JPH0951456A - Image input device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To attain a high image quality still image while inputting a dynamic image and a still image simultaneously. SOLUTION: A dynamic image signal from an image pickup section 1 is usually processed by a video signal processing section 3 via a selector 17. On a request of a high image quality still image, a lens section 13 and an image pickup section 15 are controlled by a lens control section 14 and a drive section 16, plural image pickup areas by picture element deviation or pattern division are decided sequentially and a still image signal in each area is processed as a video signal via the selector 17. Then the plural processed still image signals are received by a high image quality still image capture section 4 from a selector 20 sequentially and stored in a memory 5, in which a high image quality still image is formed. Since a dynamic image signal and a still image signal are processed in time division by the video signal processing section, simultaneous processing is executed apparently.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a video input device that takes in still images and moving images, and performs processing such as output, display, storage, and communication.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a video input device has been mainly used to capture a moving image, but it is also used to capture a still image. The effective pixel of the conventional electronic camera is about 400,000 pixels, and the resolution of the camera is not high enough to handle a still image of a high definition image. An image captured by this camera is a standard video signal (for example, NTS).
C, PAL, SECAM, etc.) were common. However, compared to a scanner, it has the advantages of being able to capture an image of a three-dimensional object, and can be easily captured without setting it on the platen. A method of improving the image quality by synthesizing divided screens to obtain a still image is being studied.

A conventional example will be described below with reference to FIG. Reference numeral 101 is a camera unit used for capturing a still image such as a person or a document, 102 is a drive unit for moving the image capturing range of the camera 101, and 103 is for using the video signal input by the camera 1 for all purposes. A video input processing unit that performs a process of converting to video data, and 104 is a video input processing unit 1.
Memory area designation and timing control for inputting the video data from the memory 03 to the memory 105, and the memory 1
05 is an image capture unit for specifying a memory area for transferring video data to the overall control unit 106 and timing control, and 105 is an image capture unit 10.
4, a memory unit for storing video data, a general control unit 106 for performing all controls from inputting, processing and outputting video images, 107 a storage unit for storing video data, 10
Reference numeral 8 is a display unit for displaying video data, 109 is an output unit for printing the video data, and 110 is a communication unit for communicating the video data and transmitting it to the partner terminal.

Next, in the case of inputting a high quality image, the entire screen area to be imaged is divided into a plurality of screens,
The operation of sequentially capturing the divided screens and combining the captured screens to obtain a high-quality still image will be described. First,
The drive unit 102 is driven according to an instruction from the overall control unit 106, and the image pickup area of the camera 101 is adjusted to a predetermined position.
Next, the video signal input from the camera 101 becomes video data via the video input processing unit 103. In the video input processing unit 103, if it is a composite signal such as NTSC or AL, it is YC separated into a Y signal (luminance signal) and a C signal (color difference signal), and further the C signal is color difference separated into Cr and Cb signals. Then, it is converted into a Y signal, a Cr signal, and a Cb signal, and then A / D converted. Further, if color space conversion is necessary, color signal conversion processing is performed on the R signal, G signal, and B signal. If format conversion, resolution conversion, enlargement / reduction, or the like is necessary, pixel density conversion is performed. Interpolation processing and the like by processing and filters associated therewith are performed.

In this way, the image-processed image data is stored in the specified area of the memory unit 105 by the image capture unit 104. By repeating the above operation for the divided screens, the memory unit 105 stores the video data of the entire screen area to be imaged. By combining and combining the image data of the respective screens, one high-quality still image data is obtained, and when the overall control unit 106 wants to output the high-quality still image data to the paper surface, it outputs to the output unit 109. Transfer and output, transfer to the storage unit 107 for storage if desired to be stored, transfer to display unit 108 for display if desired, communication unit 1 if desired to transfer to a remote location or another terminal.
Transfer to 10 and send.

