Television – Camera – system and detail – Camera connected to computer
Reexamination Certificate
1997-07-15
2001-07-24
Garber, Wendy R. (Department: 2612)
Television
Camera, system and detail
Camera connected to computer
C174S032000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06266084
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image pickup apparatus suitably used for a videoconference system, and an image processing apparatus for processing picked-up video images. The invention is also concerned with an image pickup system formed by connecting the above image pickup apparatus and the image processing apparatus.
2. Related Background Art
Hitherto, as a videoconference system using the above type of apparatus, conference-type large-sized cabinet-accommodated systems, and cart-type systems housed in a wheeled cart are the mainstream. Along with widespread use of computers (personal computers), desktop videoconference systems using personal computers have appeared and are currently in the limelight. This system is constructed, as illustrated in
FIG. 10
, of a video camera
101
, an expansion board
102
for a personal computer (which incorporates sound and video images, performs data expansion and compression, and executes communication control), a headset
103
, and software
104
.
FIG. 11
is an external view illustrating the construction of a desktop videoconference system formed by connecting the above elements
101
through
104
to a personal computer. In
FIG. 11
, the system further includes the main unit
105
of the personal computer, a personal computer monitor
106
, a keyboard
107
, and a mouse
108
.
Electrical connection of the above-described components is shown in FIG.
12
. An explanation will now be given with reference to
FIG. 12
of an example in which the communication camera VC-C1 (which was invented by the present inventor and became commercially available in 1994) is used as the video camera
101
.
The video camera
101
is equipped with a pan-tilt mechanism, a video output, an S-video output, a sound line output, a direct-current (DC) power input, and an RS232C control terminal (none shown). For supplying DC power to the video camera
101
, a DC power supply line (a DC power supply and a ground)
110
is first connected to the video camera
101
via an AC adapter
109
. Among the video outputs of the video camera
101
, for example, the S-video output terminal, is then connected to an S video input terminal provided for the expansion board
102
via a video cable
111
. Subsequently, for controlling various functions of the video camera
101
, such as pan, tilt, and zoom, an RS232C terminal of the personal computer unit
105
and an RS232C terminal of the video camera
101
are connected by the use of an RS232C cable
113
. With respect to sound, since a microphone is not built into the video camera
101
, a headset
103
having a microphone and a speaker is connected to the expansion board
102
using a headset cable
112
.
In this manner, electrical connections with respect to (1) a video camera power supply, (2) video signals, (3) control signals, and (4) sound signals have been completed. After the personal computer is switched on, a predetermined software program is run to enable this system to function as a desktop videoconference system. Operation of the videoconference and connection of the system to a communication line, such as an integrated services digital network (ISDN), are irrelevant to the present invention, and an explanation thereof will thus be omitted.
The number of connecting cables used for establishing the above-described electrical connections can be summarized as follows:
(1) two power supply cables, i.e., a DC power supply and a ground (GND);
(2) four video cables, i.e., Y and C video signal cables and the respective GNDs;
(3) eight RS232C cables, (however, the minimum number in synchronous serial transmission is four, i.e., Tx, Rx, clock and GND); and between the headset
103
and the expansion board
102
,
(4) three headset cables, i.e., a microphone signal line, a speaker signal line, and a GND.
Accordingly, four types of cables and at least 13 signal lines are required in total.
However, the aforedescribed conventional system presents the following problems.
(1) The three cables, such as the power supply cable
110
, the video cable
111
, and the RS232C cable
113
are separately connected to the video camera
101
, thereby impairing the external appearance from an aesthetic point of view and also lowering reliability. In short, a disconnection of any one of the cables will spoil the operation.
(2) The two cables, such as the video cable
111
and the headset cable
112
, are also separately connected to the expansion board
102
, thereby marring the external appearance of the back side of the personal computer unit
105
at which the connecting portions with the above cables
111
and
112
are disposed.
(3) The RS232C cable
113
for controlling the video camera
101
is unfavorably connected to the RS232C terminal of the personal computer unit
105
which may be required for connecting to another device, for example, a modem or a printer.
(4) The headset
103
is preferably disconnected and stored in, for example, a drawer when not in use from a sanitary point of view. The headset cable
112
, however, is connected to the back side of the personal computer through the expansion board
102
and is not easy to disconnect.
(5) The AC adapter
109
is not always coupled to the same AC power supply line as the line for the personal computer unit
105
. It is thus necessary to check that power is positively supplied to the AC adapter
109
when AC power is supplied to the computer unit
105
.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an image pickup apparatus, an image processing apparatus, and an image pickup system, all of which are suitable for desktop videoconferencing, free from the aforedescribed problems.
In order to achieve the above object, according to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image pickup apparatus comprising: image pickup means for picking up an image of a subject and outputting a video image signal; a first terminal for receiving a first control signal; a second terminal for receiving a synchronizing signal; first control means for generating a second control signal based on the received first control signal and the synchronizing signal, and also for performing overall control; adding means for adding the second control signal to the video image signal; a third terminal for outputting the video image signal to which the second control signal is added; and a fourth terminal for receiving a power supply voltage.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image processing apparatus comprising: a first terminal for receiving a video image signal; image processing means for processing the received video image signal; synchronizing-signal generating means for generating a synchronizing signal; a second terminal for outputting the synchronizing signal; second control means for generating a first control signal based on the synchronizing signal, and also for performing overall control; a third terminal for outputting the first control signal to the exterior; power supply means for supplying a power supply voltage; and a fourth terminal for outputting the power supply voltage.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image pickup system comprising: an image pickup apparatus including image pickup means for picking up an image of a subject and outputting a video image signal, a first terminal for receiving a first control signal, a second terminal for receiving a synchronizing signal, first control means for generating a second control signal based on the received first control signal and the synchronizing signal, and also for performing overall control, adding means for adding the second control signal to the video image signal, a third terminal for outputting the video image signal to which the second control signal is added, a fourth terminal for receiving a power supply voltage, and first connector means having the first through fourth terminals; an image processing apparatus including a fifth terminal
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
Fitzpatrick ,Cella, Harper & Scinto
Garber Wendy R.
Harrington Alicia M.
LandOfFree
Imager connected to external processor by single cable... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Imager connected to external processor by single cable..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Imager connected to external processor by single cable... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2490126