JPS633272Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a color imaging device used, for example, as a portable color video camera.

[Background technology and its problems]

In general, portable color video cameras used for outdoor photography etc. need to be made smaller and lighter in consideration of their operability. In recent years, with the development of semiconductor technology, charge-coupled devices (CCDs)
As solid-state image sensors formed using a coupled device or the like have come into practical use, color video cameras that are extremely smaller and lighter than conventional imaging devices using image pickup tubes are being provided.

Generally, color video cameras are configured to output a color television signal that is compatible with the standard color television system as an image pickup output, since the captured images are often monitored on a television receiver. There is. Therefore, conventional color video cameras have an imaging section that converts a subject image into an electrical signal, and a signal processing section that performs signal processing to convert the imaging output signal obtained from the imaging section into a television signal. They were housed in one housing. However, as mentioned above, in conventional video cameras in which the imaging section and the signal processing section are housed in one housing, even if the installation space of the imaging section is reduced by using a solid-state image sensor, the signal processing It requires a fairly large installation space to mount the parts, and there are limits to miniaturization.

In a video camera, since information on the image of a subject is converted into an electric signal by the imaging section, it is not necessary to store and install the imaging section and the signal processing section in the same housing, but the imaging section and the signal processing section may be provided in separate housings, and the imaging output signal obtained by the imaging section may be transmitted to the signal processing section, which may then output a television signal. In this way, if the imaging section and the signal processing section are provided in separate housings, only the imaging section required to capture the subject during shooting can be moved and operated, improving operability.

Here, the solid-state image sensor usually requires a clock pulse for signal reading because its imaging output is read out as a point-sequential signal. Therefore, in a video camera using a solid-state image sensor,
It is necessary to operate the imaging section and the signal processing section in synchronization with the signal readout clock pulse.

Therefore, when the imaging section and the signal processing section are provided in independent housings, it is necessary to exchange the clock pulses for reading out the signals between the respective housings, and the circuit for transmitting and receiving the clock pulses, etc. Additional space will be required for mounting the block.

[Purpose of invention]

Therefore, in the present invention, the imaging section and the signal processing section are housed in separate housings, and the imaging section and the signal processing section are operated synchronously without the need for a special signal line for transmitting clock pulses, etc. The present invention provides a small and lightweight color imaging device that enables the user to take pictures and has excellent operability during shooting.

[Summary of the idea]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention includes an imaging section that superimposes a composite synchronization signal and a burst signal on a point-sequential color signal read out from a color image sensor and outputs the resultant signal as an imaging output signal; a signal processing unit that performs signal processing to convert the dot sequential color signal in the image pickup output signal into a color television signal using a timing signal formed based on a composite synchronization signal and a burst signal in the supplied image pickup output signal; The imaging unit and the signal processing unit are provided in separate housings, and the imaging output signal output from the imaging unit in one housing is supplied to the signal processing unit in the other housing via a transmission cable. , the gist is that the signal processing section outputs a color television signal.

〔Example〕

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a color imaging device according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

In the embodiment shown in the block diagram of FIG. 1, an imaging unit 10 that performs photoelectric conversion of a subject image and outputs an electrical imaging output signal is housed in the first housing 1, and For example, the output signal is
A signal processing unit 20 that converts the signal into an NTSC color television signal and outputs the signal is housed in the second housing 2, and the imaging output signal output from the imaging unit 10 is transmitted via the transmission cable 30. The signal is supplied to the signal processing section 20 described above.

Imaging unit 1 housed and installed in the first housing 1
0 is, for example, an interline transfer type
It is equipped with a CCD color image sensor 11.
The CCD color image sensor 11 is color-coded by a color-coding filter (not shown). The CCD color image sensor 11 is driven by a drive clock pulse φ _D supplied from a drive circuit 12, and a dot-sequential color signal is read out from the CCD color image sensor 11 as a power conversion output of a subject image.

The point-sequential color signal CS read out from the CCD color image sensor 11 is supplied from a sample-and-hold circuit 13 to a first signal synthesizer 15 via a first buffer circuit 14.

