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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of and apparatus for producing
video signals associated with photographic images and, more particularly,
to a method of and apparatus for producing video signals in a television
signal format, for example, by picking up frames which store photographic
images therein.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There has been known an apparatus which picks up a photographic image using
an image pickup device which transforms it into a raster-scan type video
signal such as television (TV) signal. The photographic image may be any
of those stored in the frames of a negative or positive film, which may be
colored or monochromatic, and those of prints, which may also be colored
or monochromatic.
The video signal produced by the apparatus may be displayed in the form of
a visual picture, or soft copy, on a video monitor or like video display.
If desired, it may be stored in a storage medium such as a magnetic disc,
a magnetic tape, or an optical disc. The stored video signal is open to
various manners of later use, as typified by producing a soft copy thereof
on a video monitor or a hard copy on a paper sheet.
Films storing photographic images and applicable to a video signal
producing apparatus of the type described include a roll of lone film and
a circular disc of film. The roll type film is marketed in various
standards, such as full and half sizes of JIS (Japanese Industrial
Standard) 135 type films and 110 type films, each having specific frames
recordable with a length-to-width dimensional ratio particular thereto.
That is, the size of a frame differs from one type of film to another over
a wide range. In the case of printed pictures, or prints, they may be
accommodated in a single elongated carrier so as to be supplied to the
apparatus as a so-called print album. Besides such a continuous supply
mode, prints may be supplied in a discrete, frame-by-frame mode.
In any case, a picture or image of the kind described may be displayed on a
video display such as a TV picture for viewing. A problem encountered here
is due to the fact that an ordinary TV receiver or a like video display
which is generally usable as a monitor has a screen which is longer
horizontally than vertically. Specifically, the standard screen of such a
display has a horizontal-to-vertical dimensional ratio of 4:3, whereas the
size of a photographic picture differs over a wide range and, in addition,
images in some frames may be oriented vertically and those in some other
frames horizontally, depending upon the selected position of a camera at
the time of shooting. Furthermore, with the 135 type, full size frames,
for example, images may sometimes be exposed in one top-bottom orientation
and sometimes in the other top-bottom orientation with respect to the
lengthwise direction of the film, although all of them may be in vertical
positions. Likewise, even horizontally positioned frames may differ in
top-bottom orientation depending upon the kind of a camera used. Despite
the variety of sizes and orientation situations, the pictures should
always be displayed on the horizontally long screen of the display in a
correct top-bottom orientation and in adequate dimensions without loosing
essential portions thereof.
Many photographic images applicable to a video signal producing apparatus
of the type concerned are recorded under various shooting conditions. In
particular, shooting conditions under which negatives are exposed by
amateurs vary considerably from film to film or even frame to frame. It is
desirable that video signals with optical density (gradation) and colors
of an image be converted to standard or substantially standard density and
color even when such films were exposed to to widely scattering
conditions.
