JPH08331451A - Image processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To deal with the synchronized inputs of different signal forms by arranging a controlling means, 1st and 2nd image transforming means, and 1st and 2nd image processing means in the same casing and controlling both the image processing means at the same time by a control means. CONSTITUTION: The image signal of an NTSC form is transformed to the image signal of an HD form and outputted to an HD substrate part 58 by an HD transform substrate part 55, and the image signal of the HD form is transformed to the image signal of the NTSC form and outputted to an NTSC substrate part 56 by an NTSC transform substrate part 57. The NTSC substrate part 56 executes image processing or superimpose processing by performing the reading of the image signals of the NTSC form stored in 1st and 2nd image memories in first-in first-out(FIFO) according to the read address of a CPU substrate 54. The HD substrate part 58 executes the similar processing by performing the reading of the image signals of the HD form stored in 3rd and 4th image memories in FIFO according to the read address of the CPU substrate 54.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

[Table of Contents] The present invention will be described in the following order. Fields of Industrial Application Conventional Technology (FIGS. 6 to 9) Problems to be Solved by the Invention (FIGS. 6 to 12) Means for Solving the Problems (FIG. 1) Action (FIG. 1) Example (FIG. 1) ~ Fig. 5) Effect of the invention

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, and is applied to a switcher for selecting a plurality of image signals input from the outside and outputting program data processed by mixing or a simple special effect to the outside. obtain.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a switcher, image signals belonging to a plurality of program series are input as material to a signal switching unit from a plurality of video cameras, video tape recorders and the like (not shown). The switcher selects the image signal to be processed by switching each input terminal by this signal switching unit, processes the image signal by mixing, etc., and obtains program data and its editing preview data from an external monitor or video tape. Output to recorder etc.

NTSC television signal format (hereinafter referred to as N
A switch that outputs program data in TSC format (hereinafter referred to as NTSC switch) is an NTS switch.
An image processing unit that processes only the C format image signal is arranged, and only the NTSC format image signal is input as an input material. On the other hand, a switcher (hereinafter referred to as an HD switcher) that outputs program data in a high definition television signal format (hereinafter, HD (High Definition) format) is provided by an image processing unit that processes only an HD format image signal. Then, only the HD format image signal is input as the input material. A dedicated switcher is used for each signal format of the program data output in this way, and HD
The format material and the NTSC format material were processed separately.

Incidentally, as shown in FIG. 6, on the front surface of the housing 2 of the NTSC switcher 1, a power supply section 3, a CPU board 4 and an NTSC board section 5 are arranged so as to be vertically stacked from the lower part. . The CPU board 4 has a computer (hereinafter referred to as CPU) configuration and controls the entire NTSC switcher 1. The NTSC substrate unit 5 processes NTSC format image signals and the like.

Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the NTSC switcher 1 is provided on the rear surface of the housing 2 with an NTSC reference signal section 6 and an NTS.
A C output connector group 7, an NTSC input connector group 8 and other input / output connector group 9 are arranged. NTSC
The reference signal unit 6 receives the NTSC format reference signal in the station. The NTSC output connector group 7 outputs an NTSC format image signal as program data. The NTSC input connector group 8 inputs an NTSC format image signal as an input material. The other input / output connector group 9 inputs and outputs signals other than image signals.

Similarly, as shown in FIG. 8, on the front surface of the housing 12 of the HD switcher 11, a power source section 13 and a CPU board 1 are provided.
4 and the HD substrate portion 15 are arranged so as to be vertically stacked from the lower portion. The CPU board 14 controls the entire HD switcher 11. The HD substrate unit 15 processes HD format image signals and the like.

Further, as shown in FIG. 9, the HD switcher 1
An HD reference signal unit 16, an HD output connector group 17, an HD input connector group 18, and other input / output connector groups 19 are arranged on the rear surface of the housing 12 of No. 1. The HD reference signal section 16 receives the HD format reference signal in the station. HD
The output connector group 17 outputs an HD format image signal as program data. The HD input connector group 18 is
An HD format image signal is input as an input material. The other input / output connector group 19 inputs and outputs signals other than image signals.

