Camcorder with electronic still-photographing function

• US 5,173,779 A
• Filed: 02/11/1991
• Issued: 12/22/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (Samsung Group)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (Samsung Group)
• Inventors: Lee, Jong P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Tommy P.
• Application Number:
  US07/653,500
• Time in Patent Office: 680 Days
• Field of Search: 358/909, 358/906, 358/209, 358/213.26, 358/213.23, 358/228
• US Class Current: 348/234
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2112 using still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/212 Motion video recording combined with still video recording television signal recording H04N5/76
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2137 with temporary storage before final recording, e.g. in a frame buffer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2158 using a detachable storage unit
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0077 Types of the still picture apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/79 Processing of colour television signals in connection with recording

Abstract

A camcorder with electronic still-photographing function including a camera circuit for providing an image signal, a video circuit for photographing an input image signal or for playing back a recorded image signal, an electronic still scene and a switching circuit including a first switching part and a second switching part. A camcorder with video circuits and additional switching and electronic still-photographing circuits stores the image signal in the video and still photographing circuit according to the connection state of the switching circuit, or exchanges the image signals in the video and electronic still-photographing circuit with each other.

Claims

1. A video recorder with an electronic still-photographing function, comprising:

camera means comprising a first color signal processor, for generating current image signals of an object;

video means capable of storing motion picture image signals comprising a second color signal processor, for storing video image signals and playing back recorded image signals;

image storing means for storing received image signals to be regenerated as stored still image signals;

electronic still-photographing means for performing still-photography by selectively providing said received image signals to said image storing means and receiving said stored still image signals from said image storing means; and

switching means for selectively interconnecting said camera means and said electronic still-photographing means to said video means, and for selectively interconnecting said camera means and said video means to said electronic still-photographing means according to first control signals and second control signals.

2. A video recorder with an electronic still-photographing function according to claim 1, wherein said switching means comprises;

a first switching part for alternatively providing one of said current image signals generated by said camera means and said stored still image signals regenerated by said image storing means to said video means as said video image signals according to said first control signals; and

a second switching part for alternatively providing one of said current image signals from said first color signal processor and said recorded image signals from said video means to said electronic still-photographing means as said received image signals according to said second control signals.

3. A video recorder with electronic still-photographing function according to claim 2, wherein said second switching part comprises:

decoder means connected to said color signals processor for separating said recorded image signals into first luminance signals, first color difference signals, and second color difference signals;

a first switch for alternatively providing second luminance signals representing said current image signals from said first color signal processor and said first luminance signals from said decoder means to said electronic still-photographing means as said received image signals, in accordance with said second control signal;

a second switch for alternatively providing third color-difference signals representing said current image signals from said first color signal processor and said first color difference signals from said decoder means to said electronic still-photographing means as said received image signals, in accordance with said second control signals; and

a third switch for alternatively providing fourth color difference signals representing said current image signals from said first color signal processor and said second color-difference signals from said decoder means to said electronic still-photographing means as said received image signals, in accordance with said second control signals.

4. A video recorder with electronic still-photographing function, comprising:

camera means for generating current image signals of an object;

video tape means for storing video image signals;

video means capable of storing motion picture image signals, for recording said video image signals on said video tape means and for playing back recorded image signals recorded on said video tape means;

image storing means for storing received image signals to be regenerated as stored still image signals;

electronic still-photographing means for performing still-photography by selectively storing said received image signals in said image storing means and for playing back said stored still image signals stored in said image storing means; and

switching means for selectively interconnecting said camera means and said electronic still-photographing means to said video means and for selectively interconnecting said camera means and said video means to said electronic still-photographing means in accordance with first control signals and second control signals.

5. A video recorder with electronic still-photographing function according to claim 4, further comprising first switching means for selectively providing said current image signals generated by said camera means and said stored still image signals stored in said image storing means to said video means as said video image signals.

6. A video recorder with electronic still-photographing function according to claim 4, further comprising second switching means for selectively providing said current image signals generated by said camera means and said recorded video image signals recorded on said video tape means to said electronic still-photographing means as said stored still image signals.

7. A video recorder with electronic still-photographing function according to claim 5, further comprising second switching means for selectively providing said current image signals generated by said camera means and said recorded video image signals recorded on said video tape means to said electronic still-photographing means as said stored still image signals.

8. A camcorder with electronic still-photographing function, comprising:

camera/opto-electrical converter means for generating electrical image signals from optical images;

matrix means for converting said electrical image signals into red, green and blue color signals;

first signal processor means for converting said red, green and blue color signals into first luminance signals, first R-Y signals and first B-Y signals;

first encoder means for generating first encoded image signals from said first luminance signals, said first R-Y signals and said first B-Y signals;

first switch means for selectively providing said first encoded image signals and recorded still image signals as first selected image signals;

video recording means for storing said first selected image signals on a video tape and for playing back first recorded image signals from said video tape;

decoder means for converting said first recorded image signals into second luminance signals, second R-Y signals and second B-Y signals;

second switch means for selectively providing one of a first group of signals and a second group of signals, said first group of signals comprised of said first luminance signals, said first R-Y signals and said first B-Y signals, and said second group of signals comprised of said second luminance signals, said second R-Y signals and said second B-Y signals;

electronic still-photographing means for performing still-photography by storing said first group of signals and said second group of signals provided by said second switch means in an image storing integrated chip and for providing said recorded still image signals recorded on said image storing integrated chip to said first switch means.