JPH07203354A - Video signal recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] It is an object to provide a video signal recording device that can easily search for a still image during reproduction. A control system 10 for controlling a lens system 1, a solid-state image sensor imager 2, a camera signal processing unit 3, an audio signal processing unit 5, a VTR signal processing unit 6, a recording / reproducing system 7, a video memory unit 8 and a flash unit 9. When the access marker switch is input at the start point or the end point, the control system 10 supplies the start identification information or the end identification information to the recording / reproducing system 7 via the VTR signal processing unit 6 at each point. To record.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a video signal recording device for recording a video signal on a recording track on a magnetic tape formed by helical scanning while rotating a magnetic head.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As an apparatus for recording a video signal on a recording medium, for example, a magnetic recording medium, a so-called electronic still camera for recording a still image of a subject on a floppy disk, or a video tape for recording using a magnetic tape, for example. A camera-integrated 8 mm video tape recorder and the like are known as recorders.

In such a video signal recording apparatus,
Conventionally, the latter video tape recorder that records on the latter magnetic tape winds this magnetic tape around the rotary head drum and helically scans the rotary head of the rotary head drum to record the video image recorded on the magnetic tape. I am recording.

In general, video tape recorders have become popular as those for recording moving images such as camera-integrated 8 mm video tape recorders. However, in recent devices, still images are recorded in the same manner as the electronic still cameras described above. Devices for recording the have also been provided. In order to record such a still image, the video tape recorder has been commercialized by adopting a method of capturing an image of one field of a normally captured image in a video memory. Conventionally,
As described above, some camera-integrated 8 mm video tape recorders have a function of simply recording a still image for an arbitrary time and reproducing the recorded still image together with the moving image.

[0005]

By the way, as described above, a still image and a moving image are recorded together on the magnetic tape. For example, when the image information recorded on the magnetic tape is to be output to a video printer as a single printed matter, the user can roughly record the moving image by high-speed visual search by the fast-forward function and rewind function of the video tape recorder. You can check the position. After that, when outputting the moving image, the user can output the desired image by the video printer while performing normal reproduction in the vicinity of the desired recording area to be output.

However, in recording a still image, usually, only one still image is often recorded. For this reason, if the video tape recorder is searched in the same manner as a moving image at the time of reproduction, the video tape recorder will display a still image for a moment. The user needs to perform a complicated operation of repeatedly performing a reproduction operation to confirm the image in each area where the still image is recorded.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above situation, and an object thereof is to provide a video signal recording apparatus capable of easily searching for a still image during reproduction.

[0008]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a video signal recording device according to the present invention is a video signal recording device for recording a video signal, and a still image recording device for recording a still image on the magnetic tape. The moving image still image identification information for identifying the moving image still image in the image shooting mode is written on the magnetic tape, and also written in the storage means for storing the captured still image image information, and the still image read out repeatedly from this storage means. The feature is that image information is recorded on a magnetic tape.

Here, in the video signal recording device, in the still image shooting mode, start identification information for identifying the start of the still image at the start point and end point of the still image recording area and end identification information for identifying the end of the still image. And are recorded on the magnetic tape.

Further, it is preferable that the magnetic tape also records information on a starting point which is repeatedly read from the storage means a plurality of times. The start identification information, the end identification information, and the start point information that is repeatedly read a plurality of times in recording on the magnetic tape are recorded in, for example, the video subcode area of the format in the video tape recorder.

[0011]

In the video signal recording apparatus according to the present invention, the image information of the still image captured in the storage means is repeatedly recorded a plurality of times, so that even if a high-speed visual search at the time of reproduction is performed, the repetitive recorded period information is recorded. , Still images are displayed continuously.

Further, in the still image shooting mode, start identification information for identifying the start of the still image at the start point and end point of the still image recording area and end identification information for identifying the end of the still image are recorded on the magnetic tape. By doing so, only the still image recording area or only the moving image recording area is displayed based on these pieces of information during reproduction.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a video signal recording apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The video signal recording apparatus of this embodiment is a so-called camera-integrated type 8 mm.
Video tape recorder (hereinafter referred to simply as camera-integrated type 8 mm
This is an example of applying the present invention to a VTR).

