JP3244969B2 - Television camera equipment - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a television camera mainly used for broadcasting, and more particularly to a television camera having an aspect ratio conversion function.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As is well known, the adoption of the EDTV-II system has been decided in television broadcasting to provide high-definition video, and the age of the television broadcasting is shifting to the wide aspect era. Therefore, in the case of a television camera device, the current NTS
Not only 4: 3 aspect ratio of C system but also EDTV-II
It is an essential requirement to support the aspect ratio of 16: 9.

FIGS. 4 and 5 each show an example of a conventional television camera device having an aspect ratio conversion function. Reference numeral 11 denotes a camera head, and 12 denotes a camera control unit (CCU). Both are connected via a camera cable 13. In FIGS. 4 and 5,
The same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals.

In the apparatus shown in FIG. 4, an aspect converter 14 is provided on the camera head 11 side. A high-definition video signal photographed at an aspect ratio of 16: 9 is converted to 4: 3 by the aspect converter 14 as necessary. And sends it to CCU2. At this time, the output of the aspect converter 14 is sent to a view finder (V / F) 15 mounted on the camera head 11, and can be displayed on a monitor according to the aspect ratio of the output video signal.

However, in the configuration as shown in FIG. 4, when transmitting from the camera head 11 to the CCU 12, every time the aspect ratio is switched, the transmission speed must necessarily be changed. In addition, there is a demand to output a 4: 3/16: 9 video signal from the CCU 12 at the same time. For this purpose, the CCU 12 must re-aspect-convert one video signal. Conversion is doubled, and image quality degradation is unavoidable.

On the other hand, in the apparatus shown in FIG. 5, the aspect converter 14 is moved from the camera head 11 to the CCU 12 to
The video output of the aspect converter 14 on the U12 side is sent to the camera head 11 via the camera cable 13 and can be displayed on the viewfinder 15 for monitoring.

However, although the monitor return video signal from the CCU 12 to the camera head 11 generally has the advantage of being slightly lower in quality than the main line signal, the configuration shown in FIG. A device is required, which is disadvantageous in terms of miniaturization and weight reduction.
Further, a self-contained camera cannot be realized.

[0008]

As described above, the conventional television camera apparatus has an aspect conversion function when transitioning to a wide aspect mode, but basically uses an aspect converter of either the camera head or the CCU. When the camera is provided on the camera head side, switching control of the transmission speed is required every time the aspect ratio is switched. Also, in order to respond to the desire to output a video signal having two different aspect ratios from the CCU, one of the video signals must be aspect-converted again on the CCU side. They overlap and inevitably degrade image quality. On the other hand, CC
If equipped on the U side, the above problem will be improved,
A high quality signal processing device is required for the return video signal line, which is disadvantageous in terms of size and weight reduction. There is also a problem that a self-contained camera cannot be realized.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problem, and it is not necessary to mount a high-quality signal processing device on a return video signal line while maintaining a constant transmission speed from a camera head to a CCU. In addition, the CCU can output video signals of two different aspect ratios, and the video signal of any aspect ratio can be monitored by the viewfinder of the camera head. Furthermore, a self-contained camera can be realized. It is an object of the present invention to provide a television camera device capable of performing the above.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention relates to a camera head having a view finder and a camera control unit connected via a camera cable, and an aspect ratio of a captured video signal. In a television camera device having a function of converting the aspect ratio into another aspect ratio, the television camera device is provided in the camera head, and converts a captured video signal into an aspect ratio as needed and sends it to the viewfinder for monitoring. 1 aspect converter, and provided in the camera control unit, captures the video signal from the camera head via the camera cable without passing through the first aspect converter, and converts the aspect ratio as necessary. And a second aspect converter for outputting the data.

[0011]

In the television camera device having the above configuration,
When transmitting from the camera head to the CCU, the video signal is transmitted from the camera head to the CC without passing through the first aspect converter.
Even if the aspect ratio is switched for monitoring on the camera head side by sending to the U, the transmission speed does not need to be changed.

Further, the video signal is directly supplied to the second aspect converter on the CCU side to avoid double aspect conversion.

[0013] Further, it is not necessary for the monitor return video signal from the CCU to the camera head to have high quality,
The realization of a small / lightweight and self-contained camera can be achieved.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a first embodiment of a television camera apparatus according to the present invention, wherein 21 is a camera head, 22 is a CCU, and both are a camera cable 2.
3 are connected.

Both the camera head 21 and the CCU 22 are provided with aspect converters 24 and 25. The aspect converter 24 on the camera head 21 side is for monitor output to the viewfinder 26 and has an aspect ratio of 16: 9. The high-definition video signal photographed by the camera is converted into an aspect ratio by an aspect converter 24 as necessary, and sent to a viewfinder 26, and is also sent directly to a CCU 22 through a camera cable 23.

