JPH07112251B2 - Automatic zoom ratio recorder - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recording apparatus for converting an optical image of an object into an electric signal and recording it as a recorded image on a recording medium, and more particularly to improvement of means for variably setting a zoom ratio of the optical image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional recording apparatus of this type, generally, a zoom lens adjusting ring is manually rotated so that a composition with a preferable zoom ratio can be obtained while monitoring an optical image of a subject with a finder. When the composition was obtained, the shutter was released.
Therefore, it often takes time to set the zoom ratio, and often misses a photo opportunity. Also, if you try to perform the above operation in a short time, so-called camera shake etc. will occur,
There were many inconveniences because a clear image could not be obtained.

Although there is an image pickup device in which the zoom ratio is automatically changed by a driving device such as an electric motor,
Such an image pickup apparatus is mainly limited to a moving image such as a video camera. Moreover, since the zoom ratio of these objects changes continuously, even if the shutter is momentarily released to obtain a still image, the subject is equivalently moving, so a clear recorded image is not obtained. I can't get it at all.

As a prior art example relating to means for automatically setting the zoom ratio, there is "Remote control device for optical system in surveillance television camera" disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 51-6488.

This device comprises a device for generating a rotation angle signal of an optical system control element, a storage device for permanently holding an optimum rotation angle coded signal of the control element, a register for temporarily storing a selected coded signal, and a coding device. It is provided with a comparison control device for obtaining a deviation signal between the signal and the angle signal, a drive device for changing the rotation angle of the control element based on the deviation signal, and the like.

Thus, when it is necessary to change the current monitoring point of the television camera, the above apparatus selects and reads from the storage device the coded signal of the optimum rotation angle of the optical system control element according to the next desired monitoring point, By replacing the coded signal with the coded signal of the register that stores the coded signal of the optimum rotation angle in the current posture, the new coded signal and the angle signal of the angle signal generator that are stored in the register, A comparison control device is used for comparison, and the drive device is controlled so as to bring the deviation signal of the comparison control device to zero so as to obtain the optimum rotation angle of the optical system control element according to the desired monitoring point. Is.

Another example of prior art relating to means for automatically setting the zoom ratio is the "zoom image input device" disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 50-323.

This apparatus includes a variable focus zoom lens system having a servo mechanism, an image pickup apparatus, a circuit for digitizing an analog video signal obtained by sequential scanning of the image pickup apparatus, a temporary storage apparatus for the digital video signal, and an image. And a detection circuit.

Thus, the above-mentioned device reads the digital video information input to the temporary storage device by the image detection circuit, performs the detection process of the size and position of the image or mark, and the servo mechanism causes the servo mechanism to detect the result. The zoom lens system is driven and the closed circuit is configured to input the image information again. When a predetermined image is detected, the digital image signal stored in the temporary storage device is input to the image processing device. It was done.

[0010]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] Japanese Patent Publication No. 51-6488
The device described in the publication is basically a movie (T
V camera) and does not include means for obtaining a still image for each of a plurality of zoom ratios. In addition, it is intended to photograph at a zoom ratio corresponding to each of various monitoring points (subjects), and the same subject (monitoring point) is gradually expanded or reduced at various zoom ratios and automatically stopped. It does not have the technical means to take a picture.

The apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 50-323 evaluates, every time a digital image signal is obtained, whether or not the image signal corresponds to a desired zoom ratio. In other words, the closed loop control (control by the closed circuit configuration of the image forming optical system, the image pickup system, and the detection processing system) that changes and controls the next zoom ratio is performed according to the result of the evaluation, that is, the evaluation of the image itself (“the perspective discrimination signal 334”) However, there are drawbacks such as a complicated structure and a slow response.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and its object is to gradually enlarge or reduce the same subject at various zoom ratios, and to make a still image for each of a plurality of zoom ratios. Automatic zoom variable recording device that can shoot images quickly and accurately and does not have a chance to miss a photo opportunity because the operation is complicated as in the past and has a remarkably simple control system configuration. To provide.

[0013]

In order to solve the above problems and achieve the object, the following measures were taken in the present invention.

[0014] The zoom ratio variable lens (1), the Zoo
The video signal corresponding to the optical image is obtained by the variable lens
Image pickup device for zooming , and the zoom ratio variable lens (1)
Each but according to a plurality of the zoom ratio set in advance fixedly
Each time the state is reached , the above-mentioned shooting is performed under the zoom ratio at that time.
Image pickup means (9, 10, 12, 13) for performing an image pickup operation for obtaining a video signal by the image element, and the image pickup means (9, 1)
Lens driving means (8, etc.) for immediately driving the zoom ratio variable lens (1) to a state corresponding to the next zoom ratio each time the imaging operation by (0, 12, 13) is completed.
And so on.

[0015]

As a result of taking the above-mentioned means, the following effects occur.

By pressing the start button, an operation command signal (S3) is generated, and the zoom ratio variable lens (1) is driven to reach each state corresponding to a plurality of fixed zoom ratios. It The zoom ratio variable lens for each Ru optimum to each state, a video signal corresponding to a predetermined zoom ratio at that time is captured as a still image is captured. Upon completion of this image pickup, the zoom ratio variable lens (1) is immediately driven to a state corresponding to the next zoom ratio, and the next image pickup is performed. That is, continuous shooting with different zoom ratios is smoothly performed. It should be noted that the configuration is not one using the closed loop control as shown in the publicly known Japanese Patent Publication No. 50-323, but is one in which the zoom ratio is fixedly set in advance.
The configuration of the control system is remarkably simple and the response speed is fast.

[0017]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a recording apparatus of the present invention, in which the A side shows the recording apparatus main body side which converts an optical image of a subject into an electric signal and records it as a recorded image on a recording medium, and B The side shows the control system side that variably sets the zoom ratio.

The variable zoom ratio lens 1 is a lens provided in the main body of the recording apparatus so that the zoom ratio of the optical image of the subject can be changed. The zoom ratio detector 2 detects the zoom ratio of the zoom ratio variable lens 1, and supplies the detection signal S1 to one input end of the comparator 3. As the detector 2, it is conceivable that the zoom ratio control ring of the lens 1 is provided with a scale for angle detection or other index and the movement of this index is detected by an optical, magnetic or electrostatic detection head.

On the other hand, the zoom ratio setting device 4 sets a plurality of specific zoom ratios automatically or by manual operation. In the present embodiment, the case of automatically setting is illustrated. That is, when the mode selection switch 5 is switched, a plurality of types of preset value groups (for example, one group has a focal length f of 20, 50, 100) set in accordance therewith.
The second group has a focal length f of 70, 80, 100,
It is predetermined such as 120 mm. 1) is selected, and a series of signals corresponding to the selected group is output in time series. The storage device 6 stores a series of setting value signals from the zoom ratio setting device 4, and the stored contents are sequentially and selectively read by the reading means. As the read-out means, for example, one in which a plurality of read-out terminals are switched by the changeover switch 7 as shown in the figure is used. The set value signal S2 read by the reading means is applied to the other input terminal of the comparator 3.

The comparator 3 compares the set value signal S2 with the detection signal S1. During the period until the detected zoom ratio reaches the set value, for example, a pulsed operation command signal S3 is sent to the lens driver. Give to eight. The lens driver 8 is provided with the operation command signal S3 from the comparator 3,
The zoom ratio variable lens 1 is driven, and is composed of, for example, a step motor that operates in steps by the number of applied pulses, and a transmission mechanism that transmits the rotation amount of the motor to the zoom ratio control ring of the variable lens 1. Has been done. Since the rotation angle of the zoom ratio control ring and the zoom ratio of the lens 1 correspond to each other, in order to obtain a predetermined zoom ratio, a predetermined number of pulse trains sent from the comparator 3 are given to the step motor to The rotation angle of the control ring may be changed.

The shutter driver 9 automatically turns off the imaging shutter 10 provided in the recording apparatus main body when the driving of the lens 1 by the lens driver 8 is stopped. The shutter 10 is opened for a preset time and closed after a predetermined time by means not shown. Close signal S4 when the shutter 10 is closed
Are given to the read command device 11 and the image pickup device driver 12 via the shutter driver 9.
When the read command device 11 is given the shutter close signal S4, the change-over switch 7 constituting the read means is provided.
Command to read the next set value. Specifically, the changeover switch 7 is operated to change by one step, the next set value signal is read out, and the comparator 3 is controlled to give the signal S2.

When receiving the shutter close signal S4, the image pickup device driver 12 scans the solid-state image pickup device 13 for one frame corresponding to one screen, and forms an optical image of a predetermined zoom ratio obtained by the lens 1. Obtain the corresponding video signal. Although not shown, the image sensor 13 includes a shutter 10
Means for clearing the accumulated noise charge before opening is installed.

The image pickup signal obtained from the image pickup device 13 is amplified by the amplifier 14, and then the video signal processor 1
5, a color signal and a luminance signal corresponding to the image pickup method are added, and then the recording signal processor 16 converts the signal into a recording signal suitable for the type of the recording medium 17. As the recording medium 17, for example, a magnetic recording medium such as a magnetic tape or a magnetic disk is used, and recording is performed by the recording head 18. Therefore, an FM carrier wave modulated by a video signal is used as the recording signal. The motor 19 is for driving the recording medium 17 at a constant speed. For example, when the recording medium 17 is a magnetic disk, the motor 19 rotates once per frame. The actuator 20 moves the head 18 by a distance corresponding to one track each time one frame is recorded, and moves the head 18 while the lens 1 is performing the zoom ratio changing operation by the lens driver 8. Let it complete.

