Abstract:
Provided in embodiments of the present invention are a method and device for implementing high-definition image capturing, comprising: collecting and acquiring image data of a first set format by using an image sensor, image processing the image data then encoding into modulated data of a second set format, converting the modulated data into an analog electric signal of a third set format by using a synchronous clock, and filtering the analog electric signal by using a filter circuit then transmitting via a coaxial cable. The above series of operations is capable of implementing the collection and processing of a high-resolution video, and solves the problem that existing high-definition camera are incapable of ensuring timeliness during a video transmission process and provides poor stability and reliability, while at the same time, employment of the present invention also allows an existing analog camera to use a cable device for video transmission, thus implementing full utilization of existing resources.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims the benefit of Chinese Patent Application No. 201210151823.5, filed with the Chinese Patent Office on May 16, 2012 and entitled “Method of and apparatus for analog high-definition photographing”, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
       FIELD 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to the field of communications and particularly to a method of and apparatus for analog high-definition photographing. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    In the industry of safeguards, there are such increasing requirements of users on the definition of videos that the resolution of traditional analog video cameras have become unsatisfactory to the users. In response to this, network high-definition video cameras based upon network applications have emerged. 
         [0004]    The resolution ratio of the network high-definition video cameras can be up to mega pixels or more so that the resolution of images can be satisfactory to the users. The traditional analog video cameras transmit videos over cable machineries whereas the network high-definition video cameras transmit videos over networks. As opposed to the traditional analog video cameras transmitting videos over cables machineries, the network high-definition video cameras may suffer from at least the following problems while transmitting acquired videos: 
         [0005]    (1) The videos have to be compressed for transmission using the H.264 and other video compression technologies, so that images of the network high-definition video cameras may be transmitted with some problem, such as delay, etc., thus hindering real-time transmission of the videos. 
         [0006]    (2) Instability of the networks may come with unsmooth transmission of the videos and even possibly with a loss of some video, thus failing to guarantee stability and reliability of transmitting the videos. 
         [0007]    Moreover the analog video cameras have been upgraded to the network high-definition video cameras, but the network high-definition video cameras transmit videos over network lines, so the originally deployed cable machineries may not be utilized, thus resulting in a considerable waste of the resources. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0008]    Embodiments of the invention provide a method of and apparatus for analog high-definition photographing so as to perform acquisition and processing and real-time, stable and reliable transmission of a high resolution ratio video. 
         [0009]    An embodiment of the invention provides a method of analog high-definition photographing, the method including: 
         [0010]    acquiring an image using an image sensor for image data in a first preset format; 
         [0011]    image-processing the image data in the first preset format and encoding the processed image data into modulation data in a second preset format; 
         [0012]    converting the modulation data in the second preset format into an analog electric signal in a third preset format using a synchronization clock with a sampling frequency which is a preset frequency; and 
         [0013]    filtering the analog electric signal in the third preset format using a filter circuit and transmitting the filtered analog electric signal in the third preset format to a supervision device over a coaxial cable. 
         [0014]    An embodiment of the invention provides an apparatus for analog high-definition photographing, the apparatus including a sensor component, an image processing component, a digital to analog converting component and a filtering component, wherein: 
         [0015]    the sensor component is configured to acquire an image using an image sensor for image data in a first preset format; 
         [0016]    the image processing component is configured to image-process the image data in the first preset format, to encode the processed image data into modulation data in a second preset format and to transmit the modulation data to the digital to analog converting component along with a synchronization clock with a sampling frequency which is a preset frequency; 
         [0017]    the digital to analog converting component is configured to convert the modulation data in the second preset format into an analog electric signal in a third preset format using the synchronization clock with the sampling frequency which is the preset frequency; and 
         [0018]    the filtering component is configured to filter the analog electric signal in the third preset format using a filter circuit and to transmit the filtered analog electric signal in the third preset format to a supervision device over a coaxial cable. 
         [0019]    With the solution according to the embodiments of the invention, image data in a first preset format is acquired using an image sensor and image-processed and then encoded into modulation data in a second preset format, the modulation data is converted into an analog electric signal in a third preset format using a synchronization clock, and the analog electric signal is filtered using a filter circuit and then transmitted over a coaxial cable. With the series of operations above, a high-definition video can be acquired and processed, the problems of failing to guarantee real-time transmission of the video and of poor stability and reliability of the video in transmission of the video by the existing network high-definition video camera could be addressed. Meanwhile the originally deployed cable machineries used by the original analog video cameras may be utilized for radio transmission, thus make the most of the existing resources. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0020]      FIG. 1  is a flow chart of operations in a method of analog high-definition photographing according to a first embodiment of the invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 2  is a flow chart of operations in a method of analog high-definition photographing according to a second embodiment of the invention; and 
           [0022]      FIG. 3  is a schematic structural diagram of an apparatus for analog high-definition photographing according to a third embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0023]    In view of the problems of unsatisfactory solution of the existing analog video camera, and of poor real-time transmission of a video and low stability and reliability of the video in transmission of the video by the existing network high-definition video camera, embodiments of the invention provide a solution in hardware to analog high-definition photographing, where with the use of hardware components distinct from those of the traditional analog video camera and network high-definition video camera, an image sensor of mega pixels or more is utilized, a high-definition analog video signal is transmitted via a baseband and a carrier analog signal to thereby accommodate demands of constructions and users. This solution is applicable to extended applications in the existing 1280 H high-definition format and 1920 H high-definition format. 