The aspect converter 25 of the CCU 22 receives a 16: 9 video signal from the camera head 21 and
Video signals having two aspect ratios of 6: 9 and 4: 3 can be output.

That is, in the television camera device having the above-described configuration, when the video signal is transmitted from the camera head 21 to the CCU 22, the video signal is transmitted from the camera head 21 to the CCU 22 without passing through the aspect converter 24. Even if the aspect ratio is switched for monitoring on the head 21 side, there is no need to change the transmission speed, and the burden on the camera head 21 side can be reduced.

Further, since the CCU 22 is provided with an aspect converter 25 capable of outputting a 4: 3/16: 9 video signal, the 16: 9 video signal is converted into 4: 3 for the first time here. When obtaining video signals having two aspect ratios, the CCU 22 does not perform aspect conversion on one video signal again. Therefore, double aspect conversion can be avoided, and image quality degradation can be reduced.

Further, the CCU 22 sends the camera head 21
It is no longer necessary for the monitor return video signal to be of high quality, and a reduction in size and weight can be realized. Also,
A self-contained camera can be realized.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show the structures of the second and third embodiments according to the present invention, respectively. In addition, FIG.
3, the same parts as those of FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and different parts will be described here.

FIG. 2 shows a configuration in which switching control of the aspect converters 24 and 25 provided in the camera head 21 and the CCU 22, respectively, is performed from an operation panel 27 arranged in a control room or a relay truck. An arrow indicated by a middle dotted line indicates a transmission path of the switching control signal.

That is, the aspect switching control signal output from the operation panel 27 is supplied to an input / output interface (I / O) 28 of the CCU 22, from which the CCU 2
2 is sent to an aspect converter 25 inside the camera head 21 and, at the same time, to an aspect converter 24 on the camera head 21 side through a camera cable 23. Thereby, the operation panel 27
, The aspect converters 24 and 25 provided in the camera head 21 and the CCU 22 can be simultaneously switched and controlled. In addition, switching control of 16: 9 or 4: 3 can be performed on the video signal from the aspect converter 25.

The input / output interface 28 of the CCU 22 can externally output an aspect switching control signal from the operation panel 27. That is, by sending the external output to the system, it is possible to switch the processing of the entire system in accordance with the aspect conversion on the camera side.

FIG. 3 shows a third embodiment according to the present invention. In this apparatus, in addition to an aspect switching control signal from an operation panel 27 to an input / output interface 28 of the CCU 22, an aspect switching control from a system system is performed. A signal can be input.

That is, according to the above configuration, not only the aspect switching control from the operation panel 27 but also the aspect switching control from the system can be performed, and the operation of the camera device can be further simplified.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be similarly implemented by various modifications without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[0028]

As described above, according to the present invention, the transmission speed from the camera head to the CCU is kept constant,
The CCU can output video signals of two different aspect ratios, and can monitor video signals of any aspect ratio with the viewfinder of the camera head.
Further, a television camera device capable of realizing a self-contained camera can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block circuit diagram showing a configuration of a first embodiment of a television camera device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block circuit diagram illustrating a configuration of a second embodiment of the television camera device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block circuit diagram showing a configuration of a third embodiment of the television camera device according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block circuit diagram illustrating a configuration of a conventional television camera device having an aspect conversion function.

FIG. 5 is a block circuit diagram showing another configuration of a conventional television camera device having an aspect conversion function.

[Explanation of symbols]

11, 21 ... camera head, 12, 22 ... camera control unit (CCU), 13, 23 ... camera cable, 14, 24, 25 ... aspect converter, 15, 26
... viewfinder, 27 ... operation panel, 28 ... input / output interface.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04N 5/225-5/247

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] 1. A television camera device comprising a camera head having a viewfinder and a camera control unit connected via a camera cable and having a function of converting an aspect ratio of a captured video signal into another aspect ratio. A first aspect converter provided in the camera head, for converting a captured video signal into an aspect ratio as needed, and sending it to the viewfinder for monitoring; and a first aspect converter provided in the camera control unit. Capturing the video signal from the camera head through the camera cable without passing through the first aspect converter;
A television camera device comprising: a second aspect converter for converting an aspect ratio as necessary and outputting the converted aspect ratio. 2. The camera control unit includes an interface for inputting a switching control signal for switching an aspect ratio from outside, and supplies a switching control signal input through the interface to the second aspect converter. 2. The television camera apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the camera cable is supplied to a first aspect converter on the camera head side through the camera cable. 3. The television camera device according to claim 2, wherein a switching control signal from an operation panel is supplied to the interface. 4. The television camera device according to claim 2, wherein a switching control signal from a system system is supplied to said interface. 5. The television camera device according to claim 2, wherein the interface has a function of outputting a switching control signal input from the outside to the outside again. 6. The television camera device according to claim 1, wherein the second aspect converter has a function of simultaneously outputting video signals having a plurality of different aspect ratios.