[0006]

As described above, even a conventional video input device captures and stores a high-quality still image,
It can be displayed, output, or communicated. However, in the case of the video input device that captures the high-quality still image, only capturing can be switched between capturing the moving image and capturing the still image, and capturing the moving image while capturing the still image. However, there is a problem that a still image cannot be captured while capturing a moving image. Therefore, for example, when a teleconference is conducted in the TV conference system, there is a problem that the moving image cannot be transmitted to the other party during the period in which the still image is captured, and the progress of the conference is hindered. Especially,
It becomes a big problem when it is necessary to spend a long time for capturing.

There is also a case where the apparatus is a dedicated apparatus for inputting a high-quality still image without a function of capturing a moving image, and in that case, there is a big problem that the moving image cannot be captured. Therefore, when trying to capture a moving image and a still image at the same time in order to solve the above problem, it is necessary to separately prepare a video input device for capturing a moving image and a video input device for capturing a still image, which are almost the same. There is a problem that the device configuration must be duplicated and waste occurs.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to obtain a video input device capable of simultaneously inputting a moving image and a still image with a simple structure.

[0009]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there are provided a first image pickup means for outputting a moving image signal, a second image pickup means for outputting a still image signal, and the second image pickup means. Control means for performing control for changing the image pickup area, selecting means for selecting the moving image signal during the change control of the image pickup area by the control means, and selecting the still image signal after the change, The image processing means for subjecting the moving image signal and the still image signal outputted in the division to a predetermined signal processing, and the plurality of still image signals obtained by the plurality of times of image pickup of the second image pickup means, the image processing means. And still image processing means for sequentially taking in a plurality of processed still image signals obtained by processing in step 1 to create one high-quality still image.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there are provided a first image pickup means for outputting a moving image signal, a second image pickup means for outputting a still image signal, and the second image pickup means according to a still image request. When the moving image signal is input and predetermined signal processing is performed in response to the moving image request, a control unit that controls the image pickup area is changed. An image processing means for inputting the still image signal and performing a predetermined signal processing, and a plurality of still image signals obtained by a plurality of times of image pickup by the second image pickup means are obtained by the image processing means. Still image processing means for sequentially taking in a plurality of processed still image signals to create one high quality still image is provided.

[0011]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the moving image signal picked up by the first image pickup means is usually processed by the image processing means, and the second image pickup means is controlled by the control means in this state. When the image pickup area is changed, the moving image signal is continuously processed during that time, and when the image pickup area is determined, the still image signal imaged by the second image pickup means is signal-processed. After that, the second image pickup unit sequentially controls the change of the image pickup area to define a plurality of image pickup areas, and the moving image signal is signal-processed during each change control period. A plurality of still image signals picked up in each image pickup region are sequentially taken in by the still image processing means and combined into one high quality still image. Therefore, the image processing means outputs the signal-processed moving image signal and still image signal in a time division manner.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when there is a still image request, the second image pickup means is controlled by the control means and the image pickup area is changed and controlled, and then the image signal processing means makes a request for a moving image. If there is a moving image request, the moving image signal picked up by the first image pickup processing means is preferentially signal processed, and if there is no moving image request, the still image signal picked up by the second image pickup means is signaled. To process. The above operation is repeated for a plurality of image pickup areas, and a plurality of still image signals picked up in each image pickup area are sequentially fetched by the still image processing means 1
It is combined into one high quality still image. Therefore, the moving image signal and the still image signal are processed in time division.

[0013]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a video input device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Reference numeral 1 is an image pickup unit for picking up an image of a person, a three-dimensional object, a book, or the like, and photoelectric conversion, 2 is a drive unit for moving the image pickup range of the image pickup unit 1, and 3 is a signal from the image pickup unit 1 or an image pickup unit 15 described later. The video signal processing unit 4 for converting into a video signal for use in all purposes captures the video signal from the video signal processing unit 3 and inputs it to the memory 5, or from the memory 5 to the overall control unit 6. High-quality still image capture unit for specifying a memory area for output and timing control, 5 is a memory for storing video data, 6 is an overall control for performing all controls from inputting, processing, and outputting video Reference numeral 7 is a storage unit for storing video data, 8 is a display unit for displaying the video data, 9 is an output unit for printing the video data, 10 is a communication unit for transmitting the video data to a partner terminal, and 11 is a zoom lens. Lens unit having such or autofocus lens, 12 is a lens control unit that performs a zoom function and a focus control of the lens unit 11.

