JPS61187434A - Picture processing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To apply recording/transmission processing to a still picture as a digital signal and to an animation picture as an analog signal by transmitting picture information by both analog/digital signals, discriminating the type of the signal by each system constituting device and processing the picture information in response to the result of discrimination. CONSTITUTION:A picture filing system 14 can record a picture signal in both analog and digital signal forms and accordingly, a signal transmission line can transmit the picture signal in both the analog and digital signal forms. The still picture is recorded/transmitted by a digital signal and the animation picture is recorded/transmitted in an analog signal. Since a video signal processing circuit 30 of a monitor device 20, however, can process only an analog signal, whether the input signal is the analog signal or the digital signal is identified and when the input signal is the digital signal, the signal is subject to A/D conversion and the result is inputted to the circuit 30. In this embodiment, the identification of the analog or digital signal is executed depending on the presence of a color burst signal.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Technical Field] The present invention relates to an image processing system in which image information is transmitted between system component devices and each component device performs various processes.

[Subject skill]

In recent years, large-capacity recording media such as optical discs have been put into practical use.
For example, an image information filing system has been developed as described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 59-121575. In the medical field, an endoscope image processing system has also been put into practical use in which a television camera is connected to an endoscope to capture and store images of a subject inside a body cavity. Here, image information can be processed in two ways: as an analog signal and as a digital signal, each of which has its advantages and disadvantages.

Normally, it is preferable to process still images using digital signals that are less susceptible to deterioration due to transmission and playback, and to process moving images using analog signals due to transmission speed and recording capacity.By the way, conventional image processing systems use analog signals. However, the above-mentioned advantages and disadvantages remain unresolved since the conventional structure was configured so that it could only respond to either the digital signal or the digital signal.

〔the purpose〕

This invention was made to deal with the above-mentioned circumstances,
The purpose is to provide an image processing system that records/transmits still images as digital signals and moving images as analog signals.

〔overview〕

This purpose can be achieved by an image processing system that transmits image information as both analog and digital signals, discriminates the type of signal in each system component, and processes the image information according to the result of the discrimination.

〔Example〕

An embodiment of an image processing system according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the system configuration of the first embodiment. This system consists of a television camera lO1 photographing device 12, an image filing system 14 such as an optical disk device, a VTR 16, a video printer 18, a monitor device 20, etc., and each system component device is interconnected. It is assumed that the transmission of signals between each device is controlled by a controller (not shown) provided within each device. However, a dedicated controller may also be provided.

The monitor device 20 is configured as follows.

The image signal supplied from the signal transmission line is input to the burst detection circuit 22 and also to the changeover switch 24. The changeover switch 24 selectively supplies the input signal to the first and second output terminals, and this switching is controlled by the output of the burst detection circuit 22. A first output terminal of the changeover switch 24 is connected to a frame memory 26 .

The output signal of the frame memory 26 is input to the video signal processing circuit 30 via the D/A converter 28. The second output terminal of the changeover switch 24 is connected to the input terminal of the video signal processing circuit 30. The video signal processing circuit 30 performs normal image processing on the input image signal to convert it into a signal suitable for display, and supplies the output to the CRT 32 for display.

In this embodiment, the image filing system 14 can record image signals in either analog or digital formats, and accordingly, the signal transmission line can also transmit image signals in either analog or digital formats. There is. Here, still images are recorded/transmitted using digital signals, and moving images are recorded/transmitted using analog signals. However, since the video signal processing circuit 30 of the monitor device 20 can only process analog signals, here we identify whether the input signal is an analog signal or a digital signal, and if it is a digital signal, we
In this embodiment, the image signal is a color signal, which must be inputted to the video signal processing circuit 30 after being D-converted, and therefore, the discrimination between analog and digital signals is made by the presence or absence of a color burst signal. As shown in Figure 2(a), the analog image signal has a pack pouch of the horizontal synchronizing signal, that is, a color burst signal is inserted before the video signal, but the digital image signal is shown in Figure 2(b). The color burst signal is omitted. Here, the H level is +0.7V and the L level is OV. Due to this.

