JP2000023011A - Video camera equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Problem] To provide a video camera device capable of automatically and reliably switching stereo / monaural signal output without causing a viewer to feel troublesome in operation. RCA Rch of video camera device main body
By confirming the actual load of the receiver connected to the signal output jack by the load detector 211, the microcomputer 212 determines whether the connection is stereo or monaural, and automatically switches.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a video camera device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a video camera apparatus having a stereo signal output terminal using an RCA output jack, a video device connected to an audio signal output terminal has a video signal regardless of whether the monitor is stereo or monaural. A connection detection switch is provided at the Rch signal output terminal of the RCA output jack of the camera device main body, and when the detection result of the connection detection switch is "connected", an Lch signal is output from the Lch signal output terminal. When the detection result of the connection detection switch is "not connected", a monaural signal is output from the Lch signal output terminal.

Further, in the case of using a four-pole AV mini jack which has begun to spread in recent years, it is impossible to detect the connection of only the Rch signal output terminal using a detection switch because each terminal is configured coaxially. The stereo signal is converted to a monaural signal by switching the stereo / monaural signal output with a manual switch, or by connecting an adapter separate from the video camera apparatus body to the output terminal.

[0004]

However, the above-mentioned prior art has the following problems.

First, the case where an RCA output jack is used will be described.

A connection detection switch is provided at an Rch signal output terminal of an RCA output jack of a video camera apparatus main body,
The conventional configuration in which the Lch output signal is switched to Lch / monaural based on the detection result is based on the premise that when a viewer connects a pin code to the Rch signal output terminal, the viewer desires stereo connection.

[0007] However, a stereo pin cord is generally included in a video camera device having a stereo signal output terminal at the time of sale. In this case, even if one end of the Rch pin cord is not connected to the monaural signal input terminal of the receiving monitor, the other end of the Rch pin cord may be connected to the RCA output jack of the video camera device body. In this case, what is monitored is not a monaural signal desired by the viewer but a stereo Lch signal.

In a 4-pole mini jack, each signal is 1
Since it is coaxially arranged on the plug, it is impossible to detect whether or not only the Rch signal output terminal is connected by simply adding a connection detection switch, and it is impossible to detect a stereo / monaural signal by adding a manual switch. This has been dealt with by switching the output or by connecting a separate accessory to the stereo signal output terminal of the video camera apparatus main body so that the viewer can perform an operation such as conversion to a monaural signal.

However, such a system relying on the viewer's operation has a high possibility of erroneous selection, and a system requiring a separate accessory requires complicated connection and poor operability. Had become something.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems of the conventional technology, and has as its object to provide a stereo / monaural signal without causing the viewer to feel troublesome in operation. An object of the present invention is to provide a video camera device capable of automatically and reliably switching the output.

[0011]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a video camera apparatus comprising: first and second audio signal output terminals for outputting first and second audio signals; Plug connection detecting means for detecting that a plug is connected to an output jack for outputting the first and second audio signals to the outside of the video camera device main body, and the first audio signal based on a detection result of the plug connection detecting means. A load detection signal for detecting a load connected to the output terminal is selectively output, and after the load detection is completed, when a load is connected to the first audio signal output terminal, the first audio signal is selectively output. First output switching means, load detection means for determining whether or not another monitor device is connected to the first audio signal output terminal based on the load detection signal; and negative Is connected, the second audio signal is selectively output from the second audio signal output terminal, and the first and second audio signals are output when no load is connected to the first audio signal output terminal. Second output switching means for selectively outputting an added signal of the signals;
And switching control means for controlling the output switching means.

[0012] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a second aspect.
2. The video camera device according to claim 1, wherein the audio signal is an Rch signal, the audio signal is an Lch signal, and the first audio signal output terminal is an Rch signal output terminal. And the second audio signal output terminal is an Lch signal output terminal.

[0013] In order to achieve the above object, a third aspect is provided.
The video camera device described in the first aspect is characterized in that the output jack is an RCA output jack.

