JP2019110371A - Image output device - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided is an image output apparatus that prevents a user's convenience from being significantly reduced even when an output function is limited. When the output format is switched, the display capability information of the monitor connected to the HDMI (registered trademark) terminal is held in the nonvolatile memory, and the next time the apparatus is started, the HDMI (registered trademark) terminal If the connected monitor cannot display the current format, the monitor is output in a format that can be displayed only when it does not match the display capability information held in the nonvolatile memory. [Selection] Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a control method for a device having a terminal for outputting video in a predetermined signal format, which prevents the user's convenience from being significantly reduced even when the output function is restricted.

  In recent years, it has been increasing that a user mounts an action camera and shoots, and mounts a camera on a drone and performs aerial photography. For this purpose, a miniaturized and lightweight camera is used. Therefore, cameras in which a part of the operation switch, the LCD panel, etc. are omitted, and cameras provided as separate units to which they can be detached are being put on the market. When changing the setting of the camera in the camera without the LCD panel, the setting menu is displayed on the external monitor connected to the HDMI (registered trademark) terminal, and the user makes the change while looking at it.

  On the other hand, cameras that record video at 4K resolution are also common, and many such cameras can output 4K video from an HDMI terminal. However, not all monitors support 4K video. If the 4K non-compatible monitor is connected while the 4K output is set, the camera will stop the output. As a result, there is a problem that the user loses a means for changing the settings of the camera at the time of shooting a 4K image. In addition, even after the 4K compatible monitor has become widespread, the same problem is likely to occur at the time of transition to the next 8K image.

  Therefore, in Patent Document 1, a display control system is proposed in which it is determined whether a signal input on the monitor side can be displayed, and if display can not be made, the display device returns to the output device side and the output device side switches to a displayable signal format. There is. Further, in Patent Document 2, it is determined whether the information indicating the resolution of the video included in the received program data is the resolution that can be displayed by the display device, and it is determined that the resolution can not be displayed by the display device. We have proposed a digital television broadcast receiver that reports that it can not be displayed.

JP-A-9-138674 JP, 2016-103813, A

  The camera has both an SDI terminal and an HDMI terminal because the SDI terminal is commonly used in business applications. In order to transmit 4K60p video, four terminals are required in 3G-SDI, which leads to an increase in the size of the camera. In addition, 12G-SDI can be transmitted by one cable, but it will require a large cost to cope not only with cameras but also with existing broadcasting equipment.

  Therefore, there is a camera in which the SDI terminal is up to 2K output with 3G-SDI, and 4K output is possible only from the HDMI terminal. In a camera that requires such a reduction in size, the video for SDI and the video for HDMI can not be generated at the same time because the circuit scale is reduced, and the output from the SDI terminal is output during the output from the HDMI terminal. It often stops.

  However, in the above-described conventional example, since the HDMI output is forcibly changed to a signal format that can be displayed, an image may not be output from the SDI terminal, which may be contrary to the user's intention.

  An object of the present invention is to present an image output apparatus which solves such a problem and prevents the user's convenience from being significantly reduced even when the output function is restricted.

The image output apparatus of the present invention has a first terminal for outputting a video signal, and a second terminal for outputting a video signal when the video signal is not output to the first terminal. It is possible to obtain a list of signal formats that can be displayed from an external display device from the terminal,
Holding means for holding a list of displayable signal formats of the external display device to be connected to the first terminal when switching the signal format to be output;
When the external display device connected to the first terminal can not display the designated signal format, the first terminal when the signal format is switched based on the list of displayable signal formats held. A determination unit that determines whether or not display has been performed on the
If it is determined that the display means can be displayed by the determination means, it switches to a signal format that can be displayed by the current external display device and outputs a video signal to the first terminal, and in the other cases, to the second terminal Output control means for outputting a video signal;
It is characterized by having.

According to another feature of the present invention, in the image output apparatus of the first aspect,
It has nonvolatile memory that can hold data even when power is not supplied to this device,
Holding means for holding, in the non-volatile memory, a list of displayable signal formats of the external display device to be connected to the first terminal when switching of the signal format to be output is performed;
Even if the main power is turned off, it is possible to determine whether or not the first terminal can be displayed when the signal format is switched based on the list of displayable signal formats held in the non-volatile memory Means,
It is characterized by having.

According to another feature of the present invention, in the image output apparatus of the first aspect,
Selecting means for notifying the user that the signal format can not be displayed when the signal format is switched by the output control means, and for selecting whether or not to continue the output from the first terminal;
It is characterized by having.

