JP3105305B2 - Image recording device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus (image recording system) for efficiently recording image information taken by a high-resolution television camera such as an HDTV system.

[0002] In recent years, the development of high definition (or high resolution) television technology such as IDTV, EDTV, and HDTV has been remarkable, and much finer images can be obtained than conventional television images of the NTSC system or the like. ing. For this reason, high-definition television technology has begun to be used in fields such as observation of experiments. However, since a high-definition television image has a very large amount of information per screen, moving image information is continuously recorded on a VTR. To record, a considerably large recording device is required. Therefore, a system that can efficiently record observation records and the like using high-resolution images with small hardware is required.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in order to observe an experiment using a high-definition television camera and obtain a hard copy of an image if necessary, all image data photographed by the high-definition television camera must be temporarily converted to a VTR or the like. After the experiment is completed, the image of the VTR is reproduced, and while viewing the reproduced image, a necessary portion is selected and a hard copy is created.

In some cases, it is necessary to observe a phenomenon using a high-definition television camera installed in a remote place, and transmit the image information to an observer using a communication line. For example, when unmanned photography of a phenomenon in outer space is transmitted to an observer on the ground, or when the situation near the crater of a volcano that is at risk of eruption is photographed unmanned and transmitted to a remote observer. is there. In such a case, since the amount of image information of the high-definition television camera is enormous, in order to transmit image information to a remote place, a communication line having a large communication capacity is necessary.

[0005]

In a conventional image recording system for temporarily recording all high-resolution image information, a large-scale image data recording device is required because the amount of information of a photographed image is enormous, and hardware is required. The size and cost increase. In addition, to obtain a necessary hard copy after photographing, it is necessary to reconsider the entire photographing screen, which requires a great deal of labor and time. In addition, in the case of observation in a remote place such as outer space, a communication line having a large communication capacity is required, and particularly in the case of space communication, the use fee of such a large capacity communication line is generally expensive. .

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an efficient image recording system capable of recording only a necessary high-resolution image.

[0007]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the principle of the present invention. The image recording device according to the present invention includes, as one mode, a first recording device 22 that records images from a camera as a plurality of still images at predetermined time intervals, and a still image recorded in the first recording device 22. A monitor device 23 for reducing and displaying a plurality of images, and a monitor device 2
3, a designation device 24 for designating any one of the plurality of still images to be displayed, and a still image designated by the designation device 24 among the plurality of still images recorded in the first recording device 22. A second recording device 25 for recording.

An image recording apparatus according to the present invention reduces a plurality of still images recorded in a first recording apparatus and displays the reduced still images in a still image display area in place of the above-mentioned monitor apparatus, and simultaneously displays a moving image from a camera. A monitor device that displays an image in a moving image display area may be used.

The image recording apparatus according to the present invention, instead of the above-mentioned first recording apparatus, intermittently samples a moving image taken by a camera and sequentially records a plurality of still images as still images. One recording device may be used.

A moving image captured by a camera is transmitted to a monitor 2
3 and is sequentially recorded in the first recording device 22 as an intermittent still image. The recording data of the first recording device 22 is sequentially updated, and the latest still image is stored. Further, a reduced image of the still image of the first recording device 22 is displayed on the monitor device 23. The observer looks at the monitor device 23 and specifies a desired still image with the specifying device 24. As a result, the data of the designated still image is transferred from the first recording device 22 to the second recording device 25 and recorded there. This makes it possible to efficiently record only necessary image data for high-resolution images.

Further, in the image recording apparatus according to the present invention, in the above-mentioned image recording apparatus, the camera is installed in a remote place, a monitor device and a designation device are arranged on the observer side, and the first and second cameras are arranged on the camera side. A second recording device is installed, and the two are connected by a communication line. A moving image captured by the camera is converted into low-resolution image data and sent to a monitor device on the observer side via the communication line. On the other hand, the observer looks at the monitor device, designates an arbitrary still image with the designated device, remotely operates the first and second recording devices via the communication line, and operates the second recording device. And, if necessary, transfer the recording data of the second recording device to the observer side via the communication line and record it on the third recording device.

As described above, the observer can be located at a place distant from the installation place of the camera, and the observer can be connected via a communication line. In this case, the observer looks at the monitor device 23 provided on his / her own side, designates a desired still image through a communication line, and takes in the second recording device 25 provided on the camera side as appropriate. When the observation is completed, the image data recorded in the second recording device 25 is transferred to the observer via a communication line, and is recorded in the third recording device 27 provided there.

In the image recording apparatus according to the present invention, in each of the above-described image recording apparatuses, the second recording apparatus records a still image designated by the designation means together with its photographing time information. In addition, a third recording device that records the moving image information together with the photographing time information can be provided.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 shows an image recording system as one embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a high-definition TV camera of an HDTV system for capturing a high-definition moving image, and 2 denotes a high-definition T
A conversion device (encoder for HDTV) that converts an analog image signal captured by the V camera 1 into a digital image signal.

Reference numeral 3 denotes a quasi-still image signal obtained by sampling the high-definition image signal converted into the digital signal at a certain time interval on a screen frame basis, and temporarily holding the latest one for a predetermined number of screens. 1 recording device.
For example, if the sampling time interval is 1 minute and the number of screens to be held is 12 images, the image data is converted into quasi-still image data at a rate of 1 image every minute from the moving image data from the current time to 12 minutes before. Sampled, convenience 1
Two pieces of image data are held. When the latest one image is added to the twelve image data, the oldest one is discarded, and the held twelve image data is updated to be always the latest one. Go.

Reference numeral 6 denotes a monitor, which is a television for displaying a moving image photographed by the high-definition TV camera 1 and a quasi-still image corresponding to data held in the first recording device 3 for monitoring. FIG. 3 shows an aspect of screen display by the monitor device 6. As shown, the moving image areas MV and 1
Two is divided into a quasi-still image region SV ₁ ~SV _12. In this moving image area MV, a moving image captured by the high-definition TV camera 1 is displayed with high resolution. On the other hand, in the quasi-still image areas SV _{1 to} SV ₁₂ , images corresponding to the twelve quasi-still image data held in the first recording device 3 are projected with reduced resolution and reduced screen size. ing. There Various is an image displayed on the first image data stored in the recording device 3 quasi still image region SV ₁ Sv ₁₂ as a method for correspondingly in the embodiment is held in the first recording device 3 The image data read from the high-definition TV camera 1 is read out in a reduced resolution, for example, in synchronization with the timing of sampling the image data in the first recording device 3. May be sampled on the monitor device 6 and the resolution thereof may be reduced to be sequentially displayed in the quasi-still image regions SV _{1 to} SV ₁₂ .

Reference numeral 7 designates a designation device for designating the quasi-still images projected in the quasi-still image regions SV _{1 to} SV ₁₂ for recording and preservation. The designation information is provided to the first recording device 3. I have. This designation device 7 in this embodiment is composed of a touch panel attached to the screen of the quasi-still image region SV ₁ respectively Sv ₁₂ corresponding monitor device 6, keyboard or switches and the like of course not limited to this it may be a device such as specifying an image of the quasi-still image region SV ₁ ~SV _12.

Reference numeral 4 denotes a second recording device which takes in the quasi-still image data designated by the designation device 7 from the first recording device 3 and records and saves it in the form of high-resolution quasi-still image data. Reference numeral 5 denotes a quasi-still image acquisition device such as a printer which appropriately selects a necessary quasi-still image from the second recording device 4 and outputs it in the form of a hard copy.

The operation of this embodiment will be described below. The high-definition TV camera 1 captures a subject to be observed as a moving image. This moving image is sent to the monitor device 6 as an analog signal, and is displayed in the moving image area MV for observation by the observer.

On the other hand, an analog signal from the high-definition TV camera 1 is branched and sent to the converter 2, where it is converted into a digital signal. The digital image signal is sequentially sampled for an image frame unit at an arbitrary timing or at a preset time interval for a preset time, and is recorded in the first recording device 3 as a quasi-still image. The first twelve quasi static images captured in a recording apparatus 3 is displayed respectively by reducing its dimensions reduced resolution quasi still image region SV ₁ Sv ₁₂ of the monitor device 6. That quasi-static image held in quasi still image region SV ₁ Sv ₁₂ in the first recording device 3 is displayed.

When the number of quasi-still images recorded in the first recording device 3 exceeds a predetermined number (12 in this case) due to the input of a new photographed image, the number of quasi-still images held is the first. The old one is deleted, and the latest quasi-still image is newly recorded instead. Quasi still image displayed on the quasi-still image region SV ₁ Sv ₁₂ of the monitor device 6 accordingly also to be updated.

