Method and apparatus for controlling an electronic zoom system using an image pick-up element

An electronic zoom system, wherein .beta. represents the spatial distance between original signals and .alpha. represents the spatial distance between interpolated signals, in particular .alpha.1 represents the spatial distance between interpolated signals in the horizontal direction and .alpha.2 represents the spatial distance between interpolated signals in the vertical direction, at various stages of zoom processing, said electronic zoom system comprising:

• a memory;
• a zoom operation processing circuit having a read/write control circuit coupled to said memory for controlling the reading and writing of signals to and from said memory, respectively;
• and
• an operation control circuit for controlling said zoom operation processing circuit based upon a result of successive additions of .beta.-.alpha., whereby a video signal is input to said zoom operation processing circuit for electronically magnifying said video signal by a magnification factor of .beta./.alpha.,
• in which said operation control circuit successively adds .beta.-.alpha.1 and .beta.-.alpha.2 and in horizontal and vertical directions, respectively, for magnifying said video signal by a magnification factor of .beta./.alpha.1 and .beta./.alpha.2 in horizontal and vertical directions, respectively.

An electronic zoom system, wherein .beta. represents the spatial distance between original signals and .alpha. represents the spatial distance between interpolated signals, in particular .alpha.1 represents the spatial distance between interpolated signals in the horizontal direction and .alpha.2 represents the spatial distance between interpolated signals in the vertical direction, at various stages of zoom processing, said electronic zoom system comprising:

• a memory;
• a zoom operation processing circuit having a read/write control circuit coupled to said memory for controlling the reading and writing of signals to and from said memory, respectively;
• and
• an operation control circuit for controlling said zoom operation processing circuit based upon a result of successive additions of .beta.-.alpha., whereby a video signal is input to said zoom operation processing circuit for electronically magnifying said video signal by a magnification factor of .beta./.alpha.,
• in which said operation control circuit successively adds .beta.-.alpha. to a given value.

An electronic zoom system, wherein .beta. represents the spatial distance between original signals and .alpha. represents the spatial distance between interpolated signals, in particular .alpha.1 represents the spatial distance between interpolated signals in the horizontal direction and .alpha.2 represents the spatial distance between interpolated signals in the vertical direction, at various stages of zoom processing, said electronic zoom system comprising:

• a zoom operation processing circuit for electronically magnifying an input video signal;
• an operation control circuit for controlling said zoom operation processing circuit based upon a magnification factor control signal input to said operation control circuit;
• and
• a magnification factor control circuit, from which .beta.-.alpha. is output as said magnification factor control signal to said operation control circuit so that said zoom operation processing circuit electronically magnifies the input video signal in a desired portion by a magnification factor of .beta./.alpha..

An electronic zoom system, wherein .beta. represents the spatial distance between original signals and .alpha. represents the spatial distance between interpolated signals, in particular .alpha.1 represents the spatial distance between interpolated signals in the horizontal direction and .alpha.2 represents the spatial distance between interpolated signals in the vertical direction, at various stages of zoom processing, said electronic zoom system comprising:

• a zoom operation processing circuit for electronically magnifying an input video signal;
• an operation control circuit for controlling said zoom operation processing circuit based upon a magnification factor control signal input to said operation control circuit;
• and
• a magnification factor control circuit, from which .beta.-.alpha. is output as said magnification factor control signal to said operation control circuit so that said zoom operation processing circuit electronically magnifies the input video signal in a desired portion by a magnification factor of .beta./.alpha.,
• in which said operation control circuit successively adds .beta.-.alpha.1 and .beta.-.alpha.2 in the horizontal and vertical directions, respectively, for magnifying said video signal by a magnification factor of .beta./.alpha.1 and .beta./.alpha.2 in the horizontal and vertical directions, respectively.

An electronic zoom system, wherein .beta. represents the spatial distance between original signals and .alpha. represents the spatial distance between interpolated signals, in particular .alpha.1 represents the spatial distance between interpolated signals in the horizontal direction and .alpha.2 represents the spatial distance between interpolated signals in the vertical direction, at various stages of zoom processing, said electronic zoom system comprising:

• a zoom operation processing circuit for electronically magnifying an input video signal;
• an operation control circuit for controlling said zoom operation processing circuit based upon a magnification factor control signal input to said operation control circuit;
• and
• a magnification factor control circuit, from which .beta.-.alpha. is output as said magnification factor control signal to said operation control circuit so that said zoom operation processing circuit electronically magnifies the input video signal in a desired portion by a magnification factor of .beta./.alpha.,
• in which said operation control circuit successively adds .beta.-.alpha. to a given value.

An electronic zoom system, wherein .beta. represents the spatial distance between original signals and .alpha. represents the spatial distance between interpolated signals, in particular .alpha.1 represents the spatial distance between interpolated signals in the horizontal direction and .alpha.2 represents the spatial distance between interpolated signals in the vertical direction, at various stages of zoom processing, said electronic zoom system comprising:

• an image pickup element;
• a scanning circuit for supplying a scanning pulse to said image pickup element, said scanning circuit being controlled on the basis of successive additions of .beta.-.alpha.1;
• and
• an operation control circuit for determining whether or not a signal is read from said image pickup element, to thereby effectuate magnification by reading out a video signal in .alpha. lines from said image pickup element at a horizontal interval .beta. from said image pickup element.

An electronic zoom system, wherein .beta. represents the spatial distance between original signals and .alpha. represents the spatial distance between interpolated signals, in particular .alpha.1 represents the spatial distance between interpolated signals in the horizontal direction and .alpha.2 represents the spatial distance between interpolated signals in the vertical direction, at various stages of zoom processing, said electronic zoom system comprising:

• an image pickup element;
• a scanning circuit for supplying a scanning pulse to said image pickup element, said scanning circuit being controlled on the basis of the addition results by successive additions of .beta.-.alpha.1;
• and
• an operation control circuit for determining whether or not a signal is read from said image pickup element, to thereby effectuate magnification by reading out a video signal in .alpha. lines from said image pickup element at a horizontal interval .beta. from said image pickup element,
• in which said operation control circuit successively adds .beta.-.alpha. to a given value.

An electronic zoom system, wherein .beta. represents the spatial distance between original signals and .alpha. represents the spatial distance between interpolated signals, in particular .alpha.1 represents the spatial distance between interpolated signals in the horizontal direction and .alpha.2 represents the spatial distance between interpolated signals in the vertical direction, at various stages of zoom processing, said electronic zoom system comprising:

• an image pickup element;
• a scanning circuit for supplying said image pickup element with scanning pulses;
• a zoom operation processing circuit to which a video signal read from said image pickup element is input;
• an operation control circuit for controlling said scanning circuit and said zoom operation processing circuit based on results of successive additions of .beta.-.alpha.;
• a magnification factor control circuit for controlling a scanning starting pixel in the vertical direction and for controlling the start of operation in the horizontal direction, in which a video signal in .alpha. lines is read from said image pickup element at a horizontal interval .beta.;
• said zoom operation processing circuit being adapted to magnify the video signal read from said image pickup element in the horizontal direction and for interpolating the video signal in vertical and horizontal directions.

An electronic zoom system, wherein .beta. represents the spatial distance between original signals and .alpha. represents the spatial distance between interpolated signals, in particular .alpha.1 represents the spatial distance between interpolated signals in the horizontal direction and .alpha.2 represents the spatial distance between interpolated signals in the vertical direction, at various stages of zoom processing, said electronic zoom system comprising:

• an image pickup element;
• a scanning circuit for supplying said image pickup element with scanning pulses;
• a zoom operation processing circuit to which a video signal read from said image pickup element is input;
• an operation control circuit for controlling said scanning circuit and said zoom operation processing circuit based on results of successive additions of .beta.-.alpha.;
• a magnification control circuit for controlling a scanning starting pixel in the vertical direction and for controlling the operation start in the horizontal direction, in which a video signal in .alpha. lines is read from said image pickup element at a horizontal interval .beta.;
• said zoom operation processing circuit being adapted to magnify the video signal read from said image pickup element in the horizontal direction and for interpolating the video signal in vertical and horizontal directions,
• in which said operation control circuit successively adds .beta.-.alpha.1 and .beta.-.alpha.2 in horizontal and vertical directions, respectively, for magnifying said video signal by a magnification factor of .beta./.alpha.1 and .beta./.alpha.2 in horizontal and vertical directions, respectively.

An electronic zoom system, wherein .beta. represents the spatial distance between original signals and .alpha. represents the spatial distance between interpolated signals, in particular .alpha.1 represents the spatial distance between interpolated signals in the horizontal direction and .alpha.2 represents the spatial distance between interpolated signals in the vertical direction, at various stages of zoom processing, said electronic zoom system comprising:

• an image pickup element;
• a scanning circuit for supplying said image pickup element with scanning pulses;
• a zoom operation processing circuit to which a video signal read from said image pickup element is input;
• an operation control circuit for controlling said scanning circuit and said zoom operation processing circuit based on results of successive additions of .beta.-.alpha.;
• a magnification control circuit for controlling a scanning starting pixel in the vertical direction and for controlling the operation start in the horizontal direction, in which a video signal in .alpha. lines is read from said image pickup element at a horizontal interval .beta.;
• said zoom operation processing circuit being adapted to magnify the video signal read from said image pickup element in the horizontal direction and for interpolating the video signal in vertical and horizontal directions,
• in which said operation control circuit successively adds .beta.-.alpha. to a given value.