According to another feature of the present invention, in the image output apparatus of the first aspect, the first and second terminals have a third terminal for outputting a video signal without being exclusive. An output control unit that does not switch the signal format of the first terminal when it is detected that the external display device is connected to the terminal of
It is characterized by having.

According to another feature of the present invention, in the image output apparatus of the first aspect,
The device has multiple operating modes and
A determination unit that makes a determination based on the list of displayable signal formats held immediately after the operation mode is switched, and does not perform the determination until the operation mode is switched next;
It is characterized by having.

  As described above, according to the present invention, output control different from the user's intention is not performed. As a result, it is possible to prevent the user's convenience from being significantly reduced.

Configuration diagram of the embodiment Flow chart of output control means executed by CPU Display example of message when switching HDMI output HDMI output switching example

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a video camera incorporating one embodiment of an image output apparatus according to the present invention. Describe the configuration and basic functions of the video camera.

  First, the CPU 101 reads a program from the ROM 102 and controls each part of the video camera accordingly. The RAM 103 also stores various data used when the CPU 101 performs control, and image data output from each circuit.

  Usually, the video camera has a shooting mode and a playback mode, and the user can switch the mode by operating the operation unit 106. Further, in the shooting mode, the user sets the resolution and the frame rate of the image to be recorded. As the recording resolution, 4K resolution (4096x2160 or 3840x2160) or 2K resolution (2048x1080 or 1920x1080) is generally used, but a high resolution such as 6K or 8K can be considered in the future. Moreover, as a frame rate, a high frame rate exceeding 50 fps / 60 fps can be considered.

  The operation unit 104 includes, for example, operation members such as a power switch, a shooting / reproduction mode switch, a recording start / stop switch, and a menu operation switch. This includes GUI operation members such as a touch panel and a pointing device. When the user operates these operation members, the operation unit 104 transmits an operation signal to the CPU 101, and the CPU 101 performs a desired operation.

  The imaging unit 105 generally includes a lens and an image sensor, and outputs an object image formed on the image sensor through the lens as an electrical image signal.

  In the photographing mode, the image processing circuit 106 converts an input image signal into digital data, performs various kinds of image correction processing, and then stores the image signal as image data in the RAM 103.

  In the photographing mode, the recording / reproducing circuit 107 reads image data stored in the RAM 103 according to a recording start instruction from the CPU 101, compresses and encodes it in a desired format, and records it in the memory card 108. On the other hand, in the reproduction mode, data is read out from the memory card 108, expanded and decoded, and image data is stored in the RAM 103. The memory card 108 is a randomly accessible recording medium. The memory card 108 is composed of a storage device incorporating a flash memory and a controller.

  The OSD generation circuit 109 generates OSD (On Screen Display) data such as a menu, an icon, or a message according to an instruction from the CPU 101 and stores the data in the RAM 103.

  The image output circuit 110 reads image data and OSD data stored in the RAM 103, superimposes them, and converts them into a signal format according to either the HDMI terminal 111 or the SDI terminal 112 according to an instruction from the CPU 101 And output to the HDMI terminal 111 or the SDI terminal 112. An HDMI monitor is connected to the HDMI terminal 111, and an SDI monitor is connected to the SDI terminal 112, and the user can view an OSD display such as a photographed image, a reproduced image, and a menu.

  Also, the HDMI terminal 111 includes a signal line that changes when the monitor is connected, and the CPU 101 can determine whether the monitor is connected or not by reading the state of the signal line. .

  The HDMI data communication circuit 113 can acquire EDID (Extended Display Identification Data) from the connected monitor according to an instruction from the CPU 101. The CPU 101 extracts a list of signal formats (resolution and frame rate) that can be displayed by the monitor from EDID, and stores the list in the RAM. Hereinafter, the list of displayable signal formats is referred to as HDMI capability information.

  If the CPU 101 determines that the monitor is connected to the HDMI terminal and that the current recording resolution and frame rate correspond to each other based on the HDMI capability information, the video is recorded on the HDMI terminal with the recording resolution and frame rate Output. When the monitor is not connected to the HDMI terminal, or when the current recording resolution and the frame rate do not correspond to each other, the video is output to the SDI terminal side. In this embodiment, on the SDI terminal side, the image output circuit 110 resizes to 2K size and outputs it even if the recording resolution is 4K. However, in the case of a video camera having a plurality of 3G-SDI terminals or a video camera having a 12G-SDI terminal, it is also easily conceivable to output the 4K resolution as it is.

  Similarly, the second image output circuit 114 also reads image data and OSD data stored in the RAM 103, superimposes them, and outputs them to the LCD panel terminal 115. An LCD panel is connected to the LCD panel terminal 115, and the user can view an OSD display such as a photographed image, a reproduced image, and a menu.