Here, the observer looks at the display screen in the mode shown in FIG. 3 and sees the moving image directly photographed by the high-definition TV camera 1 and the 12 images recorded in the first recording device 3. When a still image is observed and there is a quasi-still image to be stored as a record, the quasi-still image is designated by the designation device 7 including a touch panel. Then, the image data of the designated quasi-still image is sent from the first recording device 3 to the second recording device 4, where it is recorded. As described above, the observer selects a quasi-still image that needs to be recorded and stored during the observation period, and transfers the quasi-still image from the first recording device 3 to the second recording device 4 for recording. Then, after ending the observation, the observer sends the image data of the quasi-still image recorded in the second recording device 4 to the quasi-still image acquisition device 5 if necessary, as a hard copy of a high-definition still image. Take out.

FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of the present invention.
In this embodiment, the present invention is used in an image recording system for recording the progress of an operation and the like. In the figure, devices having the same reference numerals as those of the above-described embodiment are devices having the same functions. The difference from the above-described embodiment is that the HDTV / NTSC converter 8 converts an HDTV image signal from the high-definition TV camera 1 into an NTSC image signal, and this HD
An NTSC recording device 9 (VTR) for recording an image signal of the NTSC system converted by the TV / NTSC conversion device 8 is newly provided.

The operation of this system will be described below. The high-definition TV camera 1 is pointed at the abdomen during cecal surgery, and the monitor device 6 reflects the status of the patient's surgery. Doctors and medical students other than the doctor who is operating are observing the abdomen of the patient during the operation through the monitor device 6.

The image signal from the high-definition TV camera 1 is simultaneously converted into an NTSC image signal by the HDTV / NTSC converter 8 and sent to the NTSC recording device 9, where the entire image data is recorded one by one. . This NTSC
In the image recorded on the shape recording device 9, the time taken from the time generation device (not shown) is displayed in a small size in the right corner of the screen.

An image signal from the high-definition TV camera 1 is sent to a digital signal conversion device 2 where it is converted from an analog signal to a digital signal. This digital signal has an information amount of 30 frames per second,
Here, the image information at that time is sent to the first recording device 3 one frame at a time, and recorded as a quasi-still image. At the same time semi-still images recorded on the first recording device 3 is displayed in reduced size in the quasi-still image region SV ₁ Sv ₁₂ at the bottom of the screen of the monitor device 6 is compressed. At this time, the time in minutes is also displayed on the reduced image.

As described above, the first recording device 3
It has a memory with a capacity equivalent to 2 frames,
A total of 12 frames of quasi-still images are recorded over the past 12 minutes from the present time. Since the image information is fetched into the memory at a rate of one frame every minute even after the present time, the oldest image information is sequentially deleted and replaced with a new one. The image is kept.

The quasi-still image displayed in a reduced size at the lower portion of the monitor device 6 matches the quasi-still image of 12 frames recorded in the first recording device 3. by comparing the quasi-static picture of reduced size that are projected on the raw moving image being projected quasi still image region SV ₁ Sv ₁₂ in the moving image area MV, quasi stationary it is determined to be recorded and retained as data When there is an image, the designation device 7 is operated to select the quasi-still image, whereby the data of the quasi-still image temporarily stored in the first recording device 3 is sent to the second recording device 4. Record.

It is assumed that these operations are repeated to complete the operation of the cecum. After surgery, a second if necessary
The quasi-still image information recorded in the recording device 4 is sent to the quasi-still image acquisition device 5 to extract a high-definition quasi-still image. The time is recorded at the lower right of this quasi-still image.
On the other hand, the whole progress of the cecal operation is recorded in the NTSC recording device 9, and the time is also recorded therein. Therefore, when examining the contents of this operation after the operation, the moving image is reproduced by the NTSC recording device 9 to grasp the entire flow, and if necessary, a high-definition quasi-still image by hard copy is looked at for detailed information. Can be considered. By using the acquired image in this way, it is possible to acquire high-quality quasi-still image information only in a necessary part, and to easily create a record of an operation.

FIG. 5 shows an image recording system according to another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the image recording system of the present invention is applied when the distance between the high-definition TV camera 1 and the observer is far away,
As an example, it is assumed that a high-definition TV camera 1 is installed near the crater of a volcano and that a remote observer observes the camera via a communication line.

In the drawing, devices having the same functions as those of the above-described embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals. High definition TV camera 1
The high-definition TV camera 1, conversion device 2, first recording device 3, second recording device 4, HDTV
A conversion device 11, a band compression device 12, a selector 13, and the like are provided. On the other hand, a monitoring device 6,
A third recording device 14, a quasi-still image acquisition device 5, a recording device 16, and the like are provided. Information is transmitted and received between the two via a communication line. As a communication line between the two, a small-capacity line having a transmission rate of about 320 kbps is used.

Here, the difference between the crater-side device and the above-described embodiment is that the HDTV image signal from the high-definition TV camera 1 is input to the HDTV / NTSC converter 11 and converted into an NTSC image signal. The information amount is further compressed by the band compression device 12 by high-efficiency coding or the like, and then input to the selector 13. The HDTV digital image signal is also input from the converter 2 to the selector 13, and the selector 13 selects one of the inputs and transmits it to a remote observation place via a communication line. ing.

On the other hand, in the observer-side device, the third recording device 14 records the quasi-still image received from the second recording device 4, and the recorded image is hard-coded by the quasi-still image acquisition device 5 when necessary. Output as a copy. The monitor device 6 displays the image information sent via the selector 13, and the recording device 16 records the image information. The observer can use the designation device 70 to send commands for various remote devices, such as designation of a quasi-still image to be recorded and stored, to the crater-side device.

The operation of the system of this embodiment will be described below. The high-definition TV camera 1 is installed near the crater of an erupting volcano and is directed toward the crater where smoke is emitted. The location is not extremely dangerous, but it is not absolutely secure. Therefore, it is dangerous for a human to always observe at that place, but there is little problem with installing a machine and observing and acquiring data unattended.

The image signal from the high-definition TV camera 1 is H
The DTV / NTSC converter 11 converts the HDTV image signal into an NTSC image signal, and further converts the HDTV image signal into an NTSC image signal.
Sent to 2. The band compression device 12 receives the analog image signal, compresses the band, and outputs a 320 kbps digital image signal. The 320 kbps image signal is selected by the selector 13 and transmitted to a remote place where an observer is present via a communication line. If necessary, a remote observer can remotely control the selector 13 via a communication line by inputting a command using the designation device 70, thereby selecting one frame of the digital HDTV image signal from the conversion device 2. Can be sent to the observer as a quasi-still image signal.

In a building at a remote location, the band-compressed NTSC image information transmitted through the communication line is displayed on a CRT monitor 6 through a data restoration device (not shown), and the image information is sequentially recorded on a recording device 16. To record.

On the crater side, an HDTV image signal from the high-definition TV camera 1 is sent to a digital signal conversion device 2 and converted into a digital signal. Here, it is assumed that the image information at that time is sent to the first recording device 3 and recorded at a rate of one frame every two minutes. The first recording device 3 has a memory corresponding to 12 frames, so that a total of 12
One quasi-still image is recorded in the first recording device 3. Thereafter, the oldest quasi-still image information is sequentially deleted every two minutes and replaced with a new one. In synchronization with the recording time of the image information recorded in the first recording device 3, the NTS via the selector 13
The C image signal is sampled and displayed as a reduced quasi-still image in the quasi-still image areas SV _{1 to} SV ₁₂ below the monitor device 6.
The contents of the quasi-static image information recorded will be displayed as the contents to be correspondingly quasi still image region SV ₁ Sv ₁₂ of the monitor device 6 observer side. .

An observer at a remote place determines whether there is any quasi-still image information to be recorded within the past 24 minutes while looking at the monitor device 6. Command specifying device 70
And sends it to the first recording device 3 through the communication line to remotely control the first recording device 3, and transfers the memory information of the corresponding quasi-still image frame to the second recording device 4. As described above, each time a scene to be recorded occurs, the quasi-still image is transferred from the first recording device 3 to the second recording device 4.
Transfer to.