[0009]

However, when the dedicated NTSC switcher 1 and HD switcher 11 are used for each signal format of the program data as described above, the timing of signal processing is changed between the two switchers 1 and 11. Difficult to match. Therefore, when outputting the program data in the NTSC format and the HD format, there is a problem that the program data in both formats cannot be processed in parallel in real time. In addition, two housings 2 and 12
However, there is a drawback that the installation space is increased correspondingly and the weight is increased, which increases the labor of the installation work. Since the power supplies 3 and 13, the CPU boards 4 and 14 and the like are doubly arranged, power consumption and cost also increase.

The NTSC switcher 1 has, for example, FIG.
The dedicated control panel 21 shown in
In the switcher 11, for example, a dedicated control panel 31 shown in FIG. 12 is provided separately from the NTSC type. For this reason, the switching operators 26 to 29 and 36 to 39 used for operating the faders, the track balls (not shown) and the like are also separately arranged on the respective control panels 21 and 31, and are individually operated by the operator. It had been.

Therefore, also from this, when outputting the program data of the NTSC format and the HD format, it is difficult to make the timing of signal processing match between the program data of the two signal formats, and the program data is processed in parallel in real time. There was a problem that it could not be output. Further, since the respective control panels 21 and 31 are operated separately, there are drawbacks that the number of labors for the operation is increased and the number of operators is increased accordingly.

By the way, as described above, the NTSC switcher 1 and the HD switcher 11 respectively input only NTSC format image signals and HD format image signals as input materials, and output only NTSC format program data and HD format. Only the program data of was output. For this reason, it has been impossible to directly switch between different types of signals, which are NTSC format and HD format image signals as input materials, and to simultaneously output different types of signals.

As shown in FIG. 12, when simultaneously outputting different kinds of signals, the output of the HD switcher 11 is output by the down converter connected to the outside of the HD switcher 11 to the NTSC.
Converted as input material for switch 1 and NTS
With an up converter connected to the outside of C switcher 1,
It was necessary to convert the output of the TSC switcher 1 as the input material of the HD switcher 11.

However, when the same special effect is applied to the images of both formats by using the input material obtained through the external converter, the shape of the special effect switching pattern is the original perfect shape. There was a problem that they might not be displayed at the same time.

That is, for example, even if switching is started from the upper left corner of the 16: 9 screen with an HD switcher image fader, the 4: 3 screen obtained by converting to the NTSC format with the down converter has the upper left corner of the screen. The switching did not start immediately and accurately. Even if the switching ended on the 4: 3 screen, the switching did not end on the 16: 9 screen. In other words, the image fader could not be shared between the 16: 9 screen and the 4: 3 screen.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above points. It is possible to simultaneously input synchronized input materials having different signal formats, reduce the trouble of operation, and output the program data of the same phase in both formats in real time. The present invention is intended to propose an image processing device capable of displaying a switching pattern of a perfect shape on a screen of both signal formats when a special effect is applied.

[0017]

In order to solve such a problem, in the present invention, first and second image processing means, first and second image converting means and control means are provided in the same housing. . The first image processing means receives an image signal of the first signal format as an input material from the outside and processes the image signal of the first signal format. The second image processing means is
An image signal of a second signal format synchronized with the image signal of the first signal format is externally given as an input material,
The image signal of the signal format is processed. The first image conversion means converts the image signal of the first signal format into an image signal of the second signal format, and uses the converted image signal as an input material to generate a second image signal.
Image processing means. The second image conversion means is the second
The image signal of the signal format is converted into the image signal of the first signal format, and the converted image signal is given to the first image processing means as an input material. The control means simultaneously controls the first image processing means and the second image processing means.