When a video signal with converted density and colors is reproduced on a
video monitor, the picture will appear almost natural to the eyes or with
a special effect approximate to the one which was intended by the
cameraman. If the video signals undergoing such conversion are stored in a
storage medium and the medium is supplied to a user, it is possible for
the user to reproduce a picture thereof with the appearance of
substantially natural conditions or specific intended conditions.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a method of
and apparatus for producing a video signal from a photographic image which
allows a picture to be always adequately displayed on a horizontally long
screen of a video display.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
method for producing video signals representative of photographic images
which are stored in a plurality of substantially equally dimensioned
frames in horizontal and vertical positions by picking up the images. The
method comprises the steps of providing a first signal indicative of
horizontal and vertical positions, and a top-bottom orientation of the
photographic images stored in the frames, rotating the photographic image
relatively in response to the first signal, and producing, for a
vertically positioned image, a video signal representative of the image,
with a magnification which is smaller than that of a horizontally
positioned image, whereby the video signal represents the photographic
image in a non-inverted, top-bottom orientation without any essential
portions of the image being omitted.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is
provided an apparatus for producing a video signal representative of a
photographic image having an image pickup device for picking up
photographic images which are stored in a plurality of substantially
equally dimensioned frames in horizontal and vertical positions to form
video signals representative of the photographic images, and output means
for producing the video signals. The apparatus comprises input means for
receiving a first signal indicative of vertical, horizontal, and
top-bottom orientations of the photographic image stored in the frames,
image rotating means for rotating the photographic image relatively in
response to the first signal, and magnification varying means for
producing, for a vertically positioned image, the video signal
representative of the image with a magnification which is smaller than
that of a horizontally positioned image, whereby the video signal
represents the photographic image in a non-inverted, top-bottom
orientation without essential portions of the image being omitted.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from
a consideration of the following detailed description taken in conjunction
with the accompanying drawings in which:
FIGS. 1A-1D are schematic diagrams useful for understanding the principles
of the present invention;
FIGS. 2A and 2B, when combined as shown in FIG. 2, are partial schematic
block diagrams of a video signal producing apparatus embodying the present
invention;
FIG. 3 is a perspective external view of the apparatus in accordance with
the present invention;
FIGS. 4A and 4B, when combined as shown in FIG. 4, are a functional block
diagram of a control system and its associated elements included in the
apparatus of FIG. 2;
FIGS. 5 and 6 are plan views showing exemplary forms of photographic images
which are applicable to the apparatus of the present invention; and
FIGS. 7A, 7B, 8A, 8B and 9A, 9B, when combined as shown in FIGS. 7, 8 and
9, respectively, are partially schematic block diagrams showing
alternative embodiments of the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to FIGS. 1A-1D of the drawings, a dotted line 10 represents an
effective picture area of a video display in which a video signal
representative of a picture in a standard TV signal format is
reproducible. The standard vertical-to-horizontal dimensional ratio of the
effective picture area is 3:4. Solid lines 12a, 12b, 12c and 12d each show
exposed frames of a film which, in this example, is assumed to be a JIS
135 type, full-size film, the vertical-to-horizontal ratio of each frame
being 2:3.
In FIG. 1A, the horizontal width of the frame 12a which is horizontally
positioned is substantially equal to that of the effective picture area 10
and the frame 12a is entirely included within the area 10. Only narrow
regions 14 indicated by leftwardly upward hatching remain blank with no
video information appearing therein.
In FIG. 1B, the height of the frame 12b which is in a horizontal position
is substantially equal to that of the effective picture area 10, so that
those narrow portions 16 of the picture which are indicated by rightwardly
upward hatching are omitted without being displayed. Nevertheless, since
the finder of a camera has a field which is usually designed with a
substantial margin for safety purpose, it is improbable that such an
amount of omission would lead to loss of an essential part of the picture.
Assuming that the magnification of the image in FIG. 1A is "1", the
magnification in FIG. 1B is about 1.14 times that of FIG. 1A.
In FIG. 1C, the height of the frame 12c which is vertically positioned is
substantially equal to that of the effective picture area 10, the whole
frame 22c being included in the area 10. Therefore, the regions 14 of the
area 10 indicated by leftwardly upward hatching remain blank; the total
area of the regions 14 is 50% of the area 10. The magnification in FIG. 1C
is about 0.74 times that of FIG. 1A.
Where the vertical frame 12d is displayed with the same magnification as
that of FIG. 1A, as shown in FIG. 1D, those portions 16 of the frame 12d
indicated by rightwardly upward hatching are omitted while the regions 14
of the effective picture area 10 indicated by leftwardly upward hatching
remain blank. The omitted area of the frame 12d amounts to about 25% of
the total frame area, and the blank region 14 is about 33% of the area 10.
The result is the omission of about one fourth of the total video
information which is carried by the picture and loosing such a substantial
proportion of the essential video information, which is of course
undesirable.