Camera integrated type 8 mmV in this embodiment
For example, as shown in FIG. 1, TR is a lens system 1 which is composed of a plurality of lens groups as an optical system and forms an image of transmitted light transmitted through these lens groups The image pickup unit as an image pickup unit configured by the solid-state image pickup device 2 for converting into the image, the camera signal processing unit 3 for inputting the output signal from the solid-state image pickup device 2 to perform signal processing in the camera, and the audio signal of the ambient environment For a VTR by inputting a microphone 4 for collecting sound, an audio signal processing unit 5 for processing an audio signal from the microphone 4, a video signal from the camera signal processing unit 3 and an audio signal from the audio signal processing unit 5. A VTR signal processing unit 6 for processing signals and a VT for recording.
The output signal from the R signal processing unit 6 is recorded on a magnetic tape,
The recording / reproducing system 7 for reproducing the information recorded on the magnetic tape at the time of reproduction, and the video signal from the VTR signal processing unit 6 are temporarily written according to the control signal, and the written video signal is used as the control signal. A video memory 8 to be read in response, a flash unit 9 as flash light emitting means for emitting a flash light for illumination to a subject, a lens system 1, a solid-state image sensor 2,
A camera signal processing unit 3, an audio signal processing unit 5, a VTR signal processing unit 6, a recording / reproducing system 7, a control system 10 for controlling the video memory unit 8 and a flash unit 9, and a video / audio modulation signal transmitted from a broadcasting station. And a tuner 11 for demodulating.

The lens system 1 is composed of a plurality of lens groups, and controls the key signal from a zoom operation switch, for example.
The zoom operation is performed according to the control signal from the control system 10. Further, the lens system 1 controls the iris meter of the lens system 1 with a control signal output from the control system 10 from a signal supplied via the solid-state image sensor 2 and the camera signal processing unit 3. By this iris control, the lens system 1 is adjusted by narrowing the amount of incident light and exposure control is performed.

In the solid-state image pickup device 2, various timing controls such as opening / closing control of an electronic shutter are performed according to a control signal from the control system 10. Also, by this timing control, the solid-state imaging device 2 outputs a video signal conforming to the NTSC system, which is one of the current broadcasting systems, to the camera signal processing unit 3.

The camera signal processing section 3 performs AGC (Auto Gain Control) control for adjusting the white balance of the video signal and gain adjustment of the signal level of the video signal in accordance with a control signal from the control system 10. In order to perform these adjustments, the camera signal processing unit 3 is, for example, the camera signal processing unit 3
Is output to the control system 10.

The voice signal processing section 5 collects the sound of the surrounding environment by the microphone 4 and converts this sound into, for example, a digital signal at the timing of the control signal from the control system 10. In the audio signal processing unit 5, PCM processing is performed on the converted digital signal to perform PCM coding. The audio signal processing unit 5 outputs the PCM coded digital signal, that is, the PCM audio signal and the analog signal, to the VTR according to the control signal supplied from the control system 10.
The signal is supplied to the signal processing unit 6.

The VTR signal processing section 6 is a voice signal processing section 6
Output signal and a video / audio signal based on a video signal from the camera signal processing unit 3, a demodulated video / audio signal supplied from a tuner 11 described later, or an external input terminal 12.
The video / audio signal of the external input supplied via is selected and output from the output terminal 13. By supplying the selected video / audio signal to the display, it is possible to monitor the situation in which the camera-integrated 8 mm VTR is photographed. The VTR signal processing unit 6 is supplied with V from the control system 10.
A control signal for generating a VTR signal corresponding to the TR format is supplied. The VTR signal processing section 6 has an analog audio signal processing section for decoding the PCM audio signal and converting it into an analog signal when the PCM audio signal is reproduced from the magnetic tape by the recording / reproducing system 7.

The VTR signal processor 6 also converts the video signal from the camera signal processor 3 into a digital signal.
This digital video signal is output to the video memory unit 8 according to the memory control signal of the control system 10. The VTR signal processing unit 6 converts the digital video signal output from the video memory unit 8 into an analog signal according to the memory control signal of the control system 10. Some models of the VTR signal processing unit 6 are provided with a digital signal processing unit for the supplied video signal in order to perform special effect processing.

The video memory unit 8 is composed of, for example, a field memory or a frame memory. Video memory unit 8
As described above, the control system 10 controls the writing / reading of signals to / from the memory.

The recording / reproducing system 7 records a moving image or a still image on a recording track of a magnetic tape through a rotary magnetic head provided on a rotary head drum for supplying a video signal and an audio signal supplied from the VTR signal processing section 6 during recording. It is recorded as a picture. When recording a still image, the image information of one still image may be continuously recorded from the video memory unit 8 over several frames.

Further, at the time of reproduction, the recording / reproduction system 7 reproduces the video signal recorded on the recording track of the magnetic tape as a moving image or a still image through, for example, the rotary head drum. The audio signal in the recording / reproducing system 7 is reproduced via a fixed head for audio, for example.

