JPS62266981A - Picture information processing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To suppress the change of forming the existing hardware to a minimum and to improve the version of a system at low cost by providing an input and output control means as an external circuit separately from a work station. CONSTITUTION:A video control unit (VCU) 1 constituting the input and output control means is connected to a reader/printer interface 32 in the work station (WS) 31 by an exclusive cable 1a and driven by an exclusive power cource 2. The VCU 1 changes over the input to the WS 31 from a reader 43, a TV camera 47, a VTR 46 and the output to the printer 49, the VTR 46 from the WS31. Further, the VCU1 samples an analog input (video signal) from the TV camera47, the VTR46, A/D converts to output digital information on the bus 39 of the WS31 and fetch the digital information transmitted on the bus 39, D/A converts to output analog information to the VTR 46.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an image information processing system that processes image information sent from a VTR.

[Conventional technology]

In recent years, with the rapid development of image information processing systems centered on electronic computers, it has become possible, for example, to optically read images, process the read images with arithmetic processing devices, and output them from image output devices such as laser beam printers. A device configured as follows has been proposed.

FIG. 5 is a diagram explaining an example of a conventional image information processing system, and 31 is a workstation (WS).
and the reader/printer interface 32. Image compression unit (ICU) 33. Program memory (PMEM) 34, focus move unit (BMU)
)35.

Image memory (IMEM) 36, video ram (VR)
AM) 37, central processing unit (CFU) 38, bus 39. Power supply 40. Video control unit (■C
The ICU 33 compresses and expands data, and employs two-dimensional compression (high compression) to increase the encoding rate. PMEM34 is WS
I/O devices installed around 31 and WS31
An OS program to control each unit in the
, + application program memory area; 1.
The IF has a font memory area for converting character codes into image data. BMLJ3
Reference numeral 5 denotes a CRT display 42 for editing an image (image processing), and for enlarging or reducing a predetermined image, moving it one rotation, or applying force or correction to the image. IMEM3
6 has a storage capacity of 4 Mbytes, for example, and the reader 43
, images edited by the BMU 35, data decompressed by the ICU 33, word processor need data based on key code characters, mixed data, or data converted from character codes to images. It is. VRAM3
Reference numeral 7 stores image data to be displayed on the CRT display 42 using a focus map code. A hard disk device 44 stores data processed by the WS 31.

A floppy disk device 45 stores data processed by the WS 31. 46 is a VTR for recording video signals. 47 is a TV camera that converts captured images into video signals. VTR46°TV camera 47 is VCUI
It is connected to the.

Reference numeral 48 denotes an input unit, which includes a keyboard 48a, a pointing device 48b, and the like. The keyboard 48a is used for inputting characters, etc., and also for inputting characters on the CRT using the cursor.
Specify the position on the display 42. The pointing device 48b specifies an arbitrary position on the CRT display 42.

Reference numeral 49 denotes a printer device serving as an image output means, which outputs the image edited by the WS 31.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

However, the existing image information processing system
7. 'In order to connect the VTR46, it is necessary to add hardware configurations such as a dedicated interface board and dedicated cable to the WS31, which poses problems such as not being able to easily respond to system configuration upgrades. was.

In addition, in an image processing system having a video input terminal, a printer 49 and a reader 4 connected to the WS 31 are used.
In addition to the cable No. 3, a video input cable is also connected, resulting in problems such as complicated wiring.

This invention was made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and it is possible to comprehensively control the input and output of existing image information processing systems, as well as to capture stereoscopic images and freely record and play back edited images. The purpose is to obtain an image information processing system.

[Means for solving problems]

The image information processing system according to the present invention inputs an image signal obtained by converting a video signal sent from a recording means for recording a video signal into a digital signal and an image signal input from an image reading means to the workstation, and The apparatus is provided with input/output control means for outputting the image signal processed at the workstation to the image output means, or for converting the image signal processed at the workstation into a video signal and outputting it to the recording means.

[Effect]

In this invention, the input/output control means converts the video signal played back from the recording means into a digital signal and inputs the digital signal to the workstation, and also sends the image signal edited at the workstation to the image output means. The image signal is converted into a digital signal and outputted to the recording means.

〔Example〕

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of an image information processing system showing an embodiment of the present invention, in which numeral 1 denotes a video control unit (VCU) constituting the input/output control means of the present invention; It is connected to the reader/printer interface 33 in the dedicated cable 1a,
It has a dedicated power supply 2.