A method for controlling an electronic zoom system having a zoom operation processing circuit including a memory, wherein .beta. represents the spatial distance between original signals and .alpha. represents the spatial distance between interpolated signals, in particular .alpha.1 represents the spatial distance between interpolated signals in the horizontal direction and .alpha.2 represents the spatial distance between interpolated signals in the vertical direction, at various stages of zoom processing, said method comprising the steps of:

• controlling the reading and writing of signals to and from said memory, respectively, in said zoom operation processing circuit;
• successively adding .beta.-.alpha. for controlling said zoom operation processing circuit to derive magnification factor .beta./.alpha.;
• and
• processing said signals in accordance with said magnification factor .beta./.alpha..

A method for controlling an electronic zoom system having a zoom operation processing circuit including a memory, wherein .beta. represents the spatial distance between original signals and .alpha. represents the spatial distance between interpolated signals, in particular .alpha.1 represents the spatial distance between interpolated signals in the horizontal direction and .alpha.2 represents the spatial distance between interpolated signals in the vertical direction, at various stages of zoom processing, said method comprising the steps of:

• controlling the reading and writing of signals to and from said memory, respectively, in said zoom operation processing circuit;
• successively adding .beta.-.alpha.1 and .beta.-.alpha.2, for controlling operation of said zoom operation processing circuit;
• deriving magnification factor .beta./.alpha.;
• and
• processing said signals in accordance with said magnification factor .beta./.alpha..

A method for controlling the magnification of a video signal in an electronic zoom system having an operation control circuit, wherein .beta. represents the spatial distance between original signals and .alpha. represents the spatial distance between interpolated signals, in particular .alpha.1 represents the spatial distance between interpolated signals in the horizontal direction and .alpha.2 represents the spatial distance between interpolated signals in the vertical direction, at various stages of zoom processing, said method comprising the steps of:

• inputting a video signal;
• determining a magnification factor .beta./.alpha. in accordance with a magnification factor control signal .beta.-.alpha.;
• controlling magnification of said video signal in accordance with said operation control circuit;
• and
• magnifying said video signal by a magnification factor of .beta./.alpha.1 and .beta./.alpha.2 in the horizontal and vertical directions, respectively, by successively adding .beta.-.alpha.1 and .beta.-.alpha.2 in the horizontal and vertical directions, respectively.

A method for controlling the magnification of a video signal in an electronic zoom system having an operation control circuit, wherein .beta. represents the spatial distance between original signals and .alpha. represents the spatial distance between interpolated signals, in particular .alpha.1 represents the spatial distance between interpolated signals in the horizontal direction and .alpha.2 represents the spatial distance between interpolated signals in the vertical direction, at various stages of zoom processing, said method comprising the steps of:

• inputting a video signal;
• determining a magnification factor .beta./.alpha. in accordance with a magnification factor control signal .beta.-.alpha.;
• and
• controlling magnification of said video signal in accordance with said operation control circuit;
• wherein .beta.-.alpha. is successively added to a given value in said operation control circuit.

A method for controlling the magnification of a video signal in an electronic zoom system having an image pickup element, a scanning circuit and an operation control circuit, wherein .beta. represents the spatial distance between original signals and .alpha. represents the spatial distance between interpolated signals, in particular .alpha.1 represents the spatial distance between interpolated signals in the horizontal direction and .alpha.2 represents the spatial distance between interpolated signals in the vertical direction, at various stages of zoom processing, said method comprising the steps of:

• inputting a video signal;
• supplying said image pickup element with scanning pulses;
• controlling scanning and zoom processing of said video signal based on results of successive additions of .beta.-.alpha.;
• controlling a scanning starting pixel in the vertical direction and for controlling the operation start in the vertical direction, in which the video signal in .alpha. lines is read from said image pickup element at a horizontal interval .beta.;
• magnifying the video signal read from said image pickup element in the horizontal direction;
• interpolating the video signal in vertical and horizontal directions;
• wherein said video signal is magnified by a magnification factor of .beta./.alpha.1 and .beta./.alpha.2 in the horizontal and vertical directions, respectively, by successively adding .beta.-.alpha.1 and .beta.-.alpha.2 in the horizontal and vertical directions, respectively.

A method for controlling the magnification of a video signal in an electronic zoom system having an image pickup element, a scanning circuit and an operation control circuit, wherein .beta. represents the spatial distance between original signals and .alpha. represents the spatial distance between interpolated signal, at various stages of zoom processing, said method comprising the steps of:

• inputting a video signal;
• supplying said image pickup element with scanning pulses;
• controlling scanning and zoom processing of said video signal based on results of successive additions of .beta.-.alpha.;
• controlling a scanning starting pixel in the vertical direction and for controlling the operation start in the vertical direction, in which the video signal in .alpha. lines is read from said image pickup element at a horizontal interval .beta.;
• magnifying the video signal read from said image pickup element in the horizontal direction;
• and
• interpolating the video signal in vertical and horizontal directions.

A method for controlling the magnification of a video signal in an electronic zoom system having an image pickup element, a scanning circuit and an operation control circuit, wherein .beta. represents the spatial distance between original signals and .alpha. represents the spatial distance between interpolated signals, in particular .alpha.1 represents the spatial distance between interpolated signals in the horizontal direction and .alpha.2 represents the spatial distance between interpolated signals in the vertical direction at various stages of zoom processing, said method comprising the steps of:

• inputting a video signal;
• supplying said image pickup element with scanning pulses;
• controlling scanning and zoom processing of said video signal based on results of successive additions of .beta.-.alpha.;
• controlling a scanning starting pixel in the vertical direction and for controlling the operation start in the vertical direction, in which the video signal in .alpha. lines is read from said image pickup element at a horizontal interval .beta.;
• magnifying the video signal read from said image pickup element in the horizontal direction;
• interpolating the video signal in vertical and horizontal directions;
• wherein .beta.-.alpha.1 and .beta.-.alpha.2 are successively added to predetermined values in the horizontal and vertical directions, respectively.

A method for controlling an electronic zoom system having a zoom operation processing circuit including a memory, wherein .beta. represents the spatial distance between original signals and .alpha. represents the spatial distance between interpolated signals, at various stages of zoom processing, said method comprising the steps of:

• controlling the reading and writing of signals to and from said memory, respectively, in said zoom operation processing circuit;
• controlling operation of said zoom operation processing circuit;
• deriving magnification factor .beta./.alpha. in accordance with a magnification factor control signal .beta.-.alpha.;
• and
• processing said signals in accordance with said magnification factor .beta./.alpha..

A method for controlling the magnification of a video signal in an electronic zoom system having an operation control circuit, wherein .beta. represents the spatial distance between original signals and .alpha. represents the spatial distance between interpolated signals, in particular .alpha.1 represents the spatial distance between interpolated signals in the horizontal direction, at various stages of zoom processing, said method comprising the steps of:

• inputting a video signal;
• determining a magnification factor .beta./.alpha. in accordance with a magnification factor control signal .beta.-.alpha.;
• controlling magnification of said video signal in accordance with said operation control circuit;
• and
• magnifying said video signal by a magnification factor of .beta./.alpha.1 in the horizontal direction by successively adding .beta.-.alpha.1 in the horizontal directions.

A method for controlling the magnification of a video signal in an electronic zoom system having an operation control circuit, wherein .beta. represents the spatial distance between original signals and .alpha. represents the spatial distance between interpolated signals, in particular .alpha.2 represents the spatial distance between interpolated signals in the vertical direction, at various stages of zoom processing, said method comprising the steps of:

• inputting a video signal;
• determining a magnification factor .beta./.alpha. in accordance with a magnification factor control signal .beta.-.alpha.;
• controlling magnification of said video signal in accordance with said operation control circuit;
• and
• magnifying said video signal by a magnification factor of .beta./.alpha.2 in the vertical direction by successively adding .beta.-.alpha.2 in the vertical direction.

A method for controlling the magnification of a video signal in an electronic zoom system having an image pickup element, a scanning circuit and an operation control circuit, wherein .beta. represents the spatial distance between original signals and .alpha. represents the spatial distance between interpolated signals, in particular .alpha.1 represents the spatial distance between interpolated signals in the horizontal direction, at various stages of zoom processing, said method comprising the steps of:

• inputting a video signal;
• supplying said image pickup element with scanning pulses;
• controlling scanning and zoom processing of said video signal based on results of successive additions of .beta.-.alpha.;
• controlling a scanning starting pixel in the vertical direction and for controlling the operation start in the vertical direction, in which the video signal in .alpha. lines is read from said image pickup element at a horizontal interval .beta.;
• magnifying the video signal read from said image pickup element in the horizontal direction;
• interpolating the video signal in vertical and horizontal directions;
• wherein said video signal is magnified by a magnification factor of .beta./.alpha.1 in the horizontal direction by successively adding .beta.-.alpha.1 in the horizontal directions.

