GB2255686A

GB2255686A - Character editor for titling video recordings

Info

Publication number: GB2255686A
Application number: GB9208162A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Seung Lyul Choi
Original assignee: Samsung Electronics Co Ltd
Current assignee: Samsung Electronics Co Ltd
Priority date: 1991-05-03
Filing date: 1992-04-14
Publication date: 1992-11-11
Also published as: GB9208162D0; KR940008581B1; KR920022893A; DE4136708C2; JPH04360476A; DE4136708A1

Description

225) 5o ')o VIDEO RECORDER TITLING DEVICE

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a video recorder such as a video tape recorder (VTRs) or a camcorder and, more particularly, to a video recorder including a titling device and a method which can insert various character signals into an image signal to record characters onto a recording medium by means of, a memory, for example a memory integrated circuit (MIC) card.

General consumers use commonly available recorder and player systems. such as the VTRs and camcorders,more than ever, for example, to record scenes of an individual's graduation, marriage, or birthday onto a video tape.

However, the conventional recorder and player systems such as camcorders have no function to give users any information about the recorded images. so that the users have to write the title of the recorded event onto the case of the recorded tape. Therefore, they cannot meet the desires of the users to display the themes of the recorded images with characters on the starting scene thereof, in the manner of feature films.

In the past, if a user wanted to display both images and characters at the same time, first, the user had to record the images onto a video tape by a camcorder and next record suitable characters additionally on the video tape where the images have already been recorded.

Then, the images and characters are simultaneously played back and superimposed. This, however, is time consuming as the recording function has to be repeated at least twice, inconveniently.

The present invention is intended to overcome these problems and provides a recorder and player system with a character editor which can easily record characters or character styles onto a recording medium such as a video tape together with images simultaneously.

is According to a first aspect of the present invention, a video recorder including a titling device, comprising a removable memory unit preprogrammed with character data; an image processor for combining a character signal with an input image signal; and processor means operable to effect a selection of character data from the memory unit and a transfer of a selected character data to the image processor, wherein the image processor operates to combine a character signal associated with the selected character data with an input image signal.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a character editor for a recorder and player system, the editor comprising an image processor for synthesizing a character signal into an input image signal, an MIC card for storing and providing character signals about various themes to the image processor with different size, different colour, and different arrangement according to the control signals, the MIC 4 card being able to separate from or load into the recorder and player system. a MICOM for applying the control signals according to key signals from a remote controller or a key matrix, and a recording part for recording an image signal provided from the image processor according to the control signals of the MICOM.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a character editing method of a recorder and player system comprising an MIC card, a MICOM, and.an image processor, the method comprising a mode decision process for checking whether the system is in editing mode or not, a selection process for selecting sentences or characters to display, a movement process for moving the sentences or characters correspondingly to the movement of a cursor, a colour change process for changing the colour of the characters, a size change process for changing the size of the characters, and a storage process for storing the output of the image processor according to a storage key signal.

- An embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a block diagram of a character editor for a recorder and player system according to the present invention; Figs. 2A and 2B are detailed views of a VTR or camcorder provided with a hole, which an MIC card for character editing according to the present invention is inserted into or separated therefrom; is Figs. 2C and 2D are perspective views of the MIC card for character editing according to the present invention; Fig. 3 is a flow chart for explaining a character editing method according to the present invention; and Figs. 4A and 4B show a screen on which various characters were displayed according to the present invention.

Fig. 1 shows a block diagram of a character editor for a recorder and player system according to the present invention, which comprises an image processor 10, an MIC card 20, a _MICOM 30, a receiving part 40, a recording and storing part 60 and a key matrix K.

The MIC card 20 can be inserted into or separated from a VTR or a camcorder through an MIC card insertion hole 21 as shown in Figs. 2A and 2B and this card 20 is connected to both the MICOM 30 and the image processor 10 when it has been inserted into the VTR or camcorder. The VTR or camcorder is provided with a hole 22 for receiving a video tape.

As shown in Fig. 2C, various sentences for each event such as wedding or graduation ceremony are storedinto the MIC card 20.

- 7 Also,, as shown in Fig. 2D, the MICOM 20 can store character symbols so that the characters or sentences can be arbitrarily composed according to the control of the MICOM 30, similarly to the manner of a word processor.

Recently, such an MIC card 20 has been widely used in small electronic calculators and the function described above is variously changeable according to the designer.

The MIC card 20 provides the image processor 10 with the stored sentences or character symbols according to the control of the MICOM 30 which drives the MIC card 20 according to a key signal from the key matrix K or a signal applied to the receiving part 40.