[0018]

In the same housing, the control means, the first and second image converting means, and the first and second image processing means are arranged.
By simultaneously controlling the first and second image processing means by the control means, synchronized input materials having different signal formats can be input at the same time, the labor of operation is reduced, and the program data of the same phase of both formats are output in real time. Therefore, a switching pattern of a perfect shape can be displayed on the screens of both signal formats when a special effect is applied.

[0019]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, reference numeral 51 indicates an HD / NTSC unification switch as a whole, which unifies the processing of HD format and NTSC format image signals and the operation of this processing. The HD and NTSC unification switcher 51 inputs synchronized image signals of both formats as input materials from a television camera or a video tape recorder at the same time, processes the input materials of both formats in parallel and outputs real-time program data of both formats. Output in the same phase. HD and NTSC centralized switcher 51
The input materials of both formats are mutually converted internally, and the image signals of both formats obtained by this conversion are processed in parallel to output the real-time program data of both formats in the same phase.

As shown in FIG. 1, a power source section 53 is provided on the front surface of a housing 52 of an HD / NTSC unified switcher 51.
Control means such as CPU board 54, second image conversion means such as HD conversion board section 55, second image processing means such as NTSC board section 56, and first image conversion means such as NTSC conversion board section. 57 and a first image processing means, for example, an HD substrate portion 58, are arranged so as to be vertically stacked from the lower portion. This allows HD and NT
The installation area of the SC unification switcher 51 is kept almost the same as the conventional one.

As shown in FIG. 3, the CPU board 54 is H
The entire D and NTSC unification switcher 51 is simultaneously controlled to process the image signals of both formats in parallel and output the program data of both formats in the same phase. CPU board 54
Is a CPU configuration, and a fader value that associates a HD: 16: 9 screen fader value with an NTSC 4: 3 screen conversion fader value for each type of switching pattern shape when a special effect is applied. It has a conversion table. The CPU substrate 54 uses the fader value conversion table to switch the screens of both formats in perfect pattern shapes.

The CPU board 54 compensates for the delay of the material obtained by the conversion between the NTSC format and the HD format, and
It is given to the TSC board portion 56 and the HD board portion 58. Further, the CPU board 54 controls so as to compensate the delay according to the type of processing in the NTSC board section 56 and the HD board section 58.

As shown in FIG. 3, the HD conversion board portion 55
Converts an NTSC format image signal given as an input material into an HD format image signal and outputs it to the HD substrate section 58. The NTSC conversion board unit 57 converts the HD format image signal given as an input material into an NTSC format image signal and outputs it to the NTSC board unit 56.

The NTSC board portion 56 is a first image memory (not shown) for directly storing the input material in NTSC format.
And NT obtained by conversion by the NTSC conversion substrate unit 57
A second image memory (not shown) for storing an image signal in SC format. As shown in FIG. 3, the NTSC board unit 56 follows the first read address of the CPU board 54 to
And an NTSC format image signal stored in the second image memory is first in first out (hereinafter referred to as FIFO).
(First In First Out) to read and execute image processing such as image composition and superimpose processing.

The HD board portion 58 stores a third image memory (not shown) for directly storing HD format input material and an HD format image signal obtained by conversion by the HD conversion board portion 55. And a fourth image memory (not shown).
As shown in FIG. 3, the HD substrate unit 58 includes a CPU substrate 54.
The HD format image signals stored in the third and fourth image memories according to the read address of
Performs image processing such as image composition and superimpose processing.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, HD and NTSC
On the rear surface of the casing 52 of the centralized switcher 51, the NTSC reference signal section 59, the HD reference signal section 60, the other input / output connector group 61, and the NTs arranged in the horizontal direction with respect to each other.
SC output connector group 62 and HD output connector group 63
And the NTSC input connector group 64 and the HD input connector group 65, which are arranged horizontally with respect to each other, are arranged so as to be vertically stacked from the lower part.

