Abstract:
A compact film player has a picture reproducing unit and an information reading unit capable of reading a photographing information on each frame of the film. When a developed film is fed in an inlet of the picture reproducing unit in a prescribed direction, a scan mirror scans a picture provided on the film perpendicularly to the feed direction, so that a line sensor takes the picture every line. The line sensor and the scan mirror read two-dimensional pictures provided on the film. When the picture of the frame previously read is on display, the scan of the next frame is effected.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to an apparatus, such as a film video player, for reproducing still images, and more particularly, it relates to an apparatus for taking original still images and reproducing the taken still images.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Background Art  
           [0004]    There has recently been proposed an apparatus for reproducing still images, such as still images of a developed film, on a television or the like. In such an apparatus, original still images are taken by a pickup element such as an area sensor or a line sensor and converted to electric signals, which in turn are displayed on a display unit such as a television. In this case, however, a long time is required for taking the original still images. Particularly when a line sensor is employed, it is necessary to scan each frame for taking the still images with a considerably long time. Thus, the time for still image reproduction is lengthened by such a taking operation.  
           [0005]    U. S. Pat. No. 4,482,924 discloses an apparatus for reading information corresponding to each still image and deciding a reproducing method such as zooming on the basis of the information. In such an apparatus, however, it is necessary to previously read information corresponding to each still image, and hence the reproducing time is lengthened by such an operation.  
           [0006]    While U. S. Pat. Nos. 4,485,406, 4,603,966 and the like also disclose film video players, none of these Patents discloses a structure which can reduce the time for reproducing still images recorded in a film.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    An object of the present invention is to provide a still image reproducing apparatus which can save the time for reproducing the images.  
           [0008]    In order to attain the aforementioned object, the still image reproducing apparatus according to the present invention has a determination unit for determining whether or not still image data are currently being reproduced, and a control unit for controlling the apparatus to take another still image if the still image data are currently being reproduced. A second still image is taken during reproduction of a first still image on a screen, whereby it is possible to reproduce the second still image immediately after reproduction of the first still image is completed.  
           [0009]    In another aspect of the present invention, the still image reproducing apparatus includes a determination unit for determining whether or not still image data are currently being reproduced, and a control unit for reading information corresponding to another still image when the still image data are currently being reproduced. Information corresponding to a second still image is read during reproduction of a first still image on a screen, whereby the second still image can be controlled on the basis of the read information immediately after reproduction of the first still image is completed.  
           [0010]    The foregoing and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]    [0011]FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the overall appearance of a film player according to a first embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the film player loaded with a cartridge;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the film player receiving a piece film;  
         [0014]    FIGS.  4 (A),  4 (B) and  4 (C) are schematic sectional views taken along the lines IVA-IVA, IVB-IVB and IVC-IVC in FIG. 2, FIG. 3 and FIG. 2 respectively;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 5 is a typical diagram showing an optical system of the film player;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a principal portion of a control part in the film player;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing the operation of the film player;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing the operation of the film player;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing the operation of the film player;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing the operation of the film player;  
         [0021]    FIGS.  11 (A) and  11 (B) illustrate read states of a magnetic information part on a film;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 12 is a flow chart showing picture production;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 13 is a flow chart showing picture production;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 14 is a flow chart showing picture production;  
         [0025]    FIGS.  15 (A),  15 (B) and  15 (C) illustrate contents of picture processing operations in response to respective frames of a film;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 16(A) is a block diagram showing a picture processing part in detail, and FIG. 16(B) is a typical diagram illustrating a line sensor  17  shown in FIG. 16(A) in detail;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 17 illustrates relations between pixel coordinates of a main memory and a film surface and between pixel coordinates of a display memory and a monitor screen;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 18 illustrates panning;  
         [0029]    FIGS.  19 (A) and  19 (B) illustrate tilting and oblique movement respectively;  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 20 illustrates the content of a display memory for multiscreen display;  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 21 illustrates the state of screen switching by overlapping;  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 22 is a flow chart showing the operation of a film player according to a second embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 23 is a block diagram-showing a principal part of a film player according to a third embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 24 illustrates a state of reading a picture from a film by a line CCD in the third embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 25 illustrates the structure of the line CCD in the third embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 26 illustrates relations between a VRAM and the number of scanning lines and horizontal resolution as to a picture outputted on a television;  
         [0037]    FIGS.  27 (A) and  27 (B) illustrate a scan method for a normal format transverse position;  
         [0038]    FIGS.  28 (A) and  28 (B) illustrate a scan method for a panoramic format vertical position;  
         [0039]    FIGS.  29 (A) and  29 (B) illustrate a scan method for a normal format vertical position;  
         [0040]    FIGS.  30 (A) and  30 (B) illustrate a scan method for a panoramic format vertical position;  
         [0041]    [0041]FIG. 31 illustrates ranges of pixel numbers and read numbers of a line sensor for respective formats;  
         [0042]    [0042]FIG. 32 is a flow chart for illustrating the operation of a film player according to the third embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0043]    [0043]FIG. 33 is a flow chart for illustrating the operation of a modification of the third embodiment. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0044]    Embodiments of the present invention are now described with reference to the accompanying drawings.  