The VCU 1 is connected to the reader/printer interface 32 with a dedicated cable, and has a dedicated electric lr! Driven by 2. Note that VCUL is the leader 43. TV left camera7. VT
Input from R46 to WS31 and from WS31 to printer 4
9. Switch output to VTR46. Furthermore, VCU
1 samples the analog input (video signal) from the TV left camera 7 and VTR 46, converts it A/D, and outputs it to W.
The digital information is output onto the bus 39 of S31, and the digital information sent onto the bus 39 is taken in, D/A converted, and analog information is sent to the VTR 46.

FIG. 2 is an external view illustrating the image information processing system according to the present invention, and the same parts as in FIG. 1 are given the same reference numerals.

As can be seen from these figures, the image information read by the reader 43 is sent to the WS 31 via the VCUl and the cable 1a, and the image information edited by the WS 31 is sent to the VCU1 via the cable 1a.
It is sent to the printer 49 via CUL. Furthermore, T
The video signal output from the V left camera 7 is converted into a digital image signal by the VCU1 and sent to W via the cable 1a.
At the same time, the digital image signal edited by the WS 31 is sent to the VCU 1 via the cable 1a, and a video signal obtained by D/A converting this digital image signal is sent to the VTR 46.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the VCUI shown in FIG. 1, where 11a and llb are changeover switches, and switch lla is for switching between the video signal (NTSC signal) sent from the TV left camera 7 or the VTR 46. Terminal TI, T2
The signal is output to the amplifier 12 by switching between the two.

The amplifier 12 amplifies the video signal selected by the switch operation lla. 13 is a synchronous separation circuit,
The analog image signal and synchronization signal in the video signal amplified by the amplifier 12 are separated. 14 is a sample holder;
The analog image signal separated by the synchronization separation circuit 13 is sampled and held every sampling clock SC sent from the control section 15.

An A/D converter 16 converts the analog image signal sampled and held by the sample holder 14 into, for example, an 8-bit digital image signal.

A separation circuit 17 further separates the synchronization signal separated by the synchronization separation circuit 13 into a horizontal synchronization signal HSYNC and a vertical synchronization signal VSYNC. Separated horizontal synchronization signal HSYN
C: and the vertical synchronization signal VSYNC are sent to the control section 15. A data switch 18 transfers, for example, 8-bit data from the driver receiver 19 to the printer 49 according to the control signals LCI and LC2 from the control unit 15.
3, the digital image signal sent from the A/D converter 16 is transferred to the driver receiver 19, and the edited digital image data from the driver receiver 19 is transferred to the driver receiver 19.
Data transfer is switched in four ways, such as transferring to the converter 20. The D/A converter 20 converts the 8-bit digital image signal sent from the data switch 18 into an analog image signal. Reference numeral 21 is a mixed book, which includes an analog image signal outputted from the D/A converter 20, a horizontal synchronization signal HSYNC: 1 outputted from the control unit 15, and a vertical synchronization signal VSYN.
GI is mixed to generate a video signal (NTSC signal). 22 is a video driver 8, which sends the video signal output from the mixing layer 21 to the VTR 4 via a changeover switch llb.
Transfer to 6. 23 is a control signal driver receiver, V
It consists of a receive section that transfers command signals and status signals sent from the TR 46 to the control section 15, and a driver 4 section that transfers command signals to the VTR 46.

Next, the input/output control operation according to the present invention will be explained with reference to FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b).

FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b) are flowcharts showing an example of the input/output control operation according to the present invention. In addition, (1) to (
30) shows each step.

A case will be described in which a video signal from the TV right camera 7 is transferred to the host side.

First, the WS 31 serving as the host is notified that the VCUI is in a ready state (1). This allows the host to
1 is in the ready state, and the host sends the VC
Write the read mode and TV left camera command to Ul. Next, the host issues a startup command 1" to the VCUI. VCU 1 waits for the startup command to be sent 2), and when the startup command is sent,
VClJl determines whether or not the ready command set by the host has been confirmed (3), and if YES, the selector switch lla shown in FIG.

