JP4637031B2 - Camera monitoring device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a camera monitoring device, and more particularly to a camera monitoring device that generates composite image data based on analog image signals input from a plurality of imaging devices.

  In a system for monitoring various areas using a plurality of monitoring cameras, a video switching device called a switcher has been used conventionally when displaying images shot by the monitoring cameras on a monitor screen. The switcher performs an operation of designating one of the image signals input from each monitoring camera and outputting it to the display device. Some switchers display a plurality of videos simultaneously on the same screen, and are called multi-switchers.

  Usually, an imaging device that outputs an analog image signal such as NTSC (National Television Standards Committee) is used as the surveillance camera. Further, as a display device having a monitor screen, a television receiver or the like that displays an analog image signal is often used. Therefore, in the multi-switcher, when simultaneously displaying a plurality of videos on the monitor screen, the videos input from the respective monitoring cameras are reduced, the reduced images are combined, and output to the display device as an analog signal such as NTSC. Operation is performed. The reduction processing and composition processing of the video from the surveillance camera are usually performed by digital processing. That is, an image signal (NTSC signal) input from the surveillance camera is converted into digital data, and data compression processing is performed to reduce the resolution of the digital data. The compressed data generated for each surveillance camera is synthesized by this data compression processing. The combined image data is converted into an analog signal (NTSC signal) and output to the display device.

  Usually, the digital data generated by digitizing an image signal has an image size in which the number of pixels in the vertical direction is substantially the same because the NTSC signal is composed of 525 horizontal scanning lines. Specifically, the image has a VGA standard image size in which an image area of 640 pixels in the horizontal direction and 480 pixels in the vertical direction is defined. On the other hand, the image data converted into an analog signal and output to the display device also has an image size of the VGA standard because an NTSC signal is used as the analog signal. In other words, since the image size at the time of output is determined in the conventional multi-switcher, when displaying multiple images on the monitor screen at the same time, the digital image data from each surveillance camera must be individually compressed, The resolution of the video will be lower than when input.

  Even if the output image size is increased and displayed on the monitor screen, the screen size must be at least twice the input image size in order to display multiple images without reducing the resolution. I must. Therefore, the conventional camera monitoring apparatus as described above has a problem that a plurality of images cannot be displayed on the monitor screen having a screen size less than twice the image size at the time of input without reducing the resolution. .

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and even when displaying on a monitor screen having a screen size less than twice the image size at the time of input, the image quality of at least one video is deteriorated. An object of the present invention is to provide a camera monitoring apparatus that can display a plurality of images simultaneously without any problems. In particular, an object of the present invention is to provide a camera monitoring device that can generate a composite image while maintaining the resolution defined in the digitization processing of an analog image signal for one imaging device. It is another object of the present invention to provide a camera monitoring device capable of generating a composite image having an aspect ratio that matches an image defined in the digitization processing of an analog image signal.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide a camera monitoring device capable of generating composite image data suitable for display on a monitor screen having a resolution higher than that defined in the digitization processing of an analog image signal. It is in.

A camera monitoring device according to a first aspect of the present invention is a camera monitoring device that generates composite image data based on analog image signals input from two or more imaging devices, each of which digitizes the analog image signal, and a pixel Digital image data generating means for generating digital image data having the same number and aspect ratio; and image data selecting means for designating one of the digital image data as uncompressed data based on a user operation; A data compression means for generating a compressed data by performing a data compression process for reducing the resolution without changing the aspect ratio of the digital image data other than the uncompressed data, and each image of the uncompressed data and the compressed data The image area of the compressed data is changed to the image area of the uncompressed data without overlapping the areas. Perform a combination process to place along two sides adjacent in, and an image synthesizing means for generating the composite image data, the digital image data generating means for (2m + 2) pieces (m is an integer of 2 or more) The digital image data is generated, the data compression means performs a data compression process to increase the resolution to 1 / m times, and the image composition means has the uncompressed data having a resolution defined by the digital image data generation means. Are arranged to generate the composite image data.

  In this camera monitoring apparatus, data compression processing is performed on digital image data other than one digital image data designated as uncompressed data, and compressed data is generated. The compressed image data and the non-compressed data are arranged without overlapping each image area to generate composite image data. At that time, each digital image data is generated as digital data having the same number of pixels and aspect ratio, and data compression processing is performed to reduce the resolution without changing the aspect ratio. With such a configuration, compressed image data and non-compressed data are arranged to generate composite image data. Therefore, for one imaging device, a composite image is maintained while maintaining the resolution defined in the analog image signal digitization process. Can be generated. In addition, the uncompressed data and the compressed data image areas are arranged without overlapping each other, and the compressed data image area is arranged along two adjacent sides in the uncompressed data image area to generate a composite image. Therefore, it is possible to generate a composite image having an aspect ratio that matches the image defined in the digitization processing of the analog image signal. Here, the number of pixels corresponding to a predetermined length on the subject is referred to as the resolution of the digital image data. Therefore, the data compression processing here is processing for reducing the number of pixels per predetermined length on the subject, that is, processing for reducing the display size of the subject at the same rate in both the vertical and horizontal directions. .

In addition, since composite image data whose number of pixels is (m + 1) / m times the digital image data is generated, it is suitable for display on a monitor screen having a resolution higher than the resolution defined in the digitization processing of the analog image signal. Such a composite image can be obtained.

In the camera monitoring apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the above-described configuration, the image composition unit arranges m pieces of compressed data so that the long sides are in contact with the long sides in the image area of the non-compressed data. The other m pieces of compressed data are arranged so that each short side is in contact with the short side of the image area.

In addition to the above-described configuration, the camera monitoring device according to the third aspect of the present invention is based on a user operation using digital image data arranged as the uncompressed data and digital image data arranged as the compressed data in the combining process. And image switching means for switching. According to such a configuration, when the user switches between compressed data and non-compressed data, the digital image data is appropriately switched, so that the video that has been subjected to data compression processing until then is displayed with the image quality at the time of input. Can do.

A camera monitoring device according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is a camera monitoring device that generates composite image data based on analog image signals input from two or more imaging devices. Digital image data generation means for generating digital image data having the same aspect ratio, image data selection means for designating one of the digital image data as uncompressed data based on a user operation, For the digital image data other than the uncompressed data, a data compression process for reducing the resolution without changing the aspect ratio and generating compressed data; and each image area of the uncompressed data and the compressed data The image area of the compressed data is not overlapped with the image area of the uncompressed data. Image synthesizing means for performing synthesis processing arranged along two adjacent sides in the area to generate the synthesized image data, and contrast adjusting means for performing contrast adjustment processing for making the contrast of the compressed data higher than that of the uncompressed data with the door, said image synthesizing means are arranged to generate the composite image data by arranging the compressed data after contrast adjustment. According to such a configuration, since the contrast adjustment processing is performed so that the contrast of the compressed data is higher than that of the uncompressed data, the visibility when simultaneously displaying the images taken by the plurality of imaging devices on the monitor screen is improved. Can be improved.

In the camera monitoring apparatus according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, (2m + 2) (m is an integer of 2 or more) or more monitoring cameras can be connected, and a composite image is based on the analog image signal input from each of the monitoring cameras. A device that generates data and displays it on a monitor screen. In particular, the camera monitoring apparatus digitizes the analog image signal and generates digital image data having the same number of pixels and the same aspect ratio, and each digital image based on a user operation. The image data selection means for designating one of the data as uncompressed data and (2m + 1) digital image data other than the uncompressed data have a resolution of 1 / m times without changing the aspect ratio. Data compression means that performs data compression processing and generates compressed data, and the image area of the compressed data is adjacent to the image area of the uncompressed data without overlapping the image areas of the uncompressed data and the compressed data. Image composition means for performing composition processing arranged along two sides and generating the composite image data A display means for displaying the composite image data on the monitor screen having the monitor screen having a larger number of pixels than the digital image data and having an aspect ratio matching the digital image data. The means is configured to display a composite image by associating each pixel of the composite image data with a minimum display unit on the monitor screen.

In the camera monitoring apparatus according to the sixth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the above configuration, the analog image signal is a signal having the number of horizontal scanning lines and aspect ratio defined by NTSC, and the monitor screen is defined by the XGA standard. It is configured to be a screen having a number of pixels and an aspect ratio.