Further, the imaging section 10 is equipped with a synchronization signal generator 16 that provides a reference operation timing, and a CCD drive timing generator 17 that operates according to the synchronization signal generator 16 controls the drive circuit 12 and the sample. - The operation of the hold circuit 13 is controlled. Further, the synchronization signal generator 16 supplies the composite synchronization signal Sync to the first signal synthesizer 15, and also supplies the subcarrier signal S _C and the burst flag signal Bf to the second signal synthesizer 15.
The signal is supplied to the signal combiner 18. The second signal synthesizer 18 forms a burst signal Bs from the subcarrier signal S _C and the burst flux signal Bf supplied from the synchronization signal generator 16, and combines this burst signal Bs with the first signal synthesizer 18. It is supplied to the container 15.

And the above point sequential color signal CS, composite synchronization signal
The first signal synthesizer 15 to which the Sync and burst signals Bs are supplied performs additive synthesis of each of the above-mentioned signals, and as shown in FIG. 2, for example, as shown in FIG. Bs
The superimposed signal is used as the second imaging output signal Sout.
The output signal is output via the buffer circuit 19.

That is, in this embodiment, the first housing 1
The imaging unit 10 housed inside the camera is configured to output an imaging output signal Sout obtained by superimposing a composite synchronization signal Sync and a burst signal Bs on a point-sequential color signal read out from a CCD color image sensor 11.

The imaging output signal output from the imaging section 10 is supplied to the color separation circuit 21 and the synchronization separation circuit 24 of the signal processing section 20 in the second housing 2 via the transmission cable 30.

In this embodiment, the color separation circuit 21 of the signal processing section 20 housed and installed in the second housing 2 is operated under control by a process timing generator 27, and the color separation circuit 21 is operated by a process timing generator 27 to generate a point-sequential color signal in the imaging output signal Sout.
CS is color separated and each color signal S _R , S _G , S _B
is supplied to the process processing circuit 22. The process processing circuit 22 is controlled in operation by a synchronization signal generator 25 that can be synchronized with an external device, and processes the color signals S _R , S _G , S _B , and processes the luminance signal Y and the color difference signal U/ Form V and encoder 2
Supply to 3. The encoder 23 is controlled in operation by the synchronization signal generator 25 and the process timing generator 27, and forms and outputs a color television signal S _NTSC compatible with the NTSC system from the luminance signal Y and color difference signal U/V. do.

Further, the synchronous separation circuit 24 of the signal processing section 20
is the composite synchronization signal in the above imaging output signal Sout
Extract Sync and burst signal Bs. and,
A phase-locked loop PLL circuit 26 reproduces a subcarrier signal _SC based on the burst signal Bs. Furthermore, the composite synchronization signal Sync and subcarrier signal S _C are supplied to a synchronization signal generator 25 capable of external synchronization to obtain timing signals necessary for signal processing.

That is, in this embodiment, the second housing 2
A signal processing section 20 housed in the interior converts the imaging output signal using a timing signal formed based on the composite synchronization signal Sync and the burst signal Bs in the imaging output signal Sout supplied from the imaging section 10.
Signal processing is performed to convert the dot sequential color signal CS in Sout into a color television signal _SNTSC .

In the embodiment configured as described above, actual photographing activities can be performed by moving only the first casing 1 housing the imaging section 10. In addition, the imaging unit 10
Since there is no need for a transmission line dedicated to the clock for synchronously coupling the signal processor 20 and the signal processor 20, the entire device can be made smaller and lighter.

[Effect of idea]

As is clear from the description of the above-mentioned embodiments, according to the present invention, the imaging section and the signal processing section are housed and installed in separate separate housings, and the imaging section is The present invention and the signal processing section can be operated synchronously, and it is possible to provide a small and lightweight color imaging device with excellent operability during photographing.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a color imaging device according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a waveform diagram of an imaging output signal output from the imaging section in the above embodiment. 1, 2... Housing, 10... Imaging unit, 11... Solid color image sensor, 15, 18... Signal synthesizer, 16, 25... Synchronization signal generator, 20...
Signal processing section, 21... Color separation circuit, 22... Process processing circuit, 23... Encoder, 24... Synchronization separation circuit.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] An imaging unit that superimposes a composite synchronization signal and a burst signal on a point-sequential color signal read out from a color image sensor and outputs the resultant as an imaging output signal, and a composite synchronization signal and burst signal in the imaging output signal supplied from the imaging unit. and a signal processing section that performs signal processing to convert the point-sequential color signal in the imaging output signal into a color television signal using a timing signal formed based on the signal, and the imaging section and the signal processing section are each independent of each other. The imaging output signal output from the imaging unit in one housing is supplied to the signal processing unit in the other housing via a transmission cable, and the signal processing unit outputs a color television signal. A color imaging device characterized by: