Importance

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Abstract

A television camera is adapted to be coupled to an external video device, such as a video tape recorder (VTR) or a camera control unit (CCU) linking it with other cameras. The output video signals from the cameras and VTR can be sequentially switched, mixed, or superimposed automatically to provide special effects. The camera comprises a video pick-up tube providing a video signal; an adjustable video signal control circuit for adjusting the video balance of the video signal; a microcomputer having a RAM with several addressable storage locations and a central processing unit for controlling the operation of the microcomputer and calculating a system control signal; a first switching control to selectively apply the balance-corrected video signal and a control level to the microcomputer to be read into one of the storage locations; a D/A converter for converting the contents of a selected storage location to a data control signal; a signal hold circuit for storing the data control signal; a second switching control for selectively coupling the signal hold circuit to the D/A converter; an input terminal coupled to the external video device to receive a camera control signal provided therefrom; and an output terminal for providing the system control signal, calculated by the microcomputer, to the external video device. Where one such television camera and a VTR are coupled to one another, the system control signal of the VTR can be used to control fade-in and fade-out.

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First Claim