Finally, the flash unit 9 controls the lighting timing based on the control signal from the control system 10, and the charging and discharging according to the lighting control signal supplied from the lighting control unit 91. And a strobe light 93 that emits a flash of light by an instantaneous discharge from the capacitor 92. These configurations are built in the camera-integrated 8 mm VTR device. With this configuration, compared to the case where the strobe light 93 is externally attached, the product can be provided as a product with high added value in terms of design and portability.

The battery used for charging the capacitor 92 may be the battery built in the main body for driving each part or may be provided exclusively for the strobe light. The light emission of the strobe light 93 can be suppressed by controlling the light emission only when it is determined that the exposure during shooting is insufficient.

The tuner 11 receives a modulated video / audio signal received via an antenna, selects a desired station from this signal, and demodulates the selected modulated video / audio signal. The tuner 11 outputs the demodulated video / audio signal to V
It is output to the TR signal processing unit 6.

A signal is input to the control system 10 via an access marker switch when the user records a still image. In the camera-integrated 8 mm VTR, the access marker switch is also used as a shutter for recording a still image in the still image recording mode. The still image recording switch is used as both a shutter button and a flash switch. The flash-dedicated switch may also function as a normal recording start switch used by the user for moving images.

By pressing this access marker switch, various identification signals are supplied from the control system 10 to the recording / reproducing system 7 via the VTR signal processing section 6. This will be described in detail when explaining FIG.

Next, a series of operations up to the emission of the strobe light 93 in the 8 mm VTR will be described with reference to the timing chart shown in FIG. 2 and the block diagram shown in FIG.

Here, in the case of recording a scene that the user wants to shoot as a still image, when the flash switch is pressed, a flash signal is supplied to the control system 10 as shown in FIG. 2A, for example. The control system 10 determines whether or not the exposure set based on the exposure light amount information supplied from the camera signal processing unit 3 is sufficient. When it is judged that sufficient exposure can be obtained, the still image is recorded as it is. At this time, the recording may be continuously performed on each recording track, and the still image may be recorded plural times.

When the control system 10 determines that sufficient exposure cannot be obtained, that is, when the exposure is insufficient, the control system 10
A control signal is sent to each part to cause the strobe light 93 to flash, and the flash function operates normally.

First, when the strobe light 93 flashes, the iris diaphragm is controlled so that a clear image of good quality can be obtained for the subject by the number of guides of the lens system 1 of the camera-integrated 8 mm VTR. Further, the control system 10 simultaneously sets AGC control and white balance adjustment for the camera signal processing unit 3. In particular, the control system 10 sets fixed values of red (R) and blue (B) to the camera signal processing unit 3 so that the white balance adjustment can be performed at an optimum value when the strobe light 93 emits light. Output. In addition, the control system 10
Outputs a control signal so that the electronic shutter of the solid-state imaging device 2 is opened / closed at a light emission timing when the strobe light 93 emits light.

As shown in FIG. 2B, when the flash switch is pressed, the control system 10 starts the iris diaphragm control which outputs almost simultaneously. However, the iris diaphragm control requires a transient response time T until the iris response stabilizes.
_TJ1 takes time from a few fields to a dozen fields.

In the white balance adjustment shown in FIG. 2D, the rise of the adjustment is delayed due to the communication delay to the camera signal processing unit 3. For the same reason, the control system 1 is adjusted to this delay.
0 sets the opening / closing control of the electronic shutter in FIG. 2E to the same as the delay time in the white balance adjustment. Where 1
V indicates the time of the vertical synchronizing signal. Indeed, the delay time T _O to to open the electronic shutter shown in FIG. 2 (e) is 2~3V example. Similarly, in the camera signal processing unit 3, A
The GC response has a rising waveform as shown in FIG. 2G due to the time constant of the circuit and the delay due to human eyes.

In this way, the timings are set so that the strobe light 93 emits light after the iris response stabilizes and the delay due to the transient response is taken into consideration by the control system 10 for setting a fixed value for each part. This strobe light 93 is 1/1000 when the solid-state image sensor 2 starts reading.
Lights up in seconds. Therefore, the flash emission time T _FL shown in FIG. 2C ends on the order of 1/1000 second.
After this light emission is completed, the image pickup output signal from the solid-state image pickup device 2 is a capture pulse which is one of the memory control signals,
That is, the capture into the video memory unit 8 is performed by a freeze pulse. The time from the start of light emission to the fall of the freeze pulse is within one field.
The period from the emission of the strobe light 93 to the closing of the electronic shutter is, for example, 2 to 3V.

