JPS59126377A - High speed image pickup device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To attain miniaturization and low cost of a device and to attain recorlding/reproduction by a conventional device by providing plural image sensors per one screen, scanning them in prallel, storing once an obtained signal to a memory, and reading successively the said data in a conventional scanning timing. CONSTITUTION:Image sensors 2a-2d are provided corresponding to screens aplit into four to an image pickup section 4. The sensors 2a-2d perform one picture scanning in parallel by a scanning synchronizing signal S1. Its output signal is A-D-converted and supplied to RAM5a-5d. A write command generating section 6 generates an address data and a write signal S4 designating successively in parallel from a head address to each address of each RAM in synchronizing with a sampling signal S2 based on a timing signal S3 and read each address from a head address of the RAM5a to the last address of the 5d serially at the read. The data read-out is processed for D/A conversion or the like and displayed on a monitor receiver 14 of the conventional interlace system.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a high-speed imaging device that captures images to be displayed on an ordinary television receiver or the like at high speed.

A conventional high-speed television camera, which is a high-speed imaging device of this type, uses a strobe light emitter to perform high-speed exposure, thereby producing a high-speed image C without blur, that is, an intermittent instantaneous image. I don't know what to get (image). However, this type of high-speed television camera has the problem that the device is large and the exposure time cannot be freely selected, and those that use a strobe light source have to darken the surroundings to capture images. The problem was that it had to be done. Also.

Other high-speed television cameras of this type shorten the scanning time per field to obtain continuous high-speed images, and record these high-speed images on a recording device (for example, a video tape recorder 1). It is known that this type of high-speed TV/video camera is capable of reproducing the recorded high-speed image in a normal scanning time.However, in this type of high-speed TV/video camera, the number of recorded fields per unit time is large. On the other hand, there was the problem that a special recording device had to be installed, making the device extremely expensive.Also, in the past, the two types of devices described above were combined to create a high-speed television camera. As is well known, even such high-speed television cameras have not been able to solve the individual problems mentioned above.

The present invention was made in view of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to make it possible to construct a device that is small and inexpensive, and to record images using a normal recording device/display device. /An object of the present invention is to provide a high-speed imaging device that can perform playback. The features of this invention are as follows:
A plurality of image sensors are provided per screen, and the image sensors are scanned in parallel, and the resulting video signals are temporarily stored in the memo 11 as digital data,
After that, the digital data is sequentially read out from this memory according to normal scanning timing and is converted into a video signal.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of a high-speed single-image imaging device according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention. In this figure, the imaging section designated by numeral 1 has a solid-state image sensor C corresponding to each part of the screen divided into 4 parts.
For example, image sensors 12a to 2d are provided which are a combination of a photodiode array and a COD. These image sensors 2a to 2d may be formed on one semiconductor substrate, or may be formed on separate semiconductor substrates. Mata,
Each of the image sensors 2 and 2d is constantly supplied with a scan synchronization signal S from the timing control circuit 3 for synchronizing the scanning timing of these image sensors.In this case, the scan synchronization signal S1 is The period is, for example, a scanning period C for one field of a video signal of the NTSC standard, that is, 1/6o second), and at least one period of the period is within the blanking period of the video signal. There must be. Further, each of the image sensors 2a to 2d receives the scanning synchronization signal S1.
, each image is scanned once in parallel. The video signals outputted from each of these image sensors 2a to 2d are converted to an analog-to-digital converter 14a, abbreviated as a 5% converter.
~4d, respectively. These/D converters 4a to 4d convert each video signal into a sampling signal S1 of a predetermined period (a period sufficiently shorter than the vertical blanking period) supplied from the timing control circuit 3.
．． Convert to digital data and output accordingly.

The digital data output from these % converters 4a to 4d are supplied to each data input terminal of a random access memory (hereinafter abbreviated as RAM) 5a to 5d. Each of these RAMs 5a to 5d has a storage capacity sufficient to store digital data corresponding to 1/4 double-sided video signals.

On the other hand, based on the timing signal S3 supplied from the timing control circuit 3, the write command generation section 6 outputs %''/3.
Each vertical blanking period C occurs every 0 seconds, i.e. 1
In each vertical blanking period), each R
Each address from the first address to the last address of AM5a to 5d is sampled).A write command consisting of address data and write pulses that are sequentially specified in parallel in synchronization with the sampling signal S2. generate a signal S4,
In addition, the read command generating unit 7 performs R from the first address of the RAM 5a in each period excluding the vertical blanking period every %'/60 seconds (that is, in the display period 1 of each field °).
Each address up to the final address of AIVI5d is stored in RAM5a-”
A read command signal S5 consisting of address data I and accompanying read pulses which are sequentially designated in series such as RAM 5b-RAM5cmIRAM5d is generated. In this case, the read command signal S5 is generated at fiJ+timing in consideration of the horizontal blanking period and the like. Eight switches are used to send the write command signal S4 to each of the RAMs during each vertical blanking period.
5a to 5d, and the read command signal S5 is supplied to each of the RAMs 5a to 5d during each period except the vertical blanking period.

Then, the digital data Vi read out from the RAMs 5a to 5d is transferred to a digital-to-analog converter (hereinafter referred to as
It is supplied to the data input terminal of the D/A converter (abbreviated as D/A converter) 9. These nine converters sequentially convert these digital data into analog signals, output them, and supply them to the mixer IO. This mixer IO mixes this analog signal with a signal consisting of a vertical/horizontal synchronizing signal, a vertical/horizontal blanking signal, etc. supplied from the timing control circuit 3, and generates and outputs a video signal of the NTSC standard. . The video signal output from the mixer 10 is supplied to the common contact 11c of the switch 11. One contact port of this switch 11 is connected to the video signal input terminal of a recording device 12 consisting of an ordinary video tape recorder, and the other contact port 11b is connected to one contact 13a of the switch 13. There is. Further, the video signal output end of the recording device 12 is connected to the other contact 13b of the switch 13, and the common contact 13 of this switch 13
c n@ Connected to the video signal input terminal of a display device 14 consisting of a normal interlaced monitor television receiver.

Next, the operation of this embodiment with the above configuration will be explained with reference to the time chart shown in FIG.
' do. Now, the vertical blanking period generated by the timing control circuit 3 is the period Tb in the waveform of FIG.
Corresponding to Tb, . . ., the display periods are Td, Td.

...C However, it is assumed that it corresponds to Tb + Td = 1/60 seconds). In this case, for the image sensors 2a to 2d, scanning is repeated at a certain period shorter than the vertical blanking period T, as shown in FIG. As a result, each of the video signals corresponding to 1/4 screen is sequentially outputted from each of the image sensors 2a to 2d at a cycle of 1/4. Each of these video signals is ~'D Core Bar J 4 tL~
4d, each is converted into digital data and stored in the RAM 5a.
~5d. On the other hand, and ttl-1RAM
As shown in FIG. 2(c), write command signals S4 are supplied to F*a to F*5d in periods corresponding to every other period Tb, Tb, . . . RA
In M5a to M5d, video signals corresponding to images immediately before each writing period corresponding to these periods Tb, Tb, etc. (that is, the period indicated by diagonal lines in the middle of FIG. 2) are transmitted in parallel and A total of 1 screen distribution (8) is stored. In this case, image sensors 2a to 2d, other periods Tb, Tb, ... and all periods T
, T , . . . etc., d video signals are sequentially output at a period of time Tb -1'+! (This t'L is
(necessary for discharging the accumulated charge of the image sensors 2a-2d), the captured video signal is not used.

On the other hand, during all the periods T, , Td,...r, read 1■ as shown in FIG.
Since the command signal S5 is supplied, these RAM5
The digital data stored in a to 5dVc is sequentially read out over each of the periods T, , '1'd, . . . . The digital data read out in this manner is converted into an analog signal by the A/A converter 9, and then a synchronizing signal is added in the mixer 10 and output as a video signal.

In this way, by turning the switch 11 to the contact 11a side, an instantaneous image with an exposure time equal to the period Tb can be obtained by dividing h'/60 seconds into one field period 1vl (however, in this case, images of two consecutive fields) are the same image), and the switch 1
1 to the contact 11b side and switch 13 to contact 13a.
By tilting it to the side, the same image can be displayed on the display device 14vc.

Note that in the above embodiment, each image processor 2a to
2d, four % converters 4a to 4d are provided, but a multiplexer is provided after the image processors 2a to 2d, and the output of this multiplexer is converted into digital data by one high-speed converter. It may also be converted. Further, in the above embodiment, the scanning time of the image sensors 2a to 2d is explained as a certain fixed time shorter than the vertical blanking time, and is 7t, but the scanning time can be made variable with the vertical blanking time being the maximum value. If the exposure time is preferably made variable, the exposure time can be freely selected.

In this case, if you want to make the scanning period of each image sensor 2a to 2d longer than the vertical blanking period, the RAM
Since the write timing and read timing of 5a to 5d overlap, in order to prevent this, R
AM 5 a to 5d, double each memory size, and R
If you use AM5a to 5d by switching half each, it's fine if you change it to 5. In this example,
If the display device 14-AX non-interlaced system (i.e. 1 frame; 1 field system) is 4, writing digital data to the RAMs 5a to 5d is as follows:
This may be performed during each vertical blanking period Tb, Tb, . . . . In this embodiment, if it is desired to record or reproduce a still image, writing digital data to the RAMs 5a to 5d only needs to be performed once for the desired image.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, if the storage capacity of the RAMs 5a to 5d is expanded to cover a plurality of sides, instantaneous images can be recorded/reproduced at short time intervals of less than b''/60 seconds.

As is clear from the above description, according to the high-speed imaging device according to the present invention, a plurality of image sensors are provided per screen, these image sensors are scanned in parallel, and the resulting video signal is is stored in memory as digital data.

After that, the digital data is sequentially read out from this memory according to the normal scanning timing and converted into a video signal. (1) When the number of image sensors is n, the imaging time is determined by the limit scanning time of each image sensor. It is possible to make a value line up to l/.

@Rotor II Since the shirt 4 is unnecessary and the surrounding area is bright, a strobe light emitter is not necessarily required, so the device can only be made small and inexpensive with high reliability.

θ If a sufficient light-receiving area of each image sensor is ensured, a decrease in image sensitivity will not occur.

By changing the readout timing of O memo 11, you can use any type of recording device and display device to record/record.
It is possible to perform playback.

■ By making the scan clock of the image sensor variable, the % exposure time can be made variable.

The following effects can be obtained.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Figure 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of this invention.
FIG. 2 is a time chart for explaining the operation of the same embodiment. 2a to 2d... Image sensor, 5a to 5d.
...memo u (RAMI, 12...recording device, 14... group/display device. Fig. 1 14o 50) 20 A/D knee 11X-q RAM '
C'i'' 4b
l:' 912b A/D furnace di. , Kayu... RAMD/A 2c 4c
F) 1'1-q4 Memin"tritt
A/Dl d-1”/road,
RAM 10 dA/D
jW Otonoko) 1\-q RA
M 54n S5 6＼ No

Claims (1)

[Claims] Image sensors are provided corresponding to each part of the divided screen, and these image sensors are scanned in parallel at a constant period, and the video signals outputted from these image sensors are converted into digital data as memo 11. A high-speed imaging device comprising: means for storing the digital data in the memo; and means for reading out the digital data stored in the memo according to the scanning speed of a recording device or a display device.