         [0024]    The solution according to the invention will be described below with reference to the drawings and respective embodiments thereof. 
       First Embodiment 
       [0025]    The first embodiment of the invention provides a method of analog high-definition photographing, and  FIG. 1  illustrates a flow of operations in the method including: 
         [0026]    The operation  101  is to acquire image data. 
         [0027]    In the solution according to this embodiment, an image can be acquired using an image sensor, e.g., a Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) sensor or a Charge-Coupled Device (CCD) sensor, and in order to acquire a high-definition video, the image can be acquired using the image sensor with the resolution of mega pixels or more. The image data acquired by the image sensor can be converted into a preset format for subsequent processing. 
         [0028]    Thus in this operation, the image can be acquired using the image sensor for the image data in a first preset format. 
         [0029]    In the solution according to this embodiment, the image sensor can be a CMOS sensor, where the specification of the CMOS sensor can be 720 P, 1080 P, etc. 
         [0030]    The operation  102  is to obtain modulation data. 
         [0031]    After the image data in the first preset format is acquired, the image data can be image-processed, e.g., image processing using an image processing 2 A algorithm or an image processing 3 A algorithm, On-Screen Display (OSD), image scaling, image noise reduction or other particular image processing. After the image is processed, the processed image data can be encoded into modulation data in a second preset format for further processing. 
         [0032]    Particularly the image data in the first preset format can be image-processed using a Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) or an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) and a memory, and the processed image data can be encoded into modulation data in a second preset format. 
         [0033]    In this embodiment, when (or before) the operation  101  and the operation  102  are performed, the image sensor, the FPGA (or the ASIC) and the memory can be further configured using a Central Processing Component (CPU), for example, by setting parameters, OSD display contents, current functional states, etc. Moreover the image sensor, the FPGA (or the ASIC) and the memory can be configured via a communication interface, e.g., a Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) or a serial bus (IIC). 
         [0034]    The operation  103  is to obtain an analog electric signal. 
         [0035]    After the modulation data is obtained (where the modulation data encompasses all the information about brightness and chroma), the modulation data in the second preset format can be converted into an analog electric signal in a third preset format using a synchronization clock with a sampling frequency which is a preset frequency for further processing. 
         [0036]    In this operation, the modulation data in the second preset format can be converted by an analog to digital converter into the analog electric signal in the third preset format using the synchronization clock with the sampling frequency which is the preset frequency. The modulation data can be converted into the analog electric signal in the 1280 H format using the synchronization clock with the sampling frequency which is no lower than 100 MHz. The modulation data can be converted into the analog electric signal in the 1920 H format using the synchronization clock with the sampling frequency which is no lower than 150 MHz. 
         [0037]    The operation  104  is to filter and transmit the analog electric signal. 
         [0038]    Before the analog electric signal is transmitted, the obtained analog electric signal in the third preset format can be filtered using a filter circuit, and the filtered analog electric signal in the third preset format can be transmitted to a supervision device over a coaxial cable, the filtered analog electric signal in the third preset format can be connected by a connector onto the coaxial cable for transmission. In this embodiment, the analog electric signal can be filtered using a high-bandwidth low-pass filter with a cutoff frequency higher than the bandwidth of the analog electric signal by a difference which is not above a threshold, thus addressing the problem of poor stability and reliability of video transmission due to poor stability of a network over which a high-definition video is transmitted. Moreover with the solution according to this embodiment, no high-definition video need to be video-compressed and encoded in transmission thereof, thus further addressing the problem of failing to guarantee real-time video transmission in transmission of the high-definition video over the network. 
         [0039]    The solution according to the first embodiment of the invention will be described below in details. 
       Second Embodiment 
       [0040]    The second embodiment of the invention provides a method of analog high-definition photographing, and  FIG. 2  illustrates a flow of operations in the method including: 
         [0041]    The operation  201  is to acquire image data. 