A method for controlling the magnification of a video signal in an electronic zoom system having an image pickup element, a scanning circuit and an operation control circuit, wherein .beta. represents the spatial distance between original signals and .alpha. represents the spatial distance between interpolated signals, in particular .alpha.2 represents the spatial distance between interpolated signals in the vertical direction, at various stages of zoom processing, said method comprising the steps of:

• inputting a video signal;
• supplying said image pickup element with scanning pulses;
• controlling scanning and zoom processing of said video signal based on results of successive additions of .beta.-.alpha.;
• controlling a scanning starting pixel in the vertical direction and for controlling the operation start in the vertical direction, in which the video signal in .alpha. lines is read from said image pickup element at a horizontal interval .beta.;
• magnifying the video signal read from said image pickup element in the horizontal direction;
• interpolating the video signal in vertical and horizontal directions;
• wherein said video signal is magnified by a magnification factor of .beta./.alpha.2 in the vertical direction by successively adding .beta.-.alpha.2 in the vertical direction.

A method for controlling the magnification of a video signal in an electronic zoom system having an image pickup element, a scanning circuit and an operation control circuit, wherein .beta. represents the spatial distance between original signals and .alpha. represents the spatial distance between interpolated signals at various stages of zoom processing, said method comprising the steps of:

• inputting a video signal;
• supplying said image pickup element with scanning pulses;
• controlling scanning and zoom processing of said video signal based on results of successive additions of .beta.-.alpha.;
• controlling a scanning starting pixel in the vertical direction and for controlling the operation start in the vertical direction, in which the video signal in .alpha. lines is read from said image pickup element at a horizontal interval .beta.;
• magnifying the video signal read from said image pickup element in the horizontal direction;
• and
• interpolating the video signal in the horizontal directions.

A method for controlling the magnification of a video signal in an electronic zoom system having an image pickup element, a scanning circuit and an operation control circuit, wherein .beta. represents the spatial distance between original signals and .alpha. represents the spatial distance between interpolated signals at various stages of zoom processing, said method comprising the steps of:

• inputting a video signal;
• supplying said image pickup element with scanning pulses;
• controlling scanning and zoom processing of said video signal based on results of successive additions of .beta.-.alpha.;
• controlling a scanning starting pixel in the vertical direction and for controlling the operation start in the vertical direction, in which the video signal in .alpha. lines is read from said image pickup element at a horizontal interval .beta.;
• magnifying the video signal read from said image pickup element in the horizontal direction;
• and
• interpolating the video signal in the vertical directions.

A method for controlling the magnification of a video signal in an electronic zoom system having an image pickup element, a scanning circuit and an operation control circuit which controls said scanning circuit in accordance with a magnification factor control signal .beta.-.alpha., wherein .beta. represents the spatial distance between original signals and .alpha. represents the spatial distance between interpolated signals at various stages of zoom processing, said method comprising the steps of:

• inputting a video signal;
• supplying said image pickup element with scanning pulses;
• controlling scanning and zoom processing of said video signal;
• controlling a scanning starting pixel in the vertical direction and for controlling the operation start in the vertical direction, in which the video signal in .alpha. lines is read from said image pickup element at a horizontal interval .beta.;
• magnifying the video signal read from said image pickup element in the horizontal direction;
• and
• interpolating the video signal in the horizontal direction.

A method for controlling the magnification of a video signal in an electronic zoom system having an image pickup element, a scanning circuit and an operation control circuit which controls said scanning circuit in accordance with a magnification factor control signal .beta.-.alpha., wherein .beta. represents the spatial distance between original signals and .alpha. represents the spatial distance between interpolated signals at various stages of zoom processing, said method comprising the steps of:

• inputting a video signal;
• supplying said image pickup element with scanning pulses;
• controlling scanning and zoom processing of said video signal;
• controlling a scanning starting pixel in the vertical direction and for controlling the operation start in the vertical direction, in which the video signal in .alpha. lines is read from said image pickup element at a horizontal interval .beta.;
• magnifying the video signal read from said image pickup element in the horizontal direction;
• and
• interpolating the video signal in the vertical direction.