Next, it is determined whether the VCUI is the TV left camera card 5), and if YES, the selector switch Ila is connected to the terminal Ti side 6), and the signal is sent from the TV right camera 7 by the amplifier 12 shown in FIG. Video signal (NTSC
The synchronization signal is amplified by the synchronization separation circuit 13 into the analog image signal and synchronization signal (, -), and the synchronization signal is further separated by the separation circuit 17 into a horizontal synchronization signal H5YNC and a vertical synchronization signal H5YNC, which are then sent to the control unit 15. Next, wait for the vertical synchronization signal VSYNC to become "1" (7), and when the vertical synchronization signal VSYNC rises, wait for the vertical synchronization signal VSYNC to become "0" (8), then horizontal Wait for the synchronization signal HSYNC to become [1] (9), when the horizontal synchronization signal HSYNC rises, wait for the horizontal synchronization signal HSYNC to become "0" (10), and when the horizontal synchronization signal H5YNC falls , the sampling clock SC of the video signal is sent from the control unit 15 to the sample holder 14. In response to this, the sample holder 14 holds the input analog image signal according to the ON-OFF state of the sampling clock SC.
The sampled and held analog image signal is converted into, for example, an 8-pin digital image signal by the A/D converter 16 shown in FIG.
0N- of the lunch clock LC sent from the control unit 15
Latch according to OFF. Furthermore, the 8-bit digital image signal latched in the register is transmitted to the dry/here receiver 19 by enable signals BE and DR sent from the control section 15. The data is transferred to the league/printer interface 32, that is, the host side via the cable 1a (11), and a strobe signal indicating that the data has been finalized is output from the control unit 15 to the host side via the driver receiver 19.

On the other hand, VCUl steps (11) until the horizontal synchronization signal H5YNC sent from the TV right camera 7 becomes "1".
12) When the horizontal synchronizing signal H3YNC becomes "1", the driver receiver 19. Notify the host side via cable 1a (1
3). Next, it is determined whether the vertical synchronization signal VSYNC sent from the TV right camera 7 is rOJ14). If YES, return to step (10), and NO
If so, it means that the transfer of the video signal for one frame has been completed, so the controller 15 sends a message to the receiver 19 to the driver 7 to inform the host side that the data transfer for one frame has been completed.
, and broadcast via cable 1d (15). Also, the startup command set in the control unit 15 is reset. In response to this, the VCUI finishes taking in the video signal from the TV camera 47 and transferring the data to the host side, and notifies the host side that the VCUI is in the 1/day state.

Next, the operation of transferring the video signal recorded from the VTR 46 to the host side will be explained.

First, the WS 31 serving as the host is notified that the VCU1 is in a ready state (1). This allows the host to
1 is in the ready state, the host sends V
Read mode for CU 1.

Write the VTR mode command. Next, the host issues a startup command to the VCUl.

The VCU T waits for the startup command to be sent.2
), when the startup command is sent, the VCU 1 determines whether the ready command set by the host has been confirmed (3), and if YES, opens the changeover switch 11a shown in FIG. 3 (4). Then, VCUI becomes TV
Try to judge whether it is in camera mode or not (5), and the answer will be NO, so connect the selector switch 11a to the terminal T2 side.
6) Check whether the VTR 46 is ready or not via the control signal driver receiver 23 shown in FIG.
17), and when it is sent, a reproduction command signal is transmitted to the VTR 46 via the control signal driver receiver 23 shown in FIG.
(18). Next item, VTR46 color feed iLisu Jt
, , - Vertical synchronization signal V separated from the incoming video signal
It is detected whether SYNC is "1" (7), and if it is "1", it waits for the vertical synchronization signal VSYNC to become rQJ (8). Thereafter, operations similar to those in TV camera mode are performed.

Next, the recording operation of the digital image signal processed on the host side into the VTR 46 will be explained.