In accordance with the present invention, a horizontal picture is converted
into a video signal as shown in FIG. 1A or 1B. A vertical picture, on the
other hand, is processed as indicated by the solid line 12c in FIG. 1C or
similarly thereto as indicated by a dash-and-dot line 12e, i.e., a
condition which allows little of the essential portion of the picture to
be lost. A vertical picture is, therefore, picked up in a magnification
smaller than that of a horizontal picture. it will thus be understood that
the ratio of the area of the omitted regions 16 to the total area of the
frame 12 should acceptably be about 25% or less, preferably about 20% or
less, and optimally substantially 0%.
Referring to FIGS. 2A and 2B, the apparatus of the present invention
includes an optical system, generally indicated by reference numeral 100,
which extends from a light source 104 driven by a lamp power source 102 to
a video camera head 106. Arranged sequentially on the optical axis 120 are
an ND filter 108, a light integrator 110, a color compensation filter 112,
a lens deck 114 and an optical shutter 116.
The ND filter 108 is an optical wedge filter whose optical density
steplessly changes and is driven by a filter motor 118 in a plane
perpendicular to the optical axis 120 to move into and out of the optical
axis 120, thereby changing the illumination of light passing therethrough.
The filter 112, on the other hand, serves as a color compensation filter
for removing orange color when a negative film applied with an orange mask
is used with the apparatus, as will be described. When required, the
filter 112 is driven by a filter motor 126 into the optical axis 120 in a
plane perpendicular to the optical axis 120.
A visual-image recording material 124, such as film or print, supported by
a carrier 122 is located in a predetermined position between the filter
112 and the lens deck 114 as illustrated, so that any desired frame of the
recorded material 124 may be illuminated by an illumination system. The
recorded material 124 may be film supplied in any desired configuration
such as in a roll or a disc. Negative roll type film or positive roll type
film may be used, whether it be color or monochromatic, in any possible
standard such as the JIS 135 type full- or half-size, or the 110 type. If
recording material 124 comprises a transparent type film, the illuminatin
system is arranged to that the illuminating rays emitted therefrom pass
the film into the lens deck 114. If a print is used as the recording
material 124, then the illumination system is so disposed as to direct the
rays emanating therefrom to the print, with the reflected rays passing
into the lens deck 114.
The frame of the image-carrying material 124, to be picked up, is fixed in
place in a predetermined pickup station by pressing members 128, which are
actuated by a solenoid 130. A photometric element 132 is responsive to the
illumination of the frame.
As shown in FIG. 5, the film 124a used as an image-carrying material 124 in
the illustrative embodiment may comprise a 135 type film which was exposed
in a full-size. In FIG. 5, the film 124a is formed with notches 20, 22, 24
and so on at opposite edges 26 and 28 thereof. Specifically, a notch 20
having a predetermined shape is formed at one edge 26 of the film 124a in
alignment with a frame 12f which was exposed horizontally in a given
top-bottom orientation with respect to a predetermined longitudinal
direction, e.g. a direction indicated by an arrow F. A notch 22 having
another shape is formed at the other edge 28 in alignment with a frame 12g
which was exposed in a vertical position in a given top-bottom
orientation, and a notch 24 different in shape from the notch 22 is formed
at the edge 28 in alignment with a frame 12h which was exposed in a
vertical position but in the opposite top-bottom orientation to the frame
12g. Likewise, a notch, not shown, having a predetermined shape different
from that of the notch 20 is associated with a frame, not shown, which was
exposed in a horizontal position but in the opposite top-bottom
orientation to the frame 12f.
The position and shape of the notches, for example, the notch 20, is sensed
by a film sensor 134 so that a particular orientation of an image in a
frame such as the frame 12f is identified. Naturally, the identification
of a frame orientation may be implemented by a number of notches, instead
of the shape.
The lens deck 114 accommodates therein an image rotating mirror box 136
and, in this particular embodiment, two lens systems 138 and 140. As
shown, an image rotating mirror box 136 is provided with three mirrors
144, 146 and 148 and driven by an image rotating motor 142 over an angular
range of more than 270 degrees about the optical axis 120 relative to the
deck 114. This allows an image in a frame of the film 124 to become
incident to the camera head 106 in a position rotated within the range of
at least 270 degrees.
