JPS63309071A - High-speed video camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To cope flexibly with variation in photographic speed by including the photographic speed information of an image pickup means in a video signal outputted from an output means which outputs the specific video signal. CONSTITUTION:While (p), (q), and (n) are specified as positive integers so that n=pXq, signals of (n) small images picked up by an image pickup means 22 with a vertical scanning signal fVS of frequency (n) times as high as a vertical synchronizing signal fV and a horizontal scanning signal of frequency (p) times as high as a horizontal synchronizing signal fH are arranged by (p) signals horizontally and by (q) vertically to form one image, whose video signal is outputted. This output video signal contains the photographic speed information of the image pickup means. When the output video signal is recorded temporarily on recording media 36A-36D and then reproduced, an optimum playback speed corresponding to the photographic speed can be set automatically. Consequently, variation in the photographic speed is coped with flexibly.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a high-speed video camera that takes high-speed pictures.

[Conventional technology and its problems]

When performing high-speed photography, it is most common to increase the horizontal and vertical scanning frequencies by n (nil) times.
The frequency band of the video signal itself is also increased by n times, so the camera,
The TV monitor device and recording device must all be dedicated devices compatible with the high frequency band, resulting in a very expensive system. In addition, it is not possible to respond flexibly to changes in the shooting speed magnification, and furthermore,
It also has the disadvantage that it is difficult to use it in conjunction with other television systems (such as C).

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a high-speed video camera that can be applied to a system consisting of a normal frequency band camera, a TV monitor device, a recording device, etc., and can flexibly respond to changes in shooting speed. .

[Means for solving problems]

The high-speed video camera according to the present invention includes an imaging means for outputting a video signal, and a vertical scanning signal having a frequency n times that of a vertical synchronizing signal, where p, q, and n are positive integers and n=p×q. Using a horizontal scanning signal with a frequency p times that of the horizontal synchronization signal, the signals of the n small images captured by the ↑imaging means are
A high-speed video camera comprising an output means for processing and outputting video signals arranged in p pieces in the horizontal direction and q pieces in the vertical direction, and outputting the processed image signals from the output means. The present invention is characterized in that a circuit is provided so that the output video signal includes shooting speed information of the imaging means.

[Effect]

By including the imaging speed information in the output video signal, when the output video signal is once recorded on a recording medium and then played back, it becomes possible to automatically set an appropriate playback speed according to the shooting speed. Further, since the video signal itself outputted from the output means is of a standard format, ordinary video equipment can be used, so that an economical system can be constructed.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of the configuration of the embodiment, and FIG. 2 shows a video signal of a small image captured by high-speed photography and a video signal that is edited and output.

In FIG. 1, 10 is a reference oscillation circuit, and 12 is an operation unit for specifying a speed magnification for high-speed photography. Operation unit 1
2 outputs a signal (indicated by n and p in the figure) indicating a magnification n of the vertical scanning frequency and a magnification p of the horizontal scanning frequency, respectively.
=1. When p=1, normal speed photography is performed. The recording device of this embodiment records n''1+p=1 normal photographing signals, and n=4. It is assumed that recording of high-speed imaging signals of p-2 is possible. Horizontal synchronization signal generation circuit 14
generates a signal with a frequency pfH (in this case f) I or 2fH) based on the reference signal and speed signal p from the reference oscillation circuit 10, and the vertical synchronization signal generation circuit 16 generates a signal with a frequency pfH (in this case, f) I or 2fH) based on the reference signal and speed signal n. generates a signal of nfv (here fv or 4fv).

The horizontal scanning signal generation circuit 18 generates a horizontal scanning signal fH5 to the image sensor 22, which will be described later, in synchronization with pf)1, and the vertical scanning signal generation circuit 20 generates a vertical scan signal fH5 to the image sensor 22 in synchronization with nfv. Generates a signal rvs.

The image sensor 22 receives a horizontal scanning signal f. and vertical scanning signal fV
3, the photoelectric conversion signal of the imaging surface is output. As such an image pickup device, an image pickup tube such as a vidicon, or a COD
and M2S type solid-state image sensors, which are widely used. Such an imaging element 22 itself is well known. When the image pickup device 22 is an image pickup tube, the scanning signals f, I8 .
fv3 is synchronization signal f9 or 2f, 1. It is a signal whose voltage changes in a sawtooth pattern in synchronization with fv or nfv, and if the image sensor 22 is a solid-state image sensor, it is a corresponding transfer pulse. However, the area for photoelectric conversion during high-speed shooting shall be 1/n (= 1/4) of normal shooting, and the amplitude of the sawtooth signal when the image sensor 22 is an image pickup tube is as compared to that during normal shooting. Both the horizontal scanning signal fH3 and the vertical scanning signal f's are 1/2.