The NTSC reference signal section 59 is an NTS in the station.
A C format reference signal is input. The HD reference signal section 60 is
The HD format reference signal in the station is input. The other input / output connector group 61 inputs / outputs signals other than image signals used as input materials. The NTSC output connector group 62 and the HD output connector group 63 output NTSC format image signals and HD format image signals as program data, respectively. The NTSC input connector group 64 and the HD input connector group 65 respectively input an NTSC format image signal and an HD format image signal as input materials.

HD and NTSC unified switcher 51
Is operated by the control panel 70 shown in FIG. 4, and a control signal according to this operation is given. On the operation surface of the control panel 70, a group of HD input material switches 71 for setting the HD format input materials to be processed for 1 series of preview output, 2 series of special effect output and 1 series of preset program output respectively. 74 are arranged side by side in the vertical direction. Also, on the operation surface of the control panel 70, an NTSC input material switch group for setting the input material of NTSC format to be processed for 1 series of preview output, 2 series of special effect output and 1 series of preset program output respectively. 75 to 78 are arranged side by side in the vertical direction.

In the input material switch groups 72, 73, 76 and 77, a plurality of setting switches displaying the program series numbers input as materials are arranged horizontally for each type of special effect. Each setting switch separately sets the HD format input material and the NTSC format input material belonging to each program series.

The control panel 70 has two series of special effect video faders and one series of preset program video faders. On the other hand, the special effect video fader switches the HD input material set in the HD input material switch group 72 and the NTSC input material set in the NTSC input material switch group 76 in association with each other.

The other special effect video fader is HD
HD format input material set by input material switch group 73 and NTS set by NTSC input material switch group 77
It switches in conjunction with the C format input material. The preset program video fader switches the HD format input material set by the HD input material switch group 74 and the NTSC format input material set by the NTSC input material switch group 78 in conjunction with each other.

Two series of special effect video faders and one
The series preset video faders are provided with operating means for operating them, for example, switching operators 79 to 81. Switching operator 7
9 to 81 simultaneously switch the input materials of HD format and NTSC format to switch from one program series to the other program series.

Further, the control panel 70 has a superimposing fader for HD signals and a superimposing fader for NTSC signals, which correspond to the input materials set by the input material switch groups 72 to 74 and 76 to 78, respectively. Superimpose titles, etc. The superimposing fader for HD signals and the superimposing fader for NTSC signals are provided with operating means, for example, switching operators 82 and 83, for operating the superimposing state by the superimposing fader.

The control panel 70 displays each operation menu on the display screen 84 of the liquid crystal display device.

In the above configuration, the HD / NTSC unification switcher 51 performs image processing according to the image processing procedure shown in FIG. That is, the CPU board 54 enters from the start step SP0, and in the next step SP1, the input material is HD input material switch groups 71 to 74 and NTSC.
When the input material switches 75 to 78 are selected, the process proceeds to step SP2.

At step SP2, the CPU substrate 54
Determines whether the HD format input material and the NTSC format input material are mixed, and if a positive result is obtained, it is determined that both format input materials are selected at the same time, and the step SP
Move to 3. In step SP3, the CPU board 54
Is a third image memory that directly stores the HD format input material and a fourth image memory that stores the HD format input material converted from the NTSC format.
Read with IFO.

In addition, the CPU board 54 uses an NTSC clock as a first image memory which directly stores the NTSC format input material and a second image memory which stores the NTSC format input material converted from the HD format. Read with FIFO. As a result, the CPU board 54 can provide the NTSC format HD material and the HD format input material in which the delay due to the conversion is compensated to the NTSC board section 56 and the HD board section 58, respectively.

