is determined whether or not to register the first color information data for tracking a subject, and only the highly reliable first color information data determined to be registered is representative of the subject. Used as a color for tracking the subject. That is, if the color of a portion that is a minute area of the subject, not the representative color of the subject, happens to be within the specific detection block, the first color information data is not registered. Therefore,
The motion vector can be detected more accurately, the camera can easily follow the object, and the object can be tracked more accurately.

The above-mentioned objects, other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the embodiments with reference to the drawings.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows a subject tracking camera device 10 constructed using a motion vector detection circuit 16 (see FIG. 2). The subject tracking camera device 10 includes a camera 12 that images a subject and converts the subject into a video signal. On the viewfinder 14 of the camera 12, the subject is displayed and “NG” indicating that the integrated color data of the color information stored in the representative color memory 80 is not registered is displayed. The video signal from the camera 12 is given to the motion vector detection circuit 16. The motion vector detection circuit 16 is configured, for example, as shown in FIG.

The motion vector detection circuit 16 shown in FIG.
An A / D converter 18 is included. The A / D converter 18 converts the given video signal into digital data for each pixel. This digital data is, for example, Y, RY, B.
-Y signal is digitized data. The video signal is also given to the H-SYNC separation circuit 20 and the horizontal address counter 22. Horizontal address counter 22
Then, the number of pixels in the horizontal direction is counted according to the video signal, and reset for each line based on the horizontal synchronizing signal from the H-SYNC separation circuit 20. The output from the horizontal address counter 22 is given to the horizontal decoder 24, and the horizontal decoder 24 outputs six types of horizontal signals H0 to H5.
Is output.

The video signal is applied to the V-SYNC separation circuit 26 and the vertical address counter 28. The vertical address counter 28 counts the number of pixels in the vertical direction in accordance with the video signal, and V-SYN for each field.
It is reset based on the vertical synchronizing signal from the C separation circuit 26. The output from the vertical address counter 28 is given to the vertical decoder 30, and the vertical decoder 30 outputs five types of vertical signals V0 to V4.

Horizontal signals H0 to H5 and vertical signal V
0 to V4 are signals as shown in FIGS. 3A to 3C, for example. In FIG. 3, a motion vector detection area 34 displayed on the screen 32 of the viewfinder 14
Is, for example, 25 detection blocks 36 in this embodiment.
Is divided into In addition, the motion vector detection circuit 16 uses C
Includes PU38. A switch 40 is connected to the CPU 38. The switch 40 registers whether or not the tracking mode switch 42a for setting the object tracking mode and the integrated color data of the color information stored in the representative color memory 80 are registered, that is, whether or not it is regarded as valid and used for detecting the motion vector. Registration determination switches 42b and 42c for determining whether
including.

Referring also to FIG. 4, registration determination switch 42
When b is turned on, it is determined whether or not the integrated color data of the color information is registered using all the detection blocks 36. Hereinafter, this mode is referred to as "registration determination mode 1". on the other hand,
When the registration determination switch 42c is turned on, the integrated color data of the color information is registered by using the detection blocks 36b to 36e that are diagonally above the left, diagonally above the right, diagonally below the left and diagonally below the specific detection block 36a. It is determined whether or not. Hereinafter, this mode is referred to as "registration determination mode 2". These registration determination modes are performed only in the initial field, that is, in one field period after the registration determination switch 42b or 42c is turned on. The registration determination switch 4
When 2b is turned on, the CPU 38 outputs the signal b only in the initial field, and when the registration determination switch 42b is turned on, the signal c is output only in the initial field.
When the tracking mode switch 42a is turned on, the subject tracking mode is set, and the signal a is output as long as the subject tracking operation is performed.

Further, a ROM 44 and a RAM 46 are connected to the CPU 38. A program for controlling the operation of the motion vector detection circuit 16 is stored in the ROM 44, and a determination flag indicating whether or not to register the integrated color data of the color information stored in the representative color memory 80 is stored in the RAM 46. Is stored. The digital data of the video signal includes horizontal signals H0 to H3 and vertical signals V0 to V.
3 and the signals a, b and c from the CPU 38 are latched by the latch circuit 48.

