JPH11196305A - Imaging device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Problem] To eliminate the possibility of misleading a customer who saw a demonstration. A key signal from a demonstration start / end switch (10) is supplied to a drive control microprocessor (9). For example, when a demonstration is requested, a signal from the microprocessor 9 is supplied to an on-screen display (OSD) circuit 11, and a formed image signal is supplied to the superimposing circuit 6. Further, a switch 12 for attaching / detaching the infrared cut filter 2 is provided, and the operation is such that the attachment / detachment of the filter 2 is performed.
The operation signal of the switch 12 is also supplied to the microprocessor 9. As a result, the microprocessor 9 determines that the infrared cut filter 2 has been detached, and based on this determination, performs a process of prohibiting the display of the demonstration even when the demonstration is requested.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image pickup apparatus suitable for use in, for example, a VCR-integrated video camera apparatus, a video camera apparatus, and an electronic still camera apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, in a VCR-integrated video camera apparatus, there is a problem that the S / N of a video signal is deteriorated due to a decrease in the level of a signal to be captured at low illuminance such as at night.

On the other hand, in such a VCR-integrated video camera device, in many cases, a CCD image pickup device is used for an image pickup section. In general, an infrared cut filter is provided on the image pickup surface of such a CCD image pickup device, and the infrared cut filter also lowers the level of the video signal to be picked up.

[0004]

Therefore, a means for detaching the infrared cut filter provided in the above-mentioned image pickup section is provided, and the infrared cut filter is detached at low illuminance such as at night to obtain a good image pickup (NIGH).
(TSHOT) has been proposed.

However, when the infrared cut filter is detached as described above, the color of the image of the captured video signal becomes reddish. Such a reddish image is not a problem in the above-described imaging at low illuminance, but is a problem in an image captured in a bright place.

[0006] In such a device, for example, when exhibiting at a store, a demonstration for explaining the function and the like of the device may be performed. In such a case, if the infrared cut filter is detached, the image displayed on the liquid crystal display or the like attached to the device becomes reddish, for example, and there is a risk of giving a misunderstanding to the customer watching the demonstration. is there.

This application has been made in view of such a point, and the problem to be solved is that if a conventional apparatus performs a demonstration with the infrared cut filter removed, it will be seen. It could mislead customers.

[0008]

For this reason, in the present invention, no demonstration is performed when the infrared cut filter is detached. According to this, the infrared cut filter is kept detached. Demonstrations can be conducted to eliminate the risk of misleading customers who saw it.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS That is, the present invention relates to an image pickup apparatus having means for detaching an infrared cut filter provided in an image pickup section and enabling imaging with the infrared cut filter detached at low illuminance. , The display of the demonstration is prohibited.

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an example of a VCR-integrated video camera device to which an imaging device according to the present invention is applied.

In FIG. 1, image light from a subject is supplied to a CCD image pickup device (imager) 3 through a lens system 1 and an infrared cut filter 2. This image sensor 3
Is supplied to the camera signal processing circuit 4 to form a video signal, and this video signal is supplied to, for example, a recording circuit 5 of a VCR device (not shown). The video signal from the processing circuit 4 is supplied to a video signal display section (LCD panel finder) 7 through an image signal superimposing circuit 6 to be described later, and is also taken out to a line output terminal 8.

On the other hand, in this device, a microprocessor 9 for drive control is provided. The microprocessor 9 is supplied with a key signal from the demonstration start / end switch 10 described above. For example, when a demonstration is requested, a signal from the microprocessor 9 is supplied to an on-screen display (OSD) circuit 11, and a formed image signal is supplied to the above-described superimposing circuit 6.

In such a VCR integrated video camera, for example, the infrared cut filter 2 is provided with a mechanism (not shown) for mounting / detaching the filter 2. In addition, installation of this filter 2 /
A switch 12 for operating the detachment is provided, and the operation of the switch 12 causes the filter 2 to be mounted / removed. At the same time, this switch 12
Is supplied also to the microprocessor 9 described above.

As a result, in the microprocessor 9,
It is determined that the infrared cut filter 2 has been detached. Based on this determination, when the infrared cut filter 2 is detached, for example, when the above-described demonstration request is made, a process of prohibiting the display of the demonstration is performed.

That is, in this device, the microprocessor 9 performs the processing shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. Here, A in FIG. 2 is a main routine. When the process is started, a process of starting / ending the demonstration is performed in step S1.
Next, in step S2, a process of displaying a demonstration is performed. Further, other processing is performed in step S3, and the process returns to step S1.

On the other hand, FIG. 2B shows the above-described demonstration start / end processing (step S1). When this process is started, step S
At 4, it is determined whether the demonstration start / end switch 10 has been pressed. If it is pressed here (Yes), it is determined in step S5 whether or not a demonstration is being performed.

When the demonstration is being performed in step S5 (Yes), it is determined in step S6 whether or not the infrared cut filter 2 has been detached (OFF). If the infrared cut filter 2 has not been detached (No), the demonstration is started in step S7, and the process is terminated.

On the other hand, when the demonstration is not being performed in step S5 (No), and when the infrared cut filter 2 is detached in step S6 (Yes).
, The demonstration ends in step S8, and the process ends.

Further, when the demonstration start / end switch 10 is not pressed in step S4 (N
In o), it is determined whether or not the infrared cut filter 2 has been detached in step S9. If the user has not been removed (No), the process is terminated as it is, and if the user has been removed (YES), the demonstration is terminated and the process is terminated in step S6.

Therefore, in this apparatus, the demonstration is not performed when the infrared cut filter is detached, so that the demonstration is performed with the infrared cut filter detached, and misleading customers who see the infrared cut filter are given. The fear can be eliminated.

According to the present invention, if the demonstration is performed with the infrared cut filter detached in the conventional apparatus, there is a risk of misunderstanding the customer who sees the infrared cut filter. According to the present invention, these problems can be easily solved. It can be resolved in the following.

According to the imaging apparatus described above, the infrared cut filter is provided in the image pickup unit, and the infrared cut filter is detached from the apparatus at low illuminance. By prohibiting the display of the demonstration when the user has left, the demonstration is performed with the infrared cut filter left, and the possibility of misunderstanding the customer who saw the filter can be eliminated.

[0023]

Therefore, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the demonstration is not performed when the infrared cut filter is detached, so that the demonstration is performed with the infrared cut filter detached. It is possible to eliminate the fear of giving a misunderstanding to a customer who has seen the information.

According to the present invention, if the demonstration is performed with the infrared cut filter detached in the conventional apparatus, there is a possibility that a customer who views the demonstration may be misunderstood. It can be resolved in the following.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an example of an imaging apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the operation.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Lens system, 2 ... Infrared cut filter, 3 ... CC
D imaging device (imager), 4 camera signal processing circuit, 5 recording circuit, 6 image signal superimposing circuit, 7 display unit (LCD panel finder), 8 line output terminal, 9 drive control Microprocessor, 10: start / end switch for demonstration, 11: on-screen display (OSD) circuit, 12: switch for operating on / off of filter

[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] March 11, 1998

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0017

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

When the demonstration is not being performed in step S5 (Yes), it is determined in step S6 whether or not the infrared cut filter 2 is detached (OFF). If the infrared cut filter 2 has not been detached (No), the demonstration is started in step S7, and the process is terminated.

[Procedure amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0018

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

On the other hand , when the demonstration is being performed in step S5 (No) and when the infrared cut filter 2 is detached in step S6 (Yes),
In step S8, the demonstration ends, and the process ends.

[Procedure amendment 3]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0019

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

Further, when the demonstration start / end switch 10 is not pressed in step S4 (N
In o), it is determined whether or not the infrared cut filter 2 has been detached in step S9. And when it is not detached (No), it is processing is terminated, when it is disengaged (YES), the processing demonstration is completed in step S 10 is ended.

[Procedure amendment 4]

[Document name to be amended] Drawing

[Correction target item name] Fig. 1

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

FIG.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An image pickup apparatus having means for detaching an infrared cut filter provided in an image pickup section and enabling image pickup with the infrared cut filter detached at low illuminance, wherein the infrared cut filter is detached. Is an imaging apparatus for prohibiting display of a demonstration.