In the illustrative embodiment, the lens systems 138 and 140 are
selectively driven by a lens motor 150 into alignment with the optical
axis 120 depending upon the size of the film 124a. For example, where the
film 124a is of the 135 type, the lens system 138 will be selected and,
where it is of the 110 type or the disc type, the lens system 140 will be
selected.
The lens deck 114 is mounted on a housing of the apparatus in such a manner
as to be moveable in a direction parallel to the optical axis 120. The
moving of the lens deck 114 is effected by a lens deck motor 152 which may
advantageously be implemented by a stepping motor.
The camera head 106 comprises a TV camera which picks up an image from a
frame of the film 124a through the lens deck 114. The TV camera may
advantageously be implemented using an imaging tube or a solid-state
imaging device which delivers an R (red), G (green) and B (blue) or like
color separation video signal to an output 151. The camera head 106, like
the lens deck 114, is mounted on the housing of the apparatus to be moving
in a direction parallel to the optical axis 120 and so driven by a camera
head motor 154, which may also be implemented by a stepping motor. An
optical shutter 116 located on the optical axis 120 and in front of the
head 108 prevents intense light issuing from the light source 104 from
constantly entering an image pickup section of the head 106.
The lens deck motor 152 motor 152 and camera head motor 154 are commonly
driven by a motor control circuit 156. The motor control circuit 156
comprises stepping motor drive amplifiers and a pulse counter circuit and,
as will be described, drives the motors 152 and 154 each by a desired
number of pulses as instructed by a central processing unit (CPU) 160,
thereby moving the deck 114 and the camera head 106 up and down. In FIG.
2, circuitry for sensing return positions of the head 106 and deck 114 and
rotation angles of the motors 154 and 152 so as to feed them back to the
motor driver 156 is not shown for simplicity.
The motor driver 156 and the various output units such as the shutter 116,
a lens motor 150, an image rotation motor 142, pressing solenoid 130 and
filter motors 126 and 118 are controlled by the CPU 160. The motor driver
156 is directly connected to a system bus 158 which in turn is connected
to the CPU 160, while the various output devices are connected to the
system bus 158 via drive amplifiers 162-172, respectively. In the event of
movement of the orange mask filter 112 driven by the filter motor 126 or
that of the ND filter 108 driven by the filter motor 118, the rotation
angle of the motor and the position of the associated filter are sensed
and fed back to a control system 180, although this circuitry is not shown
for simplicity.
Now, as shown in FIG. 6, the film 124a supplied to the apparatus may even
be made up of a plurality of lengths of film, each having a plurality of
exposed frames 12 and interconnected with the others by tapes 30, to
provide a long continuous roll. Such a film, in accordance with the
preferred embodiment, is fed by a film motor 174 on the film carrier 122.
The film motor 174 is connected to the bus 158 via a drive amplifier 176
to be controlled by the CPU 160.
As previously discussed, elongated films are available in JIS 135 type and
110 type. Each of the JIS 135 type and 110 type films is marketed as color
and monochromatic films are marketed, and the color films as reversal type
and negative type films. Further, the 135 type film may be selectively
exposed in half-size and full-size. In this particular embodiment, as
shown in FIG. 6, the kind and size of the film 124a are represented by a
punched hole or holes 32 which are formed through the tapes 30. The holes
32, like the notches, such as the notch 22, are sensed by the sensor 134,
the output of which is routed to the bus 158 via a read amplifier 178.
The brighthess of the frame of the film 124a aligned with the optical axis
120 is sensed by the photometric element 132 whose output is applied to
the bus 158 via a read amplifier 182.