That is, when the registration determination switch 42b is turned on, the signal b is output from the CPU 38 to the OR gate 50 and the AND gate 52 during the initial field period. When the horizontal signal H0 and the vertical signal V0 are output in this initial field, the enable signal is output to the latch circuit 48 via the AND gates 54 and 56. When the horizontal signal H3 and the vertical signal V3 are output in the initial field, the AND gate 58,
An enable signal is applied to the latch circuit 48 via 52 and the OR gate 60.

Then, the latch circuit 48 latches the data of each pixel of the specific detection block 36a shown in FIG. 4A based on the enable signal from the AND gate 56. In the latch circuit 48, the AND gate 5
2 and the enable signal provided via the OR gate 60, the data of each pixel of each of the 25 detection blocks 36 shown in FIG. 4B is latched.

When the registration determination switch 42c is turned on, the signal c is output from the CPU 38 to the AND gate 62 during the initial field period. At this time, the horizontal signal H1
And vertical signal V1, horizontal signal H1 and vertical signal V
2, when the horizontal signal H2 and the vertical signal V1, and the horizontal signal H2 and the vertical signal V2 are output, A
Through the ND gates 64 to 70, the OR gate 72, the AND gate 62 and the OR gate 60, the latch circuit 4
An enable signal is output to 8. Then, the latch circuit 48 latches the data of each pixel of the detection blocks 36b to 36e shown in FIG.

As can be seen from FIGS. 4A and 4C, the detection blocks 36b to 36e are located diagonally above the detection block 36a to the left, above the right, below the left, and below the right. It is a detection block. When the tracking mode switch 42a is turned on, the CPU 38 outputs an AND
The signal a is output to the gate 74. At this time, when the horizontal signal H3 and the vertical signal V3 are output, the enable signal is given to the latch circuit 48 via the AND gate 74 and the OR gate 60. Then, the latch circuit 48 latches the data of each pixel of each of the 25 detection blocks 36 shown in FIG. 4B based on the enable signal.

From the latch circuit 48, detection blocks (FIG. 4A to FIG. 4) corresponding to the enable signal are sent.
The data of (C) is detected block integration circuit 7
6 given. The operation of the detection block integration circuit 76
This will be described with reference to FIG. Detection block 36 shown in FIG.
Includes, for example, 8 × 8 = 64 pixels. The respective values of the three color elements forming the color information of each pixel are
As shown in FIG. 5, y _ij , (ry) _ij , and (by) _ij .

Then, the integrated color data (color information data) of the color information of the pixels included in the specific detection block 36a is obtained by the equation 1.

[0026]

[Equation 1]

This integrated color data is stored in the registration determination switch 4
When 2b or 42c is turned on, it is obtained in the initial field and stored in the representative color memory 80 via the selector 78. The selector 78 is controlled by a control signal obtained by giving the signal b and the signal c to the OR gate 81, and when either one of the signal b and the signal c is output, the integrated color data from the detection block integrating circuit 76. Is a representative color memory 80 via the selector 78.
Given to.

When the registration determination switch 42b is turned on, the AND gate 52 is also activated in the initial field.
Based on the enable signal given to the latch circuit 48 via the OR gate 60, the latch circuit 48 gives the pixel data of all 25 detection blocks 36 shown in FIG. 4B to the detection block integration circuit 76. To be In the detection block integrating circuit 76, 25 detection blocks 3
The color information is integrated for each of the 6 to obtain integrated color data. For each detection block 36, the integrated color data obtained by integrating the color information of the pixels is obtained by Equation 2.

[0029]

[Equation 2]

The accumulated color data corresponding to the number of the detection blocks 36 (25 in this embodiment) is stored in the accumulated color memory 82. On the other hand, when the registration determination switch 42c is turned on, the latch circuit 48 detects four detection signals shown in FIG. 4C based on the enable signal provided through the AND gate 62 and the OR gate 60 in the initial field. The data of each pixel of the blocks 36b to 36e is given to the detection block integrating circuit 76. In the detection block integrating circuit 76, the integrated color data of each of the detection blocks 36b to 36e is stored in the integrated color memory 82 after the integrated color data is obtained by the equation 2.