  The LCD panel terminal 115 also includes a signal line that changes when the LCD panel is connected, and the CPU 101 can determine whether the LCD panel is connected or not by reading the state of the signal line. it can.

  The SRAM 116 can store various data used when the CPU 101 performs control. Unlike the RAM 103, the power supply from the backup battery 117 keeps the stored data even while the main power of the video camera is turned off. The next time the main power of the video camera is turned on, the last stored value can be read. Another possible configuration of such non-volatile memory is a rewritable ROM such as Flash ROM or EEPROM.

  Next, the holding unit, the determination unit, and the output control unit executed by the CPU 101 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  First, in S201, it is determined whether a monitor is connected to the HDMI terminal 111 or not. If the HDMI monitor is not connected, the process advances to step S210 to clear the HDMI capability information stored in the RAM 103. Thereafter, the process advances to step S211 to instruct the image output circuit 110 to output an image from the SDI terminal 112. At this time, the HDMI terminal 111 side stops the output.

  On the other hand, if the HDMI monitor is connected, the processing proceeds to S202, and it is determined whether or not the HDMI capability information is stored in the RAM 103. If it is not stored, the processing proceeds to S203 as the new HDMI monitor is connected, and is already stored. If there is no change in the HDMI monitor, S203 is skipped.

  In step S203, an instruction is issued to the HDMI data communication circuit 113, and after HDMI capability information is acquired, the information is stored in the RAM 103, and the process proceeds to step S204. After that, it is determined from the HDMI capability information stored in the RAM 103 in S204 whether the recording resolution and the frame rate can be displayed on the monitor. If it can be displayed, the process proceeds to step S205. If it can not be displayed, the process proceeds to step S206.

  In step S205, the image output circuit 110 is instructed to output an image from the HDMI terminal 111 with the recording resolution and the frame rate remaining. At this time, the SDI terminal 112 side stops the output.

  In step S206, it is determined whether the LCD panel is connected to the LCD panel terminal 115. If the LDC panel is connected, the process advances to step S211 to instruct output of an image from the SDI terminal 112.

  If the LCD panel is not connected, the process advances to step S207 to determine from the HDMI capability information stored in the SRAM 116 whether the monitor connected when switching to the current recording resolution and frame rate can be displayed. If the monitor that can be displayed when the recording resolution and the frame rate are switched is connected, the process proceeds to S208. If the recordable monitor is not connected, the process advances to step S211, and the output from the SDI terminal 112 is continued.

  In S208, it is determined whether the user desires to continue the HDMI terminal output. If the user does not want to continue the HDMI terminal output, the process advances to step S 211 to instruct to output an image from the SDI terminal 112.

  If it is desired to continue the output of the HDMI terminal, the process proceeds to S209, and the image output circuit 110 is instructed to convert to a displayable resolution and a frame rate and output from the HDMI terminal 111. For example, when the recording resolution is 4K60P, if the connected monitor only supports up to 2K, 2K60P is output. In addition, if the monitor only supports up to 4K30P, it is conceivable to output with 4K30P.

  As a method of determining whether the user desires to continue the HDMI terminal output in S208, for example, it is considered that the message as shown in FIG. 3 is displayed after the HDMI terminal output is performed in S209 and the user is made to select Be When the user selects "Yes (301)", the HDMI terminal output is continued, and when "No (302)" is selected, the output is switched to the SDI terminal output. By displaying such a message, the user can determine that the current HDMI terminal output is not desired. Also, if it is desired to output the SDI terminal, it can be switched to the output of the SDI terminal without removing the monitor from the HDMI terminal.

  After the output from the HDMI terminal or the SDI terminal in S205, S209 or S211, it is determined in S212 whether the user has switched the recording resolution or the frame rate. If the recording resolution or the frame rate has been switched, the process proceeds to S213, and if not switched, S213 is skipped. In S213, the HDMI capability information stored in the RAM 116 is copied to the SRAM 116 as the HDMI capability information when the recording resolution or the frame rate is switched. By storing in the SRAM 116, even when the main power of the video camera is turned off, the HDMI capability information can be held, and even when the power is turned on next, the determination can be similarly made in S207. it can.

  FIG. 4 is a table showing the determination results of the flowchart. Depending on the combination of the recording resolution, the HDMI capability information stored in the SRAM 116, and the current HDMI capability information stored in the RAM 103, it is determined which one of the HDMI terminal and the SDI terminal the image is output. In the flowchart of the present embodiment, the condition determination is performed, but it is also easily conceivable to store such a table on the ROM 102 and obtain the determination result from the table.