  According to the camera monitoring apparatus of the present invention, since the composite image data is generated by arranging the compressed data and the uncompressed data, one imaging apparatus retains the resolution defined in the digitization processing of the analog image signal. Thus, a composite image can be generated. In addition, the uncompressed data and the compressed data image areas are arranged without overlapping each other, and the compressed data image area is arranged along two adjacent sides in the uncompressed data image area to generate a composite image. Therefore, it is possible to generate a composite image having an aspect ratio that matches the image defined in the digitization processing of the analog image signal. Therefore, even when displaying on a monitor screen whose screen size is less than twice the image size at the time of input, it is possible to display a plurality of videos at the same time without degrading image quality.

  In addition, since composite image data whose number of pixels is (m + 1) / m times the digital image data is generated, it is suitable for display on a monitor screen having a resolution higher than the resolution defined in the digitization processing of the analog image signal. Such a composite image can be obtained.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a monitoring system including a camera monitoring device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. The system displays images taken by a plurality of monitoring cameras 10 on a monitor screen 41. An example is shown. The monitoring system 100 includes two or more monitoring cameras 10, a transmission cable 11, and a camera monitoring device 20.

  The camera monitoring device 20 is a terminal device to which a plurality of monitoring cameras 10 can be connected, and includes an image processing unit 30 and a display unit 40. The monitoring camera 10 is an imaging device that captures a subject and generates an image signal, and includes an imaging device such as a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) or an optical lens. Here, it is assumed that the monitoring camera 10 generates an analog image signal in which the number of horizontal scanning lines and the aspect ratio are defined, for example, an NTSC image signal. The surveillance camera 10 is assumed to use an image sensor that converts visible light into an electrical signal and generates RGB signals or luminance and color difference signals.

  In NTSC, a frame composed of 525 horizontal scanning lines (corresponding to one still image) is composed of two different fields formed by interlace scanning, and is updated at a rate of 30 frames per second. Further, the aspect ratio of the still image is defined as horizontal: vertical = 4: 3. The image signal generated by each monitoring camera 10 is transmitted through the transmission cable 11 and input to the camera monitoring device 20 for each monitoring camera 10.

  The image processing unit 30 performs an operation of processing an image signal input from each monitoring camera 10 and displaying the processed image signal on the display unit 40. Specifically, a process of synthesizing images when switching the video to be displayed on the display unit 40 or simultaneously displaying a plurality of videos on the same screen is performed. In the image processing unit 30, digital data having a predetermined number of pixels and an aspect ratio is generated as image data to be displayed on the display unit 40. Here, it is assumed that the horizontal direction in the image data coincides with the horizontal scanning direction of the image signal.

  The display unit 40 includes a monitor screen 41 and a driver circuit for drawing, and performs an operation of displaying the image data generated by the image processing unit 30 on the monitor screen 41. The monitor screen 41 includes a display element in which a large number of pixels are two-dimensionally arranged, for example, a liquid crystal display element. On the monitor screen 41, a camera image is displayed by associating each pixel of the image data with a pixel as a minimum display unit.

  Here, it is assumed that the monitor screen 41 is a screen having the number of pixels and the aspect ratio defined by the XGA standard. The XGA standard defines the number of pixels in the horizontal direction (specifically, 1024 pixels) and the number of pixels in the vertical direction (specifically, 768 pixels) as the screen resolution (screen size), and the aspect ratio is 4: 3. The monitor screen 41 is assumed to be a display element composed of pixels capable of displaying RGB colors.

  Here, it is assumed that the image processing unit 30 and the display unit 40 are provided as the camera monitoring device 20 including a single housing.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a main part of the monitoring system of FIG. 1, in which an image processing unit 30 is illustrated. The image processing unit 30 includes an A / D conversion unit 31, an image data selection switching unit 32, an operation input unit 33, a data compression processing unit 34, and an image composition processing unit 35. The operation input unit 33 is a user interface that generates an input signal based on a user operation.

  The A / D converter 31 is a digital image data generation unit that digitizes an image signal (analog signal) from the monitoring camera 10 and generates digital image data. Specifically, the image signals input from the monitoring camera 10 are digitized, and digital image data having the same number of pixels and aspect ratio is generated for each image signal.

  Here, it is assumed that digital image data is generated in units of image frames, and the number of pixels in the image frame and the aspect ratio of the image area are defined by the VGA (Video Graphics Array) standard. An image frame corresponds to one still image, and a moving image (video) is formed by updating the image frame at a predetermined cycle.