Further, when the tracking mode switch 42a is turned on and the signal a is output, the AND gate 74
And 2 shown in FIG. 4B from the latch circuit 48 based on the enable signal given through the OR gate 60.
The data of each pixel of the five detection blocks 36 is given to the detection block integration circuit 76, and the detection block integration circuit 76
Then, the integrated color data is obtained by the equation 2, and the integrated color data is stored in the integrated color memory 82.

The detection block integrating circuit 76 includes counters A and B (not shown) for counting the number of pixels supplied from the latch circuit 48, for example. Then, in this embodiment, when the counter A counts 8 × 8 = 64, the integrated color data is output from the detection block integrating circuit 76 to the representative color memory 80. Similarly, if the counter B counts 8 × 8 × 25 = 1600 in the “registration determination mode 1” and the “subject tracking mode”,
In the “registration determination mode 2”, the counter B is 8 × 8 ×
When 4 = 256 is counted, the integrated color data is output from the detection block integrating circuit 76 to the integrated color memory 82.

An AN connected to the latch circuit 84
The horizontal signal H4 shown in FIG.
And the vertical signal V4, the representative color memory 80
The integrated color data in is latched and provided to the correlator 88. Further, the AND gate 9 connected to the latch circuit 90
When the horizontal signal H5 and the vertical signal V4 as shown in FIG. 3 (C) are given to 2, the integrated color data in the integrated color memory 82 is latched and given to the correlator 88. The horizontal signals H5 are output for the number of detection blocks. Therefore,
The horizontal signal H5 is 25 in the "registration determination mode 1".
4 pieces are output in the "registration determination mode 2".

In the correlator 88, the integrated color data from the latch circuit 84 and the integrated color data from the latch circuit 90 are calculated. That is, the absolute value of the difference is calculated for the integrated color data of each color element, and the sum D _xy is calculated by the formula (3).

[0035]

## EQU3 ## D _xy = | Y _xy −Y0 | + | (R−Y) _xy − (R
-Y) 0 | + | (BY) _xy- (BY) 0 | This calculation is performed for each detection block to obtain _Dxy, that is, the correlation value. Then, the selector 94 is the selector 7
Similar to 8, the control value from the OR gate 81 controls the correlation value from the correlator 88 to the threshold value comparison circuit 96 when the signal b or the signal c is output.
In other cases, the correlation value is the motion vector generation circuit 98.
Given to.

The threshold comparison circuit 96 compares the correlation value obtained for each detection block with a predetermined threshold. In the “registration determination mode 1”, each of the 25 correlation values is compared with a predetermined threshold value, and the comparison result is given to the CPU 38. In the “registration determination mode 2”, each of the four correlation values is compared with a predetermined threshold value, and the comparison result is given to the CPU 38.

In the CPU 38, in the "registration determination mode 1", if the ratio of the detection blocks satisfying the correlation value <threshold value to all the detection blocks is 80% or more, for example,
In the “registration determination mode 2”, for example, all (4
If the correlation value <threshold is satisfied in each of the detection blocks 36b to 36e, the representative color memory 80
It is determined that the integrated color data stored in is registered. That is, the integrated color data is determined to be valid and used as the representative color of the subject. At this time, the determination flag stored in the RAM 46 is set to "1". In other cases, the integrated color data stored in the representative color memory 80 cannot be used as the representative color of the subject, and the determination flag of the RAM 46 is set to "0". When the determination flag is "1", the subject tracking operation is on standby, and when the determination flag is "0", the registration determination operation is on standby again.

When the determination flag is "1",
After that, when the tracking mode switch 42a is turned on, a normal subject tracking operation is started. In the subject tracking operation,
In the correlator 88, the integrated color data stored in the representative color memory 80, that is, the representative color of the subject and the integrated color data stored in the integrated color memory 82 in the subsequent field are calculated to obtain the correlation value. This correlation value is given to the motion vector generation circuit 98 via the selector 94. The motion vector generation circuit 98 compares the respective correlation values, that is, D _xy, determines that the center of the detection block 36a has moved to the position where D _xy has the minimum value, and indicates the amount and direction of movement of the subject. A motion vector is obtained (see FIGS. 6A and 6B). In the next field, as shown in FIG. 6C, the motion vector detection area 34 is moved by the motion vector.