[0014] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is directed to claim 4.
According to the video camera device described in the first aspect, the output jack is a four-pole AV mini jack.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(First Embodiment) First, the first embodiment of the present invention will be described.
An embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a video camera apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
Referring to FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a lens unit that captures an optical image, 2 denotes a CCD (imaging device) unit that converts the optical image into an electric signal,
Reference numeral 3 denotes a camera signal processing unit that processes electric signals from the CCD unit 2, 4 denotes a system control unit that controls the entire video camera device, 5 denotes a microphone unit that collects sound, and 6 denotes a microphone unit 5.
A microphone amplifier unit for amplifying the audio signal collected by the unit, 7 an audio signal processing unit for processing the audio signal, 8 a video signal processing unit for processing the video signal, 9
Is an output block for outputting an audio signal and a video signal, and 10 supplies a recording current to a head described later.
A head amplifier 11 amplifies a signal magnetically recorded on the recording tape during reproduction, and 11 is a head for recording a signal on the recording tape or reproducing a signal recorded on the recording tape.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of an output block unit 9 using an RCA output jack in the video camera device according to the present embodiment. In the figure, 201 is L
an Lch signal output amplifier for outputting a ch signal;
An Rch signal output amplifier for outputting a ch signal, and 203 is an Lch signal output jack of the video camera apparatus main body.
An Lch signal output switch for selectively outputting a signal or monaural signal; 204, an adder for generating a monaural signal from the Lch / Rch signal; 205, an RCA for outputting the Lch / monaural signal from the video camera apparatus main body
Lch / monaural signal output jack, 206 is Rch
An Rch signal output switch 207 for switching an output signal of the signal output amplifier 202 is a time constant circuit output impedance for giving an impedance to an output of a time constant circuit 208 described later.

Reference numeral 208 denotes a circuit for providing a load detection signal composed of a DC voltage from a voltage source 210 described later with a time constant for suppressing a click at the time of detection, and 209 a load detection operation for detecting a DC voltage from the voltage source 210 described later. A load detection signal output changeover switch that switches to supply the signal to the RCA Rch signal output jack 214 described later only when
0 is a voltage source which is a source of the load detection signal, and 211 is the RCA of the video camera apparatus main body from the DC voltage value of the load detection signal.
A load detector 212 for detecting whether or not another monitor device is connected to the Rch signal output jack 214 by comparing the internal reference voltage with the DC voltage value of the load detection signal;
Represents a load detection unit 211 and a plug connection detection unit 21 described later.
A microcomputer (microcomputer) that switches and controls the Lch signal output changeover switch 203, the Rch signal output changeover switch 206, and the load detection signal output changeover switch 209 based on the detection information from No.3.

Reference numeral 213 denotes a plug connection detecting unit for detecting that a plug is connected to an RCA Rch signal output jack 214 described later, and 214 denotes an RCA for outputting an Rch signal or a load detection signal from the video camera apparatus main body.
An Rch signal output jack 215 is an RCA Lch / monaural signal output jack 205 of the video camera apparatus body.
To connect RCA input jack of other monitor device to
h pin code, 216 is the RCA of the video camera
Rch signal output jack 214 and R of other monitor device
An Rch pin code 217 for connecting a CA Rch signal input jack is an RCALch signal input jack for inputting an Lch signal when another monitor device is a stereo signal input.

Reference numeral 218 denotes an Lch signal input impedance of the monitor device, and 219 denotes an Rch signal input RC.
A Rch signal input jack, 220 is the R of the monitor device
A channel signal input impedance 221 is an RCA monaural signal input jack for inputting a monaural signal when another monitor device is a monaural signal input, and 222 is an input impedance of the RCA monaural signal input jack 221.

Next, the operation of the video camera apparatus according to the present embodiment having the above configuration will be described.

First, the RCA R of the video camera device body
An Rch pin code 216 is connected to the ch signal output jack 214.
Is not connected, the contact of the Lch signal output switch 203 is switched to the b side, and the monaural signal obtained from the output terminals of the Lch signal output amplifier 201 and the Rch signal output amplifier 202 through the adder 204 is RCA Lch / monaural. The signal is output from the signal output jack 205. At this time, the Rch signal output switch 206 and the load detection signal output switch 209 are both open, and no signal is output from the RCA Rch signal output jack 214.