Numeral 13 improves the resolution by reducing the image pickup area by zooming or improving the resolution by slightly shifting the optical axis from the image pickup range of each element of the CCD by the optical axis variable function using a lens. A lens control unit 14 having functions such as the above, a lens control unit 14 for controlling a magnification and a deviation amount of an optical axis with respect to the lens unit 12 according to an instruction from the overall control unit 6, and a reference numeral 15 for capturing an image from the lens unit 13 for photoelectric conversion. The image pickup unit 16 is a drive unit for moving the image pickup range of the image pickup unit 15, and 17 is a selector for selecting an output signal from either the image pickup unit 1 or the image pickup unit 15 and inputting it to the video signal processing unit 3. Is a sync signal generator for synchronizing the output signals of the image pickup units 1 and 15 and 20 is a high-quality still image capture 4 or a moving image capture 21 for the video signal output from the video signal processing unit 3. Selector unit for transferring to either one, 21 for moving image capture for frame rate moving image processing of video signals, 22 for buffer memory unit for capturing moving images, 19 for controlling each unit according to instructions from overall control unit 6. It is a video input control unit that operates.

FIG. 2 shows internal blocks of the image pickup units 1 and 15. 201 is a diaphragm shutter, 202 is an optical low-pass filter, 203 is a CCD drive that drives the photoelectric conversion element 204 in synchronization with the synchronization signal from the synchronization signal generation unit 18, and 204 receives the optical signal of the imaged object. Photoelectric conversion element that uses a CCD to convert and output an electrical signal
Reference numeral 205 is an automatic gain control unit (AGC) that amplifies the signal output from the photoelectric conversion element 204, 206 is an aperture metering circuit for measuring the aperture amount by the signal from the photoelectric conversion element 204, and 207 is an aperture metering circuit 206. An iris drive unit that drives the aperture shutter to adjust the aperture. The optical information picked up by the image pickup units 1 and 15 is converted into an electric signal and output, and the output level is automatically adjusted by an aperture adjustment and a gain adjustment so that the output level falls within an appropriate range.

The information of the output signal will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3A is a diagram showing a filter array on the photoelectric conversion element 204. This arrangement is called a complementary color checkered arrangement, and is composed of Cy (cyan), Ye (yellow),
The G (green) and Mg (magenta) filters are arranged in the arrangement shown in the figure. (However, G is a primary color, not a complementary color.)

The advantage of this arrangement is that light is received through the complementary colors Cy, Ye, and Mg rather than through the primary colors R (red), G (green), and B (blue). 2 primary colors for complementary colors
Since the light is mixed and received, more information is obtained and the sensitivity is improved. Further, the G and Mg arrays are alternately arranged for each line, and the signals of the filters above and below the filter array are added and output. Therefore, the signals output from the imaging units 1 and 15 are as shown in FIG. As shown in (b), Cy + G and Ye + Mg are repeated for the odd lines, and Cy + Mg and Ye + G are repeated for the even lines.

Here, the filter characteristics of the Y signal and the C signal are set so that they can be easily obtained by the following equation. Y = {(Cy + G) + (Ye + Mg)} × 1/2 RY = {(Ye + Mg)-(Cy + G)}-(BY) = {(Ye + G)-(Cy + Mg)} Therefore, the video signal processing unit In 3, the Y signal and the C signal are generated by performing the addition and subtraction as described above.

