JPH11112920A - Video camera device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To switch path of two different events, to record the events, and to reproduce them by a relatively simple method by temporarily recording an image electric signal that an image-pickup means converts, switching a reproduced signal of these recording contents and a present image electrical signal that the image-pickup signal converts by a control means, selecting and transmitting to an output means and a video recording means. SOLUTION: A video light signal of an object inputted from a lens 1 is subjected to photoelectric conversion and inputted by a digital signal for a video camera device by way of an S/H circuit 3 and an A/D conversion circuit 4. Input path of this digital signal are the first path (a) inputted to a memory 5 and the second path (b) directly outputted by way of a D/A conversion circuit 7 from the A/D conversion circuit 4. When a capture command is inputted to a control part 10, a microcomputer of the control part 10 transmits a control signal of a write-in to the memory 5 and, moreover, switches a video changeover switch 6 to an (a) side and selects the first path (a).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a video camera device, and more particularly to a video camera device having a new effect.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A so-called video camera in which a CCD camera and a video tape recorder are combined is widely used for home use and the like. In this video camera, a video signal received by a CCD camera and an audio signal received by a microphone at the time of imaging are temporarily recorded on a recording medium such as a magnetic tape cassette by a video tape recorder. The video signal and the audio signal obtained are used for reproduction on a built-in liquid crystal screen or the like for observation, or for monitoring with a TV monitor device such as an external television receiver for viewing.

FIG. 6 is an external view showing the structure of a video camera. The video camera includes an imaging optical system such as a lens and a CCD image pickup device, an audio system such as a microphone and an amplifier, a VTR system that performs recording and reproduction using a video cassette, a VTR drive system that drives a video cassette and a head, and displays reproduced images. It includes a built-in monitor device such as a liquid crystal screen, a power supply, and other mechanisms.

In FIG. 6, reference numeral 12 denotes a VTR operation button,
13 is a power switch, 14 is a lens and a lens cover, 1
5 is a viewfinder, 16 is a built-in stereo microphone,
Reference numeral 17 denotes a liquid crystal screen (the figure is folded), and a VTR cassette insertion portion 18 is provided on the back side of the figure.

[0005] The imaging operation of the video camera device will be briefly described. First, after a power source such as a battery is inserted, a video cassette as a recording medium is mounted on the VTR cassette insertion portion 18 of the video camera device, and then the power switch 13 is turned on to the camera. Further, when the photographing switch is set to the standby state, the viewfinder 15 is put to the eyes, and the power switch 13 is turned on to the camera side, the lens cover 14 is automatically opened and the image becomes visible on the viewfinder 15.

In this state, when a button of a photographing switch is pressed, photographing starts, an image is received by a built-in CCD image pickup device through an optical system including a plurality of lenses, and at the same time, sound recording is started by a built-in stereo microphone 16. The output signal of the CCD image sensor and the output signal of the built-in stereo microphone 16 are VT
The image reaches the R section, whereby the video signal and the audio signal are recorded on the video cassette.

Next, a reproducing operation for observing the video signal and the audio signal recorded on the video cassette on the liquid crystal screen 17 will be described. First, after a power supply is mounted, a video cassette to be reproduced is inserted into the VTR cassette insertion section 18. Then, the folded liquid crystal screen 17 is opened, and the power switch 13 is set to the video side. Then, after rewinding the video cassette by pressing the rewind button, when the play button is pressed, the image is reproduced on the liquid crystal screen 17 and the sound is reproduced from the built-in speaker.

[0008] By the way, with such a conventional video camera system, it is possible to record and observe an image of a subject that changes sequentially, but it is necessary to record or reproduce two different images. It was not possible to switch between two events and observe two images because of the lack of function.

[0009] However, when it becomes possible to switch between two images for observation, the two events are compared and the difference is clarified, or the switching effect of switching between different images changes the object. It is valuable to be able to achieve unprecedented effects such as obtaining

[0010]

As described above, the conventional video camera system has a function of switching and recording two different images for the purpose of observing an image of a subject that changes sequentially. I didn't.

An object of the present invention is to solve this problem and to realize a video camera device capable of recording and reproducing two different events by switching the history of the events by a relatively simple method.

