JP2000004043A - Image information processing device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] An object of the present invention is to realize an image information processing apparatus that can use one infrared light source for multiple purposes without providing infrared light sources for different functions. An image information processing apparatus includes an imaging device and an image information recording / reproducing device, and an infrared LED that transmits an image signal output from the imaging device and the image information recording / reproducing device in a predetermined direction as an infrared signal. An AVFM modulation circuit 6 for FM-modulating an image signal, an IrDA microcomputer 7 for digitally encoding an image signal,
A VFM modulation circuit 6 and a signal changeover switch 5 for selecting an output of the IrDA microcomputer 7 are provided.
Outputs an infrared signal modulated in accordance with the output of the signal changeover switch 5.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image information processing apparatus, and more particularly to an infrared information processing apparatus having an infrared AV transmission function and an IrDA infrared data communication function.
Regarding shared use of ED.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A so-called video camera in which a CCD camera and a video tape recorder are combined is widely used for home use. In this video camera, a video signal received by a CCD camera and an audio signal received by a microphone at the time of imaging are temporarily recorded on a recording medium such as a magnetic tape cassette by a video tape recorder.
Then, later, the recorded video signal and audio signal are reproduced on a built-in liquid crystal screen or the like to be observed, or are monitored by a TV monitor device such as an external television receiver for watching.

When the video signal and the audio signal once recorded on the recording medium by the video camera are reproduced and monitored by an external television receiver or the like, the video camera and the television receiver are connected by a communication cable or the like. Then, a video signal and an audio signal recorded on a recording medium are transmitted through a cable and reproduced, or an infrared receiver (I
R receiver) is set in advance, and a video signal and an audio signal recorded on a recording medium are superimposed on infrared light from an infrared signal transmission device provided at an appropriate position of the video camera and directed to the IR receiver, and the space is superimposed. A method of transmitting the light and reproducing it by a television receiver is adopted.

[0004] The latter method is called an infrared AV transmission function, a LASER AVLINK function, or the like. The standard for infrared AV transmission is defined by the Japan Electronics Equipment Manufacturers Association (EIAJ). Such infrared AV
The transmission method does not require a cable connection between the video camera and the TV receiver as compared to the case using a communication cable, so there is no need to worry about the inconvenience of the connection or the installation position of the device during playback, and it is easy to operate. Are better.

On the other hand, there is a standard for infrared data communication called IrDA. This is a standard for infrared data communication standardized by Infrared Data Association, a private standardization organization established in 1993 to improve the interconnection function of infrared data communication. For example, "IrDA-
1 (ver1.0) "is 2.4 k to 115.2 kbit
/ S is a standard for medium to low speed communication, and is referred to as “IrDA-2.
(Ver1.1) "is 1.152M and 4.0Mbi.
It is a standard for high-speed communication of t / s. All are mounted on portable information devices, notebook computers, digital still cameras, etc., and wirelessly (via infrared) between these devices or with various peripheral devices such as hard disks and printers or network devices such as modems. This is a specification for performing data communication by spatial light transmission.

[0006] By the way, in a conventional video camera device and other image information equipment, in addition to the infrared AV transmission function, Ir
A device having a DA infrared data communication function has not been realized. However, in the near future, of course, there is a good possibility that an apparatus having these functions will be realized. In addition, some video cameras use infrared light as a light source for night photography. The present invention is intended to use one light source commonly for such infrared light sources for different purposes.

[0007]

As described above, no conventional image information processing apparatus has both the infrared AV transmission function and the IrDA infrared data communication function. Therefore, there has been no infrared light source commonly used for these devices. In addition, there was no common light source for night photography.

An object of the present invention is to realize an image information processing apparatus that can use one infrared light source for multiple purposes without providing infrared light sources for different functions.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an image pickup means and / or image information recording / reproducing means and an image signal output from the image pickup means and / or image information recording / reproducing means. In an image information processing apparatus having an infrared signal transmitting means for transmitting an infrared signal in a predetermined direction, a modulating means for FM-modulating the image signal;
Encoding means for digitally encoding an image signal; and selecting means for selecting the output of the modulating means or the output of the encoding means, wherein the infrared signal transmitting means is an infrared signal modulated in accordance with the output of the selecting means. Is output.

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an image information processing apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG.
1 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration around an infrared LED of an embodiment of the image information processing apparatus of the present invention. This image information processing apparatus has a function in which a digital still camera function is added to a normal video camera apparatus.
In FIG. 1, 1 is an infrared LED, 2 is an infrared LED 1
3 is a signal selection key switch, 4 is a key switch reading microcomputer, 5 is a signal changeover switch, 6
Denotes an AVFM modulation circuit, and 7 denotes an IrDA microcomputer.