Returning to FIG. 1, the motion vector detecting circuit 16
A motion vector is given to the camera platform control circuit 100 from. The platform control circuit 100 drives the drive device 102 based on the given motion vector. Then, the drive device 102 controls the movement of the platform 104 in the horizontal direction, the vertical direction, and the like, and accordingly, the tracking operation of the camera 12 is controlled. That is, the motion vector becomes zero (see FIG. 6).
The broken line portion 34a shown in (C) is the motion vector detection region 3
The camera 12 is controlled so as to overlap (4).

Next, the main operation of the subject tracking camera apparatus 10 of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. In step S1 shown in FIG. 7, it is determined whether the registration determination switch 42b is turned on. "YE
If "S", the following "registration determination mode 1" processing is performed.

That is, when the video signal is input in step S3, the vertical signal V0 is output in step S5, and the horizontal signal H0 is output in step S7, the process proceeds to step S9. In step S9,
The detection block integrating circuit 76 calculates the integrated color data of the color information of the detection block 36a, and in step S11, it is determined whether or not the counter A in the detection block integrating circuit 76 reaches a predetermined count value. In this embodiment, it is determined whether the count value has reached 64.
If “YES”, the process proceeds to step S13, the integrated color data of the color information is stored in the representative color memory 80, and the process proceeds to step S13.
Proceed to 15. Steps S5, S7 and S11 are "N"
If it is "O", the process proceeds to step S15.

When the vertical signal V3 is output in step S15 and the horizontal signal H3 is output in step S17, the process proceeds to step S19. In step S19, the detection block integrating circuit 76 calculates the integrated color data of each of the 25 detection blocks 36, and the process proceeds to step S21. In step S21, it is determined whether the counter B in the detection block integration circuit 76 has reached a predetermined count value. In this example, 64 × 25 = 1600
Is determined. If “YES”, then FIG.
In step S23 shown in, the integrated color data is stored in the integrated color memory 82, and the process proceeds to step S25. When steps S15, S17 and S21 are "NO", the process proceeds to step S25.

When the vertical signal V4 is output in step S25 and the horizontal signal H4 is output in step S27a, the integrated color data stored in the representative color memory 80 is output from the correlator 88 via the latch circuit 84 in step S29a. And the process proceeds to step S31. When the vertical signal V4 is output in step S25 and the horizontal signal H5 is output in step S27b, the integrated color data stored in the integrated color memory 82 is sent to the correlator 88 via the latch circuit 90 in step S29b. Given, and the process proceeds to step S31. If steps S25, S27a and S27b are "NO", the process returns to step S3.

In step S31, the correlator 88 performs the correlation calculation. In this example, correlation values are calculated for all 25 detection blocks 36. Then
In step S33, the threshold comparison circuit 96 determines whether the correlation value of 25 correlation values is smaller than the threshold. The result is given to the CPU 38, and this condition is set to 80, for example.
If at least% of the detection blocks are satisfied, step S3
Go to 5a. In step S35a, the integrated color data stored in the representative color memory 80 is registered as the representative color of the subject. That is, the subject tracking camera device 10
Is set in a standby state for the subsequent subject tracking operation, and ends.

On the other hand, in step S33, the correlation value <
If the ratio of the detection blocks 36 satisfying the threshold condition is, for example, less than 80%, the process proceeds to step S35b. In step S35b, the integrated color data stored in the representative color memory 80 does not become the representative color of the subject and is not registered. That is, the subject tracking camera device 10 enters the standby state for the registration determination operation, and in the subsequent registration determination mode, the integrated color data in the representative color memory 80 is updated, and it is determined again whether or not to register the integrated color data. To be done. And it ends.

Returning to FIG. 7, if "NO" in the step S1, the registration determination switch 42 is set in the step S37.
It is determined whether or not c is turned on. If "NO", the process returns to step S1, and if "YES", the following "registration determination mode 2" process is performed. That is, in step S39, the video signal is input, and in step S4
1, the vertical signal V0 is output and step S43
When the horizontal signal H0 is output at step S45
Proceed to. In step S45, the detection block integration circuit 76 calculates integrated color data of the color information of the detection block 36a, and in step S47, it is determined whether or not the counter A has reached a predetermined count value. In this embodiment, it is determined whether or not 64 has been reached. If "YES", the integrated color data is stored in the representative color memory 80 in step S49, and the process proceeds to step S51. When steps S41, S43 and S47 are "NO", the process proceeds to step S51.

