Video camera with progressive scanning and dynamic range enlarging modes

A video camera which, comprising a progressive scanning CCD, and a camera signal processing part for converting an output from the progressive scanning CCD to a video signal adaptive to video image display, enables enlarging dynamic range by synthesizing a first signal which is obtained by exposure during a first predetermined time and a second signal which is obtained by exposure during a second predetermined time after the exposure time of the first signal, by means of the progressive scanning CCD to enlarge luminance gradation characteristics on appearance, wherein the progressive scanning CCD enables outputting of the first signal and the second signal at different timings, said video camera further comprising:

• a signal separating switch for separating the first signal and the second signal which are output from the progressive scanning CCD;
• a delay means for delaying an output from the signal separating switch by one horizontal scanning period;
• a first memory for temporarily storing an output from the delay means;
• a second memory for temporarily storing the second signal which is output from the signal separating switch;
• a first scanning conversion means for converting an output from the first memory to a normal speed signal;
• a second scanning conversion means for converting an output from the second memory to a normal speed signal;
• a synthesizing means for synthesizing the first signal and the second signal, synchronized and having normal speeds, which are output from the first scanning conversion means and the second scanning conversion means;
• a signal separating switch for separating a signal of odd line and a signal of even line of progressive scanning signals which are output from the progressive scanning CCD enabling also outputting progressive scanning signals;
• an adding means for adding outputs from the first memory and the second memory for two fields;
• a scanning conversion means for converting an output from the adding means to a normal speed signal;
• wherein:
• the delay means enabling delaying the signal of odd line which is output from the signal separating switch for one horizontal scanning period;
• the first memory enabling temporarily storing an output from the delay means;
• and
• the second memory enabling temporarily storing the signal of even line which is output from the signal separating switch.

A video camera which, comprising a progressive scanning CCD, and a camera signal processing part for converting an output from the progressive scanning CCD to a video signal adaptive to video image display, enables enlarging dynamic range by synthesizing a first signal which is obtained by exposure during a first predetermined time and a second signal which is obtained by exposure during a second predetermined time after the exposure time of the first signal, by means of the progressive scanning CCD to enlarge luminance gradation characteristics on appearance, wherein the progressive scanning CCD enables outputting the first signal and the second signal at different timings, said video camera further comprising:

• a signal separating switch for separating the first signal and the second signal which are output from the progressive scanning CCD;
• a delay means for delaying an output from the signal separating switch by one horizontal scanning period;
• a first memory for temporarily storing an output from the delay means;
• a second memory for temporarily storing the second signal which is output from the signal separating switch;
• a first scanning conversion means for converting an output from the first memory to a normal speed signal;
• a second scanning conversion means for converting an output from the second memory to a normal speed signal;
• a synthesizing means for synthesizing the first signal and the second signal, synchronized and having normal speeds, which are output from the first scanning conversion means and the second scanning conversion means;
• wherein the signal separating switch is also for separating a signal of odd line and a signal of even line of progressive scanning signals which are output from the progressive scanning CCD enabling the outputting of progressive scanning signals;
• a first adding means for adding outputs from the first memory and the second memory for two fields;
• a further scanning conversion means for converting an output from the adding means to a normal speed signal;
• wherein:
• the delay means enabling delaying the signal of odd line which is output from the signal separating switch for one horizontal scanning period;
• the first memory enabling temporarily storing an output from the delay means and enabling storing one frame of the odd line signals of the second signal which is output from the progressive scanning CCD;
• and the second memory enabling temporarily storing the signal of even line which is output from the signal separating switch and enabling storing one frame of the even line signals of second signals which are output from the progressive scanning CCD;
• second adding means for adding an odd line signal and an even line signal of first exposure signals;
• and
• wherein said synthesizing means is further for synthesizing outputs of the first adding means and the second adding means;
• said video camera further comprising:
• a second adding means for adding an output from the delay means and an output from the signal separating switch;
• and
• a control means for controlling a driving method of the progressive scanning CCD;
• wherein
• said video camera takes a function in accordance with a dynamic range enlarging mode which enlarges dynamic range, or a progressive scanning mode performing progressive scanning;
• wherein said first memory and said second memory store outputs from the synthesizing means and repeatedly output the stored outputs.