FIG. 4 shows the internal structure of the video signal processing section 3. Reference numeral 301 denotes a delay circuit for two horizontal lines, which has no delay (OH) with respect to the signal from the imaging unit 1 or 15 and 1
A line delay (IH), two line delay (2H) signal is output. The output signal is the same as in FIG. A delay circuit 301 generates a Y signal by adding the odd-numbered and even-numbered output signals from the delay circuit 301.
The horizontal / vertical aperture correction unit that performs horizontal / vertical aperture correction processing using the signals for three lines generated by the above, and 303 performs gamma correction processing on the Y signal output from the horizontal / vertical aperture correction unit 302. A gamma correction unit 304 for applying the signals for three lines from the delay circuit 301 adds and subtracts the odd-numbered and even-numbered signals of each signal to obtain a Y signal, a Cr (RY) signal, and a Cb (B) signal. −
Y) A synchronous detection unit that generates a signal.

Reference numeral 305 denotes an RGB matrix conversion unit for color-converting the YCrCb signal into an RGB signal, and 306 combines the RGB signals in order to keep the RGB color reproducibility constant against changes in the color temperature of the light source during image pickup. The white balance adjustment unit that adjusts the RGB signals so that the obtained white level becomes a reference white level, 307 is a gamma correction processing unit that performs gamma correction processing on the RGB signals, and 308 is Cr (R- The color difference matrix conversion unit performs color conversion into a Y) signal and a Cb (BY) signal. The video signal processing unit 3 converts the electric signal of the optical information received from the imaging unit 1 or 15 into the video information of Y, U, and V signals and outputs the signals, and for the aperture correction, the gamma correction, and the color signal. The white balance is adjusted and the image information is automatically adjusted to an appropriate level.

Next, a video input method for high quality image input will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5A shows a method of dividing the screen. By driving the driving unit 16, the image pickup area of the camera (image pickup unit) is moved vertically and horizontally as indicated by arrows to divide the screen, and the divided screen is displayed. It is a method of capturing images for each. The example in the figure shows a state in which the image area marked with a circle is captured as video data. This method is easy to implement because the current drive motor has high accuracy even in the control of the imaging region. However, in the screen combination, the boundaries between the combined screens are discontinuous and the capturing times are different, so if the images are combined as they are, an unnatural image is obtained.

Therefore, in order to suppress the influence of environmental changes due to time lag as much as possible, a constant environment is maintained during that period.
Alternatively, the state of the video signal near the borders of multiple screens is stored and the video signals are adjusted so that the borders have the same level as each other, or the image is input by duplicating the borders of multiple screens. It is possible to solve the boundary discontinuity and obtain a good still image by performing matching or performing processing such as correction of screen distortion at the time of capturing a video.

FIG. 5B shows a method (V
By slightly shifting the optical axis b in the lens unit 13 to the optical axis a in the AP method), the image pickup area captured by the camera is slightly shifted, so that the image is captured each time while the optical axis is slightly shifted. As a result, even if the number of pixels of the image sensor of the camera is small, the same effect as if the number of pixels of the image sensor is increased and the resolution is improved can be obtained. In the example of the figure, the case where the images marked with a circle are captured while being thinned out is shown.

The mechanism for minutely changing the optical axis is a mechanism for changing the apex angle of the prism lens 500. In this prism lens 500, a silicon-based liquid 503 is placed between the glass plates 501 and 502 arranged in parallel with each other.
And the periphery of the glass plate 501 is sealed by the actuator of the lens control unit 14.
The inclination between 502 is changed to make the apex angle variable.

Here, in order to slightly move the lens,
A considerable system is required for controlling the drive unit. In the screen combination, the discontinuity of the boundary between the combined screens is eliminated, so that the unnaturalness after the combination is eliminated. In particular, since continuity is not lost even when the resolution changes, it is an optimal method for inputting a high-quality still image. However, because there is a time lag in capturing multiple screens, either keep the environment constant during that time to minimize the effect of environmental changes due to time lag, or average the entire screen of multiple screens. It is possible to solve the problem of time lag and store a good still image by storing different video signal states and adjusting the video signals so that the average levels of the entire screen are the same level. Becomes

FIG. 5C shows another method (PP method) based on pixel shift, which is a parallel plate (Plarel Pla).
te) 504. By inclining the parallel plate 504 obliquely, the image is captured while the optical axis is slightly shifted by utilizing the deviation of the angle of the incident light caused by the refractive index when the light passes through the substance, so that the resolution and color reproducibility are obtained. Can be improved.