As for a remote controller for transmitting a signal to the receiving part 40, an exclusive remote controller for a character editor 51 might be additionally prepared together with an exclusive remote controller 52 for a VTR, or a combined remote controller 50 of the two remote controllers 51 and 52 might be used.

- 8 Keys A, B, Cl D and E of the exclusive remote controller 51 for character editing as shown in Fig. 2A serve as operating keys such as a colour selection key, a character size key, or a storage key.

The image processor 10 mixes an input image signal with a character signal provided from the MIC card 20. The image processor 10 is connected with a CRT (cathode ray tube) and a recording and storing part 60 for recording the image signal under to the control of the microcomputer 30.

Fig. 3 is a flow chart showing a character editing method according to the present invention, which comprises a mode decision process Pl, a selection process P2, a movement process P3, a colour change process P4. a size change process PS, and a storage process P6.

To describe it in more detail, first, the mode decision process P1 checks whether the system is in editing mode through a first decision step S1 for checking the mode 9 and a display stem S2 for displaying sentences or character symbols stored in the MIC card.

The selection process P2 selects the displayed sentences or characters through second decision step S3 for checking whether a character selection key is pressed or not. Then an elimination step S4 for eliminating unselected sentences and a display step S5 for displaying selected sentences or characters by the character selection key.

The movement process P3 moves the characters or sentences by the movement of a cursor through a third decision step S6 for checking whether a cursor key is operated and a character/sentence movement step S7 for moving the sentences or characters by moving the cursor key.

The colour change process P4 changes the colour of characters through a fourth decision step S8 for checking whether a colour selection key is operated and a colour change step S9 for changing the colour of characters according to the driving of the colour selection key.

The size change process P5 changes the size of characters through a fifth decision step S10 for checking whether a size change key is operated and a size change step S11 for changing the size of characters according to the operation of the size change key.

Finally, the storage process P6 records and stores the output signal of the image processor 10 onto a recording medium through a sixth decision stem S12 for checking whether a storage key is operated and a storage step S22 for storing the output signal of the image processor 10 onto the recording medium.

In the character editor and method described hereinabove, when a user wants to edit characters onto an image recorded by the recorder and player system, the MIC card 20 as shown in Figs. 2C and 2D is inserted into the hole 21 of the VTR or the camcorder as shown in Figs. 2A and 2B. Then, the MIC card 20 is connected - 11 to both of the image processor 10 and of the MICOM 30. At this point, the MIC card 20 includes the sentences or characters for various events as shown in Fig. 2D, for example, -1 j L f t... in Korean or A, B, Cr... in English.

Thus, the MIC card 20 serves as a word processor according to the control of the MICOM 30. After the MIC card 20 is connected to both of the image processor 10 and of the MICOM 30, it is checked in the first decision step S1 whether the user operates the MICOM 30 and sets the MIC card 20 to the editing mode by operating the key matrix K or the remote controller 50.

If the user sets the MICOM 30 and the MIC card 20 to the editing mode, the MICOM 30 applies various sentences or characters stored in the MIC card 20 to the image processor 10.

Next, the image processor 10 synthesizes the sentence or character signal with an input image signal and provides them to the CRT.

1 Then, a screen as shown in Figs. 4A or 4B appears on the CRT. Fig. 4A shows a screen displayed on the CRT when the MIC card for a graduation cermony has been inserted into the recorder and player system, and Fig. 4B shows a screen displayed on the CRT when the MIC card for characters has been inserted into the recorder and player system.

In the first case as shown in Fig. 4A, numbers corresponding to each sentence are also displayed, and in the second case as shown in Fig. 4B, a cursor is displayed instead of the numbers.

Thus, the user can select a wanted sentence or character symbol by operating the number keys or the cursor key of the key matrix K or the remote controller 50.

Next, the MICOM 30 performs the second decision step S3 to check whether a number key is operated. If any number key is operated, the MICOM 30 performs the elimination step S4 to eliminate other sentence signals applied to the image processor 10 from the MIC card 20 - 13 except the selected sentence. On the contrary, if the operated key is not a number key but a cursor key, the MICOM 30 performs the display step SS to display a character signal selected by the cursor.

Subsequently, the MICOM 30 performs the third decision step S6 to check whether the cursor key of the key matrix K or the remote controller 50. If the cursor key is operated, the MICOM 30 performs the character and sentence movement step S7 to move the selected character or sentence on the CRT by moving the cursor.

