Imaging apparatus, phase control method, and synchronization method

• US 20050174435A1
• Filed: 01/03/2005
• Published: 08/11/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Nakajima, Takatsugu
• Granted Patent: US 7,456,863 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/211.990
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/66 Remote control of cameras or camera parts, e.g. by remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/0733 for distributing synchronisation pulses to different TV cameras

Abstract

An imaging apparatus includes a camera device, a signal processor that receives a video signal from the camera, and a connection cable connecting the camera device and the signal processor. The camera device includes a first phase controller that compares the phase of a synchronization signal transmitted from the signal processor with the phase of an internal signal generated by the camera device, and that synchronizes the phase of the internal signal with the phase of the synchronization signal, a video synchronization signal generator that generates a video synchronization signal for the video signal based on the internal signal, and a signal transmitter that transmits the video signal. The signal processor includes a second phase controller that compares the phase of the video synchronization signal with the phase of the synchronization signal, and that synchronizes the phase of the video synchronization signal with the phase of the synchronization signal.

Claims

1. An imaging apparatus comprising at least one camera device that photographs an object, a signal processor that receives a video signal from the camera device, and a connection cable connecting the camera device and the signal processor,

the camera device comprising:

a first phase controller that compares the phase of a synchronization signal transmitted from the signal processor with the phase of an internal signal generated by the camera device, and that controls the phase of the internal signal so as to be synchronized with the phase of the synchronization signal;

a video synchronization signal generator that generates a video synchronization signal that is a synchronization signal for the video signal based on the internal signal whose phase is synchronized with the phase of the synchronization signal transmitted from the signal processor; and

a signal transmitter that transmits at least the video signal via the connection cable,

the signal processor comprising a second phase controller that compares the phase of the video synchronization signal with the phase of the synchronization signal transmitted from the signal processor, and that controls the phase of the video synchronization signal so as to be synchronized with the phase of the synchronization signal.

2. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the video synchronization signal comprises a horizontal synchronization signal.

3. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the connection cable comprises an optical fiber cable.

4. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the signal transmitter includes a multiplexer that multiplexes at least the video signal.

5. The imaging apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the connection cable comprises an optical fiber cable, and the multiplexer multiplexes at least the video signal so as to be transmitted via the optical fiber cable.

6. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the phase of the synchronization signal is synchronized with the phase of an external synchronization signal transmitted from an external device.

7. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second phase controller outputs a second transmission synchronization signal whose phase is synchronized with the phase of an external synchronization signal transmitted from an external device.

8. An imaging apparatus comprising at least one camera device that photographs an object, a signal processor that receives a video signal from the camera device, and a connection cable connecting the camera device and the signal processor,

the camera device comprising:

a first synchronization signal transmitter that transmits a first synchronization signal to the signal processor via the connection cable so that a signal transmitted from the camera device can be received by the signal processor; and

a first synchronization determining unit that determines whether or not a second synchronization signal for allowing a signal transmitted from the signal processor to be received by the camera device has been transmitted from the signal processor, and that determines that synchronization from the signal processor to the camera device is established when the second synchronization signal has been transmitted from the signal processor,

the signal processor comprising;

a second synchronization determining unit that determines whether or not the first synchronization signal has been transmitted from the camera device, and that determines that synchronization from the camera device to the signal processor is established when the first synchronization signal has been transmitted from the camera device; and

a second synchronization signal transmitter that transmits the second synchronization signal to the camera device via the connection cable.

9. The imaging apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the first synchronization signal transmitter and the second synchronization signal transmitter transmit the first synchronization signal and the second synchronization signal when the synchronization is disturbed or when the imaging apparatus is powered on.

10. The imaging apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the connection cable comprises an optical fiber cable.

11. A phase control method for an imaging apparatus comprising at least one camera device that photographs an object, a signal processor that receives a video signal from the camera device, and a connection cable connecting the camera device and the signal processor, the phase control method comprising:

comparing the phase of a synchronization signal transmitted from the signal processor with the phase of an internal signal generated by the camera device;

controlling the phase of the internal signal so as to be synchronized with the phase of the synchronization signal;

generating a video synchronization signal that is a synchronization signal for the video signal based on the internal signal whose phase is synchronized with the phase of the synchronization signal;

transmitting at least the video signal from the camera device to the signal processor via the connection cable;

comparing the phase of the video synchronization signal with the phase of the synchronization signal; and

controlling the phase of the video synchronization signal so as to be synchronized with the phase of the synchronization signal.

12. The phase control method according to claim 11, wherein the video synchronization signal comprises a horizontal synchronization signal.

13. The phase control method according to claim 11, wherein the connection cable comprises an optical fiber cable.

14. The phase control method according to claim 11, further comprising multiplexing at least the video signal.

15. The phase control method according to claim 11, wherein the phase of the synchronization signal is synchronized with the phase of an external synchronization signal transmitted from an external device.

16. The phase control method according to claim 11, further comprising outputting from the signal processor a second transmission synchronization signal whose phase is synchronized with the phase of an external synchronization signal transmitted from an external device.

17. A synchronization method for an imaging apparatus comprising at least one camera device that photographs an object, a signal processor that receives a video signal from the camera device, and a connection cable connecting the camera device and the signal processor, the synchronization method comprising:

transmitting a first synchronization signal from the camera device to the signal processor via the connection cable so that a signal transmitted from the camera device can be received by the signal processor;

determining whether or not the first synchronization signal has been transmitted from the camera device;

determining that synchronization from the camera device to the signal processor is established when the first synchronization signal has been transmitted from the camera device;

transmitting a second synchronization signal from the signal processor to the camera device via the connection cable so that a signal transmitted from the signal processor can be received by the camera device;

determining whether or not the second synchronization signal has been transmitted from the signal processor; and

determining that synchronization from the signal processor to the camera device is established when the second synchronization signal has been transmitted from the signal processor.

18. The synchronization method according to claim 17, wherein the first synchronization signal or the second synchronization signal is transmitted when the synchronization is disturbed or when the imaging apparatus is powered on.

19. The synchronization method according to claim 17, wherein the connection cable comprises an optical fiber cable.