         [0042]    In this operation, an image can be acquired using an image sensor with the resolution which is no less than mega pixels, e.g., a CMOS sensor, and the image data in a first preset format can be acquired. The image data can be acquired in the Bayer format of 12 bits, 14 bits or 16 bits, and of course the image data can also be acquired in the YC format (or the YUV format) of 12 bits, 14 bits or 16 bits. 
         [0043]    The operation  202  is to obtain modulation data. 
         [0044]    In this operation, after the acquired image data is image-processed, the processed image data can be encoded in an analog high-definition encoding scheme into the modulation data in a digital format of no less than 10 bits, e.g., 12 bits, for further processing. 
         [0045]    The operation  203  is to obtain an analog electric signal. 
         [0046]    Particularly in this operation, the modulation data can be converted into the analog electric signal in the third preset format using a synchronization clock with a sampling frequency which is no lower than 100 MHz, for example, the modulation data can be converted into the analog electric signal in the 1280 H format using the synchronization clock with the sampling frequency 108 MHz or 120 MHz to thereby obtain a high-definition video. 
         [0047]    The operation  204  is to filter and transmit the analog electric signal. 
         [0048]    In this operation, the analog electric signal in the third preset format can be filtered using a low-pass filter with a cutoff frequency which is no lower than 20 MHz, for example, the analog electric signal in the 1280 H format can be filtered using the low-pass filter with the cutoff frequency ranging from 20 MHz to 25 MHz, or the analog electric signal in the 1920 H format can be filtered using the low-pass filter with the cutoff frequency ranging from 30 MHz to 40 MHz, and the analog electric signal can be connected by a connector onto a coaxial cable so that the filtered analog electric signal can be transmitted over the coaxial cable to thereby transmit the analog high-definition video. 
         [0049]    The following apparatus will be provided based upon the same inventive idea as the first embodiment and the second embodiment of the invention. 
       Third Embodiment 
       [0050]    The third embodiment of the invention provides an apparatus for analog high-definition photographing, and  FIG. 3  illustrates a structure of the apparatus including a sensor component  11 , an image processing component  12 , a digital to analog converting component  13  and a filtering component  14 , where: 
         [0051]    The sensor component  11  is configured to acquire an image using an image sensor for image data in a first preset format; the image processing component  12  is configured to image-process the image data in the first preset format, to encode the processed image data into modulation data in a second preset format and to transmit the modulation data to the digital to analog converting component along with a synchronization clock with a sampling frequency which is a preset frequency; the digital to analog converting component  13  is configured to convert the modulation data in the second preset format into an analog electric signal in a third preset format using the synchronization clock with the sampling frequency which is the preset frequency; and the filtering component  14  is configured to filter the analog electric signal in the third preset format using a filter circuit and to transmit the filtered analog electric signal in the third preset format to a supervision device over a coaxial cable. 
         [0052]    The image processing component  12  is particularly configured to encode the processed image data into the modulation data in a digital format of no less than 10 bits in an analog high-definition encoding scheme and to transmit the modulation data to the digital to analog converting component along with the synchronization clock with the sampling frequency which is no lower than 100 MHz; the digital to analog converting component  13  is particularly configured to convert the modulation data in the digital format of no less than 10 bits into the analog electric signal in the third preset format using the synchronization clock with the sampling frequency which is no lower than 100 MHz; and the filtering component  14  is particularly configured to filter the analog electric signal in the third preset format using a lower-pass filter with a cutoff frequency which is no lower than 20 MHz. 
         [0053]    Moreover the filtering component  14  is particularly to connect the filtered analog electric signal in the third preset format onto the coaxial cable through a connector for transmission. 
         [0054]    The sensor component  11  can be appreciated as including an image sensor and peripheral circuits thereof. 
         [0055]    The image processing component  12  is particularly configured to image-process the image data in the first preset format using a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) and a memory and to encode the processed image data into the modulation data in the second preset format; or to image-process the image data in the first preset format using an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) and a memory and to encode the processed image data into the modulation data in the second preset format, where the image processing component  12  can perform image noise reduction and other processing using the memory. 
         [0056]    The digital to analog converting component  13  is particularly to convert the modulation data in the second preset format into the analog electric signal in the third preset format by an analog to digital converter using the synchronization clock with the sampling frequency which is the preset frequency. 
         [0057]    The apparatus further includes a controller component  15 , where: 
         [0058]    The controller component  15  is configured to configure the sensor component and the image processing component. The controller component  15  is particularly configured to configure the sensor component and the image processing component by a CPU. The controller component  15  can be appreciated as including the CPU and peripheral circuits thereof. 
         [0059]    The controller component  15  is particularly configured to configure the sensor component and the image processing component via a Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) or a IIC serial bus data interface. 
         [0060]    Of course the apparatus can further include a filter sheet controlling component  16 , an infrared controlling component  17  and a motor controlling component  18 . 