Each system component device can identify whether the input image signal is an analog signal or a digital signal based on the presence or absence of a color burst signal in the input image signal. or,
In the digital image signal, the color burst signal is not simply omitted, but an H level start bit of a certain time width may be inserted into the pack pouch of the horizontal synchronizing signal as shown in FIG. 2(C). The digital signal is obtained by dividing the analog image signal for one horizontal scanning line into 4 to 16 lines.

The image signal supplied to the monitor device 20 is first detected by the burst detection circuit 22 to see if there is a color burst signal. When the burst detection circuit 22 detects a color burst signal, the changeover switch 24 is switched to the second output terminal, and the input analog image signal (video signal) is directly supplied to the video signal processing circuit 30. On the other hand, when the burst detection circuit 22 does not detect a color burst signal, it switches the changeover switch 24 to the w41 output terminal side and stores the input digital image signal (still image signal) in the frame memory 26. The digital image signal read from the frame memory 26 is converted into an analog signal by the D/A converter 28 and supplied to the video signal processing circuit 30.

Furthermore, since the digital signal in this embodiment is in no way distinguished from the analog black-and-white signal, it can be recorded and reproduced as is on a VTR. In order to record and play back this digital signal as it is with a conventional VTR, if the VTR (7) band is 2 MHz and each KGB is 8 bits, it is sufficient to transmit the signal at a transmission rate of 50 pixels during the IH period. .

In this way, according to the first embodiment, the digital image signal is in a format in which the color burst signal is omitted, and the monitor device can identify whether the image signal is an analog signal or a digital signal, and perform processing appropriate for each signal. Therefore, an image processing system is provided that can record/transmit one image signal in an appropriate signal format, either an analog signal or a digital signal, depending on the type of image. As a result, video signals can be processed using analog signals and still image signals can be processed using digital signals, and this system has satisfactory performance in terms of image quality, transmission speed, and recording capacity.

In the first embodiment, signal transmission control was not explained in detail, but next, an embodiment of signal collision control on a signal transmission line will be explained. FIG. 3 is a block diagram of this second embodiment. Here, the television camera, photographic device, image filing system, which constitutes the system,
VTR, video printer, monitor device, etc. are simple, so A.
, B, C, and D. In this embodiment, a controller E for controlling the transmission is also provided, and these are connected to the data line 40.
, are connected to each other via a control line 42.

The operation of each device in the second embodiment will be explained with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. Here, it is assumed that the control routine 42 consists of four lines, each of which transmits four signals for collision adjustment as shown in FIGS. 4(a) to 4(d). FIG. 4(b) is a signal indicating the slots assigned to each device, and the slots of each device are periodically assigned.

FIG. 4(a) shows a reference pulse, and one pulse is generated for each period of a slot assigned to each device. 4th [ff1
(c) is a signal indicating a transmitting device, and this signal indicates that the device corresponding to the H level slot is generating a transmission request. FIG. 4(d) is a signal indicating a receiving device, This signal indicates that the device corresponding to the H-level slot has been designated as the receiving device. Each device can perform transmission and reception only during its own slot period.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of each device. Here, the control lines through which the signals shown in FIGS. 4(a) to 4(d) flow are referred to as lines A, B, and C1D, respectively.

First, as shown in step Sl, it is determined whether there is a transmission request. If there is a transmission request, it is determined whether the C line is at H level, as shown in step S2. If the C line is at H level, no transmission request is generated and the device waits until the C line becomes L level. And the C line is L
When the level is reached, as shown in step S3, the C line is set to the H level during the own slot, and a transmission request is generated. In the signal waveform diagram of FIG. 4, it is assumed that three devices generate transmission requests and a signal is transmitted to device C. In step S4, it is determined whether there is a slot where the C line becomes H level before the next A pulse. This is because the priority order of the slots of each device is set higher the later in each cycle. That is, if transmission requests overlap within one slot period, the request generated later is given priority. Therefore, step S
When it is determined that there is a slot where the C line becomes H level before the next A pulse in step S5, as shown in step S5,
Return the C line to the L level during the period of the own slot. If the C line does not go to the H level during the period of another slot by the next A pulse, as shown in step S6, the period of the destination slot returns. to set the D line to H level. In step S7, it is determined whether the D line has become L level in the destination slot.

