KR100189057B1 - Camcorder capable of capturing still image - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a camcorder having a still image acquisition function by adding a function of acquiring a still image to a function of a camcorder, displaying it without shaking, and storing such an image in a personal computer.

The structure of this invention is a lens part; Lens driving and control unit; A CCD driver; A microcomputer unit for controlling the entire system; Analog / digital converters; CCD signal and color signal processing unit; Digital to analog converters; An image recording unit; A video processor unit; A frame memory unit for storing an image memory which is a digital signal of a CCD signal and a color signal processor; A still image compression / restore unit for compressing or restoring a still image memory stored in the frame memory unit by a control signal of the microcomputer unit; An image recording memory unit for digitally compressing, recording, and reproducing a still image; And a PC interface unit for storing digital data in the image recording memory unit or receiving data stored in the computer.

The effect of the present invention is to provide a camcorder having a still image acquisition function that can play back still images with clear image quality using a still image compression / restore method, and can easily input still images to a computer to utilize a camcorder for multimedia. Can provide.

Description

Camcorders with Still Image Acquisition

1 is a block diagram of a conventional camcorder,

2 is a block diagram of a conventional digital still camera,

3 is a block diagram of a camcorder having a still image acquisition function according to an embodiment of the present invention;

4 is a block diagram of a camcorder having a still image acquisition function combined with a video signal decoder according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The present invention relates to a camcorder having a still image acquisition function. In particular, the present invention provides a function of acquiring a still image with a function of a camcorder (CAMCODER), displaying it without shaking, and storing such an image on a personal computer (PC). The present invention relates to a camcorder having a still image acquisition function.

Hereinafter, a conventional camcorder and a digital still camera will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a block diagram of a conventional camcorder, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a conventional digital steel camera.

As shown in FIG. 1, the structure of the conventional camcorder includes: a lens unit 11 for converting a zoom, an iris, a focus, and the like to output a light signal; A lens drive and control unit 12 for driving and controlling zoom control, aperture control, and focus control of the lens unit 11; A charge coupled device (hereinafter referred to as CCD) driver 13 for converting and outputting the light signal of the lens unit 11 into an electrical signal; A microcomputer unit 14 which controls the entire system and controls input and output signals of the lens driving and control unit 12, the CCD signal and color signal processing unit 16, and the video processor unit 18; An analog / digital converter 15 for converting the electrical analog signal of the CCD driver 13 into a digital signal and outputting the digital signal; Exchanges input / output signals with the microcomputer unit 14, outputs a signal for controlling the CCD driver 13, receives the digital output signal of the analog-to-digital converter 15, and receives a digital CCD signal and color. A CCD signal and color signal processor 16 for processing and outputting a signal; A digital / analog converter (17) for receiving the CCD signal and the digital output signal of the color signal processor (16), converting the analog signal into an analog signal, and outputting the analog signal; An image recording unit 19 for receiving an analog image signal and recording the same on a magnetic tape or outputting the recorded image signal; Receives the analog signal of the digital-to-analog converter 17, and outputs a video output signal Video Out, which is an analog color video signal, by a control signal of the microcomputer 14, or a video input signal from outside. In) and a video processor unit 18 for recording on a magnetic tape through the image recording unit 19.

Also, with reference to FIG. 2, the digital still camera includes a lens unit 21 for converting zoom, iris, focus, etc. to output a light signal; A lens drive and control unit 22 for driving and controlling zoom control, aperture control, and focus control of the lens unit 21; A CCD driver 23 for converting and outputting the light signal of the lens unit 21 into an electrical signal; A microcomputer unit 24 which controls the entire system and controls input and output signals of the lens driving and control unit 22, the CCD signal and color signal processing unit 26, and the still image compression / restoration unit 30; An analog / digital converter 25 for converting the electrical analog signal of the CCD driver 23 into a digital signal and outputting the digital signal; Exchanges the input / output signal with the microcomputer unit 24, outputs a signal for controlling the CCD driver 23, receives the digital output signal of the analog / digital converter 25, and receives the digital CCD signal and color. A CCD signal and color signal processor 26 for processing and outputting a signal; A digital / analog converter 27 for receiving the CCD signal and the digital output signal of the color signal processor 26, converting the digital output signal into an analog signal, and outputting the analog signal; An image filter unit 28 which receives an analog signal from the digital / analog converter 27 and filters the signal to output a video output signal; A frame memory unit 29 for storing an image memory which is a digital signal of the CCD signal and the color signal processing unit 26; A still image compression / restoration unit 30 for compressing or restoring a still image memory stored in the frame memory unit 29 according to the control signal of the microcomputer unit 24; An image recording memory unit 31 for digitally compressing, recording, and reproducing the still image of the still image compression / restoration unit 30; The digital data of the video recording memory unit 31 is stored in a computer (PC), or a PC interface unit 32 for receiving data stored in the computer.