In this way, small images A, B, which are reduced to 1/p (=1/2) in the horizontal direction and 1/q (=1/2) in the vertical direction,
Outputs C, D, . . . video signals. Here, p and q are integers of 1 or more, and n (=pXq) is an integer of 2 or more. When p and q are both 2, a video signal as shown in FIG. 2(a) is obtained from the image sensor 22. Figure 2 t
V, HH in a) are vertical synchronization signals for high-speed shooting, respectively.
These are horizontal synchronization signals, each with a frequency q times that of the vertical synchronization signal V of a standard television signal, and a frequency p of the horizontal synchronization signal H.
It is twice the frequency.

The A/D converter 32 converts the output signal of the image sensor 22 during high-speed close-up photography into a digital signal, and stores the output signal via the switch 34 in memories 36A and 36B having a capacity of 1/n fields.
, 36C, and 36D.

The switch 34 is a vertical synchronization signal for high-speed photography.
Contacts 34A, 34B for each V, depending on.

It switches in the order of 34G and 34D. The switch 38 alternately outputs successive outputs from the memories 36A and 36B for each horizontal synchronization signal H8 for high-speed shooting during the first half 2V)1 of each screen of the video signal to be output, and outputs the successive outputs from the memories 36C, 36B in the second half 2Vn. The read output from 36D is output alternately every HH. As a result, small images A and B are output from the switch 38.

A signal is obtained such that C and D form one standard image, which is a composite image as shown in FIG. 2(b).

The digital signal from the switch 38 is sent to the D/A converter 4
0 to an analog signal, the signal processing circuit 42 performs color signal processing, phase adjustment between each small image, etc. via the H side of the switch 41, and the synchronization addition circuit 24 converts the horizontal synchronization signal H and the standard television signal into analog signals. Add vertical synchronization signal V. The output of the synchronization addition circuit 44 is also supplied to a frame signal addition circuit 48,
During high-speed photography, horizontal and vertical frame signals SH and SV are added to form frames for dividing each small image. As this frame signal S, Sv, in addition to framing the small image, p,
Information indicating a representative value of the division ratio of q and n is provided. The output of the synchronization addition circuit 44 is exactly a standard video signal capable of displaying an image with the small image arrangement shown in FIG. 2 (bl).

When performing normal photography, the result is n-1+I)-1, but the switch 41 is connected to the N side, and the output of the image sensor 22 is supplied to the signal processing circuit 42 as in the conventional device, and the normal processing is performed. will be held.

The video signal to which the frame signal including the shooting speed information is added in this way is recorded on a recording medium by the disc 46. The recording medium is a magnetic tape conveyed at a constant speed, the head is a rotating magnetic head, and the video signal is recorded by a well-known video tape recorder.

FIG. 3 (al to (C)) show signal examples of the frame signal Sv, and FIG. 3 (dl) shows an example of the frame signal S. FIG. For example, p=2,
In the case of Q-2, n-4, it is black, that is, in the case of FIG.
In the case of p-3+ q''2+ n-5, it is set to white, that is, the level of vt in FIG. An example is shown in which a pulse having a waveform corresponding to the mode is used, and FIG. etc., p, q, n can be specified by and change it.

The mode information of p, q, and n may be superimposed on both the frame signals sll and sv, or on one of them.

Furthermore, the mode information may be carried by the signal product used, such as using a chrominance signal for the frame signal Sv and a luminance signal for the frame signal S8. There are various other methods for carrying p, q, and n mode information in the output of the synchronization addition circuit 24, and the present invention is not limited to the above example.
However, since a signal that may exist in a natural image may induce a malfunction, an artificial signal that does not exist in nature, such as a signal obtained by adding a large-amplitude color signal to a black level, may be used.

Furthermore, it is clear that a signal representing such mode information may be inserted in the vicinity of the horizontal synchronizing signal H1 and the vertical synchronizing signal ■.

The signals obtained in this way can be displayed on a standard TV monitor device and recorded or played back on a standard recording and reproducing device.
. In addition, the frame signal SH,
Sv has the effect of making the display screen easier to see, regardless of whether or not it carries the mode information, and can also be used as an area for displaying various data such as shooting time and shooting data.

In the above embodiment, the signal processing circuit 42 is connected to the D/A converter 40.
However, it may be provided before the A/D converter 32, or if digital signal processing is employed, it may be provided after A/D conversion or before D/A conversion. Furthermore, the addition of the standard synchronization signal is not limited to immediately before output. The frame signals S and Sv may be added as part of the image signal before D/A conversion. In this case, the frame signals are created with digital signals, so it is not possible to use complex signals. Even if there is, it has the advantage that it can be easily created using a ROM or the like.

