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Claims  |
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What is claimed is:
1. An information processing apparatus, comprising:
an information input device that receives first and second types of
information;
a converter that digitizes said first and second types of information
received by said information input device;
a controller that adds header information to said first and second types of
digitized information, said controller adding information from the header
information of one of said first and second types of digitized information
to the header information of the other of said first and second types of
digitized information in order to correlate said first and second types of
digitized information;
a memory that records said first and second types of digitized information
with said added header information;
said controller separately recording said first and second types of
digitized information in separate locations of said memory, said
controller also capable of reproducing said recorded information.
2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:
said controller adds the same header information that is added to said
first type of information, during reproduction of said first type of
information, to said second type of information while recording said
second type of information.
3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:
said controller also replaces the header information that is already added
to said first type of information with the same header information that is
added to said second type of information.
4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further
comprising:
an input rate modifier that modifies a rate at which said information input
device receives said first type of information; and
a time interval modifier that modifies a time interval during which said
information input device receives said second type of information in
proportion to the results of said modifying of said input rate modifier.
5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein:
said first type of information comprises photographic images and said
second type of information comprises sounds and said time interval
modifier modifies said time interval to 1/N seconds when said input rate
modifier has modified said rate to N photographic frames per second.
6. An information processing apparatus, comprising:
a photographic lens;
a microphone;
a photoelectric converter operatively associated with said photographic
lens for receiving images from said photographic lens and converting said
images into electrical signals;
an analog/digital converter connected to said photoelectric converter and
to said microphone for digitizing analog signals received from said
photoelectric converter and from said microphone to produce digitized
picture and sound signals, respectively;
an electronic memory for recording said digitized picture and sound signals
produced by said analog/digital converter;
a controller connected to said analog/digital converter, said controller
adding header information to said digitized signals, said controller
adding information from the header information of one of said digitized
picture and sound signals to the header information of the other of said
digitized picture and sound signals in order to correlate said digitized
picture and sound signals, said controller separately recording said
digitized picture and sound signals in separate locations of said
electronic memory, said controller also being capable of retrieving said
digitized signals from said electronic memory;
a display connected to said controller; and
a speaker connected to said controller.
7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 6, further
comprising:
a touch tablet that receives input information by contact with said touch
tablet, said touch tablet connected to said controller and providing
digitized line-drawing signals corresponding to said contact to said
controller.
8. A method of processing information with an information processing
device, said method comprising the steps of:
receiving a first type of information;
converting said first type of information into first digital signals;
adding first header information to said first digital signals;
recording said first digital signals with said first header information in
memory;
receiving a second type of information;
converting said second type of information into second digital signals;
adding second header information to said second digital signals,
information from the header information of one of said first and second
digital signals being added to the header information of the other of said
first and second digital signals in order to correlate said first and
second digital signals; and
recording said second digital signals with said second header information
in a separate location of said memory, said separate location being
separate from a location where said first digital signals and first header
information is stored.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein:
said step of receiving a first type of information comprises receiving an
image through a photographic lens;
said step of converting said first type of information comprises converting
said image into first analog electrical signals with a photoelectric
converter and subsequently converting said first analog electrical signals
into said first digital signals; and
said step of receiving a second type of information comprises receiving
sounds with a microphone, said microphone converting said sounds into
second analog electrical signals.
10. The method of claim 8, further comprising the steps of:
receiving a third type of information;
converting said third type of information into third digital signals;
adding third header information to said third digital signals; and
recording said third digital signals with said third header information in
said memory.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein:
said step of receiving a third type of information comprises receiving
two-dimensional data by contact of a writing instrument with a surface of
a touch tablet of said information processing device, wherein said surface
senses the positions contacted by said writing instrument.
12. The method of claim 8, further comprising the steps of:
reproducing said first digital signals while receiving said second type of
information; and
replacing said first header information recorded with said first digital
signals with said second header information.
13. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:
said controller detects times when said first and second types of
information are received by said information input device; and
said controller includes said times in said header information to correlate
said first and second types of digitized information recorded in said
memory.
14. The information processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein:
said controller detects times when said images are received by said
photoelectric converter and when sounds are received by said microphone;
and
said controller includes said times in said header information to correlate
said digitized picture and sound signals recorded in said electronic
memory.
15. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of:
detecting times when said first and second types of information are
received; and wherein
the steps of adding said first and second header information includes
placing said times in said header information to correlate said first and
second digital signals recorded in said memory.
16. An information processing apparatus, comprising:
an information input device that receives first and second types of
information;
a converter that digitizes said first and second types of information
received by said information input device;
an input rate modifier that modifies a rate at which said information input
device receives said first type of information;
a time interval modifier that modifies a time interval during which said
information input device receives said second type of information in
proportion to the results of said modifying of said input rate modifier;
a controller that adds header information to said first and second types of
digitized information, said header information correlating said first and
second types of digitized information; and
a memory that records said first and second types of digitized information
with said added header information.
17. The information processing apparatus according to claim 16, wherein:
said first type of information comprises photographic images and said
second type of information comprises sounds and said time interval
modifier modifies said time interval to 1/N seconds when said input rate
modifier has modified said rate to N photographic frames per second.
18. An information processing apparatus, comprising:
an information input device that receives first and second information;
a converter that digitizes said first and second information received by
said information input device;
a controller that adds header information to said first and second
digitized information, said controller adding information from the header
information of one of said first and second digitized information to the
header information of the other of said first and second digitized
information in order to correlate said first and second digitized
information;
a memory that records said first and second digitized information with said
added header information;
said controller separately recording said first and second digitized
information in separate locations of said memory, said controller also
capable of reproducing said recorded information. |
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Claims |
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Description |
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to an information input apparatus. More
particularly, it relates to an information input apparatus whereby, when a
second type of information has been input in a format added to a first
type of information, after having recorded the first type of information
with header information including the input date and time of the first
type of information, addition of information can be performed easily by
recording the second type of information while annexing header information
identical to or related to the first type of information.
2. Description of Related Art
Conventionally, it has been made possible to record video images and sounds
on magnetic tape (video tape) using devices such as a video camera.
Furthermore, as a type of information input apparatus to photograph
objects, electronic cameras have been used widely that convert the
photographic images into digital image data and record it on recording
media such as memory cards. Certain conventional digital cameras have a
sound recording function. However, such conventional digital cameras
record sounds only in a predefined time period for each photographic image
when operating the sound recording switch while photographing the objects.
Among the conventional electronic cameras discussed above are those having
the function (sound recording time modification switch) of modifying the
sound recording time for one frame of the photographic images, e.g., to 15
seconds, 10 seconds, 5 seconds, etc., and the user can set the desired
sound recording time per frame of the photographic images by operating
this modification switch.
Furthermore, there is also technology that records video images and sounds
on a 2-inch, so-called still video floppy. In this case, to record
simultaneously the video images and sounds, it is necessary that the
tracks on which the video images are recorded be next to those on which
the sounds are recorded.
With conventional digital cameras, when first photographing video images
using a video camera and thereafter adding sounds to those video images,
such operations become complicated since it is necessary to rewind the
video tape to the position where it is desired to add the sounds.
Furthermore, it is necessary to record the sounds while synchronizing them
with the video images recorded in that position. Similar operations become
necessary even when the sounds are recorded first and the video images are
added thereafter.
Additional problems occur when recording video images and sounds using
conventional electronic cameras. For example, to record sounds when
photographing objects in continuous mode, such as when photographing at 30
frames per second, it is necessary to synchronize the sound recording time
per frame to the photographic interval of one frame (1/30 seconds).
When reproducing recorded photographic images and sounds wherein the
recording time of the sounds per frame is shorter than the photographic
interval at that time, the sounds that get reproduced are disconnected
(continuous sounds are not reproduced).
Additionally, when the recording time of the sounds per frame is longer
than the photographic interval at that time, once again there is a lack of
synchronization between the images and the sound.
Conventional information input apparatus do not include a means for setting
the sound recording time to be equal to the photographic interval of each
frame in continuous mode, even when using the sound recording time
modification switch mentioned above.
Another inherent problem with conventional information input technology
such as the still video floppy mentioned above, is that in order to add
sounds to recorded video images, it is necessary to empty the tracks next
to the tracks on which the video images are recorded, and thereafter to
record the sounds on those tracks. Such operations are complicated and
time consuming.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is made in consideration of the above-discussed
inherent problems with conventional information input apparatus, and is
intended to make it possible to easily input video images and sounds in
proper synchronization.