The apparatus of the present invention is controlled by the control system
180 which includes the CPU 160. As shown, the control system 180 comprises
a storage 184 for storing various data and programs, and input devices
such as a keyboard 186 and a paper tape reader 188, for entering the
operator's instructions and data. These are interconnected by the system
bus 158. The paper tape reader 188 is an optional unit adapted to read a
paper tape punched with color compensation data and other information
beforehand, simultaneously with the feed of the film 124a. In an
alternative embodiment, data indicative of the frame orientation of
image-carrying material 124 may be punched on a paper tape 189, which is
read by tape reader 188 in synchronism with the feeding of the
image-carrying material 124. The data thus read is in turn stored in the
storage 184 under the control of the CPU 160. In place of, or in addition
to, the paper tape 189, other types of recording media, such as a magnetic
tape, may advantageously be applicable to the system.
The video signal produced by the camera head 106 propagates over the output
line 151 via a switch 190 to a video circuit system 200. The switch 190
serves to route the video signal to a color compensation circuit 192
either directly or by way of a negative-to-positive (NP) inversion circuit
194. The switch 190 is connected to the bus 158 via a drive amplifier 196.
The NP inversion circuit 194, when the film 124 on the carrier 122 is a
negative, operates to invert the illumination level of the video signal so
as to convert the negative picture to positive one. A function of the
color compensation circuit 192 is to compensate for pictures in the frames
of the film 124a, which possibly were shot under various exposures and/or
illumination conditions different from standard ones, to gradations which
are as close to standard ones as possible, thereby generating a video
signal capable of reproducing an image that appears natural to the eyes or
analogous in color to a particular cameraman's intention. The output of
the circuit 192 is applied to a record circuit 198.
The record circuit 198 modulates the input video signal in frequency
modulation (FM) or any other suitable modulation system, and applies the
modulated signal to a magnetic head 208. The output of the record circuit
198 is also applied to a video monitor 212 such as a cathode ray tube
(CRT).
In the illustrated apparatus, a magnetic disc 201 is detachably mounted on
an output shaft 204 of a motor 202 so that the video signal applied from
the record circuit 198 to the magnetic head 208 is selectively written
into a plurality of tracks 206 of the disc 201. The motor 202 is powered
by a power source 210 to rotate at a predetermined constant speed. The
head 208 is supported by a transport mechanism which is driven by a drive
amplifier 214, as schematically indicated by a dotted arrow 211, thereby
being movable in the radial direction of the disc 200 as instructed by the
CPU 160. This allows the head 208 to select any of the tracks 206 for
recording the video signal therein. A position of the head 208 is detected
in terms of a rotation angle of its associated motor and a return position
of the head and, then, fed back to the control system 180, although
circuitry therefor is not shown in FIG. 2 for simplicity.
The apparatus of the present invention may be provided with such an
appearance as one shown in FIG. 3 by way of example. The apparatus
comprises a desk-like housing 300. Arranged on the top 320 of the housing
300 are a keyboard 302 for entering color compensation instructions, a
keyboard 304 for entering the kinds and sizes of films, orientations of
frames as well as record instructions and the like, a monitor device 212,
etc. The keyboards 302 and 304 in combination constitute the keyboard 186
shown in FIG. 2.
When the optical system 100 is loaded with the film or print 124 which
carries no data, in the form of notches 20 and 22 as shown in FIG. 5, on
vertical-horizontal orientation, top-bottom orientation, optical density,
color correction and the like of a picture recorded thereon, the keyboards
constituting keyboard 186 may be used for entering such data by the user
who watches the picture shown on the monitor display 212, rather than by
means of punched tape 189 or notches 20 and 22.
A recording material mount section 312 inclusive of the film carrier 122,
pressing elements 128 and sensor 134 is rotatable about the optical axis
120 relative to the housing top 320. As indicated by dash-and-dots line in
FIG. 3, the film 124a played out from a reel or the like is fed over the
mount section 312 by the film motor 174. Here, the direction indicated by
an arrow F be the forward direction.
A lower section 306 of the housing 300 accommodates the optical system 100
inclusive of the light source 104 and light integrator 110 and its
associated elements, while another lower portion 308 accommodates
electronic circuitries inclusive of the control system 180. Still another
lower portion 310 accommodates a recording arrangement inclusive of a deck
for the magnetic disc 201.
A photometric section 314 accommodating the photo-metric element 132
therein is disposed above the mount section 312. Disposed above the
section 314 is the lens deck 114 and the camera head 106 which are
supported by a column 322 to be movable up and down independently of each
other. A second housing 320 is mounted on the desk top 320 and houses the
video circuit system 200 therein.
The operation of the apparatus in accordance with the present invention
will be described with reference to FIGS. 4A and 4B, which are a schematic
functional block diagram of the control system 180 and its associated
elements. The drawing mainly shows the functions of the control system 180
and designate those blocks which clearly correspond to the structural
elements of FIG. 2 by the same reference numerals.
When the film 124a is laid on the film carrier 122 of the mount section
312, an image pickup control 400 in the CPU 160 senses the punched hole or
holes 32 of the connecting tape 30 using the sensor 134 to determine a
kind and size of the film 124a. The operator manipulates the keyboard 186
to input the position of a frame of the film 124 to be recorded in the
disc 201, selection data associated with the tracks 206, and other data
according to requirements (406).
Then, as the operator enters an instruction for opening the shutter 116 via
the keyboard 186, the image pickup control 400 opens the shutter 116 to
display a picture recorded in the specific frame on the video monitor 212.
The operator is now allowed to operate the keyboard 186 while watching the
monitor 212 in order to specify a particular frame which should be stored
in the disc 201. Before such operator's manipulation, the image pickup
control 400 moves the camera head 106 and lens deck 114 so that a picture
in a frame will be picked up in a correct state.
A record control 404 performs film feed 174 based on the input data until
the desired specific frame is brought to the image pickup station. At this
instant, the image pickup control 400 reads the notches 20 and the like
formed at the edges 26 and 28 of the film 124a by means of the sensor 134,
thereby identifying an orientation of a frame 12 located on the optical
axis 120 (406). Further, the record control 404 drives the head transport
mechanism 211 to select empty ones of the tracks 206 for recording a video
signal (214).
The storage 184 stores a conversion table 408 for the selection of the lens
system 138 or 140 which depends upon the kind and size of the film 124a,
and that of a distance or relative position between the camera head 106
and the lens deck 114 in the direction of the optical axis 120 in
correspondence with the frame orientation and with a predetermined image
pickup position of the film 124a on the film carrier 122 employed as a
reference, or magnification previously discussed. FIG. 4A schematically
shows the condition wherein conversion tables 408 are assigned in
one-to-one correspondence to the kinds and the sizes of films 124a and
stored in the storage 184.
For example, in the case of a JIS 135 type full-size film, predetermined
data are stored employing the positions of the lens deck 114 and camera
head 106 associated with the horizontal frame 12a shown in FIG. 1A as a
standard; for the vertical frame 12c, positions of the lens deck 114 and
camera head 106 which set up a magnification which is 0.74 times the
magnification of the horizontal frame 12a are stored as the conversion
table 408.
Concerning a JIS 135 type half-size film, assume that the positions of the
lens deck 114 and camera head 106 associated with the horizontal frame 12a
shown in FIG. 1A is the standard. Then, the whole horizontal frame will be
picked up in the effective picture area 10 if the lens deck 114 and the
camera head 106 are positioned to provide a magnification which is about
1.51 times the standard; a vertical frame will be picked up in a condition
similar to that of FIG. 1C if they are positioned to provide a
magnification which is about 1.14 times the standard. This data is stored
in the conversion table 408.
Likewise, for a 110 type film, the lens deck 114 and camera head 106 will
be positioned such that a horizontal frame shown in FIG. 1A is picked up
in a size about 2.09 times the standard position data and a vertical
frame, in a size about 1.6 times the same, so that an image in the frame
is picked up in a state similar to that of FIG. 1C. This data is stored in
the conversion table 408.
Further, as for the disc film, if the lens deck 114 and camera head 106 are
positioned such that a horizontal frame shown in FIG. 1A is picked up in a
size about 3.34 times the above-mentioned standard position data and a
vertical frame, in a size about 2.57 times, they will be picked up in a
condition similar to that of FIG. 1C and the data will be stored in the
conversion table 408.
