KR100301441B1 - Multi field integration charge coupled device camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A high sensitive CCD(Charge Coupled Device) camera is provided to pass only 8 bit data of 10 bit data through a picture memory and process differently the remaining 2 bit data according to a deterioration permission range of picture quality and luminous intensity. CONSTITUTION: A high sensitive CCD(Charge Coupled Device) camera includes a controller(20) for determining a luminous condition, a capturing element(30) for converting and outputting light into electric signal, an A/D converter(60) for converting and outputting electric signal output from the capturing element into digital signal, a picture storing part(70) for storing 8 bit digital signals of digital signals output from the A/D converter, and a data processing part(80) for outputting digital signal of the remaining digital signals if luminance of the controller is brighter than a predetermined luminance and blocking output of digital signal of the remaining signals if luminance of the controller is not brighter than the predetermined luminance.

Description

High sensitivity CD camera {MULTI FIELD INTEGRATION CHARGE COUPLED DEVICE CAMERA}

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a high sensitivity CD (CCD) camera, and more particularly, to a high sensitivity CD camera which varies some image signal processing according to a degree of deterioration of image quality and illuminance brightness.

Hereinafter, a conventional CD camera will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a block of a conventional CD camera.

As shown in FIG. 1, the configuration of a conventional CD camera includes: an imaging device 1 for converting light into an electrical signal and outputting the light; A synchronizer 3 for controlling the output of the electrical signal from the imaging device 1; An amplifier 5 which receives an electric signal from the imaging device 1 and amplifies and outputs the electric signal; An analog / digital converter 7 for receiving a signal output from the amplifier 5, converting the signal into a digital signal, and outputting the digital signal; An image memory section 9 for storing a digital signal output from the analog / digital converter 7; A signal processor 11 for receiving data stored in the image memory 9 and outputting an image signal; A control unit 13 connected and controlled by the synchronization unit 3, the image memory unit 9, and the signal processing unit 11; It is connected to the control unit 13 and includes a storage unit 15 for storing temporary data or source code of a program that the control unit 13 performs.

Here, the image memory section 9 is a high-order image which stores the upper 8-bit signal by being connected to the upper 8-bit signal to store this signal because the digital signal output from the analog-to-digital converter 7 is a 10-bit signal. A memory 17 and a lower image memory unit 19 connected to and stored in the remaining lower 2 bits of the 10 bits.

In addition, a CD is generally used as the imaging device 1.

The operation of the conventional CD camera is as follows.

First, the image pickup device 1 converts the light input from the outside into an electrical signal and outputs the light. When the illuminance is brighter than about 2 lux (LUX), the time interval of less than 1/60 second is similar to that of a normal CD camera. If it is not brighter than 2 lux, that is, in low light, it accumulates at a time interval of 1/60 seconds or more, and then outputs an electric signal under the control of the synchronizer 3.

The electric signal output from the image pickup device 1 is amplified by the amplifier 5, converted into a digital signal by the analog-digital converter 7, and output.

The digital signal output from the analog / digital converter 7 is 10-bit data, of which the upper 8-bit data is stored in the upper image memory 17, and the remaining lower 2 bits are stored in the lower image memory 19.

On the other hand, a monitor is usually used as an image display device, and an amount corresponding to one screen of the monitor is called a frame, and one frame is composed of two fields.

The frame or field memory is used as the memory of the upper image memory 17 and the lower image memory 19 of the image memory unit 9. When the frame memory is used, the vertical resolution is good, but the memory does not respond well to the movement of the object. It takes a lot.

On the other hand, when using field memory, the vertical resolution is reduced, but it is less sensitive to movement, and the memory is 1/2 less than the frame.

The data stored in the image memory section 9 is output by the control of the control section 13 and input to the signal processing section 11, and the signal processing section 11 generates and outputs the input data as an image signal.

If it is not low light, the data output from the analog-to-digital converter 7 may be input directly to the signal processing section 6 without being stored in the image memory section 9.

However, in low light, the time for which light is measured by the imaging device 1 under the control of the controller 13 is extended to 1/60 second or more.

When the period of the signal output from the image pickup device 1 is slower than 1/60 second, if it is seen as it is, the screen blemishes cannot be generated. Therefore, once stored in the image memory unit 9, one frame or field is stored. When it is output to the signal processing unit 11 to be able to see a stable screen without chewing gum.