By controlling in this way, a clear still image can be captured in the video memory unit 8. Here, the period T from when the flash switch is pressed until the light emission
_{Although TJ1} and the period T _OF from the time the light is emitted until the flash switch is turned off are slightly changed due to the transient response, it is better to record the same as a moving image on the camera-integrated 8 mm VTR than to record no signal by muting. .

A case where the flash is emitted to record a still image on the magnetic tape 20 will be specifically described with reference to FIG. Reference will be made to FIG. 2 as needed in the description of the timing. By performing helical scanning while rotating the magnetic head, oblique recording tracks are formed on the magnetic tape. The magnetic tape 20 travels and moves in the direction of arrow L in FIG. As a result, the oblique video signal recording track V and the video subcode areas V _SC and P shown in FIG. 3 are obtained.
The CM audio recording area A _PCM is recorded by helical scanning of the magnetic head.

When the flash is fired to record a still image on the magnetic tape, first, as described with reference to FIG. 2, the optimum time is set for the firing / recording. The time T _TJ1 from when the user presses the flash switch until the flash _fires after the optimum settings of the iris control, white balance adjustment, and electronic shutter opening / closing control are actually performed is the transient response time. . Further, the time T _TJ2 for returning to the original state after the still picture image information is fetched in the video memory unit 8 is also the transient response time. Since the captured image of the camera is unstable during these transient response times T _TJ1 and T _TJ2 , image information is not captured. The time from the flash emission during the transient response times T _TJ1 and T _{TJ2 to} the fall of the freeze pulse which is a pulse for capturing a video signal is within one field.

In this still picture recording, the freeze pulse rises at the same time when the still picture control signal for still picture recording shown in FIG. 3 is turned on. Along with the rise of this freeze pulse, image information photographed according to the memory control signal from the control system 10 is supplied to the video memory unit 8 via the VTR signal processing unit 6.

The video memory unit 8 outputs image information to the recording / reproducing system 7 via the VTR signal processing unit 6 at the timing of reading the memory control signal from the control system 10. The recording / reproducing system 7 records the image information read from the video memory unit 8 on the video signal recording track V.

At the time of this recording, as the start point of the still image recording area, the start identification information ID _S is simultaneously recorded in the video subcode area V _SC when the flash switch is turned on. When the frame recording is performed, the start identification information ID _S is continuously recorded in the next adjacent video subcode area V _SC .

As described above, the video signal is taken into the video memory unit 8 under a stable condition after flash emission. The video signal continuously fetched from the video memory unit 8 a plurality of times is repeatedly read as image information. Repeat start information ID _R is recorded in the video subcode area V _SC at the start point of this repeated read. In this case also, this information ID _R is frame-recorded in two consecutive video subcode areas V _SC .

At the end point at which the repeated reading from the video memory unit 8 ends, the end identification information ID _E for identifying the end of the still picture is, for example, two continuous video subcode areas at the same time when the still picture control signal is turned off. Frame record to V _SC . This repetition start information ID _R and end identification information I
The section in which D _E is recorded is arbitrarily set by the user. For this setting, the start identification information ID _S , the repeat start information ID _R and the end identification information ID _E are selected by the access marker switch shown in FIG. 1 and recorded in the video subcode area V _SC of the magnetic tape 20.

[0044] Thus starting identified during the video sub-code area V _SC recording information ID _S, by recording the repeat start information ID _R and end identification information ID _E, searches the video sub-code area V _SC at the time of reproduction And start identification information I
The control system 10 skips the section from D _S to the repeat start information ID _R and reproduces only between the repeat start information ID _R and the end identification information ID _E in which stable still image information is recorded. Controlled by. As a result, so-called digest play of a still image can be performed. This so-called digest play can be performed with or without flash emission, avoiding the period of no signal output due to mechanical control of the video tape recorder during playback, and showing the image to the user even during this period. be able to.

On the contrary, if the portion from the start identification information ID _S to the end identification information ID _E is skipped, the still image recording area can be skipped and reproduced, and only the moving image can be reproduced. At this time, since the reproducing video tape recorder is mechanically controlled during skipping even when reproducing a moving image, this period is also a no-signal period. In order to avoid the output of no signal, the video memory unit 8 is always operated so as to capture the previous video signal. Thus, when the start identification information ID _S is detected, the image information of the field signal or the frame signal immediately before the detection of the start identification information ID _S is repeatedly output from the video memory unit 8 and the end identification information ID _E is detected. It is possible to eliminate the no-signal period until the end.

The identification information may be recorded in the same identification signal over several fields in order to prevent dropout due to dropout or the like and prevent so-called digest play or skip function failure.

By recording in this way, only a still image or a moving image can be reproduced at the time of reproduction, and the recorded contents can be easily confirmed. As a result, the time for confirming the contents can be shortened.