[0012]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an optical device for forming an image of an observation object, and an imaging device for converting the image formed by the optical device into an image electric signal. And a video camera device having an output unit that outputs an image electric signal converted by the imaging unit, and a recording unit that records the image electric signal converted by the imaging unit on a magnetic recording medium. A recording unit for temporarily recording an image electric signal, a selection unit for switching and selecting a reproduction signal of the recorded content of the recording unit and a current image electric signal converted by the imaging unit, and sending the signal to the output unit and the recording unit; Control means for controlling the switching of the selection means.

[0013]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a video camera device according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a video camera device of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 1 is a lens and 2 is CC
D, 3 are S / H circuits, 4 is an A / D conversion circuit, 5 is a memory, 6 is a video changeover switch, 7 is a D / A conversion circuit,
Reference numeral 8 denotes a recording unit, 9 denotes a magnetic tape, and 10 denotes a control unit including a microcomputer or the like.

The image light signal of the object input from the lens 1 is photoelectrically converted by the CCD 2, and is input as a digital signal via the S / H circuit 3 and the A / D conversion circuit 4. The input path of this digital signal includes a first path a input to the memory 5 and a D / A signal from the A / D conversion circuit 4.
There is a second path b that is output as it is via the conversion circuit 7.

In a normal operation, as shown in FIG. 1, the microcomputer of the control unit 10 switches the video changeover switch 6 to the b side to select the second path b. A control signal is not sent from the microcomputer to the memory 5. Therefore,
The image of the event B input from the lens 1 is photoelectrically converted by the CCD 2, converted into a digital signal by the A / D conversion circuit 4, directly output (out) through the D / A conversion circuit 7, and if necessary. The recording unit 8 records the data on a magnetic tape 9.

On the other hand, when a capture command is input to the control unit 10, the microcomputer of the control unit 10 sends a write (WE) control signal to the memory 5, as shown in FIG. Further, the microcomputer of the control unit 10 switches the video changeover switch 6 to the a side to select the first path a. In this way, the optical signal representing the image of the event A input from the lens 1 is photoelectrically converted by the CCD 2 and sent to the memory 5 as a digital signal via the S / H circuit 3 and the A / D conversion circuit 4. 5 is written by digital recording. At the same time, the D / A conversion circuit 7
Are also output (out).

Next, when an image switching start command is input to the control unit 10, as shown in FIG.
First, the microcomputer reads the data to the memory 5 with the video changeover switch 6 being set to the a side (RE).
Send a control signal. As a result, the video of the event A, which is the content stored in the memory 5, is read, output (out), and sent to the recording unit 8. The control unit 10 further sends a recording start control signal to the recording unit 8. Thus, the contents read from the memory 5 are recorded on the magnetic tape 9.

Thereafter, the microcomputer of the control unit 10 stops the read (RE) control signal to the memory 5 at a predetermined time, switches the video changeover switch 6 to the b side, and selects the second path b. I do. Thus, returning to the configuration of FIG. 1, the image of the current event B input from the lens 1 is photoelectrically converted by the CCD 2, converted into a digital signal by the A / D conversion circuit 4, and directly passed through the D / A conversion circuit 7. Output (ou
t), and is recorded on the magnetic tape 9 by the recording unit 8. As a result, from the output (out), the video of the event B is continuously output following the video of the event A, and the video of the event B is continuously recorded on the magnetic tape 9 after the video of the event A. Is done.

The order of the switching and the time interval of the switching can be controlled by the microcomputer of the control unit 10, thereby enabling the screen switching. For example, first, the event A is recorded in the capture state of FIG. 2, and thereafter, the screen is changed to the “event A,
Event B, Event A, Event B..., Event A, Event B "are switched at regular intervals, and at the same time, the Event A screen coming from the memory 15 is faded out, and the current Event B screen is faded in. The effect allows the image of event A to gradually fade into the image of event B, and can be used as a transition fader function by linking screen switching and tape recording. Can be.

FIG. 4 shows the relationship between the recorded contents recorded on the tape and the time at which the events A and B occur at this time. 4A shows the relationship between the occurrence times, and FIG. 4B shows the relative time of the recording on the magnetic tape 9. Here, it is assumed that the recording time of the event A is sufficiently longer than the switching time interval. If the recording time of the event A is shorter than the switching time interval, the same content may be repeatedly reproduced on the event A side.

In the above description, the transformation fader function is realized by switching the event A screen while fading out and the event B screen while fading in. However, the time for switching the screen between the event A and the event B is gradually changed. By doing so, a fade effect can also be realized. FIG. 5 shows the relationship between the contents of the tape recording and the times of occurrence of the events A and B at this time.