A video camera which, comprising a progressive scanning CCD, and a camera signal processing part for converting an output from the progressive scanning CCD to a video signal adaptive to video image display, enables enlarging dynamic range by synthesizing a first signal which is obtained by exposure during a first predetermined time and a second signal which is obtained by exposure during a second predetermined time after the exposure time of the first signal, by means of the progressive scanning CCD to enlarge luminance gradation characteristics on appearance, wherein the progressive scanning CCD enables outputting the first signal and the second signal at different timings, said video camera further comprising:

• a signal separating switch for separating the first signal and the second signal which are output from the progressive scanning CCD;
• a delay means for delaying an output from the signal separating switch by one horizontal scanning period;
• a first memory for temporarily storing an output from the delay means;
• a second memory for temporarily storing the second signal which is output from the signal separating switch;
• a first scanning conversion means for converting an output from the first memory to a normal speed signal;
• a second scanning conversion means for converting an output from the second memory to a normal speed signal;
• a synthesizing means for synthesizing the first signal and the second signal, synchronized and having normal speeds, which are output from the first scanning conversion means and the second scanning conversion means;
• said video camera further comprising:
• a second adding means for adding an output from the delay means and an output from the signal separating switch;
• and
• a control means for controlling a driving method of the progressive scanning CCD;
• wherein
• said video camera takes a function in accordance with a dynamic range enlarging mode which enlarges dynamic range, or a progressive scanning mode performing progressive scanning.

A video camera which, comprising a progressive scanning CCD, and a camera signal processing part for converting an output from the progressive scanning CCD to a video signal adaptive to video image display, enables enlarging dynamic range by synthesizing a first signal which is obtained by exposure during a first predetermined time and a second signal which is obtained by exposure during a second predetermined time after the exposure time of the first signal, by means of the progressive scanning CCD to enlarge luminance gradation characteristics on appearance, wherein the progressive scanning CCD enables outputting of the first signal and the second signal at different timings, said video camera further comprising:

• a signal separating switch for separating the first signal and the second signal which are output from the progressive scanning CCD;
• a delay means for delaying an output from the signal separating switch and one horizontal scanning period;
• a first memory for temporarily storing an output from the delay means;
• a second memory for temporarily storing the second signal which is output from the signal separating switch;
• a first scanning conversion means for converting an output from the first memory to a normal speed signal;
• a second scanning conversion means for converting an output from the second memory to a normal speed signal;
• and
• a synthesizing means for synthesizing the first signal and the second signal, synchronized and having normal speeds, which are output from the first scanning conversion means and the second scanning conversion means;
• a signal separating switch for separating a signal of odd line and a signal of even line of progressive scanning signals which are output from the progressive scanning CCD enabling also outputting progressive scanning signals;
• an adding means for adding outputs from the first memory and the second memory for two fields;
• a scanning conversion means for converting an output from the adding means to a normal speed signal;
• wherein:
• the delay means enabling delaying the signal of odd line which is output from the signal separating switch for one horizontal scanning period;
• the first memory enabling temporarily storing an output from the delay means;
• the second memory enabling temporarily storing the signal of even line which is output from the signal separating switch;
• and
• said video camera further comprising:
• a hand blurring detecting means for making an output from the delay means to an input signal, and detecting motion vector of this input signal;
• and wherein
• writing into the first memory and the second memory are controlled with the motion vector.

A video camera which, comprising a progressive scanning CCD, and a camera signal processing part for converting an output from the progressive scanning CCD to a video signal adaptive to video image display, enables enlarging dynamic range by synthesizing a first signal which is obtained by exposure during a first predetermined time and a second signal which is obtained by exposure during a second predetermined time after the exposure time of the first signal, by means of the progressive scanning CCD to enlarge luminance gradation characteristics on appearance, wherein the progressive scanning CCD enables outputting the first signal and the second signal at different timings, said video camera further comprising:

• a signal separating switch for separating the first signal and the second signal which are output from the progressive scanning CCD;
• a delay means for delaying an output from the signal separating switch by one horizontal scanning period;
• a first memory for temporarily storing an output from the delay means;
• a second memory for temporarily storing the second signal which is output from the signal separating switch;
• a first scanning conversion means for converting an output from the first memory to a normal speed signal;
• a second scanning conversion means for converting an output from the second memory to a normal speed signal;
• a synthesizing means for synthesizing the first signal and the second signal, synchronized and having normal speeds, which are output from the first scanning conversion means and the second scanning conversion means;
• wherein the signal separating switch is also for separating a signal of odd line and a signal of even line of progressive scanning signals which are output from the progressive scanning CCD enabling the outputting of progressive scanning signals;
• a first adding means for adding outputs from the first memory and the second memory for two fields;
• a further scanning conversion means for converting an output from the adding means to a normal speed signal;
• wherein:
• the delay means enabling delaying the signal of odd line which is output from the signal separating switch for one horizontal scanning period;
• the first memory enabling temporarily storing an output from the delay means;
• and
• the second memory enabling temporarily storing the signal of even line which is output from the signal separating switch;
• said video camera further comprising:
• a second adding means for adding an output from the delay means and an output from the signal separating switch;
• and
• a control means for controlling a driving method of the progressive scanning CCD;
• wherein
• said video camera takes a function in accordance with a dynamic range enlarging mode which enlarges dynamic range, or a progressive scanning mode performing progressive scanning.