  In the VGA standard, the number of pixels in the horizontal direction (specifically, 640 pixels) and the number of pixels in the vertical direction (specifically, 480 pixels) are defined as the image size, and the aspect ratio is 4: 3. It has become. Each image frame includes 640 × 480 pixel data and a header including the image frame and the identification data of the A / D conversion unit 31. The pixel data is data for each pixel including intensity data for each color of RGB or luminance data and color difference data.

  Further, the camera monitoring device 20 can connect up to N monitoring cameras 10 (N ≧ 6), and N A / D converters 31 are provided according to the number N of connectable monitoring cameras 10. And

  The image data selection switching unit 32 selects specific digital image data from the digital image data input from the A / D conversion unit 31 or switches the selected image data to other image data. ing. Specifically, (2m + 2) digital image data (m is an integer of 2 or more satisfying N ≧ 2m + 2) out of N digital image data is designated as a display target based on a user operation. Here, it is assumed that one of (2m + 2) digital image data to be displayed is designated as non-compressed data.

  The data compression processing unit 34 performs compression processing for reducing the resolution of each digital image data to be displayed other than the digital image data designated as non-compressed data, and generates compressed data. Specifically, for each of (2m + 1) pieces of digital image data input from the image data selection switching unit 32, data compression processing is performed to reduce the resolution without changing the aspect ratio.

  This resolution is the number of pixels corresponding to a predetermined length on the subject, and the data compression processing is processing for reducing the number of pixels per predetermined length on the subject, that is, the display size of the subject is set in the vertical direction and The processing in the horizontal direction is reduced at the same rate (scale conversion processing). Therefore, in this data compression process, the number of bits of pixel data does not change.

  Here, it is assumed that the data compression processing unit 34 performs a data compression process for increasing the resolution to 1 / m times, and image data having a reduced resolution and the number of pixels compared to before the compression process is generated as the compressed data.

  As a specific data compression method, for example, a method of extracting pixel data (decimation) at a ratio of 1 to m pixels in each of the vertical direction and the horizontal direction can be considered. Alternatively, a method of converting m × m pixels into one pixel using an average value of each pixel data as pixel data can be considered.

  The image synthesis processing unit 35 performs a process of synthesizing the uncompressed data and the compressed data to generate synthesized image data. Specifically, the non-compressed data input from the image data selection switching unit 32 and the compressed data input from the data compression processing unit 34 are not overlapped with each other, and the image region of the compressed data is non-exposed. A composition process for arranging the compressed data along two adjacent sides in the image area is performed.

  Here, it is assumed that uncompressed data having a resolution defined by the A / D conversion unit 31 is arranged to generate composite image data. Therefore, the composite image data is image data having a larger number of pixels than the VGA standard and a smaller number of pixels than the XGA standard.

  FIG. 3 is a transition diagram showing an example of the operation in the image processing unit of FIG. 2, and shows how the composite image data 53 is generated from the digital image data 51 for each monitoring camera 10. In this example, one composite image data 53 is generated based on the six digital image data 51 selected and designated by the image data selection switching unit 32.

  Specifically, one of the six digital image data 51 (referred to as image A1) is designated as uncompressed data. The other digital image data 51 (referred to as images A2 to A6) is compressed by the data compression processing unit 34, and compressed data 52 (referred to as reduced images B2 to B6) is generated. Then, the composite image data 53 is generated by arranging the images A1 and the reduced images B2 to B6.

  The images A1 to A6 are image data (VGA standard) in which the vertical direction is L1 = 480 pixels and the horizontal direction is L2 = 640 pixels. Each of the images A2 to A6 is reduced to 1/2 times (m = 2) both vertically and horizontally by compression processing. In this case, the reduced images B2 to B6 are image data (QVGA standard) in which the vertical direction is L3 = 240 pixels and the horizontal direction is L4 = 320 pixels. The aspect ratio is L2: L1 = L4: L3 = 4: 3.

  In the composition process, two reduced images B4 and B5 are arranged so that the long sides of the image A1 (non-reduced image) are in contact with each other, and the other two are in contact with the short sides of the image A1. Reduced images B2 and B3 are arranged.