When one end of the Rch pin code 216 is connected to the RCA Rch signal output jack 214 of the video camera apparatus main body, the plug detector 213 detects that one end of the Rch pin code 216 is connected to the RCA Rch signal output jack 214. Then, it notifies the microcomputer 212 that one end of the Rch pin code 216 is connected to the RCA Rch signal output jack 214. The microcomputer 212
From this information, the load detection signal output changeover switch 209 is used.
Is closed, and the DC voltage of the voltage source 210 is
8, the click component is reduced, and the Rch load detection signal is supplied to the RCA Rch signal output jack 214 through the time constant circuit impedance 207.

Assuming that the input impedance of the load detector 211 is very high (ideally open), RC
A Rch connected to Rch signal output jack 214
When the other end of the pin code 216 is not connected, the load detector 2
If the amplification degree of the time constant circuit 208 is 1, the load detection signal applied to the input terminal of the time constant circuit 11 remains the output voltage of the voltage source 210 and the output impedance of the time constant circuit
7 does not occur. The load detection unit 211 has a reference voltage therein, and when no other monitoring device is connected, the DC voltage value of the load detection signal is higher than the reference voltage value. Is connected, the reference voltage is selected so that the DC voltage value of the load detection signal is lower than the reference voltage value, and the comparison result is sent to the microcomputer 212.

The microcomputer 212 determines from the detection information from the load detection unit 211 that the connection destination of the RCA Rch signal output jack 214 is not connected, so that the viewer's request is monaural connection, and the RCA Lch / monaural signal is output. Monaural signal from output jack 205
The output of the load detection signal from the Rch signal output jack 214 is continued.

Next, the RCA Rch signal output jack 2
When the other end of the Rch pin cord 216 connected to the RCA Rch 14 is connected to the RCA Rch signal input jack 219 of another stereo monitor device, the load detection signal continuously output from the RCA Rch signal output jack 214 is , The time constant circuit output impedance 207 and the Rch signal input impedance 220 of another monitor device,
The voltage value applied to the load detector 211 decreases.

Due to this voltage drop, the microcomputer 212
A Recognizing that the Rch signal input impedance 220 of another monitor device is connected to the Rch signal output jack 214, the load detection signal output switch 209 is opened, and the Rch signal output switch 20 is opened.
6 is closed and the contact of the Lch signal output switch 203 is switched to the a side, so that the Lch signal is output from the RCA Lch / monaural signal output jack 205 to the RC
A Rch signal is output from the A Rch signal output jack 214 to switch to a stereo signal output state.

As described above, according to the video camera device according to the present embodiment, it is detected that the Rch signal input impedance 220 of another monitor device is connected to the Rch signal output terminal of the video camera device main body. Since the connection state is checked and the stereo / monaural signal output is switched, it is possible to automatically and reliably output the output signal desired by the viewer.

(Second Embodiment) Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.
The embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. Note that the basic overall configuration of the video camera device according to the present embodiment is the same as that of the above-described first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, and a description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of an output block unit using a 4-pole AV mini jack in the video camera apparatus according to the present embodiment.
The embodiment differs from FIG. 2 in that the RCA output jack 214 in FIG. 2 is replaced with a 4-pole AV mini jack.

In FIG. 3, reference numeral 301 denotes a four-pole AV mini-jack for outputting an audio / video signal from the video camera main body, and 302 denotes a jack-side ground contact for connecting the ground of the video camera main body to the ground of another monitor. , 303 is an Lch / monaural signal contact on the jack side for outputting an Lch / monaural signal, 304 is a video contact on the jack side, 305 and 306 are switch contacts for generating a plug connection detection signal, and 307 is a jack for outputting an Rch / load detection signal. A side Rch signal contact 308 connects the video camera device main body to another monitor device.
Pole AV mini plug, 309 is a plug-side Lch / monaural signal contact, 310 is a plug-side video signal contact, 311 is a plug-side ground contact, 312 is a plug-side Rch signal contact, 313 is a video signal input terminal of another monitor device. RCA video pin plug to be connected, 314 is an RCA Lch / monaural pin plug connected to the Lch signal or monaural signal input terminal of another monitor device, and 315 is RCA Rch connected to the Rch signal input terminal of the monitor device.
It is a pin plug.