  When the recording resolution is switched to 4K, if the 4K HDMI monitor is connected (the capacity information stored in the SRAM 116 is 4K) and then it is replaced with the 2K HDMI monitor, it is determined that the user connected the wrong HDMI monitor The HDMI terminal outputs at 2K resolution without the SDI terminal output, and displays a message as shown in FIG. Also, if you move to another place while the main power is off and connect a 2K HDMI monitor, similarly, the HDMI terminal outputs at 2K resolution without SDI terminal output, as shown in Figure 3 Display a similar message.

  On the other hand, when the recording resolution is switched to 4K, if the 2K HDMI monitor is connected (the capacity information stored in the SRAM 116 is 2K), when replacing with another 2K HDMI monitor, or turn on the main power supply next time In this case, when the connection configuration is maintained with the 2K HDMI monitor as it is, the user recognizes that it is not displayed and determines that the 2K HDMI monitor is connected, and outputs an image to the SDI terminal. As a result, it is not necessary to switch the output to the HDMI terminal side against the user's intention, and the burden on the user can be reduced.

  If the HDMI monitor is not connected (there is no capability information stored in the SRAM 116), the process may exceptionally proceed to S208 in S207. This is because it can be determined that the HDMI monitor has been connected in expectation of the user being displayed.

  Although the present invention has been described in detail based on its preferred embodiments, the present invention is not limited to these specific embodiments, and various embodiments within the scope of the present invention are also included in the present invention. included. Some of the embodiments described above may be combined as appropriate.

  Also, when a software program for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiment is supplied from a recording medium to a system or apparatus having a computer capable of executing the program directly or using wired / wireless communication, and the program is executed Is also included in the present invention.

  Therefore, the program code itself supplied and installed in the computer to realize the functional processing of the present invention by the computer also implements the present invention. That is, the computer program itself for realizing the functional processing of the present invention is also included in the present invention.

  In that case, as long as it has the function of the program, the form of the program, such as object code, a program executed by an interpreter, script data supplied to the OS, etc., does not matter.

  The recording medium for supplying the program may be, for example, a hard disk, a magnetic recording medium such as a magnetic tape, an optical / optical magnetic storage medium, or a non-volatile semiconductor memory.

  Also, as a program supply method, a method may be considered in which a computer program forming the present invention is stored in a server on a computer network, and a connected client computer downloads and programs the computer program.

101 .. CPU
102 .... ROM
103 .... RAM
104 Operation unit 105 Imaging unit 106 Image processing circuit 107 Recording and reproduction circuit 108 Memory card 109 OSD generation circuit 110 Image output circuit 111 HDMI terminal 112 SDI terminal 113 ... HDMI data communication circuit 114... Second image output circuit 115 .. LCD panel terminal 116.
117 .... Backup battery

Claims (5)

It has a first terminal for outputting a video signal, and a second terminal for outputting a video signal when the video signal is not output to the first terminal, and the display is performed from the external display device from the first terminal It is possible to obtain a list of possible signal formats,
Holding means for holding a list of displayable signal formats of the external display device to be connected to the first terminal when switching the signal format to be output;
When the external display device connected to the first terminal can not display the designated signal format, the first terminal when the signal format is switched based on the list of displayable signal formats held. A determination unit that determines whether or not display has been performed on the
If it is determined that the display means can be displayed by the determination means, it switches to a signal format that can be displayed by the current external display device and outputs a video signal to the first terminal, and in the other cases, to the second terminal Output control means for outputting a video signal;
An image output device characterized by having: In the image output apparatus according to claim 1,
It has nonvolatile memory that can hold data even when power is not supplied to this device,
Holding means for holding, in the non-volatile memory, a list of displayable signal formats of the external display device to be connected to the first terminal when switching of the signal format to be output is performed;
Even if the main power is turned off, it is possible to determine whether or not the first terminal can be displayed when the signal format is switched based on the list of displayable signal formats held in the non-volatile memory Means,
It is characterized by having. In the image output apparatus according to claim 1,
Selecting means for notifying the user that the signal format can not be displayed when the signal format is switched by the output control means, and for selecting whether or not to continue the output from the first terminal;
It is characterized by having. The image output apparatus according to claim 1 has a third terminal for outputting a video signal without being exclusive to the first and second terminals, and detects that the external display device is connected to the third terminal. Output control means that does not switch the signal format of the first terminal in the case of
It is characterized by having. In the image output apparatus according to claim 1,
The device has multiple operating modes and
A determination unit that makes a determination based on the list of displayable signal formats held immediately after the operation mode is switched, and does not perform the determination until the operation mode is switched next;
An image output device characterized by having: