JPH0946560A - Image input device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) An object of the present invention is to provide an image input device which prevents an unsightly image from being output due to a freezing in a camera shake state. When the freeze switch 4 freezes the frame memory 14, when the freeze switch 4 is pushed down, a camera shake is usually generated in the camera body. Then, while the camera shake is occurring, the image is constantly written in the frame memory 14 for each frame. And the camera shake is 1
If it does not occur for more than one frame, writing to the frame memory 14 is stopped. As a result, it is possible to prevent the camera shake image from being output as a still image.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image input device, and more particularly, to a camera shake prevention function when a still image freeze switch is provided in an image input device that is held and operated by hand.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, various image input devices have become widespread with the development of multimedia equipment, but the main one among them is a video camera for picking up a moving image as a video signal and still image recording. It is a still video camera.

If the video camera is not for moving pictures only, but for moving pictures and still pictures, and a freeze switch is provided on the video camera, if the freeze switch is pushed down without fixing the video camera to a tripod or the like, normal camera shake occurs. Occurs. If the freeze is performed in such a camera shake state, a shaken image is output as it is, and an unsightly screen is displayed.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an image input device which prevents an unsightly image from being output due to a freezing in a camera shake state.

[0005]

An image input device of the present invention instructs an image pickup means for picking up an image of a subject, a signal processing means for processing an output signal of the image pickup means, and an operation of a freeze function. Freezing means, storage means for storing the output signal of the signal processing means when the freezing means is turned on, camera shake detection means for detecting camera shake, and storage means when camera shake is detected by the camera shake detection means. And a control means for controlling the storage operation in (1) to be delayed.

Here, the camera shake detection means may include a motion detection means for detecting the movement of the image.

In this case, the control means may control not to update the contents stored in the storage means when the movement detection means has not detected the movement of the image for at least one frame.

With such a structure, the stored contents of the storage means are constantly updated while the movement of the image is detected by the movement detecting means due to the shaking of the hand, so that the image disturbed by the shaking is stopped. It is not output as a picture.

Further, in addition to the above-mentioned structure, a time measuring means for measuring the time during which the motion of the image is detected by the motion detecting means and a warning means for issuing a warning when the predetermined time is measured by the time measuring means. It may be provided.

Further, the camera shake detection means may include an acceleration sensor.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

In the following description, the same symbols are used for the same members and have the same functions and effects, so duplicated explanations are omitted.

FIG. 1 is an external view of the image input device according to this embodiment.

In this figure, 1 is a lens unit, 2 is a video output terminal, 3 is a power input terminal, and 4 is a freeze switch used for capturing a still image.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the image input device in this embodiment.

In this figure, 11 is a lens and CCD
An image pickup unit including an image pickup element such as 12
Is a signal processing unit for performing digital signal processing, and 14 is a frame memory composed of a semiconductor memory or the like. Reference numeral 17 is a motion detection unit for detecting that the body vibrates.
The motion detection unit 17 has, for example, a one-stage frame memory, is divided into several blocks in the horizontal and vertical directions, and compares the memory with the next data for each block to determine the moving direction and the moving direction. It is to detect the distance. The frame memory 14 includes a mode circuit that switches between a mode for outputting a signal (moving image) from the signal processing unit 13 through and a mode for outputting a signal (still image) from the frame memory 14. Reference numeral 18 denotes a CPU that controls the entire system, and controls, for example, a mode circuit to switch between a moving image and a still image. Reference numeral 15 denotes a D / which converts the signal-processed digital signal into an analog signal such as video.
A converter. Reference numeral 16 is an encoder circuit unit that converts the output of the D / A converter 15 into a video signal.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to these figures.

First, a state in which a normal video camera outputs a moving image will be described. First, the image pickup unit 11 including an image pickup device such as a CCD converts image information of a subject into an image pickup signal which is an electric signal. Since this signal is an analog signal, it is converted into a digital signal by the A / D converter 12 in order to perform signal processing digitally.
The signal processing unit 13 separates the digital signal into luminance (Y) and color difference (C), and performs appropriate signal processing on each of Y and C. Then, in the frame memory 14, the signal-processed digital signal is divided into two systems. One system outputs as it is (through), and the other system outputs a frozen image. Normally, the frame memory 14 selects the through mode. And this frame memory 14
The digital signal from is converted into an analog signal by the D / A converter 15, converted into a video signal by the encoder circuit section 16, and output.

Next, when the freeze switch 4 freezes the frame memory 14, when the freeze switch 4 is pushed down, a camera shake is usually generated in the camera body. Then, while the camera shake is occurring, the image is constantly written in the frame memory 14 for each frame. If the camera shake does not occur for one frame or more, the frame memory 1
Stop writing to 4.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram for explaining the frame memory 14 in detail, and FIG. 4 is a timing chart in the circuit of FIG. Hereinafter, as the memory configuration, FI
The case of using the FO memory will be described.

Reference numeral 32 denotes F for one frame of the luminance (Y) signal.
It is an IFO memory (hereinafter referred to as “Y memory”). 3
Reference numeral 1 is a Y signal input terminal. 33a is DIN (Data
Input) signal, and the data of the Y signal is the Y memory 32.
Is input to 32b is WE (Write Enable)
The e) signal is used to permit writing to the Y memory 32. 32
c is WCLK (Write Clock), which is a write clock. 32d is WReset (Wri
te Reset) signal to bring the address to the start address. Then, the memory control unit 43 causes the WE 32b, WCLK 32c, and W Reset 32d.
Are in control.

Reference numeral 35 is a Y signal output terminal. 34a is D
This is an OUT (Data Output) signal, and is data output to the Y signal terminal 35. 34b is RE (Rea
read enable to the Y memory 32 by the dEnable) signal. 34c is RCLK (Read Clock)
It is the read clock. 32d is RRe
A set (Read Reset) signal is used to bring the address to the start address. Then, the memory control unit 43 causes the RE 34b, the RCLK 34c, and the RRe
It controls the set 34d.

Reference numeral 39 is F for one frame of the color difference (C) signal.
It is an IFO memory. The memory configuration is the same as that of the Y memory 32 and the same operation is performed. Reference numeral 36 is an RY signal input terminal, and 37 is a BY signal input terminal. A selector 38 switches the RY signal and the BY signal to make the color difference point sequential. A selector 40 also switches the color difference point sequential signals to return to the RY signal and the BY signal. The memory control unit 43 controls the selector.

FIG. 4A shows a normal state, in which the luminance signal and the color difference signal are delayed by one frame and output through the memory. Vsync is a vertical synchronization signal, and WReset and RRReset are performed in synchronization with vertical synchronization, and the write address and the read address are initialized. WE and RE are at high level, and writing and reading are always performed.

In FIG. 4 (b), after the freeze switch is pressed down, camera shake occurs, and then in vertical synchronization, if one frame is stationary, WE is set to low level in the next vertical synchronization to prohibit writing. , Always frame memory 14
The image of is output.

Further, the processing of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The processing in this flowchart is performed by the CPU 18.

First, "0" is set in FLAG (S5).
1). Next, it is determined whether FLAG is "0" (S52). If FLAG is "0", it is determined whether freeze switch 4 is on (S53). If freeze switch 4 is on. , FLAG is set to "1" (S54), and writing to the frame memory 14 is started (S55). Next, the motion detection unit 1 determines whether the camera shakes.
The determination is made based on the output of 7, and if the camera shake is in progress, the process returns to step S52.

Here, since FLAG is "1" (S52, S58), the process proceeds to step S55, and writing to the frame memory 14 is continued. Next, when a predetermined time has elapsed and the camera shake is resolved by the camera shake determination in step S56, FLAG is set to "2". FLAG
Is set to "2", the process proceeds to step S59 via steps S52 and S58. If the freeze switch 4 is on, FLAG remains "2" and the process returns to step S52. Then, when the freeze switch 4 is turned off,
The FLAG is set to "0" to become the first state.

A more convenient device can be provided by measuring the elapsed time after the FLAG changes from "0" to "1" and adding a circuit for issuing a warning when a predetermined time has elapsed. .

As a result, since the frame memory 14 is constantly updated in the camera shake state, an unsightly image in the camera shake state is not output.

In the above embodiments, the example of the motion detecting means for detecting the movement of the image is given as the camera shake detecting means, but it goes without saying that an acceleration sensor or the like may be used.

[0032]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Freezing due to camera shake prevents output of unsightly images.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 is an external view of an image input device

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an image input device.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a frame memory

FIG. 4 is a timing chart of the frame memory of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing processing in the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 image pickup unit 13 signal processing unit 14 frame memory 17 motion detection unit 18 CPU

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An image pickup means for photographing a subject image, a signal processing means for processing an output signal of the image pickup means, and a freeze means for instructing to operate a freeze function.
A storage unit that stores the output signal of the signal processing unit when the freeze unit is turned on, a camera shake detection unit that detects camera shake, and a storage operation in the storage unit when camera shake is detected by the camera shake detection unit. An image input device comprising: a control unit that controls to delay. 2. The image input device according to claim 1, wherein the camera shake detection unit includes a motion detection unit that detects a motion of the image. 3. The control means controls the storage content of the storage means not to be updated when the motion detection means does not detect the motion of the image for at least one frame. Item 2. The image input device according to item 2. 4. A time measuring means for measuring the time when the motion of the image is detected by the motion detecting means, and a warning means for issuing a warning when the predetermined time is measured by the time measuring means. The image input device according to claim 2. 5. The image input device according to claim 1, wherein the camera shake detection means includes an acceleration sensor.