The information input apparatus of the present invention comprises a
photographic means that photographs objects; a sound recording means that
records sounds; a first modification means that modifies the number of
frames of the photographic images per unit time of the photographic means;
a second modification means that modifies the sound recording time of the
sound recording means per frame of the photographic images, corresponding
to the number of frames of the photographic images modified by the first
modification means; and a recording means that records in a first area
each frame of the photographic images photographed by the photographic
means, and records in a second area the sounds recorded by the sound
recording means for each frame of the photographic images.
In the information input apparatus of the present invention, the
photographic means photographs objects, and the sound recording means
records sounds. The first modification means modifies the number of frames
of the photographic images per unit time of the photographic means. The
second modification means modifies the sound recording time of the sound
recording means per frame of the photographic images, corresponding to the
number of frames of the photographic images modified by the first
modification means. The recording means records in a first area each frame
of the photographic images photographed by the photographic means, and
records in a second area the sounds recorded by the sound recording means
for each frame of the photographic images.
The information input apparatus of the present invention further comprises
an input means that inputs multiple types of information; a conversion
means that digitizes the information input by the input means; a detection
means that detects the input time of the information input by the input
means; an annexing means that annexes to the digitized information header
information representing the input time of the input information; a
recording means that records the information having annexed the header
information; and a reproduction means that reproduces the information
recorded by the recording means; whereby, when a second type of
information is input while a first type of information recorded by the
recording means is being reproduced, the annexing means, annexes to the
first type of information and the second type of information the identical
or related header information.
In the information input apparatus of the present invention, the input
means inputs multiple types of information. The conversion means digitizes
the information input by the input means. The detection means detects the
input time of the information input by the input means. The annexing means
annexes to the digitized information header information representing the
input time of the input information. The recording means records the
information having annexed the header information. The reproduction means
reproduces the information recorded by the recording means. The annexing
means, when a second type of information is input while a first type of
information recorded by the recording means is being reproduced, annexes
to the first type of information and the second type of information the
identical or related header information.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of one embodiment of the information
input apparatus of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the information input apparatus shown
in FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view partially showing the internal structure
of the information input apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
FIG. 4 is a block drawing representative of the interrelationship between
internal electrical structure of the information input apparatus shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2.
FIG. 5 is an elevational view showing the display screen operated when
reproducing recorded information.
FIG. 6 is a drawing explaining the thinning-out processing of pixels during
L mode.
FIG. 7 is a drawing explaining the thinning-out processing of pixels during
H mode.
FIG. 8 is a drawing explaining the header information of each type of
information when having pressed simultaneously the release switch 10 and
the sound recording switch 12.
FIG. 9 is a drawing explaining the header information of each type of
information when having pressed the sound recording switch 12, and then
having pressed the release switch 10.
FIG. 10 is a drawing explaining the header information of each type of
information when having pressed the release switch 10, and then having
pressed the sound recording switch 12.
FIG. 11 is a front perspective view showing an embodiment of the
information input apparatus as held by the left hand.
FIG. 12 is a rear perspective view of the embodiment of the information
input apparatus of FIG. 11 as held by the left hand.
FIG. 13 is a front perspective view showing another embodiment of the
information input apparatus as held by the left hand.
FIG. 14 is a rear perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 13 as held by
the left hand.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
FIGS. 1 and 2 show the structure of a preferred embodiment of the
information input apparatus 1 according to the present invention. When
photographing an object with the information input apparatus, the side
facing the object is X1, and the side facing the user is X2. Side X1 forms
the front surface of input apparatus 1 and side X2 forms the back surface
of input apparatus 1. An upper portion of front surface X1 extending
across the width of the apparatus 1 projects forward from the rest of the
front surface to form an upper projection. A finder 2 used to confirm the
photographic range of the object, a photographic lens 3 that takes in the
light image of the object, and a flash component 4 that emits light to
illuminate the object are all arranged across the upper projection at the
upper end of the side X1.