However, the conventional technique described above allows the image memory unit 9 of a field or frame to be stored in units of 8 bits as in the conventional memory, but the data output from the analog-to-digital converter 7 is 10 bits of data. This requires one more field memory or frame memory to store two bits of data.

This not only doubles the cost of using the memory, but also causes problems in printed circuit board (PCB) board space and increase in power consumption. In particular, the increase in power consumption is accompanied by a heat generation problem, the CD of the imaging device (1) can cause a fatal defect in the product because the noise increases when the temperature increases.

Therefore, the technical and problem of the present invention is to solve such a conventional problem, and an object of the present invention is to ensure that only the upper 8 bits of data of 10 bits of data pass through the image memory, and the image quality of the remaining 2 bits of data. It is to provide a high sensitivity CD camera that varies the processing according to the degree of deterioration and the brightness of the illumination.

1 is a block diagram of a conventional CD camera,

2 is a block diagram of a high sensitivity CD camera according to a first embodiment of the present invention,

3 is a block diagram of a high sensitivity CD camera according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

A high sensitivity CD camera according to one feature for realizing the above object of the present invention,

A controller for determining an illuminance state;

An imaging device for converting light into an electrical signal and outputting the light;

An analog / digital converter configured to convert the electrical signal output from the imaging device into a digital signal and output the digital signal;

An image storage unit which receives and stores a higher 8-bit digital signal among the digital signals output from the analog / digital converter;

The digital signal of the remaining bits other than the high-order 8-bit signal stored in the image storage unit among the digital signals output from the analog / digital converter is input, and the illumination intensity according to the determination of the illumination state of the controller A data processing unit which performs signal processing to time-delay the digital signal of the remaining bits when it is brighter, and blocks the output of the digital signal of the remaining bits when the illuminance is darker than a specific sidewalk; And

And a signal processor for receiving data output from the image storage unit and the data processor, respectively, and outputting image signals under control of the controller.

The data processor may include a time delay unit for receiving data output from the image pickup device and delaying the data and outputting the data, and a buffer unit for receiving data output from the delay unit and outputting the data output from the delay unit. It may include.

Unlike this, the data processor may include a time delay unit for receiving data output from the image pickup device and delaying the data and outputting the data, a random number generator for generating and outputting a random number, and controlling the time according to the control of the controller. The apparatus may include a multiplexer configured to select and output one of a data input output from the delay unit and a data input output from the random number generator.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

2 is a block diagram of a high sensitivity CD camera according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 2, the high-sensitivity CD camera according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes a control unit 20 for controlling the overall operation of the camera; An imaging device 30 for converting light into an electrical signal and outputting the light; A synchronization unit 40 for controlling an electric signal output from the image pickup device 30 by the control of the control unit 20; An amplifier 50 which receives an electric signal output from the imaging device 30 and amplifies and outputs the electric signal; An analog / digital converter 60 which receives a signal output from the amplifier 50 and converts the signal into a 10-bit digital signal; An image storage unit 70 for receiving, storing, and outputting an upper 8-bit digital signal among the 10-bit digital signals output from the analog / digital converter 60; Among the 10-bit digital signals output from the analog / digital converter 60, the remaining 2-bit signals other than the signal output to the image storage unit 70 are input, and according to the determination of the illuminance state of the controller 20, the lower 2 bits are input. A data processor 80 for processing and outputting a bit signal; A signal processing unit 90 which receives data output from the image storage unit 70 and the data processing unit 80 and outputs an image signal under the control of the control unit 20; And a storage unit 100 connected to the control unit 20 to store temporary data or source code of a program executed by the control unit 20.

The data processor 80 according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a time delay line 82 for receiving a low-order 2-bit signal output from the analog / digital converter 60 and outputting the delayed time. And a buffer unit 84 which receives data output from the time delay line 82 and outputs the data under the control of the controller 20.

With the above configuration, the operation of the high sensitivity CD camera according to the first embodiment of the present invention is as follows.

First, all control of this camera is controlled by the control part 20. FIG.