Next.. the MICOM 30 performs the fourth decision step S8 to check whether a colour selection key is operated. if the colour key is operated. the MICOM performs the colour change step S9 to display the character or sentence with the colour selected by the colour selection key on the CRT.

The MICOM 30 subsequently performs the fifth decision step S10 to check whether a size change key is operated. If the size change key is operated. the MICOM - 14 30 performs the size change step S11 to display the character or sentence with the size selected by the size change key on the CRT.

Subsequently.. the MICOM 30 performs the sixth decision step S12 to check whether a storage key of the key matrix K or the remote controller 50 has been pressed.

If the storage key is operated, the MICOM 30 finally performs the storage step S13 to record and store the output from the image processor 10 onto the recording medium by driving the recording and storing part 60.

Accordingly, the mixed signal of the image signal applied to the image processor 10 and the character signal provided from the MIC card 20 is recorded and stored onto the recording medium such as the video tape.

In summary, the present invention can insert a phrase or character stored in theMIC card into the image signal recorded under the control of a key matrix or remote controller by connecting the MIC card containing various phrases or character symbols to the 2 conventional recorder and player systems, so that a user can edit the characters simply.

16 -

Claims

1. A video recorder including a titling device, comprising; a removable memory unit pre-programmed with character data; an image processor for combining a character signal with an input image signal; and a processor means operable to effect a selection of character data from the memory unit and a transfer of the selected character data to the image processor, wherein the image processor operates to combine a character signal associated with the selected character data with an input image signal.

2. A video recorder according to claim 1, wherein the character data represents a plurality of phrases.

3. A video recorder according to claim 1, wherein the character data represents the characters of a writing system.

- 17

4. A video recorder according to claim 1, 2 or 3 including means for processing the selected character data to control the colour information in the character signal.

5. A video recorder according to any preceeding claim, including means for processing the selected character data to control the size of a character defined by the character signal.

6. A video recorder according to any preceeding claim, including means, responsive to the microprocessor, for controlling the position of a character defined by the character signal within a frame of the input image signal.

7. A video recorder according to any preceeding claim, including a video monitor.

8. A titling device according to any preceeding claim, wherein the microprocessor is controlled by means of a remote key matrix.

- 18

9. A camcorder including a video recorder according to any preceeding claim.

10. A character editor including a recorder and player system, comprising: an image processor for synthesizing a character signal into an input image signal; an MIC card for storing character signals about various themes and providing them with different size, different colour, and different arrangement to the image processor according to control signals, said MIC card. being separated from or disposed into said recorder and player system; a microcomputer (MICOM) for applying control signals according to key signals from a remote controller key matrix; and a recording part for recording an image signal output from said image processor according to the control of said MICOM.

11. A character editing method for a recorder and player system comprising an MIC card,, a MICOM,, and an image processor, comprising:

A a mode decision process for checking whether said recorder and player system is in editing mode or not; a selection process for selecting one out of various sentences or characters to be displayed; a movement process for moving the sentences or characters by moving a cursor; a colour change process for changing the colour of the characters; a size change. process for changing the size of the characters; and a storage process for storing the output from said image processor by a storage key signal.

12. The character editing method according to claim 11, wherein said mode decision process comprises a first decision step for checking the mode and a display step for displaying various sentences for character symbols stored in said MIC card.

13. The character editing method according to claim 11. wherein said selection process comprises: a second decision step for checking whether a character selection key is operated or not.

- 20 an elimination step for eliminating unselected sentences or characters by said character selection key. and a display step for displaying the selected sentence or characters by the character selection key.

14. The character editing method according to claim 11, wherein said movement process comprises a third decision step for checking whether said cursor key is operated or not and a character/sentence movement step for moving sentences or characters by driving said cursor key.

15. The character editing method according to claim 11, wherein said colour change process comprises a fourth decision step for checking whether a colour selection key is operated or not and a colour change step for changing the colour of characters by driving said colour selection key.

16. The character editing method according to claim 11, wherein said size change process comprises a fifth decision step for checking whether a size change key is - 21 operated or not, and a size change step for changing the size of characters by driving said size change key.

17. The character editing method according to claim 11, wherein said storage process comprises a sixth decision step for checking whether a storage key is operated or not, and a storage step for storing the output signal from said image processor onto a recording medium.

18. A titling device substantially as hereinbefore defined with reference to the accompanying drawings.

19. A method of titling an image signal substantially as hereinbefore defined with reference to the accompanying drawings.