  For example, the reduced images B2 and B3 are arranged so that the short side on the left side touches the short side on the right side of the image A1, and the reduced images B4 and B5 each have the upper long side on the lower side of the image A1. It arrange | positions so that it may touch. The reduced image B6 is arranged so as to contact the lower long side of the reduced image B3 and the short side on the right side of the reduced image B5. That is, the five reduced images B2 to B6 are arranged in an L shape along two adjacent sides of the image A1, and the image A1 is positioned at the upper left in the composite image.

  The composite image data 53 configured in this way is image data of L5 = 720 pixels in the vertical direction and L6 = 960 pixels in the horizontal direction, and the image ratio can be changed without changing the aspect ratio (L6: L5 = 4: 3). A1 to A6 can be synthesized.

  4A to 4C are diagrams illustrating an example of the operation in the image processing unit of FIG. 2, and another configuration example of the composite image data 53 is illustrated. FIG. 4A shows a case where a non-reduced image is arranged on the upper right to form a composite image. FIG. 4B shows a case in which a non-reduced image is arranged at the lower left to form a composite image, and FIG. 4C shows a non-reduced image arranged at the lower right and a synthesized image. The configuration case is shown.

  Here, these configuration methods can be selected, and when the composite image data 53 is generated from the six images A1 to A6, the user selects and designates one of them.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the operation of the camera monitoring apparatus of FIG. 1, and shows a monitor screen 41 that displays the composite image data 53 generated from the six images A1 to A6. The monitor screen 41 is an XGA standard screen having a larger number of pixels than the digital image data (VGA standard) generated by the A / D conversion unit 31 and having an aspect ratio that matches the digital image data.

  The image area of the composite image data 53 is 1.5 times the VGA standard both vertically and horizontally, and the monitor screen 41 is 1.6 times the VGA standard both vertically and horizontally. Accordingly, when the composite image data 53 including the image A1 and the reduced images B2 to B6 is displayed, the composite image can be displayed on the monitor screen 41 without being newly enlarged or reduced. Here, displaying a plurality of videos simultaneously on the same screen in this way is referred to as split screen display.

  Specifically, the vertical size V1 in the monitor screen 41 is larger than the vertical size V2 in the image region of the composite image data 53, and a blank region having a width D1 is formed above the composite image. At the same time, a blank area having a width D2 is formed on the lower side. Further, the horizontal size H1 of the monitor screen 41 is larger than the horizontal size H2 of the image area of the composite image data 53, and a blank area having a width C1 is formed on the left side of the composite image and the right side. A blank area having a width C2 is formed.

  In this example, the composite image is arranged in the center of the screen, and D1 = D2 = 24 pixels and C1 = C2 = 32 pixels. Here, the image A1 and the reduced images B2 to B6 are arranged without gaps, but some gaps (blank areas) may be generated between the image areas.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of the operation in the monitoring system of FIG. 1, and illustrates a state of screen transition when switching monitoring videos of a plurality of different areas. In this example, a video from the monitoring camera 10 that targets “area 1” is displayed as an image A1 (non-reduced image). In addition, a video from the monitoring camera 10 that targets “area 2” is displayed as a reduced image B2, and a video from the monitoring camera 10 that targets “area 3” is displayed as a reduced image B3.

  The video from the monitoring camera 10 that captures “Area 4” is displayed as a reduced image B4, and nothing is displayed for “Area 5” and “Area 6”, which is blank.

  In such a state, when an operation for switching the video of “Area 1” and the video of “Area 3” is performed, the video of “Area 3” is displayed as image A1, and the video of “Area 1” is reduced. The screen is switched to the image displayed as the image B3. By switching the screen, it is possible to view the video of “Area 3” that has been subjected to data compression processing up to the image quality at the time of input.

  FIG. 7 is a transition diagram showing another example of the operation of the camera monitoring apparatus of FIG. 1, and shows another example of split screen display. In the camera monitoring apparatus 20, the composite image data 62 can be generated by combining the four digital image data 61 selected and designated by the image data selection switching unit 32.

  Specifically, four digital image data 61 (images E1 to E4) generated by the A / D conversion unit 31 are combined, and the combined image data 62 is generated by reducing the combined image. The The images E1 to E4 are arranged in the rectangle without overlapping each other. In image reduction after combining the images E1 to E4, data compression processing is performed to increase the resolution to 4/5 without changing the aspect ratio of the image area.