The means for reproducing the image recorded on the recording medium 17 may be the same as the conventional magnetic reproducing apparatus.

In the present apparatus thus constructed,
By pressing a start button (shutter button) (not shown), the variable zoom ratio lens 1 is driven by the driver 8 to the first set value fixedly set in advance and stopped. Then, when the shutter 10 is released and the image pickup is finished, the zoom ratio variable lens 1 is immediately driven to the set value corresponding to the next zoom ratio and stopped.

The same operation is repeated thereafter. For example, when the focal length f is f = 20,3 for the zoom ratio of the lens 1,
In the case of setting in 5 steps of 0, 50, 75, 100 mm, first, the focal length of the lens 1 is f = 20 mm.
Then, the lens 1 stops operating and the zoom ratio is fixed at that value. Then, when the imaging is completed, the object moves as quickly as possible until the next focal length f = 30 mm is reached. Thus, while the focal length of the lens 1 is being changed stepwise in a relatively short time, optical images with different zoom ratios are gradually picked up. Each captured optical image is converted into an electrical signal,
After predetermined signal processing is performed, the images are sequentially recorded on the recording medium 17 as recorded images.

The images recorded on the recording medium 17 are reproduced as a series of images having different zoom ratios by a reproducing device (not shown). In this case, the reproduced image may be directly displayed by a cathode ray tube display or the like for observation, or may be made into a hard copy for filing.

Thus, according to the present apparatus, a plurality of images having different zoom ratios can be continuously and quickly obtained. In this case, since the zoom ratio is all changed automatically, there is no risk of a manual operation error, and the inconvenience of missing a photo opportunity due to the complexity of the operation can be solved. Further, even when an image is picked up by an image pickup device having a relatively small number of pixels, there is an advantage that the resolution of a required subject is substantially increased by viewing a plurality of recorded images sequentially captured in time series. Also, with a specific subject image that requires high resolution,
There is also an advantage that it is possible to view the entire image including the surrounding scenery and the like as separate recorded images, which does not require such high resolution.

The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment but can be modified as follows. For example, using a servo motor as a lens driving motor,
The rotation angle of the zoom ratio control ring is detected by an appropriate angle detection means, and the voltage is continuously applied to the motor until a predetermined rotation angle is obtained, and when the rotation angle of the predetermined zoom ratio control ring is obtained, The voltage application to the motor may be temporarily stopped. Further, the case where the zoom ratio control ring is rotated as the zoom ratio changing means has been described, but the invention is not necessarily limited to this. For example, a linear motor or the like may be used to translate the lens in the optical axis direction. Good. In this case, the zoom ratio of the lens depends on the position of the lens or the lens support in the lens optical axis direction.Therefore, as a zoom ratio detector, a detection head in which indexes such as scales are arranged along the lens optical axis direction is used. Need to detect. The recording medium is not limited to the magnetic recording medium, and may be a semiconductor memory or an optical recording material, for example. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the operation is repeated so that a plurality of images having different zoom ratios can be continuously obtained has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. That is, the variable zoom ratio lens 1 is used as the lens driver 8
Is driven to the first set value (which setting value is arbitrary) and stopped, and when the shutter 10 is released and the image capturing is finished, the predetermined operation is completed and the next set value is set. The read operation may be stopped. By doing so, it becomes possible to easily obtain a single image with the required zoom ratio. Of course, various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0030]

According to the present invention, the following effects can be expected. The same subject can be gradually expanded or contracted at various zoom ratios to rapidly and accurately shoot a plurality of still images at each zoom ratio, and the operation is complicated as in the past. Therefore, it is possible to provide an automatic variable zoom ratio recording apparatus in which there is no risk of missing a photo opportunity and which has a remarkably simple control system configuration.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Zoom ratio variable lens, 2 ... Zoom ratio detector, 3
... comparator, 4 ... zoom ratio setting device, 5 ... mode selection switch, 6 ... memory device, 7 ... changeover switch, 8 ... lens driver, 9 ... shutter driver, 10 ... imaging shutter,
11 ... Read-out command device, 12 ... Image sensor driver, 13 ... Solid-state image sensor, 14 ... Amplifier, 15 ... Image processor, 16 ...
Recording signal processor, 17 ... Recording medium, 18 ... Recording head,
19 ... Motor, 20 ... Actuator.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A variable zoom ratio lens,Image corresponding to the optical image by the zoom ratio variable lens
An image sensor for obtaining a signal,  The zoom ratio variable lens described above is a fixed lens set in advance.
To the zoom ratio of the numberEach time it reaches the corresponding stateAt that time
Zoom ratio ofGet the video signal by the above image sensor under
The image pickup means for performing the image pickup operation, and immediately after the end of the image pickup operation by the image pickup means, the shift is immediately performed.
The zoom ratio variable lens corresponds to the following zoom ratio.
And a lens drive unit for driving the zoom ratio to an automatic state.
Place