A video camera which, comprising a progressive scanning CCD, and a camera signal processing part for converting an output from the progressive scanning CCD to a video signal adaptive to video image display, enables enlarging dynamic range by synthesizing a first signal which is obtained by exposure during a first predetermined time and a second signal which is obtained by exposure during a second predetermined time after the exposure time of the first signal, by means of the progressive scanning CCD to enlarge luminance gradation characteristics on appearance, wherein the progressive scanning CCD enables outputting the first signal and the second signal at different timings, said video camera further comprising:

• a signal separating switch for separating the first signal and the second signal which are output from the progressive scanning CCD;
• a delay means for delaying an output from the signal separating switch by one horizontal scanning period;
• a first memory for temporarily storing an output from the delay means;
• a second memory for temporarily storing the second signal which is output from the signal separating switch;
• a first scanning conversion means for converting an output from the first memory to a normal speed signal;
• a second scanning conversion means for converting an output from the second memory to a normal speed signal;
• a synthesizing means for synthesizing the first signal and the second signal, synchronized and having normal speeds, which are output from the first scanning conversion means and the second scanning conversion means;
• wherein the signal separating switch is also for separating a signal of odd line and a signal of even line of progressive scanning signals which are output from the progressive scanning CCD enabling the outputting of progressive scanning signals;
• a first adding means for adding outputs from the first memory and the second memory for two fields;
• a further scanning conversion means for converting an output from the adding means to a normal speed signal;
• wherein:
• the delay means enabling delaying the signal of odd line which is output from the signal separating switch for one horizontal scanning period;
• the first memory enabling temporarily storing an output from the delay means and enabling storing one frame of the odd line signals of the second signal which is output from the progressive scanning CCD;
• and the second memory enabling temporarily storing the signal of even line which is output from the signal separating switch and enabling storing one frame of the even line signals of second signals which are output from the progressive scanning CCD;
• second means for adding an odd line signal and an even line signal of first exposure signals;
• and
• wherein said synthesizing means is further for synthesizing outputs of the first adding means and the second adding means;
• said video camera further comprising:
• a second adding means for adding an output from the delay means and an output from the signal separating switch;
• and
• a control means for controlling a driving method of the progressive scanning CCD;
• wherein said video camera takes a function in accordance with a dynamic range enlarging mode which enlarges dynamic range, or a progressive scanning mode performing progressive scanning.

A video camera which enables enlarging dynamic range by synthesizing a first signal which is obtained by exposure during a first predetermined time and a second signal which is obtained by exposure during a predetermined time after the exposure time of the first signal, said video camera comprising:

• a progressive scanning CCD operable to obtain and output the first and second signals;
• a CCD driver operable to drive said CCD according to a progressive scanning method;
• a camera signal processor;
• a separating circuit operable to separate the first signal and the second signal output from said progressive scanning CCD;
• a delay operable to receive the first signal from said separating circuit and to delay the first signal by a predetermined time such that the second signal and the first signal are simultaneously input to said signal synthesizer;
• a first scanning converter operable to perform scanning conversion such that the first signal of one line of said CCD is output for a time corresponding to one horizontal scanning period;
• a second scanning converter operable to perform scanning conversion such that the second signal of said one line of said CCD is output for a time corresponding to one horizontal scanning period;
• a signal synthesizer operable to synthesize the first signal and the second signal output from said first and second scanning converters to produce a synthesized signal;
• a signal adder operable to add the first signal of said one line of said CCD and the first signal of a vertically adjacent line of said CCD;
• and
• a switch operable to select a signal output from said signal synthesizer or a signal output from said signal adder in accordance with the progressive scanning method of said CCD and to output the selected signal to said camera signal processor.

A video camera which enables enlarging dynamic range by synthesizing a first signal which is obtained by exposure during a first predetermined time and a second signal which is obtained by exposure during a predetermined time after the exposure time of the first signal, said video camera comprising:

• a progressive scanning CCD operable to obtain the first and second signals and to output the first and second signals at different timings, and operable to output odd line and even line progressive scanning signals;
• a camera signal processor;
• a signal separating switch operable to separate the first signal and the second signal output from said CCD, and operable to separate the odd line and even line signals output from said CCD;
• a delay operable to delay an output from said signal separating switch by one horizontal scanning period, and operable to delay the odd line signal output from said signal separating switch for one horizontal scanning period;
• a first memory operable to temporarily store an output of said delay;
• a second memory operable to temporarily store the second signal output from said signal separating switch, and operable to temporarily store the even line signal output from said signal separating switch;
• a adder operable to add the output from said first memory and the output from said second memory for two fields;
• a first scanning converter operable to convert an output from said first memory to a normal speed signal;
• a second scanning converter operable to convert an output from said second memory to a normal speed signal, and operable to convert an output from said adder to a normal speed signal;
• a synthesizer operable to synthesize the first signal and the second signal, synchronized and having normal speeds, output from said first and second scanning converters.