  The composite image data 62 configured in this way is image data (XGA standard) in which the vertical direction is L7 = 768 pixels and the horizontal direction is L8 = 1024 pixels.

  Steps S101 to S109 in FIG. 8 are flowcharts illustrating an example of the operation in the image processing unit in FIG. 2, and show a processing procedure when six videos are divided and displayed. First, the A / D conversion unit 31 digitizes an analog image signal from the monitoring camera 10 to generate digital image data (step S101). Next, if a user operation for changing the image data to be combined is performed, the image data selection switching unit 32 changes the image data based on the user operation (steps S102 and S108).

  Next, the image data selection switching unit 32 switches the non-reduced image and the reduced image based on the user operation when a user operation for changing the image data to be a non-reduced image is performed on the image data to be combined ( Steps S103 and S109).

  The data compression processing unit 34 performs compression processing on each digital image data other than the digital image data designated as uncompressed data, and generates compressed data (step S104). The image synthesis processing unit 35 synthesizes the uncompressed data and the compressed data, and outputs the synthesized image data to the display unit 40 (steps S105 and S106).

  The processing procedure from step S101 to step S106 is repeated until the split screen display is completed (step S107).

  According to the present embodiment, the uncompressed data and the compressed data are arranged to generate the composite image data 53, so that one monitoring camera 10 has the resolution defined by the A / D converter 31 retained. Thus, a composite image can be generated. In addition, the uncompressed data and the compressed data image areas are arranged without overlapping each other, and the compressed data image area is arranged along two adjacent sides in the uncompressed data image area to generate a composite image. Therefore, it is possible to generate a composite image having an aspect ratio that matches the image defined by the A / D conversion unit 31.

  Further, since the composite image data 53 whose image size is 1.5 times the digital image data 51 is generated, it is suitable for being displayed on the monitor screen 41 having a resolution higher than the resolution defined by the A / D converter 31. Such a composite image can be obtained. Furthermore, since the digital image data 51 is appropriately switched when the user switches between compressed data and uncompressed data, the video that has been subjected to data compression processing can be displayed with the image quality at the time of input.

  In this embodiment, an example in which compression processing is performed on image data after A / D conversion has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, using an A / D converter that can change the sampling rate, at least in the horizontal direction (horizontal scanning direction), it is possible to cause the A / D converter to perform compression processing that reduces the resolution.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
In the first embodiment, an example has been described in which six videos are divided and displayed. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, a case will be described in which contrast adjustment is performed for each image displayed by dividing a screen.

  FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a main part of the camera monitoring apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention, in which an image processing unit 130 is illustrated. The image processing unit 130 is different from the image processing unit 30 of FIG. 2 in that a contrast adjustment unit 131 is provided. The contrast adjustment unit 131 performs processing for adjusting the contrast of the image data input from the image data selection switching unit 32 and the data compression processing unit 34.

  The contrast adjustment unit 131 performs processing for making the contrast of the compressed data higher than that of the non-compressed data. The image composition processing unit 35 arranges the compressed data after the contrast adjustment and generates composite image data.

  Specifically, the contrast is increased by increasing the luminance difference between adjacent pixels.

  With this configuration, a contrast adjustment process is performed to make the compressed data have a higher contrast than that of the uncompressed data. Therefore, the visibility when images taken by the plurality of monitoring cameras 10 are simultaneously displayed on the monitor screen 41 is improved. Can be improved.

1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a monitoring system including a camera monitoring device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a main part of the monitoring system in FIG. 1, in which an image processing unit 30 is illustrated. FIG. 3 is a transition diagram illustrating an example of an operation in the image processing unit of FIG. 2, in which a composite image data 53 is generated from digital image data 51. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation in the image processing unit in FIG. 2, and another configuration example of the composite image data 53 is illustrated. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation in the camera monitoring apparatus of FIG. 1, and shows a monitor screen 41 that displays composite image data 53. It is the figure which showed an example of the operation | movement in the monitoring system of FIG. 1, and the mode of the screen transition at the time of switching the monitoring video of a several different area is shown. It is the transition diagram which showed the other example of operation | movement in the camera monitoring apparatus of FIG. 1, and the other example of the division | segmentation display of a screen is shown. FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an operation in the image processing unit in FIG. 2, and shows a processing procedure when six videos are divided and displayed. It is the block diagram which showed the structural example in the principal part of the camera monitoring apparatus by Embodiment 2 of this invention, and the image process part 130 is shown.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Surveillance camera 11 Transmission cable 20 Camera monitoring apparatus 30 Image processing part 31 A / D conversion part 32 Image data selection switching part 33 Operation input part 34 Data compression process part 35 Image composition process part 40 Display part 41 Monitor screen 51 Digital image data 52 Compressed Data 53 Composite Image Data 100 Monitoring System 130 Image Processing Unit 131 Contrast Adjustment Unit