The back end of finder 2 and a speaker 5 for generating sounds recorded by
the information input apparatus 1 are provided across the back surface of
the apparatus 1, at the upper end of side X2 opposite the upper projection
from side X1. Also, an LCD 6 (display device) and operating keys 7A, 7B,
7C, 7D and 7E are positioned on side X2 vertically below the finder 2,
photographic lens 3, flash component 4, and speaker 5. A portion of the
surface of the LCD 6 comprises a touch tablet 6A. Touch tablet 6A senses
contact by a pen-type pointing device and inputs two-dimensional
positional information corresponding to the contact.
Touch tablet 6A comprises a transparent resin such as glass resin, and the
user can observe through touch tablet 6A the images displayed on LCD 6.
The operating keys 7A, 7B, 7C, 7D and 7E provide various functions such as
executing reproduction of the recorded data displayed to the LCD 6. Menu
key 7A is the key operated when displaying menu screens (not shown) to the
LCD 6. Execute (run) key 7B is the key operated when reproducing recorded
information selected by the user (described later).
Clear key 7C is the key operated when deleting recorded information. Cancel
key 7D is the key operated when aborting reproduction processing of
recorded information. Scroll key 7E is the key operated to scroll the
screen up and down when a list of recorded information is displayed to the
LCD 6 (described later).
A microphone 8 for collecting sounds (sound recording means) and an
earphone jack 9 are provided on the top surface Z of the information input
apparatus 1.
A release switch 10, operated when photographing objects, and a power
switch 11 (FIG. 11) are provided on the left side (side Y1) of apparatus
1. The release switch 10 and power switch 11 are placed vertically below
the finder 2, photographic lens 3, and flash component 4 provided on the
upper end of side X1.
A sound recording switch 12, operated when recording sounds, and a
continuous mode switch 13 (first modification means) operated to change
the number of frames photographed per unit time are provided on the side
Y2 (right side) opposite to side Y1. The sound recording switch 12 and
continuous mode switch 13 are placed vertically below the finder 2,
photographic lens 3, and flash component 4 provided on the upper end of
side X1, in the same manner as the release switch 10 and power switch 11
mentioned above. Also, the sound recording switch 12 is positioned at
nearly the same height as the release switch 10 on side Y1, and is
ergonomically designed such that there is no uncoordinated feeling when
the apparatus is held by either the left or right hand.
The heights of the recording switch 12 and the release switch 10 may be
made positively different such that, while pressing one of these switches
on one side of the device, when holding the opposite side with a finger in
order to cancel the moment due to this pressure, the switch provided on
this opposite side is not pressed accidentally.
The continuous mode switch 13 mentioned above is used when setting the
apparatus to photograph an object in only one frame or to photograph it in
a fixed multiple of frames when the user photographs the object by
pressing the release switch 10. For example, when the indicator of the
continuous mode switch 13 is switched to the position printed with "S"
(that is, switched to S mode), only one frame of photography is performed
when the release switch 10 is pressed.
Also, when the indicator of the continuous mode switch 13 is switched to
the position printed with "L" (that is, switched to L mode), photography
of 8 frames per second (that is, it becomes low-speed continuous mode) is
performed during the time the release switch 10 is pressed.
Furthermore, when the indicator of the continuous mode switch 13 is
switched to the position printed with "H" (that is, switched to H mode),
photography of 30 frames per second (that is, it becomes high-speed
continuous mode) is performed during the time the release switch 10 is
pressed.
Next, the internal structure of the information input apparatus 1 is
explained. FIG. 3 is a perspective drawing showing examples of the
internal structure of the information input apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and
2. A CCD 20 is provided at the rear end (on side X2) of the photographic
lens 3. CCD 20 photoelectrically converts the light images of the objects
formed via the photographic lens 3 into electrical signals.
Four cylindrical batteries (size AA dry cells) 21 are arranged in apparatus
1 in an upright position vertically below the LCD 6. The electrical power
stored in batteries 21 is supplied to the various electrical components of
apparatus 1. A condenser 22 for accumulating the necessary charge to
operate flash component 4, is placed along side batteries 21.
Control circuits for controlling the function of information input
apparatus 1 are contained on a circuit board 23. An installable/removable
memory card 24 (recording means) is positioned between circuit board 23
and LCD 6. All types of information input into information input apparatus
1 are recorded in predefined areas of the memory card 24.