First, the WS 31 serving as the host is notified that the VCU1 is in a ready state (1). This allows the host to
1 is in the ready state, and the host sends the VC
Write a command for write mode 9 VTR mode to U 1 0 Next, issue a startup command from the host to VCUl, VCUI waits for the startup command to be sent 2), and when the startup command is sent, V C
U1 judges whether the read mode is set from the host (3). In this case, the write mode is set, so the answer is No, and the changeover switch 11b is connected, and the changeover switch lla is set to the terminal T1 side. Connect (19). Next, it waits for a ready signal sent from the VTR 46 via the control signal driver receiver 23 (20), and when the ready signal is sent, outputs a recording command to the VTR 46 via the control signal driver receiver 23 (2J). Next, in response to a recording command to the VTR 46, a ready signal sent from the VTR 46 via the control signal driver receiver 23 is waited for (22).
, when the ready signal is sent out, the control unit 15 sends out the water sync signal HSYNCl to the mixer 21 (23).
, sends an ON/'OFF signal of the vertical synchronization signal VSYMCI to the mixer 21 (24), and then outputs a data transfer request command signal to the host side (25). Next, the controller 15 waits for a digital image signal to be sent to the bus 39 (26), and if it exists on the bus 39-hi, the control unit 15 sends an enable signal BE.
, DR to the driver receiver 19, the digital image signal from the reader/printer interface 32 is taken into the internal bus (not shown) of the VCU1, and the register in the data switch 8 is outputted by the 0N-OFF signal of the latch clock LC2. An 8-bit digital image signal is latched. Further, when the digital image signal is latched in the register, a data reception end command is output to the host side (27). The 8-bit digital image signal latched in the register of the data switcher shown in FIG. The video signal (NTSC
A signal ) is created and sent to the VT via the video driver 22.
Record on R46 magnetic tape. Next, it is determined whether one line of video signal has been sent out or not! η definitely 2
8), if No, the process returns to step (25), and if YES, it is further determined whether one frame worth of video signal has been sent out (23). If this judgment is NO, the process returns to step (24), and if YES, an end command is output to the VTR 46 via the control driver 1/Jeeper 23, an end command is output to the host side, and the end command is output to the control unit 15. The start command set in the VTR 46 is reset (30), and the recording operation to the VTR 46 is ended in the same manner as above.

In FIG. 1, if a video printer is connected in place of the VTR 46, a hard copy of the image read by the TV camera 47 or an image after image processing can be printed out. Furthermore, even if the image is a binary image, if the A/D converter 16 shown in FIG. 3 performs predetermined pseudo-gradation image processing, a pseudo-gradation image signal can be sent to the host side.

Furthermore, when converting an analog image signal into a digital image signal, pseudo halftones can be expressed by converting it into a binary signal using a single threshold value or a plurality of threshold values. Furthermore, it is also possible to convert digital image signals into multivalued signals.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, the present invention inputs an image signal obtained by converting a video signal sent from a recording means for recording a video signal into a digital signal and an image signal input from an image reading means to a workstation, and Since an input/output control means is provided for outputting the image signal processed by the workstation to the image output means or converting the image No. 48 processed by the workstation into a video signal and outputting it to the recording means, the image information processing system With the reader/printer connector or cable, you can easily
A TR can be connected to read still images or record processed images. Furthermore, since the external circuit is an external circuit, changes in the existing hardware configuration can be kept to a minimum, so the system has excellent advantages such as being able to upgrade the system at low cost.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of an image information processing system showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an external view of the image information processing system according to the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a VCU shown in FIG. 1. A block diagram explaining the configuration of FIG. 4(a)
, (b) is a flowchart illustrating an example of an input/output control operation according to the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a conventional image information processing system. In the figure, 1 is a VCU, ]a is a cable, and 11a. 11b is a changeover switch, 12 is an amplifier, 13 is a synchronous separation circuit, 14 is a sample holder, 15 is a control unit, and 16 is an A
/D converter,] 7 is a separation circuit, 18 is a data switcher, 1
9 is a driver register, 20 is a D/A converter, 21 is a mixer, 22 is a video driver, 23 is a control signal driver receiver, 31 is a WS, 43 is a reader, 46 is a VTR,
47 is a TV camera, 48 is an input section, and 49 is a printer. ′、′knee thorn・−

Claims (8)

[Claims] (1) In an image information processing system in which a workstation performs necessary processing on an image signal input from an image reading means, an image signal and an image obtained by converting a video signal sent from a recording means for recording a video signal into a digital signal are used. The image signal input from the reading means is input to the workstation, and the image signal processed by the workstation is outputted to the image output means, or the image signal processed by the workstation is converted to a video signal. and input/output control means for outputting the image information to the recording means. (2) The image information processing system according to claim (1), wherein the input/output control means is externally attached to the workstation. (3) The image information processing system according to claim (1), wherein the input/output control means controls the recording means using commands. (4) The image processing system according to claim (1), wherein the input/output control means is comprised of a plurality of central processing means. (5) The input/output control means converts the video signal sent from the recording means into a digital image signal and outputs it to the workstation.
) The image information processing system described in section 2. (6) The image information processing system according to claim (5), wherein the input/output control means converts the video signal into a binary signal based on a single threshold value and outputs the converted signal to the workstation. . (7) The image information processing system according to claim (5), wherein the input/output control means converts the video signal into a binary signal based on a plurality of threshold values and outputs the converted signal to the workstation. (8) The image information processing system according to claim (1), wherein the input/output control means converts the video signal into a multivalued signal and inputs the signal to the workstation.