         [0061]    The controller component  15  can be further configured to control the filter sheet controlling component  16 , the infrared controlling component  17  and the motor controlling component  18  in response to a feedback of the image processing component  12  by controlling the filter sheet controlling component  16  to switch an infrared filter sheet, controlling the infrared controlling component  17  to turn on or off an infrared lamp and controlling the motor controlling component  18  to drive a lens to zoom in or out. 
         [0062]    The apparatus can further include a power source  19  configured to power the respective components. 
         [0063]    In summary the apparatus according to this embodiment (which can be appreciated as an analog high-definition video camera) can include the sensor component  11 , the image processing component  12 , the controller component  15 , the digital to analog converting component  13 , the filtering component  14 , the filter sheet controlling component  16 , the infrared controlling component  17 , the motor controlling component  18  and the power source  18 , and the respective components in hardware modules operate cooperatively dependent upon an image data flow and a control mode. In order to ensure rapid digital to analog conversion by the digital to analog converting component  13  and high-rate transmission of the digital signal by the image processing component  12  to the digital to analog converting component  13 , the digital to analog converting component  13  and the image processing component  12  can be embodied separately in this embodiment. 
         [0064]    Of course the functions of the respective components in modules can be embodied separately, but a part or all of the components in modules can be functionally integrated in a circuit chip along with development of respective technologies as long as the respective functions of the components can be embodied fully. 
         [0065]    For example the functions of the image processing component  12  and the digital to analog converting component  13  can be embodied in an integrated circuit chip, and the functions of the other respective components in hardware modules can be embodied separately. Alternatively all the functions of the image processing component  12 , the controller component  15  and the digital to analog converting component  13  can be embodied in an integrated circuit chip, and the functions of the other respective components in hardware modules can be embodied separately. Alternatively the functions of the image processing component  12  and the controller component  15  can be embodied in an integrated circuit chip, e.g., a device of Model EP4CE115 available from Altera Corp., and the functions of the other respective components in hardware modules can be embodied separately. 
         [0066]    The apparatus according to this embodiment can be applicable to various products categorized by their form factors, including a box camera, an eye ball camera, a hemisphere dome camera, a pinhole camera, a speed dome camera, etc., and by their safeguard functions, including a water-proof camera, a daily-use camera, a housing camera, a vandal-proof camera, etc.; and video cameras applicable to general lighting-free, infrared lighting, laser lighting, LED lighting, etc. 
         [0067]    The apparatus according to this embodiment can be also applicable to a 1280 H analog high-definition enabled integrated analog video cameras and integrated cores. 
         [0068]    Those skilled in the art shall appreciate that the embodiments of the invention can be embodied as a method, a system or a computer program product. Therefore the invention can be embodied in the form of an all-hardware embodiment, an all-software embodiment or an embodiment of software and hardware in combination. Furthermore the invention can be embodied in the form of a computer program product embodied in one or more computer useable storage mediums (including but not limited to a disk memory, a CD-ROM, an optical memory, etc.) in which computer useable program codes are contained. 
         [0069]    The invention has been described in a flow chart and/or a block diagram of the method, the device (system) and the computer program product according to the embodiments of the invention. It shall be appreciated that respective flows and/or blocks in the flow chart and/or the block diagram and combinations of the flows and/or the blocks in the flow chart and/or the block diagram can be embodied in computer program instructions. These computer program instructions can be loaded onto a general-purpose computer, a specific-purpose computer, an embedded processor or a processor of another programmable data processing device to produce a machine so that the instructions executed on the computer or the processor of the other programmable data processing device create means for performing the functions specified in the flow(s) of the flow chart and/or the block(s) of the block diagram. 
         [0070]    These computer program instructions can also be stored into a computer readable memory capable of directing the computer or the other programmable data processing device to operate in a specific manner so that the instructions stored in the computer readable memory create an article of manufacture including instruction means which perform the functions specified in the flow(s) of the flow chart and/or the block(s) of the block diagram. 
         [0071]    These computer program instructions can also be loaded onto the computer or the other programmable data processing device so that a series of operational operations are performed on the computer or the other programmable data processing device to create a computer implemented process so that the instructions executed on the computer or the other programmable device provide operations for performing the functions specified in the flow(s) of the flow chart and/or the block(s) of the block diagram. 
         [0072]    Although the preferred embodiments of the invention have been described, those skilled in the art benefiting from the underlying inventive concept can make additional modifications and variations to these embodiments. Therefore the appended claims are intended to be construed as encompassing the preferred embodiments and all the modifications and variations coming into the scope of the invention. 
         [0073]    Evidently those skilled in the art can make various modifications and variations to the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus the invention is also intended to encompass these modifications and variations thereto so long as the modifications and variations come into the scope of the claims appended to the invention and their equivalents.