The operation of this circuit will be described briefly. A video signal captured by a video camera function, an audio signal recorded by a microphone, or a video signal and an audio signal reproduced from a magnetic tape cassette or the like are FM-modulated by an AVFM modulation circuit 6. The video signal is a so-called Y / C separation signal, which is composed of a Y signal composed of a synchronization signal and a luminance signal and a C (chroma) signal which is a color signal, and the audio signal is composed of L and R stereo signals. These signals are simply added by an adder and then FM-modulated.
The frequency spectrum of the signal that is the output signal of the AVFM modulation circuit 6 is as shown in FIG.

On the other hand, a digital video signal from the digital still camera function is output as a signal via the IrDA microcomputer 7. This signal is up to 11 of ver1.0
The signal conforms to the 5.2 kbit / s standard or ver1.
1 is a signal of 1.152M or 4.0 Mbit / s standard.

By switching the signal selection key switch 3, the microcomputer 4 reads the key switch and outputs a selection signal, and the signal changeover switch 5 operates according to the selection signal. Selected. Switching by a menu screen or the like may be used instead of the signal selection key switch 3. The signal selected by the signal changeover switch 5 is input to the infrared LED drive circuit 2, and the infrared LED drive circuit 2 turns on / off the infrared LED 1 in accordance with the signal, and the on / off causes the infrared output from the infrared LED 1 to emit infrared light. Modulated into a signal.

The infrared LED 1 has an IrDA signal and an infrared A signal.
It transmits a V transmission signal and needs to have a frequency characteristic enough to pass both signals. Also,
It is necessary that the range and transmission angle of the infrared ray satisfy both standards as shown in the table of FIG.

As described above, according to the image information processing apparatus of the present embodiment, infrared AV transmission of video signals and audio signals and IrDA transmission of digital still camera signals can be performed by the same infrared LED. Therefore, in the future, even if the function of the device is advanced and a device having a plurality of infrared transmission systems is born, the transmission can be shared by one infrared LED, and only one infrared LED and its driving circuit can be used. Therefore, it is economical, and the space for mounting a plurality of infrared LEDs can be reduced, so that the size can be reduced. Further, such an infrared LED can be sufficiently used as a light source for night photography, and can be shared for this purpose.

[0016]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, an image pickup means and / or image information recording / reproducing means and an image signal output from the image pickup means and / or image information recording / reproducing means are provided. In an image information processing apparatus having an infrared signal transmitting means for transmitting an infrared signal in a predetermined direction, a modulating means for FM-modulating the image signal, a coding means for digitally coding the image signal, and an output or a coding means for the modulation means Selecting means for selecting the means output, wherein the infrared signal transmitting means outputs an infrared signal modulated in accordance with the output of the selecting means.
Thereby, either the FM modulation signal or the digitally coded signal can be selected and the infrared signal modulated according to the selected signal can be output from the infrared signal transmitting means, and each infrared light source and its driving circuit can be provided with different functions. Without providing, one infrared light source can be shared. Therefore, the apparatus can be realized at low cost and small size.

The invention according to a second aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the modulation means FM-modulates the image signal according to the infrared AV transmission standard, and the encoding means digitally encodes the image signal according to the IrDA standard. As a result, one device can use one infrared light source in any of the two infrared transmission systems currently generally used, and the device can be made inexpensive, small, and widely used.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, at the time of imaging by the imaging means, the infrared signal transmitting means is not used as the infrared signal transmitting means, but its output is used as a light source for photographing. . This makes it possible to use the infrared light source as illumination for nighttime photographing and the like, and the use can be further expanded.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration around an infrared LED according to an embodiment of an image information processing apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a frequency spectrum of an output signal of the AVFM modulation circuit.

FIG. 3 is a table showing a standard of a range and a transmission angle of an infrared ray in an IrDA signal and an infrared AV transmission signal.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference numeral 1 represents an infrared LED, 2 represents a driving circuit for the infrared LED 1, and 3 represents a driving circuit.
... Signal selection key switch, 4 ... Key switch reading microcomputer, 5 ... Signal changeover switch, 6 ... AVFM modulation circuit, 7 ... IrDA microcomputer.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An image comprising: an image pickup means and / or image information recording / reproducing means; and an infrared signal transmitting means for transmitting an image signal output from the image pickup means and / or the image information recording / reproducing means in a predetermined direction as an infrared signal. An information processing apparatus, comprising: a modulation unit that performs FM modulation on an image signal; an encoding unit that digitally encodes an image signal; and a selection unit that selects the modulation unit output or the encoding unit output. An image information processing apparatus, wherein the transmitting means outputs an infrared signal modulated according to the output of the selecting means. 2. The modulating means FM-modulates an image signal according to an infrared AV transmission standard, and the encoding means modulates the image signal by Ir.
2. The image information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein digital encoding is performed according to the DA standard. 3. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, at the time of image pickup by said image pickup means, said infrared signal transmission means is not used as an infrared signal transmission means, but its output is used as a light source for photographing. Image information processing device.