The operation of the conventional camcorder and the digital still camera by the above configuration is as follows.

Conventional camcorders can also display still images, but the same positions are repeatedly played back while the moving images are being played, or the same positions are repeatedly played back by recording still images on a magnetic tape.

In Fig. 1, the operation of the conventional camcorder is as follows. The lens unit 11 converts the zoom, the iris, the focus, and the like to output a light signal, and the lens driving and the control unit 12 controls the zoom control, the aperture control, and the focus control of the lens unit 11. The CCD driver 13 converts the light signal of the lens unit 11 into an electrical signal and outputs the electrical signal.

Next, the microcomputer unit 14 controls the entire system, and controls the input / output signals of the lens driving and control unit 12, the CCD signal and color signal processing unit 16, and the video processor unit 18, and the analog / The digital converter 15 converts the electrical analog signal of the CCD driver 13 into a digital signal and outputs the digital signal. The CCD signal and the color signal processor 16 exchange input / output signals with the microcomputer 14. And outputs a signal for controlling the CCD driver 13 and receives the digital output signal of the analog / digital converter 15 to process and output the digital CCD signal and the color signal.

The digital-to-analog converter 17 receives the CCD signal and the digital output signal of the color signal processing unit 16, converts the analog output signal into an analog signal, and outputs the analog video signal. Or output the recorded video signal. The video processor unit 18 receives the analog signal output from the digital-to-analog converter 17 and, according to the control signal of the microcomputer unit 14, a video output signal (Video Out) which is an analog color video signal. Or a video input signal (Video In) received from the outside, and recorded on the magnetic tape through the video recording unit 19.

In other words, in the conventional camcorder, in the configuration diagram of the camcorder to which the digital signal processing method as shown in FIG. 1 is applied, the light signal entered through the lens is converted into an electrical signal by the CCD, and the electrical signal of the CCD is analogue / digital. The digital signal is converted by the converter 15, and the electrical signals of the CCD are converted into the digital color image data by the CCD signal and the color signal processor 16, and the lens driving and control unit 12 controls zoom and aperture of the lens unit 11. Control, focus control and the like, and the microcomputer 14 controls the entire system.

At this time, the digital color image data is output as an analog color image signal by the digital / analog converter 17 and the video processor unit 18. In addition, the video processor unit 18 receives an analog image signal and records the same on a magnet tape through the image recording unit DECK.

In addition, with reference to FIG. 2, the operation of the digital still camera is as follows. The lens unit 21 converts zoom, iris, focus, and the like to output a light signal, and the lens driving and control unit 22 controls zooming, iris control, and focus control of the lens unit 21. The CCD driver 23 converts the light signal of the lens unit 21 into an electrical signal and outputs the electrical signal.

Next, the microcomputer unit 24 controls the entire system, and controls the input / output signals of the lens driving and control unit 22, the CCD signal and color signal processing unit 26, and the still image compression / restoration unit 30. The analog-to-digital converter 25 converts the electrical analog signal of the CCD driver 23 into a digital signal and outputs the digital signal. The CCD signal and the color signal processor 26 output the microcomputer 24 and the input / output signal. And outputs a signal for controlling the CCD driver 23, receives the digital output signal of the analog / digital converter 25, and processes and outputs the digital CCD signal and the color signal.

The digital / analog converter 27 receives the CCD signal and the digital output signal of the color signal processor 26, converts them into analog signals, and outputs the analog signals. The image filter unit 28 outputs the digital / analog converter ( 27) receives an analog signal, filters the signal, and outputs a video output signal (Video Out). In the frame memory unit 29, the image memory which is the digital signal of the CCD signal and the color signal processor 26 is used. Will be saved.