Next, the operation of the video camera device according to the present embodiment having the above configuration will be described.

The following description focuses on operations different from those of the first embodiment.

When the four-pole AV mini plug 308 is connected to the four-pole AV mini jack 301 of the video camera device main body,
When the switch contacts 305 and 306 are closed and the connection of the 4-pole AV mini plug 308 is detected, the jack Rc is detected.
A load detection signal is applied to the RCA Rch pin plug 315 through the h signal contact 307 and the plug-side Rch signal contact 312. Each unit operates in the same manner as in the above-described first embodiment depending on whether or not another monitor device is in the connected state, and automatically outputs an audio signal in the connected state.

In particular, in the connection using the 4-pole AV mini jack, each signal contact is arranged coaxially, and connection detection limited to the Rch signal output cannot be performed. Therefore, the load impedance actually connected to the Rch signal output This embodiment in which is used as a detection condition is very useful.

[0037]

As described in detail above, according to the video camera device of the present invention, the audio R of the video camera device main body is provided.
By checking the actual load of the receiver connected to the channel signal output terminal, the connection state between stereo and monaural is determined and automatically switched, so that there is an effect that erroneous connection is eliminated.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a video camera device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of an output block unit using an RCA output jack in the video camera device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of an output block unit using a 4-pole mini jack in a video camera device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 lens unit 2 CCD (imaging element) unit 3 camera signal processing unit 4 system control unit 5 microphone unit 6 microphone amplifier unit 7 audio signal processing unit 8 video signal processing unit 9 output block unit 10 head amplifier unit 11 head 201 Lch signal output Amplifier 202 Rch signal output amplifier 203 Lch signal output changeover switch 204 Adder 205 RCA Lch / monaural signal output jack 206 Rch signal output changeover switch 207 Time constant circuit output impedance 208 Time constant circuit 209 Load detection signal output changeover switch 210 Voltage source 211 Load detector 212 Microcomputer 213 Plug connection detector 214 RCA Rch signal output jack 215 Lch pin code 216 Rch pin code 217 RCA Lch signal input jack 218 Lch signal input impedance 219 RCA RCA signal input jack 220 Rch signal input impedance 221 RCA Monaural signal input jack 222 Monaural signal input impedance 301 4-pole AV mini jack 302 Jack side ground contact 303 Jack side Lch / monaural signal contact 304 Jack side video Signal contact 305 Switch contact 306 Switch contact 307 Jack-side Rch signal contact 308 4-pole AV mini plug 309 Plug-side Lch / monaural signal contact 310 Plug-side video signal contact 311 Plug-side ground contact 312 Plug-side Rch signal contact 313 RCA video pin plug 314 RCA Lch monaural pin plug 315 RCA RCA pin plug

Claims (4)

[Claims] A first device for outputting first and second audio signals.
And a second audio signal output terminal; plug connection detection means for detecting that a plug is connected to an output jack for outputting the first and second audio signals to the outside of the video camera device main body; A load detection signal for detecting a load connected to the first audio signal output terminal is selectively output from a detection result of the means, and a load is connected to the first audio signal output terminal after the end of the load detection. A first output switching means for selectively outputting the first audio signal; and a load detection means for judging whether or not another monitoring device is connected to the first audio signal output terminal from the load detection signal. When a load is connected to the first audio signal output terminal, the second audio signal is selectively output from the second audio signal output terminal, and a load is connected to the first audio signal output terminal. Wherein if not the first and second
A video camera device comprising: a second output switching unit for selectively outputting an added signal of the audio signals; and a switching control unit for controlling the first and second output switching units. 2. The audio signal is an Rch signal, the audio signal is an Lch signal, the first audio signal output terminal is an Rch signal output terminal, and the second audio signal output terminal is an Rch signal output terminal.
2. The video camera device according to claim 1, wherein the audio signal output terminal is an Lch signal output terminal. 3. The video camera device according to claim 1, wherein said output jack is an RCA output jack. 4. The video camera device according to claim 1, wherein said output jack is a four-pole AV mini jack.