This is because, as will be explained in the reception operation, when reception preparation is completed, the receiving device returns D5-in to the L level. When it is confirmed in step S7 that the D line has become L level, transmission is started as shown in step S8. When the transmission is completed, step S1 is executed again.

If it is determined in step S1 that there is no transmission request, as shown in step S9, it is determined whether the own slot of the D line is at the H level, that is, whether another device has designated the own device as a receiving device. Here, if the D line of the own slot is not at H level, step S1 is executed again.

When the own device is designated as a receiving device, that is, when the D line of the own slot is at H level, reception preparation is performed as shown in step S10, and when preparation is completed, the own device is designated as a receiving device as shown in step Sll. The D line is returned to the L level during the period of the slot. Reception is started in step 512, and upon completion of reception, step St is executed again.

As described above, according to the second embodiment, collision of signals on the signal transmission line can be prevented. Further, only four signal lines are required for this control.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a third embodiment of the invention. This embodiment is intended to speed up the search for files in the same category in the image filing system. Here, it is assumed that a plurality of image input devices are provided, and each input device is a solid-state image sensor (SID) 50. buffer amplifier 52,
Controller 54, operation panel 56. It consists of a monitor 58, and each device is given a subscript. Buffer amplifier 5
The image signal from the 5ID 50 outputted via the video processing circuit 60 is sent to the first selector switch SWI via the video processing circuit 60.
Supplied to the input end. Changeover switch SW1 converts 2 human power into 1
The output signal of the changeover switch SWl is stored in the still image filing system 62. A signal read out from the still image filing system 62 is supplied to the input end of the changeover switch SW2. The changeover switch SW2 is used to switch one input to two outputs, and the first output end is connected to the mixer 64. The mixer 64 is also supplied with signals from the operation panels 56-1, 56-2, . . . and signals from the address memory 68. mixer 64
The output signal of is supplied to the second input terminal of the changeover switch SWI. Video processing circuit 60. Still image filing system 62, changeover switch SWI, changeover switch SW2
, mixer 64. A controller 66, . . . is provided to control the address memory 68. Note that from the controller 66, the image input device side controller 54. A control signal is also supplied to the operation panel 56. A second output terminal of the changeover switch SW2 is connected to the monitor 58.

The third embodiment is characterized by the operation of labeling each file after filing the image information, and this operation will be explained with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. When each image file is stored, the operation is first started at step 52.
0, a label is input from the keyboard within the operation panel 56. In step S21, this label is stored in a label RAM (not shown) in the operation panel 56.

In step S22, the changeover switch SW2 is switched to the mixer 64 side. In step S23, the unlabeled file, that is, the latest stored file is read out from the still image filing system 62, and the changeover switch SW is read out.
2 to the mixer 64. In step S24, the label is read from the label RAM in the operation panel 56.

It is supplied to mixer 64. In step S25, the latest file and label are multiplexed. Specifically, a label signal is inserted into a portion of the image signal that is not displayed on the screen. Thereafter, as shown in step 526, the changeover switch swl
Switch to mixer 64 bias. As shown in step 327, the file multiplexed with this label is transferred to the still image filing system 62 again via the changeover switch SWI.
is stored in The storage address at this time is step S28.
is stored in the address memory 68. Stella 7'S29
Then, the storage address of the previous labeled file in the same category is read from the address memory 68. In step S30, the storage address of the latest file is added to the read address to form address data. This address data is stored in the address memory 68 in step S31.

As described above, according to the third embodiment, since the address data indicating the storage address of each file includes the storage address of the next file in the same category, files in the same category can be searched at high speed.