Although in the illustrated embodiment the memory card 24 is installable
and removable, memory may also be provided directly on the circuit board
23, and various types of information can be recorded in that memory. Also,
the various types of information recorded in memory (memory card 24) also
may be output to a personal computer via an interface, not shown.
Next, the internal electrical structure of the information input apparatus
1 of the present preferred embodiment is explained, referring to the block
drawing of FIG. 4. The CCD 20 having multiple pixels photoelectrically
converts into image signals (electrical signals) the light images formed
on each pixel.
A correlation duplex sampling circuit (henceforth, CDS) 31 samples at a
specified timing the image signals photoelectrically converted by the CCD
20. An analog/digital conversion circuit (henceforth, A/D conversion
circuit) 32 (conversion means) digitizes the image signals sampled by the
CDS 31 and provides them to a digital signal processor (henceforth, DSP)
33.
The DSP 33 compresses the digitized image signals and outputs them to the
CPU 34 (detection means, annexing means, reproduction means). The CPU 34
records the digitized and compressed image signals (henceforth simply,
photographic image data) in a specified area (photographic image recording
area) of the memory card 24 via an interface (henceforth, I/F) 35.
Also, the CPU 34 contains a clock circuit (not shown,) and it records the
date and time photographed as header information of the image data in the
photographic image recording area of the memory card 24. The photographic
date and time data are annexed to the photographic image data recorded in
the photographic image recording area of the memory card 24.
The microphone 8 inputs sound information (collects sounds) and provides
that sound information to the A/D conversion circuit 36. The A/D
conversion circuit 36 digitizes the provided sound information and outputs
it to the DSP 33. The DSP 33 compresses the digitized sound information
and outputs it to the CPU 34.
The CPU 34 records the digitized and compressed sound information in a
specified area (sound recording area) of the memory card 24 via the I/F
35. Also, at this time, the sound recording date and time data is recorded
as header information of the sound data in the sound recording area of the
memory card 24.
When a specified position of the touch tablet 6A is pressed by the user's
pen-type pointing device, the CPU 34 reads in the X-Y coordinates of the
pressed position of the touch tablet 6A, and stores that coordinate data
(line-drawing data described later) in an internal buffer memory (not
shown.) Also, the CPU 34 records the line-drawing information accumulated
in the buffer memory along with line-drawing information input date and
time header information in the line-drawing information recording area of
the memory card 24.
LCD 6 is connected to the CPU 34 via frame memory 37, and image display is
made possible. The image data, having undergone compression processing, is
input into the DSP 33, is expanded there, and then is provided to the
frame memory 37.
Speaker 5 is connected to the DSP 33 via a digital/analog conversion
circuit (henceforth, D/A conversion circuit) 38, and the sound signals
analog-converted by the D/A conversion circuit 38 are output from the
speaker 5.
Next, the various actions of the information finput apparatus 1 of the
present preferred embodiment are explained.
First, the input/output processing of sound information of the present
apparatus is explained. When the power source is supplied to the
information input apparatus 1 by switching the power switch 11, shown in
FIG. 1, to the side printed "ON," and the record switch 12 provided on
side Y2 is pressed, sound recording processing (input processing of sound
information) is started. The sound information is input via the microphone
8, is digitized by the A/D conversion circuit 36, and is output to the DSP
33.
The DSP 33 compresses the digitized sound data. The sound data compressed
by the DSP 33 is recorded in the sound recording area of the memory card
24 via the CPU 34 and the I/F 35. At this time, the sound recording date
and time data in the sound recording area of the memory card 24 is
recorded as header information of the compressed sound data.
The sounds in this case are compressed by the PCM method and recorded, but
other methods may be used.
When reproducing the sound data recorded in the sound recording area of the
memory card 24, the LCD 6 display shown in FIG. 5 is operated. On the LCD
6 display screen shown in FIG. 5 is displayed at the lower end E of the
screen the date and the time the information was recorded (in this case,
Aug. 25, 1995), and the recording time of the information recorded on that
recording date is displayed on the leftmost side of the screen.
On the right next to the recording time A are displayed thumbnail images B
and thumbnail image ready symbols "*" D (both described later). The
information on this display is information including photographic image
data. That is, in the information recorded (input) at "10:16," "10:21,"
"10:54," and "13:10" photographic image information is included, and in
the information recorded at "10:05" and "10:28" photographic image data is
not included.