When the vertical signal V1 is output in step S51 and the horizontal signal H1 is output in step S53, the process proceeds to step S55. In step S55, the integrated color data of the detection block 36b shown in FIG. 4C is calculated by the detection block integration circuit 76, and the process proceeds to step S57. When step S53 is "NO", the process proceeds to step S57.

When the horizontal signal H2 is output in step S57, in step S59 shown in FIG.
The integrated color data of the detection block 36c shown in (C) is calculated, and the process proceeds to step S61. Steps S51 and S
If 57 is "NO", the flow proceeds to step S61. When the vertical signal V2 is output in step S61 and the horizontal signal H1 is output in step S63, the integrated color data of the detection block 36d shown in FIG. 4C is calculated in step S65, and the process proceeds to step S67. When step S63 is "NO", the process proceeds to step S67.

When the horizontal signal H2 is output in step S67, the integrated color data of the detection block 36e shown in FIG. 4C is calculated in step S69, and the process proceeds to step S71. In step S71, it is determined whether the counter B has reached a predetermined count value. In this embodiment, it is determined whether 64 × 4 = 256. If “YES”, in step S73,
The integrated color data is stored in the integrated color memory 82, and the process proceeds to step S75. When steps S61, S67 and S71 are "NO", the process proceeds to step S75.

When the vertical signal V4 is output in step S75 and the horizontal signal H4 is output in step S77a shown in FIG. 9, the process proceeds to step S79a. In step S79a, the integrated color data stored in the representative color memory 80 is output to the correlator 88 via the latch circuit 84, and the process proceeds to step S81. In addition, step S75
The vertical signal V4 is output at step S77b
When the horizontal signal H5 is output at step S79
Go to b. In step S79b, the integrated color memory 8
The integrated color data stored in 2 is output to the correlator 88 via the latch circuit 90, and the process proceeds to step S81. In addition,
If "NO" in steps S75, S77a and S77b, the process returns to step S39.

In step S81, the correlator 88 performs the correlation calculation. In this embodiment, the detection block 36
Correlation values are obtained for the four detection blocks b to 36e, and the process proceeds to step S83. In step S83, the threshold value comparison circuit 96 compares each of the four correlation values with a predetermined threshold value. The comparison result is given to the CPU 38, and if all the four correlation values satisfy the condition of correlation value <threshold value, the process proceeds to step S85a. Step S8
In step 5a, as in step S35a, the integrated color data stored in the representative color memory 80 is registered as the representative color of the subject, and the process ends. On the other hand, in step S83, for example, if there is even one correlation value that does not satisfy the condition of correlation value <threshold value, the process proceeds to step S85b, and the integrated color data stored in the representative color memory 80 is the subject as in step S35b. Will not be registered as a representative color of
finish.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the "registration determination mode 1" or the "registration determination mode 2" can be selected as the registration determination mode, so that the registration determination can be performed in consideration of the condition of the subject. Although the registration determination mode is switched in this embodiment, only one of the "registration determination mode 1" and the "registration determination mode 2" may be adopted. By adopting the "registration determination mode 2", it is possible to reduce the circuit scale and set a highly reliable representative color.

In the "registration determination mode 2" of the above-described embodiment, the registration determination is performed using the detection blocks 36b to 36e diagonally adjacent to the specific detection block 36a, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the specific detection is not limited to this. Registration can be determined using any detection block around the block 36a. Further, in the above-described embodiment, Y, R-Y, B are used as the color information.
The three color components of the -Y signal were used. This is effective when processing a video signal or the like. Other than that, primary color system C
When processing a signal such as a CD, three color elements of R, G, and B signals are used, and when processing a CCD having a mosaic filter arranged in a complementary color system, Y, Cr (= R-2).
It is preferable to use three color components of G) and Cb (= B-2G) signals.