Claims (6)

In a camera monitoring device that generates composite image data based on analog image signals input from two or more imaging devices,
Digital image data generating means for digitizing the analog image signals and generating digital image data having the same number of pixels and the same aspect ratio;
Image data selection means for designating one of the digital image data as uncompressed data based on a user operation;
Data compression means for generating compressed data by performing data compression processing for reducing the resolution without changing the aspect ratio for the digital image data other than the uncompressed data,
The synthesized image data is subjected to a synthesis process for arranging the image area of the compressed data along two adjacent sides in the image area of the non-compressed data without causing the non-compressed data and the image areas of the compressed data to overlap each other. and an image synthesizing means for generating a,
The digital image data generating means generates (2m + 2) digital image data (m is an integer of 2 or more);
The data compression means performs a data compression process to make the resolution 1 / m times,
The camera monitoring apparatus, wherein the image synthesizing unit generates the synthesized image data by arranging the uncompressed data having a resolution defined by the digital image data generating unit. The image composition means arranges m pieces of compressed data such that each long side is in contact with the long side in the image region of the uncompressed data, and other m so that each short side is in contact with the short side of the image region. The camera monitoring apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the compressed data is arranged. And digital image data arranged as the uncompressed data in the above synthesis process, in claim 1, characterized in that it comprises an image switching means for switching based on the digital image data arranged as the compressed data to a user operation The camera monitoring device described. In a camera monitoring device that generates composite image data based on analog image signals input from two or more imaging devices,
Digital image data generating means for digitizing the analog image signals and generating digital image data having the same number of pixels and the same aspect ratio;
Image data selection means for designating one of the digital image data as uncompressed data based on a user operation;
Data compression means for generating compressed data by performing data compression processing for reducing the resolution without changing the aspect ratio for the digital image data other than the uncompressed data,
The synthesized image data is subjected to a synthesis process for arranging the image area of the compressed data along two adjacent sides in the image area of the non-compressed data without causing the non-compressed data and the image areas of the compressed data to overlap each other. Image composition means for generating
The contrast of the compressed data and a contrast control unit that performs contrast adjustment process to be higher than the non-compressed data,
The camera monitoring apparatus, wherein the image composition means generates the composite image data by arranging compressed data after contrast adjustment. A camera monitoring apparatus to which (2m + 2) (m is an integer of 2 or more) or more monitoring cameras can be connected, which generates composite image data based on analog image signals input from each of the monitoring cameras, and displays a monitor screen In the camera monitoring device displayed above,
Digital image data generating means for digitizing the analog image signals and generating digital image data having the same number of pixels and the same aspect ratio;
Image data selection means for designating one of the digital image data as uncompressed data based on a user operation;
A data compression means for generating compressed data by performing data compression processing to increase the resolution to 1 / m times without changing the aspect ratio for (2m + 1) digital image data other than the uncompressed data;
The synthesized image data is subjected to a synthesis process for arranging the image area of the compressed data along two adjacent sides in the image area of the non-compressed data without causing the non-compressed data and the image areas of the compressed data to overlap each other. Image composition means for generating
The monitor screen having a larger number of pixels than the digital image data and having an aspect ratio that matches the digital image data, and display means for displaying the composite image data on the monitor screen;
The camera monitoring apparatus, wherein the display means displays a composite image by associating each pixel of the composite image data with a minimum display unit on the monitor screen. Claim the analog image signal is a signal of the number of horizontal scanning lines and the aspect ratio defined by NTSC, the above monitor screen, characterized in that it is a screen of the number of pixels defined by XGA standard and aspect ratio 5. The camera monitoring device according to 5 .

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