Next, the operation of the present invention will be described. Figure 6
Shows the operation timing for the embodiment of FIG. The synchronization signal is a horizontal synchronization signal which is a synchronization signal output from the synchronization signal generation unit 18 and transmitted to each of the image pickup units 1 and 15. The rising edge of this signal indicates the start of horizontal synchronization. The lens drive signal is ON / O of the lens controller.
The FF state is shown, and the zoom function and the autofocus function (including the case where the VAP is driven in the case of VAP and the case where the PP is driven in the case of PP) are operating when ON. In the state, when it is OFF, it indicates that it is not operating. The camera drive signal indicates the ON / OFF state of the camera drive units 2 and 16 and is ON.
Occasionally, the pan / tilt function, the diaphragm function, and the like are operating, and when OFF, the operation is stopped.

When the level is low, the SELs 1 and 2 select a path for processing the signal taken in from the image pickup unit 1 and transmitting it to the moving image capture 21, and when the level is high, the image pickup is performed. The path for transferring the signal captured from the unit 15 to the high quality still image capture 4 by processing the video signal is selected. The video signal processing indicates which image capturing unit processes the signal, Vn means a signal from the image capturing unit 1 and is a moving image (Video), and Sm indicates
A signal from the imaging unit 15 means a still image (Still). The moving image input signal is a video signal transferred from the video signal processing unit 3 to the moving image capture 21 and has the same meaning as the signal (Vn) processed by the video signal processing unit 3. Low level means that nothing is transferred. The moving image output signal is a video signal transferred from the moving image capture 21 to the overall control unit 6 and has the same meaning as the signal (Vn) processed by the video signal processing unit 3.

The still image input signal is a video signal transferred from the video signal processing unit 3 to the still image capture 4 and has the same meaning as the signal (Sm) processed by the video signal processing unit 3. Low level means that nothing has been transferred. An image in the memory 5 of the still image capture 4 is drawn in the still image memory. Here, a state is shown in which the images of the alphabet ABCD captured by the image capturing unit 15 in FIG. 1 are sequentially stored after being captured several times.
The shaded area indicates a state where no data is stored in the memory 5.

Next, the operation will be described based on this operation timing. First, in a normal case, the operation of capturing and capturing a moving image from the image capturing unit 1 is repeated. Here, when a request for capturing a still image is issued from the overall control unit 6 to the video input control unit 19, the video input control unit 19 drives the lens 13 and the imaging unit 15 in response to this request. In the case of lens driving, in the case of screen division capture, adjustment is performed so that the image pickup area is included in one of the divided screens that is zoomed up.
Alternatively, control such as focusing with focus is performed. In case of capturing by shifting the pixel, VAP
And PP are driven to control to match a predetermined pixel position.

When the iris is adjusted, the screen is divided, or the image pickup area is changed, the drive section 16 controls the image pickup area by pan / tilt so that the image pickup area falls within a predetermined image pickup range. When the driving of the lens 13 and the image pickup unit 15 is completed, the video input control unit 19 moves to SE at the next rising edge of the synchronizing signal.
L1 and 2 are switched, the signal from the imaging unit 15 is subjected to video signal processing, transferred to the still image capture 4, and stored in the memory 5. At this time, the imaging range is "A", so "A"
A still image is stored in the memory space of. In the case of pixel shift capture, a sub-sampled still image is stored. During this period, since the moving image cannot be transferred, the moving image is output as the moving image V3 captured before the moving image.
Is output again. When the capture of the still image for one screen is completed in this way, the video input control unit 19 switches between SEL1 and SEL2 in accordance with the next rising edge of the synchronization signal, processes the signal from the imaging unit 1 as a video signal, and outputs the moving image. Capture 21
It is returned to the route to be transferred to, and this state is retained.