Further, three color components of R / Y, G / Y and B / Y signals obtained by dividing the R, G and B signals by the Y signal may be used. By thus dividing by the Y signal and normalizing, it is possible to remove the influence of the lightness due to the difference in illumination or the like, and if the hue and the saturation are the same, they can be regarded as the same color. The threshold value is arbitrarily set according to the degree of correlation required and the type of color element forming the color information.

Further, in the above embodiment, the case where the motion vector detecting circuit 16 is applied to the subject tracking camera device 10 has been described, but the motion vector detecting circuit of the present invention is also applied to a video camera having a camera shake correcting device. It goes without saying that you can do it.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a subject tracking camera device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a motion vector detection circuit.

3A is an illustrative view showing a horizontal signal and a vertical signal for generating an enable signal of a latch circuit, and FIG. 3B is a horizontal signal and a vertical signal for generating an enable signal of a latch circuit. It is an illustration figure which shows a signal,
(C) is an illustrative view showing a horizontal signal and a vertical signal for generating an enable signal of the latch circuit 90.

4A is an illustrative view showing a specific detection block, FIG. 4B is an illustrative view showing all detection blocks used in the registration determination mode 1, and FIG. 4C is a registration determination mode 2; It is an illustration figure which shows the four detection blocks used.

FIG. 5 is an illustrative view showing a detection block and a pixel.

6A to 6C are schematic diagrams for explaining the generation of a motion vector and the subject tracking operation.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing main operations of this embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a sequel to FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a sequel to FIG. 8;

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 ... Subject tracking camera device 12 ... Camera 16 ... Motion vector detection circuit 24 ... Horizontal decoder 30 ... Vertical decoder 38 ... CPU 40 ... Switch 48, 84, 90 ... Latch circuit 76 ... Detection block integration circuit 78, 94 ... Selector 80 ... Representative color memory 82 ... Accumulated color memory 88 ... Correlator 96 ... Threshold comparison circuit 98 ... Motion vector generation circuit 100 ... Platform control circuit 102 ... Drive device 104 ... Platform

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A motion vector detection circuit which sets a plurality of detection blocks in a motion vector detection area and detects a motion vector of an object using color information of the detection blocks, wherein a color of a specific detection block is detected. First computing means for obtaining first color information data based on information; second computing means for obtaining second color information data for each desired detection block based on color information for each desired detection block; and A motion vector detection circuit comprising a registration determination means for determining whether to register the first color information data for detecting the motion vector based on the first color information data and the second color information data. 2. The registration determination means is a correlation means for detecting a correlation value between the first color information data and the second color information data, a comparison means for comparing the correlation value with a threshold value, and the comparison means. The motion vector detection circuit according to claim 1, further comprising: a determination unit that determines whether or not to register the first color information data based on the result of the comparison. 3. The second color information data obtained by the second calculation means includes the second color information data for every detection block in the motion vector detection area.
The described motion vector detection circuit. 4. The second color information data obtained by the second computing means is the second color information data of each detection block around the specific detection block which is less than the total number of detection blocks in the motion vector detection area. The motion vector detection circuit according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising: 5. The motion vector detection circuit according to claim 4, wherein each of the detection blocks in the periphery includes detection blocks diagonally left above, diagonally above right, diagonally below left and diagonally below right of said specific detection block. . 6. The registration judging means judges whether to register the first color information data based on the first color information data and the second color information data of all detection blocks in the motion vector detection area. A first registration determining means for determining whether or not the first color information data and the second color information data of each detection block around the specific detection block less than the total number of detection blocks in the motion vector detection area. A second determination based on whether to register the first color information data based on the second
3. The motion vector detection circuit according to claim 1, further comprising a registration determination means, further comprising a selection means for selecting one of the first registration determination means and the second registration determination means. 7. The motion vector detection circuit according to claim 1, wherein the color information includes three different types of color elements. 8. The three types of color elements are Y, RY, B-
The motion vector detection circuit according to claim 7, which is a Y signal. 9. The motion vector detection circuit according to claim 7, wherein the three types of color elements are Y, Cr, and Cb signals. 10. An object tracking camera device using the motion vector detection circuit according to claim 1. Description: