JPH08126016A - Color television camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To readjust white balance without picking up the image of a white level object after white balance is once taken. CONSTITUTION: A level detection section 18 detects the level of an RGB video signal processed by a digital signal processing section 16 in a camera head 1 and the detected level is given to an ACB control section 19. The ACB control section 19 is provided with the AWB adjustment mode, the ACB memory mode, and the ACB active mode, and initially adjusts white balance based on the RGB detection level in the AWB adjustment mode and detects an RGB video signal level to match an ACB marker in a finder to an optional color at that point of time and stores the level to an internal memory (RAM) 195. Upon the request of white balance re-adjustment, the acquired RGB video signal level at that point of time is compared with a level stored precedingly and the gain of RGB video signals is adjusted to obtain the same level ratio.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a color television camera device mainly used for broadcasting, and more particularly to improvement of a white balance adjusting section.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As is well known, in a color television camera device for broadcasting, it is necessary to adjust several kinds of items before operation. Among them, white balance is a particularly important item and must be adjusted. AWB (auto white balance) adjustment is a function for automatically performing this adjustment. In the AWB adjustment, a white subject (chart) is imaged during operation and automatic adjustment is performed so that the RGB levels become the specified values.

However, the AWB adjustment method adopted in the conventional color television camera apparatus as described above requires a white subject during operation, and the color temperature changes drastically as in outdoor shooting, and the number of times is large. In a place where white balance needs to be taken, a white subject must be imaged each time, and complicated operations are required. Also, on
Even if the white balance is shifted in the air and it is desired to execute the AWB, a white subject may not be captured, and the image quality in the on-air may be deteriorated.

[0004]

As described above, the AWB used in the conventional color television camera device.
With the adjustment method, a white subject is required for adjustment, and a white subject must be imaged each time white balance adjustment is required, so complicated operations are required.If there is no white subject, deterioration of image quality is avoided. There were times when it wasn't.

Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and a color television capable of readjusting the white balance after the white balance is once taken without taking a picture of a white subject. An object is to provide a camera device.

[0006]

A color television camera device according to the present invention comprises a data acquisition means for acquiring color balance data of an arbitrary color and a data acquisition means in a state of white balance adjustment. Data storage means for storing color balance data obtained by using the color balance data stored in the data storage means, and a ratio of the color balance data obtained by using the data obtaining means. And a color balance adjusting means for adjusting the color balance of the video signal so as to match the data ratio.

[0007]

In the color television camera device having the above-described structure, the color balance data for an arbitrary color is acquired and stored in a white balanced state, and the white balance is lost due to the change in color temperature. At this time, the color balance data of the stored color is acquired, compared with the memory data, and the color balance of the video signal is adjusted so as to match the ratio of the memory data. adjust.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a color television camera device according to the present invention, in which 1 is a camera head, 2 is a subject, and 3 is a camera control unit (C).
CU) and 4 are camera operation panels.

When the subject 2 is imaged through the lens 11 in the camera head 1, the incident light is reflected by the prism 1.
2 is split into R (red), G (green), and B (blue), and CCD (charge transfer device) image sensor 1
It is converted into a video signal by 3R, 13G and 13B and input to the analog signal processing unit 14.

The analog signal processing unit 14 includes R, G, B
Balance adjustment is performed by controlling the level of each video signal according to the corresponding gain control signal. The RGB video output is converted into a digital signal by the A / D (analog / digital) converter 15 and then a digital signal. It is input to the processing unit 16.

The digital signal processor 16 receives the input R
Signal processing such as process control and gamma correction is performed on each of the GB video signals, and the RGB processing outputs are both input to the transmission processing unit 17 and the level detection unit 18.
Is input to the ACB (automatic color balance) control section 19 and the level is detected.

The ACB control unit 19 includes a microprocessor (MPU) 191 therein, and responds to a mode selection operation of the camera control panel 4 or an external switch based on a program stored in a ROM (read only memory) 193. Works. The modes include an AWB adjustment mode, an ACB memory mode, and an ACB active mode.

In the AWB adjustment mode, a white subject is imaged and an AWB start switch (not shown) is turned on to fetch RGB level detection data from the level detection section 18 via the input interface 192,
G data is acquired, R and B data are respectively combined with this data to generate RGB gain control data for white balance adjustment, which is converted into an analog signal by a D / A (digital / analog) converter 194, It is sent to the analog signal processing unit 14.

In the ACB memory mode, for example, an ACB marker is displayed on the finder screen, an arbitrary subject is imaged after AWB adjustment, the ACB marker is adjusted to a specific color portion on the screen, and an ACB memory switch (not shown) is turned on. When turned on, the RGB detection data of the ACB marker portion is taken in via the input interface 192, and RA
Memory is stored in M (random access memory) 195.

In the ACB active mode, A
By turning on the ACB start switch (not shown) in accordance with the specific color portion stored in the ACB memory mode in the CB marker, the RGB detection data of the ACB marker portion is taken in via the input interface 192, and R
The RGB gain control data for relative white balance adjustment (herein referred to as color balance adjustment) is generated by comparing with the data stored in the AM 195, and the D / A (digital / analog) converter 194 is generated.
Is converted into an analog signal and sent to the analog signal processing section 14.

The transmission processing unit 17 is connected to the camera control unit 3 through a camera cable, and sends the RGB video signal acquired in response to the transmission request signal from the unit 3 to the camera control unit 3 through the camera cable.

The camera control unit 3 mainly performs various adjustments and control of the camera head 1 and outputs RGB video signals from the camera head 1. Further, the control signal from the camera control panel 4 is sent to the camera. It has a function of sending to the head 1.

The camera control panel 4 is provided in, for example, a relay vehicle and generates various control signals from monitor information and controls the camera head 1 through the camera control unit 3. In particular, the AWB adjustment mode and the ACB memory are used. Switches that specify the mode and ACB active mode, and switches SW1 to SW necessary for operating these modes
n, the AWB adjustment and the ACB adjustment described above can be performed by operating these switches.

The operation procedure of the above configuration will be described below. First, the AWB adjustment mode is selected at the shooting site, a white object is imaged, and the AWB start switch is turned on to adjust the white balance (manual adjustment is also possible).

Subsequently, the ACB memory mode is selected for shooting, the ACB marker in the viewfinder is aligned with an arbitrary color portion in the shooting scene, and the ACB memory switch is turned on to achieve white balance. The RGB detection data (color balance data) of the selected color in the state is stored in the memory.

When the white balance is lost due to a change in color temperature due to changes in environmental conditions and readjustment is required, the ACB active mode is selected and the ACB marker is aligned with the color portion stored in the ACB memory mode. , AC
Turn on the B start switch. At this time, ACB
By acquiring the RGB detection data in the marker and comparing it with the RGB detection data stored in advance, the gain of the RGB video signal is adjusted so that the current data has the same ratio as the memory data. This makes it possible to achieve a relatively white balance.

That is, the level ratio of the white RGB video signals when the white balance is maintained is R: G: B.
= 1: 1: 1. In addition, RG of any color at this time
The level ratio of the B video signal is uniquely determined. Therefore, in the ACB adjustment according to the present invention, the RGB level of an arbitrary color in a state of white balance is stored in memory,
When the white balance shifts due to a change in color temperature,
By adjusting the RGB level of the current data to the RGB level ratio stored in memory, it is possible to achieve a relatively white balance.

Therefore, in the color television camera device having the above-described structure, once the white subject is white-balanced, the white subject is not necessary for the readjustment,
Since white balance can be achieved with any color, it can be adjusted with a simple operation even in places where the white balance needs to be adjusted many times, such as when shooting outdoors, where the color temperature changes drastically. Further, even if the white balance is deviated during on-air, it is possible to readjust any color, so that it is possible to avoid image quality deterioration during on-air. This function is particularly useful in relay, ENG (electric news gathering), and the like.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, the selection color does not have to be limited to one color, and the color balance
By storing the data in memory, A
The color of CB can be selected, and the utility value can be further enhanced. Other than the above, various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0025]

As described above, according to the present invention, there is provided a color television camera device capable of re-adjusting the white balance after the white balance is once taken without taking an image of a white subject. be able to.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of a color television camera device according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Camera head, 2 ... Subject, 3 ... Camera control unit (CCU), 4 ... Camera operation panel, 11 ...
Lens, 12 ... Prism, 13R, 13G, 13B ... C
CD image sensor, 14 ... Analog signal processing unit, 15 ... A /
D converter, 16 ... Digital signal processing unit, 17 ... Transmission processing unit, 18 ... Level detection unit, 19 ... ACB (auto color balance) control unit, 191 ... Microprocessor,
192 ... Input interface, 193 ... ROM, 19
4 ... D / A converter, 195 ... RAM.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A data acquisition means for acquiring color balance data of an arbitrary color, and a memory for storing color balance data acquired by the data acquisition means in a state of white balance adjustment. The color balance of the video signal is adjusted so that the ratio of the color balance data acquired by using the data storage means and the data acquisition means matches the ratio of the color balance data stored in the data storage means. A color television camera device comprising a color balance adjusting means for adjusting. 2. The color television camera according to claim 1, wherein the data acquisition means displays a marker in the finder and acquires color balance data of the color in the marker. apparatus. 3. The data storage means stores data for a plurality of colors, and the color balance adjustment means performs adjustment using any color of the stored plurality of colors. The color television camera device according to claim 1, wherein