Naturally, the data described above is only illustrative and does not limit
the present invention. That is, any other kind of data may be used to
allow frames to be picked up in the condition of FIG. 1B or one indicated
by the dash-and-dot line 12e in FIG. 1C or in any of their intermediate
conditions. For example, three different conversion tables 408 may be
assigned respectively to three different proportions of the area of the
omitted portion 16 to the total area of the frame 12, i.e. 0%, 20% and
33%, and selectively used through the keyboard 186. One possible scheme is
such that the apparatus is automatically conditioned for the 0% omission
and the operator, observing the monitor 212, decides important part of the
information appearing thereon so as to select a magnification which may
result in substantial omission.
The conversion table 408 further stores therein data indicative of standard
illuminations which repsectively are associated with magnifications of the
frames of the film 124a. This kind of data is directed to illuminating the
film 124a with an illumination matching the lattitude of the camera head
106 for each of the magnifications with respect to a frame which was
exposed under a standard shooting condition (adequate exposure), in view
of the fact that a change in magnification entails a substantial change in
the illumination of the frame surface of the film 124a which is
illuminated by the light source 104 as previously described. Any
difference in illumination due to deviation from a standard condition is
further compensated for in response to the illumination sensed by the
photometric element 132. These compensations are accomplished by moving
the ND filter 108 into and out of the optical axis 120.
The image pickup control 400, referencing the conversion table 408 in the
storage 184, searches for data associated with the positions of the camera
head 106 and the lens deck 114, selection of the lens system 138 or 140,
orientation of the mirror box 136, and whether the filter 112 and/or NP
inversion 194 is necessary, based on the kind and size of the film and the
orientation of the frame which are entered with respect to the frame of
the film 124a aligned with the optical axis 120.
In response to the searched data, the image pickup control 400 drives the
camera head motor 154, the lens deck motor 152 and the lens motor 150 to
set up a specified magnification. This causes the lens system 138 or 140
to vary the magnification and focus so that the image is picked up in a
correct top-bottom orientation and magnification, whatever the kind and
size of the film or the frame orientation may be. Where the film 124a is
of the negative type, an illumination control 402 drives the filter motor
126 to insert the orange mask compensation filter 126 while the record
control 404 actuates the switch 190 to connect the NP inversion circuit
194 to the output line 151 of the camera head 106.
Another function of the image pickup control 400 is to control the image
rotation 412. In this particular embodiment, the image rotation 412 is
accomplished by rotating the mirror box 136 and, thereby, the light image
incident on the head 106. Alternatively, image rotation may be implemented
by rotating the camera head 106, or by temporarily storing a video signal
in a storage before supplying it to the record circuit 198 and then
rotating the stored video signal.
FIGS. 7A and 7B show an alternative embodiment in which image rotation is
implemented by rotating camera head 106. In this embodiment, image
rotation motor 142 is adapted to drive the camera head 106 so that it will
rotate in accordance with the frame orientation sensed by the system. The
lens deck 114, therefore, does not have the mirror box 136 as included in
the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B. In the figures, the same
reference numerals, as in FIG. 1 denote the similar constituent elements
to those of FIGS. 2A and 2B.
FIGS. 8A and 8B show another alternative embodiment in which image rotation
is effected by rotating the recording material mount section 312 which
supports the carrier 122. The mount section 312 is rotatably supported on
housing 300, and is mechanically linked with the image rotation motor 142
as symbolically depicted by a dotted line 143 in FIGS. 8A and 8B. The lens
deck 114, therefore, does not include the mirror box 136, as included in
the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B. The mount section 312 is rotated
by the image rotation motor 142, when energized, in accordance with the
frame orientation data entered into the system.
FIGS. 9A and 9B show still another embodiment which includes a video
storage 185 interconnected with the system bus 158. The video storage 185
is adapted to store video signals produced from the camera head 106 in the
form of digital data. The video signal produced by the camera head 106 is
transmitted over line 151 via the color compensation circuit 192 to an
analog-to-digital convers | | |