In FIG. 5, (a) shows the relationship between occurrence times.
(B) shows the relative time of the recording on the magnetic tape 9.
As described above, when the reproduction time of the event A is gradually shortened and the display time of the event B is gradually increased, an image in which the image of the event A gradually fades and transforms into the event B is provided with a fade function. Can be expressed without using.

The method of the present invention can also be effective for comparing two events. For example, compare the lighting effect when the lighting position, brightness, light wavelength, etc. are different, compare the observation with natural light and the observation with infrared light, judge the effect of the polarizing filter, It is also effective for comparative observation of objects with different imaging conditions, for example, when comparing changes in objects.

As described above, according to the present invention, the provision of the means for temporarily recording an image signal and the means for switching between the recording content output of the temporary recording means and the current input image signal enables switching between two different images for output. Recording can be performed, and a new effect can be realized by exchanging images.

[0025]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an optical system for forming an image of an observation object, a CCD for converting the image formed by the optical system into an image electric signal, and the like. A video camera apparatus comprising: an imaging unit comprising: an output unit that outputs an image electric signal converted by the imaging unit; and a recording unit that records the image electric signal converted by the imaging unit on a magnetic recording medium. A recording unit for temporarily recording the converted image electric signal, a selection unit for switching and selecting a reproduction signal of the recorded content of the recording unit and a current image electric signal converted by the imaging unit, and transmitting the selected signal to the output unit and the recording unit; And control means for controlling the switching of the selection means. As a result, two different images can be alternately output and recorded, and a new effect can be realized by exchanging the images, and an effective means is provided for comparative observation of objects having different imaging conditions. be able to.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a luminance control means for independently controlling the luminance of a reproduction signal and an image electric signal, and the control means repeatedly switches the selection means to thereby control the reproduction signal from the recording means and the current reproduction signal. The luminance control means gradually increases the luminance of one of the reproduction signal and the image electric signal from a low state and decreases the other luminance from a high state in accordance with the alternate selection of the image electric signal. Image switching. As a result, it is possible to realize a new effect that can be called a transformation effect in which the other image gradually fades and is replaced with one image.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, when the control means repeatedly switches the selecting means to alternately select the reproduction signal and the image electric signal, one of the selection times is gradually increased from a short state, and the other is selected. The image is switched by gradually shortening the selection time from the long state. This makes it possible to realize a transformation effect in which the other image gradually fades and replaces the other image without using a fade function for controlling luminance.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a video camera device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing connection when capturing an image to a memory in the configuration of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a connection when reading an image from a memory in the configuration of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a relationship between recorded contents recorded on a tape and occurrence times of two different events.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a relationship between recorded contents recorded on a tape and occurrence times of two different events.

FIG. 6 is an external view illustrating a configuration of a video camera.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Lens, 2 ... CCD, 3 ... S / H circuit, 4 ... A / D
Conversion circuit, 5: memory, 6: video changeover switch, 7
... D / A conversion circuit, 8 ... recording unit, 9 ... magnetic tape, 10
... Control unit, 12 ... VTR operation button, 13 ... Power switch, 14 ... Lens and lens cover, 15 ... Viewfinder, 16 ... Built-in stereo microphone, 17 ... LCD screen,
18 VTR cassette insertion part.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An optical unit for forming an image of an observation object, an imaging unit for converting an image formed by the optical unit into an image electric signal, and an output for outputting the image electric signal converted by the imaging unit. Means, and a video camera device having a recording means for recording the image electric signal converted by the image pickup means on a magnetic recording medium, wherein: a recording means for temporarily recording the image electric signal converted by the image pickup means; Selection means for switching and selecting a reproduction signal of recorded contents and a current image electric signal converted by the imaging means and sending the selected signal to the output means and the recording means, and control means for controlling switching of the selection means. A video camera device characterized by the above-mentioned. 2. A luminance control means for independently controlling the luminance of the reproduction signal and the luminance of the image electric signal, wherein the control means alternately switches the selection means to alternate between the reproduction signal and the electric image signal. In accordance with the selection, the luminance control means gradually increases the luminance of one of the reproduction signal and the image electric signal from a low state and decreases the other luminance from a high state to switch the image. The video camera device according to claim 1, wherein: 3. When the control means repeatedly switches the selection means to alternately select the reproduction signal and the image electric signal, one of the selection times is gradually increased from a short state, and the other is selected. 2. The video camera device according to claim 1, wherein the switching of the image is performed while gradually shortening the image from the long state.