Then, in step SP4, the CPU
The board 54 shifts to the reading step SP5 using the operation angles of the switching operators 79 to 83 as fader values. In step SP5, the CPU board 54 is set to H
The D board portion 58 processes the HD format image signal, and the processing state is controlled according to the fader value. On the other hand, in step SP6 simultaneously with step SP4, the CPU board 54 reads the conversion fader value for the 4: 3 screen of NTSC format from the fader value conversion table on the basis of the fader value by the switching operators 79 to 83, and in step SP7. In, the NTSC format image signal is processed by the NTSC substrate unit 56, and the processing state is controlled according to the conversion fader value.

As a result, for example, when the special effect switching start position is the upper left corner on a 16: 9 HD format screen,
The switching start position is the upper left corner even in the 4: 3 screen of NTSC format. Similarly, when the switching end position is the lower right corner on a 16: 9 HD format screen, the NTSC format
The switching end position is in the lower right corner even on the 4: 3 screen.
In this way, the CPU board 54 prevents the pattern shapes such as special effects from being different and the starting positions of the pattern shapes from being different on the screens of both formats during image processing depending on the conversion fader value. It can be prevented.

Further, when processing the arbitrarily selected HD format and NTSC format input materials, the operator can give special effects to the image signals of both formats at the same timing with only one operation by the switching operators 79 to 83. Can be operated. As a result, both types of program data having perfect shapes and switching patterns at the same timing are output in real time in the same phase. In addition, since the switching operators 79 to 83 are shared during the signal processing of both types, the labor of the operation of the fader can be reduced to half of the conventional one, and the complexity of the operation can be prevented.

Next, when a negative result is obtained in step SP2, the CPU substrate 54 determines that only one input material of HD format or NTSC format has been selected, and proceeds to step SP8. In step SP8, CPU board 5
Step 4 judges which of the HD format input material and the NTSC format input material has been selected. If a positive result is obtained, it is judged that only the HD format input material has been selected, and the processing advances to step SP9.

At step SP9, the CPU substrate 54
Reads the third image memory, which directly stores the HD format input material, with the HD format clock, and proceeds to step SP10.
Move on to. In step SP10, the CPU board 54
Moves to the reading step SP11 with the operating angles of the switching operators 79 to 83 as fader values.
In step SP11, the CPU board 54 causes the HD board section 58 to process the HD format image signal, and controls the processing state according to the fader value.

On the other hand, when a negative result is obtained in step SP8, the CPU substrate 54 determines that only the NTSC format input material is selected, and proceeds to step SP12.
In step SP12, the CPU substrate 54 transfers the operation angles of the switching operators 79 to 83 as the NTSC format fader values to the reading step SP13. In step SP13, the CPU substrate 54 shifts to the reading step SP13 by using the operation angles of the switching operators 79 to 83 as fader values. In step SP13, the CPU board 54 controls the processing state of the NTSC format image signal in the NTSC board portion 56 according to this fader value.

According to the above configuration, the C
PU board 54, HD conversion board section 55, NTSC board section 5
6. By arranging the NTSC conversion board part 57 and the HD board part 58 and controlling the whole by the CPU board 54 at the same time, it is possible to input HD format and NTSC format synchronized input materials at the same time, and the operation is less troublesome Both types of program data with the same phase can be output in real time, and a switching pattern of a complete shape can be displayed on the screens of both types when a special effect is applied.

In the control panel 70, the switching operators 79 to 81 and the display screen 84 are shared by both types, so that the panel area can be prevented from increasing. Furthermore, by having the functions of the NTSC switcher 1 and the HD switcher 11 in one housing 52, the installation space can be made smaller and lighter. The number of racks can be reduced by reducing the rack space for storing system equipment.

Further, by sharing the video fader and the like to synchronize the operations, the control signal can be simplified and processed in real time with much higher accuracy. Furthermore, by sharing the video fader, etc., even when processing signals between HD format signals and NTSC format signals without being aware of the different format signal inputs, Processing can be performed with exactly the same operation, and the complexity of the operation can be prevented in advance. Further, when two operators are conventionally used, the number of operators can be reduced. Furthermore, cables for connecting external down converters and up converters are not required, which reduces the time and effort required for system installation.

