Imaging system which changes the frame rate of the image signal

• US 5,640,202 A
• Filed: 04/24/1995
• Issued: 06/17/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Kondo, Hiroshi, Suzuki, Masao
• Primary Examiner(s): HSIA, SHERRIE Y
• Application Number:
  US08/426,973
• Time in Patent Office: 785 Days
• Field of Search: 348/222, 348/231-233, 348/239, 348/240, 348/459, 358/909.1, 358/906
• US Class Current: 348/222.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/63 by using electronic viewfinders
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/772 the recording apparatus and the television camera being placed in the same enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/907 using static stores, e.g. storage tubes or semiconductor memories H04N5/91 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/01 Conversion of standards , e.g. involving analogue television standards or digital television standards processed at pixel level
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8042 involving data reduction

Abstract

An image signal obtained by an image pickup device is input to a signal processing apparatus. A frame rate of the input image signal is changed and a changing operation is controlled in the signal processing apparatus. Thus, a frame rate upon recording of the image signal can be change in accordance with an application for the image. By providing a function such as a changing operation of the frame rate for the signal processing apparatus, the size and cost of the image pickup device is minimized, while an expansion of the function and a change in performance in which the recording and reproduction of an image are set to fundamental operations can easily be performed.

Claims

1. An imaging system comprising:

(A) an image pickup apparatus including

(a) image pickup means, and

(b) first means for outputting an image signal from said image pickup means; and

(B) a signal processing apparatus including

(a) second means for inputting the image signal from said first means,

(b) changing means for changing a frame rate of the image signal from said second means,

(c) an arithmetic operating apparatus for performing a process to the image signal, and

(d) control means for controlling a changing operation of said changing means, said control means controlling the changing operation of said changing means according to a control signal from said arithmetic operating apparatus, which is a signal other than the image signal from said second means.

2. A system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a recording apparatus for recording the image signal from said first means.

3. A system according to claim 2, wherein

said second means further outputs the image signal of the frame rate changed by said changing means, and

said first means further inputs the image signal outputted from said second means.

4. A system according to claim 3, wherein

said first means can output the image signal inputted through said second means, and

said recording apparatus can also record the image signal outputted from said first means through said second means.

5. A system according to claim 4, wherein

said signal processing apparatus further includes a memory for storing the image signal from said second means and compressing means for compressing an information amount of the image signal stored in said memory,

and said second means outputs the image signal compressed by said compressing means.

6. A system according to claim 4, wherein

said first means also inputs the image signal read out from said recording apparatus, and

said second means can input the image signal read out from said recording apparatus through said first means.

7. A system according to claim 1, wherein

said signal processing apparatus has third means for outputting the image signal whose frame rate was changed by said changing means, and

said arithmetic operating apparatus executes the process to the image signal from said third means.

8. A system according to claim 7, wherein

said arithmetic operating apparatus includes display means for displaying an image according to the image signal from said third means and instructing means for instructing to said control means.

9. An imaging apparatus comprising:

(a) image pickup means;

(b) memory means for storing an image signal from said image pickup means;

(c) compressing means for compressing an information amount of the image signal from said memory means;

(d) recording means for recording the image signal from said memory means and the image signal compressed by said compressing means to a recording medium;

(e) changing means for changing a frame rate of the image signal associated with at least one of said image pickup means, said memory means, said compressing means and said recording means;

(f) control means for controlling a changing operation of said changing means; and

(g) output means for outputting the image signal recorded by said recording means to an arithmetic operating apparatus, and

wherein said control means controls a change amount of said frame rate in accordance with the frame rate at which the image signal can be processed by said arithmetic operating apparatus.

10. An imaging system comprising:

(A) an image pickup apparatus;

(B) a signal processing apparatus including

(a) receiving means for receiving a video signal from said image pickup apparatus, and

(b) control means for changing a frame rate of the video signal from said receiving means; and

(c) operation means including setting means for setting the frame rate of the video signal, for performing an operation using the video signal,

wherein said control means changes the frame rate of the video signal according to the frame rate set by said operation means.

11. A system according to claim 10, further comprising:

a storing apparatus for storing the video signal from said image pickup apparatus.

12. A system according to claim 11, wherein said storing apparatus also stores the video signal output from said signal processing apparatus through said image pickup apparatus.

13. A system according to claim 12, wherein said signal processing apparatus includes compression means for compressing an information amount of the video signal from said image pickup apparatus, and said storing apparatus stores the video signal compressed by said compression means.

14. A system according to claim 13, wherein said signal processing apparatus includes a memory for storing the video signal from said image pickup apparatus, and said compression means compresses the information amount of the video signal stored in said memory.

15. A system according to claim 11, wherein said operation apparatus further includes designation means for designating start of storage of the video signal to said storing apparatus.

16. A system according to claim 10, wherein said operation apparatus includes display means for displaying an image associated with the video signal from said signal processing apparatus, and said setting means includes a designation member for setting the frame rate using the image displayed by said display means.

17. A system according to claim 10, wherein said operation means generates data indicating the frame rate set by said setting means and outputs said data to said signal processing apparatus during a blanking period of the video signal from said image pickup apparatus, and said control means changes the frame rate based upon said data indicating the frame rate.

18. An imaging system, comprising:

(a) a video camera;

(b) a processor for changing a frame rate of a video signal from said video camera;

(c) a memory device for storing the video signal from said video camera; and

(d) a computer for performing a processing using the video signal from said processor and setting the frame rate of the video signal,

wherein said processor changes the frame rate of the video signal according to the frame rate set by said computer.

19. A system according to claim 18, wherein said memory device stores the video signal output from said processor through said video camera.

20. A system according to claim 18, wherein said processor also compresses an information amount of the video signal, and said memory device stores the compressed video signal output from said processor through said video camera.

21. A system according to claim 18, wherein said processor changes the frame rate of the video signal read out from said memory device through said video camera.

22. An imaging apparatus, comprising:

(A) an image pickup apparatus; and

(B) a signal processing apparatus including

(a) receiving means for receiving a video signal from said image pickup apparatus,

(b) control means for changing a frame rate of the video signal from said receiving means, and

(c) output means for outputting the video signal to a computer,

wherein said control means includes detection means for detecting the frame rate of the video signal which can be processed by said computer, and changes the frame rate of the video signal according to result of detection of said detection means.

23. A system according to claim 22, wherein said control means changes the frame rate of the video signal so as to provide a largest frame rate which can be processed by said computer.

24. A system according to claim 22, further comprising:

a storing apparatus for storing the video signal from said image pickup apparatus.

25. A system according to claim 22, wherein said storing apparatus also stores the video signal output from said signal processing apparatus through said image pickup apparatus.

26. A system according to claim 25, wherein said signal processing apparatus includes compression means for compressing an information amount of the video signal from said image pickup apparatus, and said storing apparatus stores the video signal compressed by said compression means.

27. A system according to claim 26, wherein said signal processing apparatus includes a memory for storing the video signal from said image pickup apparatus, and said compression means compresses the information amount of the video signal stored in said memory.