The imaging device 30 converts light input from the outside into an electrical signal and outputs the electrical signal. At this time, the controller 20 causes the image pickup device 30 that controls the synchronizer 40 to output a signal in one field period.

The electrical signal output from the image pickup device 30 is amplified by the amplifier 50, converted into a 10-bit digital signal by the analog-to-digital converter 60, and output.

Of the 10-bit digital signals output from the analog-to-digital converter 60, the upper 8-bit digital signals are input to the image storage unit 70 in one field period, stored, and output in one field period.

On the other hand, out of the 10-bit digital signal output from the analog-to-digital converter 60, the lower two-bit digital signal is input to the time delay line 82, the time delay is output to the buffer unit 84. At this time, the time delayed by the time delay line 82 is a delay time for synchronizing with the upper 8-bit output output through the image storage unit 70, and the time delayed by the image storage unit 70 is substantially The sum of one field time and the read access time is delayed only by the read access time of the image storage unit 70 in consideration of the capacity of the time delay line 82, so that the upper 8 bits and the lower 2 bits are actually one field time. It is different, but there is no big effect because it is the pixel of the same position.

The buffer unit 84 outputs a signal input from the time delay line 82 under the control of the control unit 20.

In this way, the upper 8-bit signal output from the image storage unit 70 and the lower 2-bit signal output from the buffer unit 84 are combined to be output to the signal processing unit 90 as a 10-bit signal.

The signal processor 90 receives a 10-bit signal and outputs an image signal under the control of the controller 20.

The above is an operation of the data processing unit 80 which is performed when the illuminance is brighter than the specific illuminance, and when the illuminance is darker than the specific illuminance, the controller 20 controls the synchronizer 40 to cause the image pickup device 30 to operate. The output signal is output for each specific field 2 to ?? according to the degree of darkness, and this output signal is converted into a digital signal by the analog / digital converter 60 through the amplifier 50 and output.

The upper 8-bit signals of the 10-bit signals thus output are stored in the image storage unit 70 at specific field periods, and are read in one field period.

On the other hand, the lower two-bit signal is not output in one field period like the upper eight-bit signal output from the image storage unit 70, so there is no need to synchronize.

Therefore, the control unit 20 blocks the buffer unit 84 from being transmitted to the lower two-bit time delay signal processing unit 90 output from the time delay line 82, and as a result, the signal processing unit 90 always maintains a constant level. The signal is delivered.

As a result, only the signal of the upper 8 bits is transmitted to the signal processor 90.

In addition, you may comprise the structure of the time delay line 82 and the buffer part 84 using the time delay line which the signal output is interrupted by the control of the control part 20. FIG.

In low light, the lower 2 bits are relatively dark, and the lower 2 bits are not affected. However, the lower 2 bits should also be transmitted because bright 8 levels of signal cannot reproduce clear image quality.

According to this first embodiment, the image memory constituting the image storage unit 70 can be halved in comparison with the prior art.

This first embodiment is suitable for a camera that allows a slight deterioration in image quality because it blocks the low-light lower 2-bit signal.

3 is a block diagram of a high sensitivity CD camera according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in Figure 3, the high sensitivity CD camera according to the second embodiment of the present invention,

A controller 200 for controlling the overall operation of the camera; An imaging device 300 for converting light into an electrical signal and outputting the light; A synchronization unit 400 for controlling an electric signal output from the imaging device 300 under the control of the controller 200; An amplifier 500 which receives an electric signal output from the imaging device 300 and amplifies and outputs the electrical signal; An analog / digital converter 600 for receiving a signal output from the amplifier 500 and converting the signal into a 10-bit digital signal; An image storage unit 700 for receiving, storing, and outputting an upper 8-bit digital signal among the 10-bit digital signals output from the analog / digital converter 600; Among the 10-bit digital signals output from the analog / digital converter 700, the lower 2 bit signals other than the signal output to the image storage unit 700 are input, and according to the determination of the illuminance state of the controller 200, the lower 2 bits are input. A data processor 800 for processing and outputting a bit signal; A signal processing unit 900 which receives data output from the image storage unit 700 and the data processing unit 800 and outputs an image signal under the control of the control unit 200; And a storage unit 1000 connected to the control unit 200 to store temporary data or source code of a program executed by the control unit 200.