Further, as is apparent from the timing chart of FIG. 2, it is understood that the transient response of the iris response takes the longest time. A method for reducing the time required for this iris response will be described below. FIG. 4 shows the timing chart. This method is proposed as a simple setting. When the user shoots an environment of low illuminance of several hundred lux, for example, indoors, the iris is opened beforehand as shown in FIG. 4 (b). As a result, the iris response is always stable under such conditions, and the transient response time can be set to zero. In this way, the time is shortened by setting the iris diaphragm in consideration of the surrounding environment. Moreover, the time can be shortened by performing AGC control with a preset value.

In addition to this, since the white balance adjustment and the opening / closing of the electronic shutter are set in consideration of such a situation, as shown in FIG. 4D, immediately after the flash switch is turned on without delay time. Will be able to deal with.

The strobe light 93 under these conditions is
For example, in light of safety, the control signal from the control system 10 is made to emit light after a delay time to reach each part. As described above, the period until the freeze pulse falls after the strobe light 93 emits light is within one field. The open period of the electronic shutter is set to, for example, about 4 to 6V.

[0051] Incidentally, the period T _OF from after emitting the period T _TJ1 to emission by pressing the flash switch as described above until you turn off the flash switch, but is swung slightly by a transient response, no over muted 8mm VT with built-in camera as a moving image rather than recording a signal
It is better to record in R.

By operating as described above, the image information of the still image captured in the storage means is repeatedly recorded a plurality of times, so that even during the high-speed visual search at the time of reproduction, the repeated recording period is Still images can be displayed continuously. Only the still image or the moving image can be played back at the time of playback, and the recorded contents can be easily confirmed. As a result, the time for confirming the contents can be shortened. Further, for example, the camera-integrated 8 mm VTR for shooting and recording the moving image of this embodiment can be used in the same manner as a still camera, so that the applications can be increased and the market can be expanded.

Start identification information for identifying the start of a still image at the start point and end point of the still image recording area and end identification information for identifying the end of the still image in the still image shooting mode, and repeated a plurality of times from the storage means. By recording each of the information of the starting point to be read out by reading on the magnetic tape, only the still image recording area or the moving image recording area can be displayed based on the information at the time of reproduction, and only a stable image can be displayed. In particular, it is possible to eliminate a signalless period during the mechanical control period and prevent stress on the user.

Although it has been described that the format of the recording / reproducing system in this embodiment is the standard of 8 mm VTR,
It is obvious that the present invention is not limited to this format and can be used for video tape recorders of any format.

[0055]

In the video signal recording apparatus according to the present invention, the image information of the still image captured in the storage means is repeatedly recorded a plurality of times, so that it is repeatedly recorded even when the visual high-speed search during reproduction is performed. Still images can be continuously displayed for the period, the recorded contents in the magnetic tape can be easily confirmed, and the time required for confirmation can be shortened. As a result, for example, the camera-integrated 8 mm VTR can be used in the same manner as a still camera, so that the applications can be increased and the market can be expanded.

In the still image shooting mode, the video signal recording apparatus includes the start identification information for identifying the start of the still image at the start point and the end point of the still image recording area and the end identification information for identifying the end of the still image, respectively. By recording on magnetic tape, it is possible to display only the still image recording area or only the moving image recording area based on this information during playback, and only stable images can be displayed, especially during the no-signal period during the mechanical control period. It is possible to prevent the user from being stressed by eliminating the above.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a video signal recording device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a timing chart for explaining operation timing in flash light emission of the video signal recording device.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating magnetic tape recording at the above operation timing.

FIG. 4 is a timing chart when the operation timing is shortened.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 ... Lens system 2 ... Solid-state image sensor 3 ... Camera signal processing unit 4 ...・ ・ ・ Microphone 5 ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ Voice signal processor 6 ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ VTR signal processor 7 ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ Recording / reproducing system 8 ・······ Video memory unit 9 ···· Flash unit 10 ··· Control system 11 ···· Tuner 12: Input terminal 13: Output terminal

Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Office reference number FI technical display location G11B 27/28 A 8224-5D

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A video signal recording device for recording a video signal, wherein video still image identification information for identifying a video still image in the still image shooting mode for shooting a still image on the magnetic tape is written on the magnetic tape. A video signal recording device, characterized in that the photographed still image information is written in a storage means for storing the information, and the still image information read out from the storage means repeatedly is recorded on a magnetic tape. 2. The magnetic tape is provided with start identification information for identifying the start of a still image at the start and end points of a still image recording area and end identification information for identifying the end of a still image in the still image shooting mode. The video signal recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the video signal is recorded.