Video camera and video signal reproducing apparatus with shake detection and correction operation

Claim 2

A video camera comprising: lens means for collecting light from an object to be photographed; an image pickup device for converting the light collected by said lens means into an electric signal; an analog to digital converting circuit for converting the electric signal from said image pickup device into a digital signal; a memory circuit for storing the digital signal produced by said analog to digital converting circuit; shake detecting means for detecting a shake of the video camera; calculating means for obtaining a correction amount from an output signal of said shake detecting means and for generating an optical control signal and an electronic control signal; optical correcting means responsive to said optical control signal for correcting a shake of an image caused by the shake of the video camera up to a predetermined limit; optical zoom means included in said lens means for enlarging or reducing the object to be photographed; and electronic zoom means for enlarging or reducing the object to be photographed represented by said digital signal from said analog to digital converting circuit and for correcting a portion of the shake that exceeds the predetermined limit in response to said electronic control signal.

Claim 3

The video camera according to claim 1, wherein said optical zoom means comprises a lens and said electronic zoom means performs an electrical process on signals output from said memory circuit.

Claim 4

The video camera according to claim 1, wherein said optical zoom means and said electronic zoom means are controlled so that said optical zoom means executes a zooming operation first and said electronic zoom means executes a zooming operation when a zoom amount by said optical zoom means reaches a maximum zoom.

Claim 5

The video camera according to claim 1, wherein a window for a predetermined focus adjustment is set in said image pickup device and the window is moved in response to operation of said optical zoom means.

Claim 6

The video camera according to claim 1, wherein the output of said memory circuit is supplied to said electronic zoom means for performing hand shake correction.

Claim 7

The video camera according to claim 1, wherein said electronic zoom means performs a hand shake correction in the horizontal direction by shifting a read-out position in one line of said memory circuit.

Claim 8

The video camera according to claim 1, wherein said image pickup device has an image pickup area larger than an image display area, and said optical correcting means performs a hand shake correction in the horizontal and vertical directions by changing a read-out position in the horizontal and vertical directions in the image pickup area.

Claim 9

The video camera according to claim 1, wherein said shake detecting means comprises angular sensors which detect motion of the video camera in the vertical and horizontal directions.

Claim 10

The video camera according to claim 8, wherein said calculating means comprises a gain adjusting circuit for performing a negative adjustment of gain for output signals obtained from said angular sensors.

Claim 11

The video camera according to claim 9, wherein said gain adjusting circuit comprises a multiplying circuit for adjusting a variation in the output of said angular sensors.

Claim 12

The video camera according to claim 10, wherein said gain adjusting circuit further comprises a coring circuit for eliminating noise in an output signal of said multiplying circuit.

Claim 13

The video camera according to claim 11, wherein said gain adjusting circuit further comprises a low pass filter circuit for converting angular velocity information of an output signal of said coring circuit into angular information.

Claim 14

The video camera according to claim 12, wherein said gain adjusting circuit further comprises a limiter circuit for limiting an amplitude of an output signal of said low pass filter.

Claim 15

A video camera comprising: lens means for collecting light from an object to be photographed; an image pickup device for converting the light collected by said lens means into an electric signal; an analog to digital converting circuit for converting the electric signal from said image pickup device into a digital signal; a memory circuit for storing the digital signal produced by said analog to digital converting circuit; shake detecting means for detecting a shake of the video camera; calculating means for obtaining a correction amount from an output signal of said shake detecting means and for generating an optical control signal and an electronic control signal; optical correcting means responsive to said optical control signal for correcting a shake of an image caused by the shake of the video camera up to a predetermined limit; optical zoom means included in said lens means for enlarging or reducing the object to be photographed; and electronic zoom means for enlarging or reducing the object to be photographed and for correcting a portion of the shake that exceeds the predetermined limit in response to said electronic control signal; wherein said calculating means comprises a first limiter circuit that limits the correction amount in accordance with the predetermined limit.

Claim 16

A video camera comprising: lens means for collecting light from an object to be photographed; an image pickup device for converting the light collected by said lens means into an electric signal; an analog to digital converting circuit for converting the electric signal from said image pickup device into a digital signal; a memory circuit for storing the digital signal produced by said analog to digital converting circuit; shake detecting means for detecting a shake of the video camera; calculating means for obtaining a correction amount from an output signal of said shake detecting means and for generating an optical control signal and an electronic control signal; optical correcting means responsive to said optical control signal for correcting a shake of an image caused by the shake of the video camera up to a predetermined limit; optical zoom means included in said lens means for enlarging or reducing the object to be photographed; and electronic zoom means for enlarging or reducing the object to be photographed and for correcting a portion of the shake that exceeds the predetermined limit in response to said electronic control signal; wherein said calculating means comprises a first limiter circuit that limits the correction amount in accordance with the predetermined limit.

Claim 17

The video camera according to claim 14, wherein said first limiter circuit performs a nonlinear process for changing a limiting amount.

Claim 18

The video camera according to claim 14, wherein said shake detecting means generates a panning speed signal that controls said first limiter circuit so that the limiting amount is changed in response thereto.

Claim 19

The video camera according to claim 14, wherein said first limiter circuit is controlled so that the limiting amount is changed in response to zoom amounts of said optical and electronic zoom means.

Claim 20

The video camera according to claim 17, wherein said electronic zoom means performs an electrical process on signals output from said memory circuit.

Claim 21

The video camera according to claim 18, wherein said zoom means is controlled so that said optical zoom operates first and said electronic zoom operates when a zoom amount by said optical zoom reaches its maximum.

Claim 22

The video camera according to claim 14, wherein a window for a predetermined focus adjustment is set in said image pickup device and the window is moved in response to operation of said optical zoom means.

Claim 23

The video camera according to claim 18, wherein the output of said memory circuit is supplied to said electronic zoom means for performing hand shake correction.

Claim 24

The video camera according to claim 18, wherein said electronic zoom means performs a hand shake correction operation in the horizontal direction by shifting a read-out position in one line of said memory circuit.

Claim 25

The video camera according to claim 18, wherein said image pickup device has an image pickup area larger than an image display area, and said optical correction means performs a hand shake correction in the horizontal and vertical directions by changing a read-out position in the horizontal and vertical directions in the image pickup area.

Claim 26

The video camera according to claim 14, wherein said shake detecting means comprises angular sensors which detect motion of the video camera in the vertical and horizontal directions.

Claim 27

The video camera according to claim 24, wherein said calculating means comprises a gain adjusting circuit for performing a negative adjustment of gain for output signals obtained from said angular sensors.

Claim 28

The video camera according to claim 25, wherein said gain adjusting circuit comprises a multiplying circuit for adjusting a variation in the output of said angular sensors.

Claim 29

The video camera according to claim 26, wherein said gain adjusting circuit further comprises a coring circuit for eliminating noise in an output signal of said multiplying circuit.

Claim 30

The video camera according to claim 27, wherein said gain adjusting circuit further comprises a low pass filter circuit for converting angular velocity information of an output signal of said coring circuit into angular information.

Claim 31

The video camera according to claim 28, wherein said gain adjusting circuit further comprises a second limiter circuit for limiting an amplitude of an output signal of said low pass filter.