The data processor 800 according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention receives a lower 2-bit signal output from the analog / digital converter 600 and generates a time delay line 820 for delaying and outputting a random number. The random number generator 840 for outputting and the multiplexing unit 860 for selecting and outputting one of a signal output from the time delay line 820 and a signal output from the random number generator 840 under the control of the controller 200. It includes.

With the above configuration, the operation of the high sensitivity CD camera according to the second embodiment of the present invention is as follows.

First, since the operation except for the data processor 800 is the same as described in the first embodiment, only the operation associated with the data processor 800 will be described here.

Of the 10-bit digital signals output from the analog-to-digital converter 600, the upper 8-bit digital signals are input and stored in the image storage unit 700 in one field period and are output in one field period.

On the other hand, the lower 10-bit digital signal of the 10-bit signal output from the analog-to-digital converter 600 is input to the time delay line 820 is time-delayed and output. At this time, the time delayed by the time delay line 820 is as described in the first embodiment.

The multiplexer 860 outputs the time delayed signal output from the time delay line 820 to the signal processor 900 under the control of the controller 200.

The signal processor 900 receives a 10-bit signal from the image storage unit 700 and the multiplexing unit 860 and outputs an image signal under the control of the controller 20.

The above is an operation of the data processor 80 performed when the illuminance is brighter than the specific illuminance, and when the illuminance is darker than the specific illuminance, multiplexing the 2-bit signal output from the random number generator 840 that generates 2-bit random numbers. The unit 860 receives the input and outputs the signal from the signal processor 900 under the control of the controller 200 to minimize the deterioration of image quality.

As a result, the controller 200 controls the multiplexing unit 860 to select and output the signal output from the time delay line 820 and the signal output from the random number generator 840 according to the brightness of illuminance. That is, in the first embodiment, when the illuminance is darker than the specific illuminance, the first embodiment is suitable for a camera that allows a slight deterioration in image quality by blocking the lower 2 bit signal output, while in the second embodiment, a random number is generated to correspond to the lower 2 bit signal. Correspondingly, it is suitable for a camera for minimizing image degradation.

According to this second embodiment, the image memory constituting the image storage unit 700 can be halved in comparison with the conventional art.

As described above, according to an embodiment of the present invention, only the upper 8 bits of data of the 10 bits are passed through the image memory, and for the remaining 2 bits of data, the processing is changed according to the degree of deterioration of image quality and illuminance brightness. It is possible to provide a high-sensitivity CD camera which reduces the overall cost by reducing the number of image memories, makes useful use of space on the substrate, and thus improves product quality.

Claims (5)

Control means for determining an illuminance state; An imaging device for converting light into an electrical signal and outputting the light; Analog / digital conversion means for converting and outputting an electrical signal output from the image pickup device into a digital signal; Image storage means for receiving and storing a high-order 8-bit digital signal among the digital signals output from the analog / digital conversion means; The digital signal of the remaining bits other than the high-order 8-bit signal stored in the image storage means among the digital signals output from the analog / digital conversion means is input, and the illuminance is specified according to the determination of the illuminance state of the control means. Data processing means for performing signal processing to time-delay the digital signal of the remaining bits when lighter than the illuminance, and cutting off the output of the digital signal of the remaining bits when the illuminance is darker than a specific sidewalk; And And a signal processing means for receiving data output from the image storage means and the data processing means, respectively, and outputting an image signal under the control of the control means. The method of claim 1, The data processing means includes a time delay means for receiving a digital signal of the remaining bits and time-delaying the output signal, and a buffer means for receiving data output from the time delay means and outputting the data output under the control of the control means. CD camera. The method of claim 1, The data processing means includes time delay means for receiving the digital signal of the remaining bits and time-delaying the output, random number generating means for generating and outputting a random number, and data output from the time delay means under the control of the control means. And a multiplexing means for selecting and outputting one of an input and a data input output from said random number generating means. The method of claim 3, The control means controls the multiplexing means to select a data input output from the time delay means when the illuminance is lighter than a specific illuminance, and selects a data input output from the random number generating means when the illuminance is darker than a specific illuminance. A high sensitivity CD camera characterized by controlling a multiplexing means. The method of claim 1, And a digital signal output from said analog / digital conversion means is 10 bits.

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