In the above embodiment, the case where the HD input material switch group, the NTSC input material switch group and the switching operator are arranged for two series has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the HD input material is not limited thereto. The present invention can also be applied to the case where the switch group, the NTSC input material switch group, and the switching operator are arranged for one series or three series or more.
In this case also, the same effect as described above can be obtained.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the HD for which the HD format and the NTSC format input materials provided in synchronization with the same housing are controlled by the same CPU board 54 and processed in parallel.
The case where the present invention is applied to the NTSC unification switcher 51 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the HD and PAL input materials provided in synchronization with the same housing are controlled by the same control unit. Switch for parallel processing in parallel, HD format and NTSC synchronized with the same housing
Format and PAL format input materials are controlled by the same control unit and processed in parallel, such as a switcher, etc. It can be widely applied to image processing devices that perform parallel processing.

[0050]

As described above, according to the present invention, the control means, the first and second image conversion means, and the first housing are provided in the same housing.
And the second image processing means are provided, and the first and second image processing means are controlled by the control means at the same time, so that synchronized input materials having different signal formats can be input at the same time, and the labor of operation is reduced. It is possible to realize an image processing apparatus capable of outputting program data of the same phase in both formats in real time and displaying a perfectly shaped switching pattern on the screens of both signal formats when giving a special effect.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;
It is a schematic diagram which shows the front surface of D and NTSC one-way switcher.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a back surface of an HD and NTSC one-way switcher.

FIG. 3 is an operation block diagram showing an image processing operation block.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a control panel according to an embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing an image processing procedure.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a front surface of an NTSC switcher.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing the back surface of an NTSC switcher.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing the front surface of the HD switcher.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing the back surface of the HD switcher.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing a control panel of an NTSC switcher.

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing a control panel of the HD switcher.

FIG. 12 is an operation block diagram showing a conventional image processing operation.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... NTSC switcher, 2, 12, 52 ... case,
3, 13, 53 ... Power supply unit, 4, 14, 54 ... CPU
Substrate, 5, 56 ... NTSC substrate part, 6 ... NTSC reference signal part, 7,62 ... NTSC output connector group, 8,
64 …… NTSC input connector group, 9, 19, 61 ……
Other input / output connector groups, 11 ... HD switcher,
15, 58 ... HD substrate section, 16, 60 ... HD reference signal section, 17, 63 ... HD output connector group, 18, 65
...... HD input connector group, 21, 31, 70 ...... Control panel, 26-29, 36-39 ...... Switching operator, 51 ...... HD and NTSC one-way switcher, 55 ...... HD conversion board section, 57 ... ... NTSC conversion board part, 71-74 ... HD input material switch group, 75-
78 …… NTSC input material switch group, 79-83 ……
Switching operator, 84 ... Display screen.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A first signal processing apparatus which receives an image signal of a first signal format as an input material from the outside in the same housing and processes the image signal of the first signal format.
And an image signal of a second signal format synchronized with the image signal of the first signal format is externally given as an input material to process the image signal of the second signal format. Image processing means and first image conversion for converting the image signal of the first signal format into the image signal of the second signal format and giving the converted image signal as input material to the second image processing means. Means for converting the image signal of the second signal format into an image signal of the first signal format, and providing the converted image signal as an input material to the first image processing means; An image processing apparatus comprising: a first image processing unit and a control unit that simultaneously controls the second image processing unit. 2. The image according to claim 1, wherein the first signal format is a high definition television signal format and the second signal format is an NTSC television signal format. Processing equipment. 3. An operation means for simultaneously operating the processing by the first image processing means and the processing by the second image processing means, wherein the control means comprises the operation information by the operation means. The first and second image processing means are controlled based on the above. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image processing apparatus is an image processing apparatus.