The video input controller 19 recognizes that still image capture has not been completed, and the lens 1
3 and the image pickup unit 15 are driven to match the image pickup area of “B”,
When the control of the lens 13 and the image pickup unit 15 is completed, the SEL 1 and 2 are switched at the next rising edge of the synchronization signal, and the image pickup unit 15 is switched.
Signal is processed as a video signal, transferred to the still image capture 4, and stored in the memory space "B" of the memory 5. When the capture of the still image is completed, SEL1 and SEL2 are switched in synchronization with the rising edge of the next synchronization signal, and the image pickup unit 1
The signal from is returned to the path for video signal processing and transferred to the moving image capture 21, and this state is held. Such a series of still image capturing operations is repeated until the capturing of “C” and “D” is completed, and the capturing of the still image is completed.

The still image thus stored in the memory 5 is transferred to the overall control unit 6 and transferred to the output unit 9, the storage unit 7, the display unit 8 and the communication unit 10 for processing. The moving image is used for display and storage on the display unit 8, storage in the storage unit 7, and communication in the communication unit 10. In this way, it is possible to process the capture of a moving image and still image in a time-division manner, and to process them at the same time in appearance.

FIG. 7 shows the video input unit control unit 1 in response to transfer requests from the moving image capture 21 and the still image capture 4.
9 is the operation timing when controlling. Compared to FIG. 6, the newly added signals are a moving image capture request signal and a still image request signal. The moving image capture request signal is a signal sent from the moving image capture 21 to the video input control unit 19, and is a signal that becomes high level when the moving image capture 21 requests image data, and after rising to high, It is necessary to transfer the image data to the video capture 21 in synchronization with the sync signal. In the case of low level, there is no request, and therefore it is not necessary to transfer the image data.

Similarly to the moving image capture request signal, since the request is generated when the still image capture request signal is a high level signal, it is necessary to transfer the image data to the still image capture 4 and the low level signal is required. In the case, it indicates that there is no request, and therefore transfer is not necessary. First, when a request for the still image capture 4 is made, the lens driving of the image capturing unit 15 and the lens unit 13 and the camera driving are started to adjust the image capturing range for capturing a still image.
Whether or not there is a request from the moving image capture 21 is detected, and if there is a request, the moving image capture is prioritized, and the signal from the image pickup unit 1 is subjected to video signal processing and transferred to the moving image capture 4. In addition, as a result of the detection, when there is no request, the signal from the imaging unit 15 is subjected to video signal processing and transferred to the still image capture 4.

FIG. 7 shows an example in which a still image is captured four times to form one screen. The shaded portion in the video signal processing indicates a period in which the video signal processing is not performed when neither the moving image capture 21 nor the still image capture 4 is requested. In this way, moving image data can be captured according to the request, and still image capture can be performed using the period without the request, so moving image and still image capture are time-division multiplexed and processed. However, it is possible to make them appear to be processed at the same time.

In such an example, since the image data to be picked up has a large data amount, data compression is performed to reduce the data amount to a fraction or a hundredth, and the data amount is reduced. The compression process will take time,
Alternatively, there is a case where the transfer speed is limited during communication and storage, and it takes time to transfer. Therefore, in the above case, the processing may be performed at a rate lower than the normal video frame rate [in the case of NTSC or PAL, the frame rate is 30 frames / sec (60 fields / sec)]. Many.

FIG. 8 shows an embodiment in such a case. Video signals are processed by selecting from the three image pickup units 1, 15, and 24, and the video signals are captured by two moving image captures 2.
Input to 1, 29 or one still image capture 4. When using the moving image captures 21 and 29, the compression unit 3 is further used.
Data compression is performed at 0 and 31. In this example, since unnecessary periods of the moving image captures 21 and 29 occur, the still image capture 4 is controlled at that timing, and even if the plurality of moving image captures 21 and 29 are the same, It is shown that by controlling the unnecessary period, it is possible to capture at the same time in appearance. A lens unit 23, a lens control unit 25, and a drive unit 26 are provided for the camera unit 24.