It is assumed that the state of the crater no longer changes after approximately three hours have passed. Then, the observer inputs a command to remotely control the second recording device 4 via the communication line, and for example, the 1
The quasi-still image information for 0 frames is transferred to the third recording device 14 near the observer via the communication line. The transmission rate of the communication line used at this time is 320k
bps, during which transmission of the compressed image to the monitor device 6 through the band compression device 12 is interrupted. Then, when the data transfer from the second recording device 4 to the third recording device 14 is completed, the band compressed image is displayed on the monitor device 6 again. Further, the quasi-still image transferred and recorded to the third recording device 14 is taken out as a hard copy by the quasi-still image acquisition device 5, so that the observer can obtain necessary image information.

In implementing the present invention, various modifications are possible. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the HDTV system is used as the high-resolution television system. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and an IDTV system, an EDTV system, or the like may be used.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the monitor device that can simultaneously display a moving image and a quasi-still image on one television is used. However, the present invention is not limited to this. May be projected on separate television sets, or a plurality of still images may be projected on separate television sets. As the quasi-still image, in the former two embodiments, a high-resolution image may be displayed as it is, instead of a reduced-size image (low-resolution image).

[0042]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to efficiently record necessary high-resolution image data while observing various objects. This eliminates the need for a large recording device having a large recording capacity as a recording device, thereby realizing a reduction in the size and cost of the system. In addition, even when a phenomenon at a remote location is monitored via a communication line, the phenomenon can be realized with a small-capacity communication line.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view of the principle according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an image recording system as one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a screen display mode in a monitor device of the system of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an image recording system as another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an image recording system as still another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 High-definition TV camera 2 Conversion device 3 First recording device 4 Second recording device 5 Quasi-still image acquisition device 6 Monitor device 7 Designation device 8 HDTV / NTSC conversion device 9 NTSC type recording device 11 HDTV / NTSC conversion device 12 Band compression device 13 Selector 14 Third recording device 16 Recording device 70 Designating device

────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-2-172364 (JP, A) JP-A-3-198482 (JP, A) JP-A-4-185178 (JP, A) (58) Field (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04N 5 / 76,5 / 765 H04N 5/91-5/956 H04N 7/015

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] 1. A first recording device for recording an image from a camera as a plurality of still images at predetermined time intervals, and a plurality of still images recorded on the first recording device are reduced and displayed. A monitor device; a designation device for designating any one of a plurality of still images to be displayed on the monitor device; and a designation device from the plurality of still images recorded on the first recording device. And a second recording device for recording the obtained still image. 2. A first recording device for recording an image from a camera as a plurality of still images at predetermined time intervals, and a still image obtained by reducing the still images recorded on the first recording device by a plurality of images. A monitor device for displaying a moving image from the camera in the moving image display region at the same time as displaying the moving image on the display region; a designation device for designating any one of a plurality of still images to be displayed on the monitor device; An image recording apparatus, comprising: a second recording device that records a still image designated by the designation device among a plurality of still images recorded in the first recording device. 3. A first recording device for intermittently sampling moving images taken by a camera and sequentially recording a plurality of still images as still images, and reducing the still images recorded on the first recording device by a plurality of images. A monitor device to display the still image, a designation device to designate one of a plurality of still images to be displayed on the monitor device, and a plurality of still images recorded in the first recording device. A second recording device for recording a still image designated by the designation device. 4. A first recording device for intermittently sampling a moving image captured by a camera and sequentially recording a plurality of still images as still images, and reducing a plurality of still images recorded on the first recording device by a plurality of images. A monitor device for displaying a moving image captured by the camera in the moving image display region at the same time as displaying the still image in the still image display region, and specifying one of a plurality of still images to be displayed on the monitor device. And a second recording device for recording a still image designated by the designation device among a plurality of still images recorded in the first recording device. Recording device. 5. The camera is installed in a remote place, the monitor device and the designation device are installed on the observer side, and the first and second recording devices are installed on the camera side. The moving images taken by the camera are converted into low-resolution image data and sent to a monitor device on the observer side via the communication line for display. Looking at the device, an arbitrary still image is designated by the designated device, and the first and second recording devices are remotely operated via a communication line to be recorded on the second recording device.
The image recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the recording data of said recording apparatus is transferred to an observer via said communication line and recorded in a third recording apparatus. 6. The second recording device is configured to record a still image designated by the designation means together with its photographing time information, and further record a moving image information together with its photographing time information. The image recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising a recording apparatus.