The still image compression / restoration unit 30 compresses or restores the still image memory stored in the frame memory unit 29 according to the control signal of the microcomputer unit 24, and the image recording memory unit 31 The still image of the still image compression / restoration unit 30 is digitally compressed and recorded and reproduced, and the PC interface unit 32 stores the digital data of the image recording memory unit 31 on the computer (PC). Or receive data stored on a PC.

In other words, the conventional digital still camera digitally compresses, records and plays back still images as shown in FIG. 2, and also interfaces with a computer to store them in the computer. That is, the light signal entered through the lens is converted into an electrical signal by the CCD, and the electrical signal of the CCD is digitalized by the analog-to-digital converter 25 so that the CCD signal and the color signal processor 26 are electrically connected to the CCD. The signal is converted into digital color image data, and the microcomputer 24 controls the entire system.

The operation principle up to this point is the same as that of a digital signal processing camcorder. However, unlike the camcorder, the following image compression / restoration process is performed in the still image compression / restoration unit 30 after digital color image data is recorded in the frame memory. After the image data is compressed and stored in the image recording memory unit 31, the stored image compressed data is restored by the still image compression / restoration unit 30 as necessary and recorded in the frame memory, CCD signal processing and color signal The processing unit 26 converts the digital video data.

In addition, the digital-to-analog converter 27 and the image filter unit 28 convert the analog color image signal into an output signal, and transmit the digital image data to the computer through the PC interface unit 32.

However, since the conventional camcorder described above uses a mechanical method to view still images, it causes damage to the magnet tape, and the image is severely shaken by the mechanical jitter of the camcorder head. Very rarely, there is a problem that a separate image acquisition device is required for the computer to store and record still images on the computer.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, and the still image compression / restore method by digital signal processing using a still image in a digital still camera using a still image in a conventional camcorder. The present invention provides a camcorder having a still image acquisition function that can easily interface with a computer, as well as to prevent a screen shake when viewing a still image on a camcorder by applying a method of playing back a still image using.

As a means for achieving the above object, the configuration of the present invention, the lens unit for outputting a light signal by converting the zoom, aperture, focus, etc .; A lens driving and control unit for driving and controlling zoom control, aperture control, and focus control of the lens unit; A charge coupled device (CCD) driver for converting the light signal of the lens unit into an electrical signal and outputting the converted signal; A microcomputer controlling the entire system and controlling the input / output signals of the lens driving and control unit, the CCD signal and color signal processing unit, the video processor unit, and the still image compression / restore unit; An analog / digital converter converting the electrical analog signal of the CCD driver into a digital signal and outputting the digital signal; A CCD signal for exchanging input / output signals with the microcomputer unit, outputting a signal for controlling the CCD driving unit, receiving a digital output signal of the analog / digital converter, and processing and outputting a digital CCD signal and a color signal; A color signal processor; A digital / analog converter configured to receive the CCD signal and the digital output signal of the color signal processing unit, convert the digital output signal into an analog signal, and output the analog signal; An image recording unit which receives an analog image signal and records the same on a magnetic tape or outputs the recorded image signal; Receives the analog signal of the digital-to-analog converter, and outputs a video output signal, which is an analog color video signal, or receives a video input signal from the outside by a control signal of the microcomputer unit, and transmits the video signal to the magnetic tape through the video recording unit. A video processor for recording; A frame memory unit for storing an image memory which is a digital signal of the CCD signal and the color signal processor; A still image compression / recovery unit for compressing or restoring a still image memory stored in the frame memory unit by the control signal of the microcomputer unit; An image recording memory unit for digitally compressing and recording the still image of the still image compression / restore unit; And a PC interface unit for storing the digital data in the image recording memory unit on a computer or receiving data stored in the computer.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the most preferred embodiment which can easily implement this invention by the above structure is as follows.

3 is a configuration diagram of a camcorder having a still image acquisition function according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a camcorder having a still image acquisition function combined with a video signal decoder according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 3, a configuration of a camcorder having a still image acquisition function according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a lens unit 41 for converting a zoom, an aperture, a focus, and the like to output a light signal; A lens drive and controller 42 for driving and controlling zoom control, aperture control, and focus control of the lens unit 41; A CCD driver 43 for converting and outputting the light signal of the lens unit 41 into an electrical signal; A microcomputer controlling the entire system and controlling the input / output signals of the lens driving and control unit 42, the CCD signal and color signal processing unit 46, the video processor 48, and the still image compression / recovery unit 51. (44); An analog / digital converter 45 for converting the electrical analog signal of the CCD driver 43 into a digital signal and outputting the digital signal; Exchanges input and output signals with the microcomputer 44, outputs a signal for controlling the CCD driver 43, receives a digital output signal of the analog-to-digital converter 45, and receives a digital CCD signal and color. A CCD signal and color signal processor 46 for processing and outputting a signal; A digital / analog converter (47) for receiving the CCD signal and the digital output signal of the color signal processor (46), converting them into analog signals, and outputting the analog signals; An image recording unit 49 which receives an analog image signal and records the same on a magnetic tape or outputs the recorded image signal; The analog signal of the digital-to-analog converter 47 is received, and the video output signal Video Out, which is an analog color video signal, is output by the control signal of the microcomputer unit 44, or the video input signal Video from the outside. In) and receives the video processor 48 for recording on the magnetic tape through the image recording section 49; A frame memory unit 50 for storing an image memory which is a digital signal of the CCD signal and the color signal processor 46; A still image compression / recovery unit 51 for compressing or restoring a still image memory stored in the frame memory unit 50 according to the control signal of the microcomputer unit 44; An image recording memory unit 52 for digitally compressing, recording, and reproducing the still image of the still image compression / recovery unit 51; The digital data of the video recording memory unit 52 is stored in a computer PC, or a PC interface 53 for receiving data stored in the computer.

The operation of the camcorder having the still image acquisition function according to the embodiment of the present invention by the above configuration is as follows.

Referring to Fig. 3, the operation of the camcorder having the still image acquisition function according to the embodiment of the present invention is as follows.

The lens unit 41 converts zoom, iris, focus, and the like to output a light signal, and the lens driving and control unit 42 controls zooming, iris control, and focus control of the lens unit 41. The CCD driver 43 converts the light signal of the lens unit 41 into an electrical signal and outputs the electrical signal.

Next, the microcomputer 44 controls the entire system, wherein the lens driving and control section 42, the CCD signal and color signal processing section 46, the video processor section 48, the still image compression / recovery section 51 The input / output signals of the controller are controlled, and the analog / digital converter 45 converts the electrical analog signal of the CCD driver 43 into a digital signal and outputs the digital signal.

The CCD signal and color signal processing section 46 exchanges input and output signals with the microcomputer section 44, outputs a signal for controlling the CCD driving section 43, and outputs the digital signal of the analog / digital converter 45. The output signal is received and processed by the digital CCD signal and the color signal.

The digital-to-analog converter 47 receives the CCD signal and the digital output signal of the color signal processing unit 46, converts them into analog signals, and outputs the analog signals. The video recording unit 49 receives the analog video signals and receives the magnetic tape. Or output the recorded video signal.

The video processor 48 receives the analog signal of the digital / analog converter 47 described above, and outputs a video output signal Video Out, which is an analog color video signal, by the control signal of the microcomputer 44, A video input signal (Video In) is received from the outside and recorded on the magnetic tape through the video recording unit 49.

The frame memory unit 50 stores the above-mentioned CCD signal and the image memory which is a digital signal of the color signal processing unit 46, and the still image compression / restore unit 51 controls the control signal of the microcomputer unit 44. The still image memory stored in the frame memory unit 50 is compressed or restored.

In the image recording memory unit 52, the still image of the still image compression / restoration unit 51 is digitally compressed and recorded and reproduced. In the PC interface 53, the image recording memory unit 52 is performed. ) Digital data is stored in the computer (PC), or the data stored in the computer is received.

In other words, the light signal entered through the lens is converted into an electrical signal by the CCD, and the electrical signal of the CCD is digitalized by the analog-to-digital converter 45, so that the CCD signal and the color signal processing unit 46 transmit the electrical power of the CCD. The signal is converted into digital color image data.

The lens drive and the control unit perform zoom control, aperture control, focus control, and the like of the lens unit, and the microcomputer 44 controls the entire system. Such digital color image data has a different flow of data depending on the case of recording a moving image and the case of recording a still image.

Therefore, in the case of recording motion pictures, the digital color video data is converted into analog color video signals by the digital / analog converter 47 and the video processor 48, as in the conventional camcorder, and the magnetic tape by the video recording section. The video processor unit 48 receives an analog video signal and records the same on a magnet tape through the video recording unit 49.

When recording still images, digital color image data is recorded in the frame memory unit 50, and then image data is compressed in the still image compression / restore unit 51 and stored in the image recording memory unit 52. do.

The image compression data stored as described above is restored by the still image compression / recovery unit and recorded in the frame memory, and converted into digital image data by the CCD signal and color signal processing unit 46, and the digital / analog converter 47. Is converted into an analog color video signal and output. Then, the digital image data is transmitted to the computer through the PC interface 53.

Another embodiment of this invention is shown in FIG. In order to display any part of the moving picture as a still picture on the monitor, an analog video signal is converted into digital data by the video signal decoder 53 by the command of the microcomputer 44 and recorded in the frame memory 50. Then, such data is converted into an analog color image signal by the CCD signal and color signal processor 46 and output.

In addition, the image is compressed by the still image compression / recovery unit 51 and recorded in the image recording memory unit 52, and the image data is transmitted to the computer PC through the PC interface unit 53.

As a result, a camcorder having a still image acquisition function reproduces a still image with a clear image quality by using a still image compression / restore method instead of a conventional mechanical method when playing back a still image. The camcorder can be used for multimedia applications.

Therefore, the effect of the present invention operating as described above is that when the still image is reproduced by combining the digital memory processing camcorder with the frame memory of the digital still camera, the still image compression / restoration unit, the image recording memory unit and the computer interface unit. Using still image compression / restore method, it is possible to play back still images with clear image quality and to input still images to a computer easily without using the conventional mechanical method. It is possible to provide a camcorder having a.

Claims (4)

A camcorder, comprising: a lens unit for converting a zoom, an iris, a focus, etc. and outputting a light signal; A lens driving and control unit for driving and controlling zoom control, aperture control, and focus control of the lens unit; A charge coupled device (CCD) driver for converting the light signal of the lens unit into an electrical signal and outputting the converted signal; A microcomputer controlling the entire system and controlling the input / output signals of the lens driving and controlling unit, the CCD signal and color signal processing unit, the video processor unit, and the still image compression / restore unit; An analog / digital converter converting the electrical analog signal of the CCD driver into a digital signal and outputting the digital signal; A CCD signal for exchanging input / output signals with the microcomputer unit, outputting a signal for controlling the CCD driving unit, receiving a digital output signal of the analog / digital converter, and processing and outputting a digital CCD signal and a color signal; A color signal processor; A digital / analog converter configured to receive the CCD signal and the digital output signal of the color signal processing unit, convert the digital output signal into an analog signal, and output the analog signal; A video recording unit which receives an analog video signal and records a magnet tape or outputs the recorded video signal; Receives the analog signal of the digital-to-analog converter, and outputs a video output signal, which is an analog color video signal, or receives a video input signal from the outside by a control signal of the microcomputer unit, and transmits the video signal to the magnetic tape through the video recording unit. A video processor for recording; A frame memory unit for storing an image memory which is a digital signal of the CCD signal and the color signal processor; A still image compression / recovery unit for compressing or restoring a still image memory stored in the frame memory unit by the control signal of the microcomputer unit; An image recording memory unit for digitally compressing and recording the still image of the still image compression / restore unit; A camcorder having a still image acquisition function, characterized by comprising a PC interface unit for storing digital data of the image recording memory unit in a computer or receiving data stored in the computer. The camcorder according to claim 1, further comprising a video signal decoder that receives a video output signal, converts it into digital data, and writes it to the frame memory section. The camcorder having a still image acquisition function according to claim 2, wherein the video signal decoder can display any portion of a moving picture as a still picture on a monitor. The camcorder having a still image acquisition function according to claim 2, wherein the video output signal is an analog video signal.