1 and 8, the first image pickup means is composed of the lens section 11 and the image pickup section 1, and the second image pickup means is composed of the lens section 13 and the image pickup section 15. The control means is composed of the lens control unit 14 and the drive unit 16. Further, the selecting means is composed of the selector 17, and the image processing means is composed of the video signal processing section 3. The still image processing means is composed of the selector 20, the high quality still image capture 4, and the memory 5. Further, a video input control unit 19, a general control unit 6, and a synchronization signal generation unit 18 are appropriately associated with each of the above means.

[0040]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Since the moving image and the still image are time-divisionally processed, there is an effect that the signal processing can be efficiently performed and the circuit configuration can be optimized. Further, since a still image is temporarily taken in while a moving image is being taken in, it is possible to perform processing as if a plurality of functions were processed at the same time. In addition, especially when capturing a high-resolution still image by dividing the screen, it is possible to switch the processing in synchronization with the synchronization signal, and the moving image processing and the still image processing are performed during the adjustment of the imaging range for capturing the still image. At the time of image capture, the processing is completed within the frame period, and the moving image can be processed immediately after that. Therefore, when capturing a still image, the moving image capture is minimally affected, which has the effect of dramatically improving cost performance.

When transmitting or storing moving images or still images, the efficiency of transmission or storage is improved by compressing the data to reduce the amount of data. However, since this image data has a large capacity, it is considerably compressed. It takes a long time, and even if it is compressed, it is larger than the transmission capacity, so that it takes a considerable time for transmission. In the present invention, by effectively utilizing the idle time during the processing, one video signal processing unit can efficiently process a plurality of video inputs from a plurality of image pickup means.
The effect is that a lean and economical system can be constructed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of an imaging unit.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing a filter array and a signal output.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of a video signal processing unit.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram showing a method of inputting a high-quality still image.

FIG. 6 is a timing chart showing operation timing.

FIG. 7 is a timing chart showing operation timing.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a conventional video input device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Imaging Section 2 Driving Section 3 Video Signal Processing Section 4 Still Image Capturing Section 5 Memory 6 Overall Control Section 11 Lens Section 12 Lens Driving Section 13 Lens Section 14 Lens Driving Section 15 Imaging Section 16 Driving Section 17 Selector 18 Synchronization Signal Generating Section 19 Video input control unit 20 Selector 23 Lens unit 24 Imaging unit 30 Compressing unit 31 Compressing unit

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A first image pickup means for outputting a moving image signal, a second image pickup means for outputting a still image signal, and a control means for performing control for changing an image pickup area of the second image pickup means. Selecting means for selecting the moving image signal during the changing control of the imaging area by the controlling means and selecting the still image signal after changing, and the moving image signal and still image output from the selecting means in time division Image processing means for subjecting the signal to predetermined signal processing, and a plurality of processed still images obtained by processing a plurality of still image signals obtained by a plurality of times of image pickup by the second image pickup means by the image processing means. A video input device provided with still image processing means for sequentially capturing image signals to create one high quality still image. 2. A first image pickup means for outputting a moving image signal, a second image pickup means for outputting a still image signal, and a control for changing an image pickup area of the second image pickup means in response to a still image request. And a control means for performing the predetermined signal processing by inputting the moving image signal in response to the moving image request, and inputting the still image signal when there is the still image request when there is no moving image request. Image processing means for performing predetermined signal processing, and a plurality of processed still images obtained by processing a plurality of still image signals obtained by a plurality of imaging operations of the second imaging means by the image processing means. A video input device provided with still image processing means for sequentially capturing image signals to create one high quality still image. 3. The video input device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit changes the image pickup area by dividing a screen. 4. The video input device according to claim 1, wherein the control means changes the image pickup area by shifting pixels in the second image pickup means. 5. A third image pickup means for outputting a moving image signal, and a compression means for compressing signals obtained by processing the moving image signals obtained from the first and third image pickup means by the image processing means, respectively. The video input device according to claim 1, further comprising: