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Video camera and image input device connected through signal line for transferring multiplex data, and image input system using them

  • US 5,550,586 A
  • Filed: 03/24/1995
  • Issued: 08/27/1996
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/28/1994
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. An image input system comprising a video camera, first and second signal lines, and an image input device connected to said video camera by said first and second signal lines, said video camera including an imager and an analog-to-digital (A/D) convertor for converting video signals read out from said imager to digital image data, for outputting the digital image data to said first signal line, said image input device converting the digital image data from said first signal line to a data format used inside an external information processing unit, wherein said video camera further comprises:

  • detecting circuits for detecting a plurality of operation states of said video camera, and for outputting operation state data representing a plurality of the operation states;

    a multiplexer for multiplexing the operation state data from said detecting circuits and the digital image data from said A/D convertor, and for outputting multiplexed data;

    a first output portion for outputting the multiplexed data from said multiplexer to said first signal line;

    a first input portion for inputting a plurality of kinds of control data inputted thereto from said image input device through said first signal line, and for producing an output;

    a first data separating circuit for separating and outputting a plurality of kinds of the control data from said first input portion;

    control circuits for controlling a plurality of kinds of the operation states of said video camera in accordance with a plurality of kinds of separated control data from said first data separating circuit, respectively; and

    a first mode switching signal generating circuit for generating a first mode switching signal in synchronism with a sync signal inputted from said image input device through said second signal line, applying the first mode switching signal to said first output portion, said first input portion and said control data separating circuit, generating a second mode switching signal in synchronism with the sync signal, and applying the second mode switching signal to said multiplexer;

    wherein;

    said first output portion is switched between a first mode in which said first output portion can output the multiplexed data and a second mode in which said first output portion cannot output the multiplexed data, in response to the first mode switching signal;

    said first input portion is switched between a third mode in which said first input portion can input a plurality of kinds of the control data and a fourth mode in which said first input portion cannot input she control data, in response to the first mode switching signal;

    said first data separating circuit is switched between a fifth mode in which said first data separating circuit can separate a plurality of kinds of she control data and a sixth mode in which said first data separating circuit cannot separate the control data, in response to the first mode switching signal;

    said multiplexer is switched between a seventh mode in which said multiplexer selects and outputs the operation data from said detecting circuits and an eighth mode in which said multiplexer selects and outputs the digital image data from said A/D convertor, in response to the second mode switching signal;

    said first input portion is in the fourth mode when said first output portion and said first data separating circuit are in the first and fifth modes, respectively; and

    said first input portion is in the third mode when said first output portion and said first data separating circuit are in the second and sixth modes, respectively; and

    wherein said image input device includes;

    a second input portion for inputting the multiplexed data inputted thereto through said first signal line, and for producing an output;

    a second data separating circuit for separating the multiplexed data from said second input portion into the digital image data and the operation data, and for outputting the separated data;

    signal processing circuits for processing the digital image data from said second data separating circuit and converting the digital image data into a data format used in the external information processing unit;

    a control data generating circuit for generating and outputting a plurality of kinds of the control data on the basis of the operation data from said data separating circuit;

    a second output portion for inputting a plurality of kinds of the control data from said control data generating circuit and producing an output to said first signal line;

    a sync signal generating circuit for generating the sync signal; and

    a second mode switching signal generating circuit for generating a third mode switching signal, synchronized with the first mode switching signal, in synchronism with the sync signal, applying the third mode switching signal to said second output portion and said second input portion, generating a fourth mode switching signal, synchronized with the second mode switching signal, in synchronism with the sync signal and applying the fourth mode switching signal to said second data separating circuit;

    wherein;

    said second input portion is switched between a ninth mode in which said second input portion can input the multiplexed data and a tenth mode in which said second input portion cannot input the multiplexed data, in response to the third mode switching signal;

    said second output portion is switched between an eleventh mode in which said second output portion can output a plurality of kinds of the control data and a twelfth mode in which said second output portion cannot output the control data, in response to the third mode switching signal;

    said second data separating circuit is switched between a thirteenth mode in which said second data separating circuit can separate the operation data from the multiplexed data and a fourteenth mode in which said second data separating circuit can separate the digital image data, in response to the fourth mode switching signal;

    said second input portion is in the tenth and ninth modes when the second output portion is in the eleventh and twelfth modes, respectively; and

    said second input portion is in the ninth and tenth modes when said first output portion is in the first and second modes, respectively.

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