On the right side of the thumbnail image display area a sound information
bar C is displayed, and a bar (line) of a length corresponding to the
length of the sound recording time is displayed (when sound information is
not input, it is not displayed).
The user selects the information to reproduce by pressing with the pen tip
of the pen-type pointing device any part of the display line of the
desired information on the LCD 6 shown in FIG. 5, and reproduces the
selected information by pressing the execute (run) key 7B shown in FIG. 2
with the pen tip of the pen-type pointing device.
For example, when the line shown in FIG. 5, on which "10:05" is displayed,
is pressed by the pen-type pointing device, the CPU 34 reads out from the
memory card 24 the sound data corresponding to the selected sound
recording time (10:05), and provides it to the DSP 33. The sound data
(compressed sound data) provided to the DSP 33 is expanded there, and is
output to the D/A conversion circuit 38.
The sound signals analog-converted in the D/A conversion circuit 38 are
reproduced via the speaker 5. When an earphone (not shown) is connected to
the earphone jack 9, the sounds are reproduced via the earphone rather
than by the speaker.
Next, the photography of objects and output of the photographic images
using the present apparatus is explained.
First, the case when the continuous mode switch 13 provided on side Y2 is
switched to the S mode (the mode in which only one frame of photography is
performed) is explained. When the power source is supplied to the
information input apparatus 1 by switching the power switch 11 shown in
FIG. 1 to the side printed "ON," and the release switch 10 provided on
side Y1 is pressed, photographic processing of the object is started.
The light image of the object observed by the finder 2 is collected by the
photographic lens 3, and is formed on the CCD 20 as multiple pixels. The
light image of the object formed on the CCD 20 is photoelectrically
converted into image signals by each pixel, and is sampled by the CDS 31.
The image signals sampled by the CDS 31 are provided to the A/D conversion
circuit 32, and they are digitized there and output to the DSP 33.
The DSP 33 compresses the digitized image signals according to the JPEG
(Joint Photographic Experts Group) method, in which discrete cosine
conversion, quantization, and Huffman encoding are applied, and are output
to the CPU 34. The CPU 34 records the digitized and compressed
photographic image data in the photographic image recording area of the
memory card 24 via the I/F 35. At this time, the photographic date and
time data in the photographic image recording area of the memory card 24
is recorded as header information of the photographic image data.
When the continuous mode switch 13 is switched to the S mode, only one
frame of photography is performed, and further photography is not
performed even when the release switch 10 is continuously pressed. Also,
when the release switch is continuously pressed, the photographic image is
displayed on the LCD 6.
Second, the case when the continuous mode switch 13 is switched to the L
mode (the mode in which continuous shooting of 8 frames per second is
performed) is explained. When the power source is supplied to the
information input apparatus 1 by switching the power switch 11 to the side
printed "ON," and the release switch 10 provided on side Y1 is pressed,
photographic processing of the object is started.
The light image of the object observed by the finder 2 is collected by the
photographic lens 3, and is formed on the CCD 20 as multiple pixels. The
light image of the object formed on the CCD 20 is photoelectrically
converted into image signals by each pixel, and is sampled by the CDS 31
at a rate of 8 times per second. Also, at this time, the CDS 31 thins out
3/4 of the pixels among the electrical image signals of all the pixels of
the image in the CCD 20.
That is, the CDS 31 divides the pixels of the CCD 20 arranged in a matrix
making 2.times.2 pixels (four pixels) into one area, as shown in FIG. 6,
and samples from that one area the image signal of one pixel placed in a
fixed position, thinning out the remaining three pixels.
For example, during the first time of sampling (first frame), the top left
pixel a of each area is sampled, and the remaining pixels b, c, and d are
thinned out. During the second time of sampling (second frame), the top
right pixel b of each area is sampled, and the remaining pixels a, c, and
d are thinned out. Following that, during the third and fourth times of
sampling, the bottom left pixel c and the bottom right pixel d are
sampled, respectively, and the other pixels are thinned out. In short,
each pixel is sampled every four frames.
The image signals sampled by the CDS 31 (the image signals of 1/4 the
pixels of all the pixels in the CCD 20) are provided to the A/D conversion
circuit 32, and are digitized there and output to the DSP 33.
The DSP 33 compresses the digitized image signals by | | |