The memories 36A, 36B, 36C, and 36D may be of a first-in/first-out type or a random access type; in the latter case, the image memory with a capacity for one field may be divided and used; In devices where the camera and recording/playback device are integrated, such as a camera-integrated VTR, the image memory used for time axis correction and special playback during playback is divided into memories 36A, 36B, and 36 as shown in the figure.
C.

Can also be used for 36D.

A specific example of an apparatus for reproducing a signal in which information indicating the imaging speed is recorded multiplexed with a video signal as described above and automatically switching the reproduction mode will be described with reference to FIG. The head 46 corresponds to the head 46 in FIG. 1, and reproduces the video signal to which the above-mentioned frame signal is added.

The synchronization separation circuit 52 is a circuit that separates a vertical synchronization signal and a horizontal synchronization signal in the reproduction signal of the head 46, and the separated synchronization signal is supplied to a frame signal separation circuit 54, which controls the separation timing of the frame signal. The frame signal separation circuit 54 separates the above-mentioned frame signal, decodes it into an IIl image velocity change speed signal, and outputs it. When a signal indicating that the signal being reproduced is a video signal for normal shooting is obtained from the frame signal separation circuit 54, the switch 70 is connected to the N side, and the signal reproduced by the head 46 is subjected to recording signal processing. The output terminal 7 is directly connected to the output terminal 7 via the reproduced signal processing circuit 50 that performs signal processing opposite to that of the circuit 31.
6. Further, the speed switching circuit 58 controls the rotational speed of the capstan so that the magnetic tape is conveyed at the same speed as during recording. That is, when reproducing a video signal shot at normal speed, the reproducing operation is exactly the same as that of a conventional VTR.

Next, the operation when a signal indicating that the signal being reproduced is a video signal shot at high speed is obtained from the decoding circuit 54 will be described. The switch 70 is connected to the H side, and the speed switching circuit 58 supplies the capstan control circuit 60 with a speed control signal for running the magnetic tape at 1/n the recording speed. The head 46 thus reproduces one track n times.
A reproduced signal with a good amount of reproduced signals is transmitted to the A/D converter 6.
2 to the field memory 64. That is, the write control circuit 72 puts the field memory 64 in the write state for one field every three fields.

In this way, n small images are stored in the field memory 64, and the successive output control circuit 74 reads them out one image per field at a time when they are displayed at the same position on the monitor. occurs. As a result, one field of video signals as shown in FIG. 2(b), for example, is sequentially read out from the field memory 64 at the timing to be displayed as shown in FIG. 2(c). In Figure 2 (C), the shaded area G
is a portion where no image is displayed, and a predetermined image is given to this portion by the background addition circuit 68. That is, the signal read out from the field memory 64 is supplied to the background addition circuit 68 via the D/A converter 68, and is D/A converted with a predetermined video signal at a timing when the signal is not continuously output. 66. As a result, a 1/n times slower motion reproduction signal is outputted to the terminal 76.

As described above, according to the playback device shown in FIG. 4, for a video signal shot at high speed according to the recording signal of the recording medium, the effective screen is automatically set to 1/n and slow motion playback is performed. The structure is designed to fully bring out the effects of high-speed shooting.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As can be easily understood from the above explanation, according to the present invention, a standard format video signal is output even though high-speed shooting is performed, so various standard video equipment can be used, and the output video signal can be Since mode information indicating the shooting conditions for high-speed shooting is included, even if the shooting speed is changed, each small image' can be automatically edited in accordance with the change.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a screen image of a video signal produced by the device shown in FIG. 1,
FIG. 3 is a waveform diagram in which a shooting speed mode signal is added to the output video signal, and FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an apparatus for reproducing the video signal recorded by the apparatus of FIG. 1. 22-...Image sensor 32...A/D converter 34,
38-・Switch 36A, 36B, 36C, 36D-
Memory 40-D/A converter 42-signal processing circuit 4
4...Synchronization addition circuit Frame signal addition circuit 54...-Frame signal separation circuit

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) An imaging means that outputs a video signal, a vertical scanning signal with a frequency n times that of the vertical synchronizing signal, and a frequency p times the horizontal synchronizing signal, where p, q, and n are positive integers and n = p x q. Processing the signals of n small images captured by the imaging means into video signals that form one image by arranging p signals in the horizontal direction and q signals in the vertical direction using the horizontal scanning signal of A high-speed video camera comprising an output means for outputting a video signal, characterized in that it is provided with a circuit that allows the video signal outputted from the output means to include shooting speed information of the image pickup means. High speed video camera. (2) The high-speed video camera according to claim (1), wherein the shooting speed information is superimposed on a portion other than the image display section. (3) The high-speed video camera according to claim (1), wherein a frame signal is added to provide a frame between small images in one screen, and the shooting speed information is superimposed on the frame signal. .