Next, a fourth embodiment of the invention will be described. This embodiment relates to an image recording device that digitally records moving images in real time. Generally, multiple bits are required to represent one image signal as a digital signal.
In the case of a color image, each color component is represented by a signal of multiple bits, so the number of bits is large. Therefore, to digitally record a moving image in real time, as many recording channels as the product of the number of color components of the image signal and the number of bits for each component are required. Therefore, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, a plurality of optical disks 80 are arranged coaxially and are driven integrally by one disk drive section a4. Here, it is assumed that the image signal of each RGB component is represented by a 6-bit digital signal. Therefore, nine double-sided optical discs 80-1 to 80-9 are provided. Then, six heads R1-R6, Gl~ for each color
G6. B1-86 are provided, each one of the optical discs.
placed on the surface. Each head R1-R6, G1-G
6, Bl-B6 is held by a common arm 82 and driven by a head/arm drive section 86.

The circuit diagram of the fourth embodiment is shown in FIG. 9. The output of a 5ID 90 which performs color imaging in a 6-plane sequential system or a dot sequential system is inputted to a preprocessing section 94 via a buffer amplifier 92. The output of the preprocessing section 94 is sent to the color separation circuit 96.
The signal is separated into three color component signals of RGB. Each color component signal is sent via A/D converters 98-1.98-2.98-3 to post-processing sections too-t and 100-2.
, 100-3. Post processing department t00-
The outputs of 1, 100-2 and 100-3 are respectively supplied to the monitor 104 via D/A converters 102-1, 102-2 and 102-3 and displayed. Post processing department to
The outputs of o-t, too-2, and 100-3 are PPI (Programmable Peripheral Interface) 11
0 is also supplied. PPl1lO is controlled by the CPU 106, and the post processing units 100-1, 100-2.
100-3 to recording process circuits 112, 116, 120 for each color component, and reproduction signals from reproduction process circuits 114, 118, 122 for each color component to D/A converters 102-1. 102-2.102
-3 to the monitor 104. Each head 124
．． . . are recording process circuits 112, 116, 120 .
Connected to regeneration process circuit 114.118.122.

Timing generator 108 for each control reference
is provided, and its output is sent to the SID driver 91, preprocessing section 94, color separation circuit 96, and A/D converter 98.
-1.98-2.98-3, Post Process Department too-
t, 100-2.100-3. D/A converter 102-1
．． 102-2, 102-3, CPU106. It is supplied to the disk drive unit 84 and bend/arm drive unit 86 described above.

According to the fourth embodiment, since a head is provided for each bit of each color component of the digital color image signal, it is possible to digitally record a moving image in real time.

In addition, in the above explanation, the recording medium was an optical disk, but
The present invention is not limited to this, and other media such as a magnetic disk may be used.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, it is possible to transmit and process image signals in both digital signal and analog No. 48 signal formats, so it is possible to use different signal formats to process depending on the type of image. An image processing system that can perform the following is provided.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of an image processing system according to the present invention, FIGS. 2(a) to (C) are waveform diagrams showing examples of image signals transmitted in the first embodiment, and FIG. The figure is a block diagram of the second embodiment of the image processing system according to the present invention, FIGS. 4(a) to 4(d) are waveform diagrams explaining the operation of the second embodiment, and FIG. FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the third embodiment of the image processing system according to the present invention; FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the third embodiment; FIG. FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of an image recording apparatus in the fourth embodiment. FIG. 9 is a circuit diagram of the image recording apparatus in the fourth embodiment. 14... Image filing system 20... Monitor device 22... Burst detection circuit 26... Frame memory 28... A/D converter 30... Video signal processing circuit 32... CRT Output order Person's representative Patent attorney Jun Tsuboi Figure 7 Figure 8

Claims (1)

[Claims] An image processing system that transmits image information as both analog and digital signals, determines the type of signal in each system component, and processes the image information according to the determination results.