         [0045]    (1) First Embodiment  
         [0046]    [0046]FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a film player  1  according to a first embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0047]    Referring to FIG. 1, the user can access the interior of the film player  1  by opening its cover  2 . The film player  1  is provided on its side surface with a piece film slot  8  for receiving a piece film and feed rollers  10  for feeding the received piece film to a pickup position. The film player  1  is further provided on its central portion with gears  11  for driving a film which is stored in a cartridge and a cartridge photointerruptor  7  for positioning the film stored in the cartridge. The feed rollers  10  and the gears  11  are driven by a motor  9 .  
         [0048]    The cover  2  is provided with a pair of guide grooves  3  which is adapted to guide the piece film to the prescribed pickup position, a magnetic head  4  which is provided on one of the guide grooves  3  for reading magnetic information recorded on the film, and a light source  5  which is employed for taking a picture recorded on the film. A photointerruptor  6  for positioning the piece film is provided on an end of one of the guide grooves  3 .  
         [0049]    [0049]FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the film player  1  which is loaded with a cartridge  12 . Film feed gears (not shown) provided on the cartridge  12  are adapted to engage with gears  11 A and  11 B of the film player  1 .  
         [0050]    In this state, the motor  9  is driven to drive the film feed gears and film take-up gears (not shown) provided on the cartridge  12  through the gears  11 A and  11 B of the film player  1 , thereby feeding the film stored in the cartridge  12 .  
         [0051]    [0051]FIG. 3 illustrates the film player  1  receiving a piece film  13 , in correspondence to FIG. 2 showing the film player  1  loaded with the cartridge  12 .  
         [0052]    Referring to FIG. 3, the piece film  13  is inserted in the film player  1  through the piece film slot  8 , and passed through the guide grooves  3  to be fed to a prescribed reproducing position by the feed rollers  10 . At this time, the magnetic head  4  reads magnetic information which is recorded on the piece film  13 . When the piece film  13  is correctly inserted in the film player  1 , the magnetic head  4  reads information recorded by a camera in shooting. When the piece film  13  is inserted in the film player  1  along a vertically or horizontally erroneous direction, however, the magnetic head  4  erroneously reads data for developing the film in place of the information recorded by the camera, or can read absolutely no data. In this case, the feed rollers  10  are reversed to eject the film  13  or give a warning, as hereinafter described.  
         [0053]    FIGS.  4 (A),  4 (B) and  4 (C) are sectional views taken along the lines IVA-IVA, IVB-IVB and IVC-IVC in FIG. 2, FIG. 3 and FIG. 2 respectively. Referring to FIG. 4(A), an image of a picture illuminated by the light source  5  is formed on a line sensor (CCD)  17  through a mirror  14 , an image forming lens  15  and a scan mirror  16 . A signal outputted from the CCD  17  is processed by a signal processing circuit  18 .  
         [0054]    [0054]FIG. 4(B) illustrates a path for carrying the piece film  13  for taking a picture provided thereon, and FIG. 4(C) illustrates a state of taking a picture provided on the film stored in the cartridge  12 . Referring to FIGS.  4 (B) and  4 (C), the guide grooves  3  for carrying the piece film  13  are urged by springs toward the interior of the cover  2 , and partially retracted in the cover  2  when the film player  1  is loaded with the cartridge  12 , so that the pictures provided on the piece film  13  and the film stored in the cartridge  12  are taken on the same position.  
         [0055]    [0055]FIG. 5 illustrates the part, shown in FIG. 4(A), for reading the picture provided on either film by the CCD  17  in detail. Referring to FIG. 5, the scan mirror  16  is rotatable along arrow so that a part A of a film  20  is image-formed on the CCD  17  when the scan mirror  16  is in a state shown by a broken line. When the scan mirror  16  is rotated to a state shown by a solid line, another part B of the film  20  is image-formed on the CCD  17 . Thus, the parts A to C of the film  20  are successively image-formed on the CCD  17 , to be photoelectrically converted. A photometric sensor  21  detects part of light which is incident upon the CCD  17 , to adjust an aperture  22  in response to the quantity of the light received therein. A converter lens  23  is inserted in the optical path for zooming.  
         [0056]    The scan mirror  16  is now described in detail with reference to the right part of FIG. 5 showing the scan mirror  16  in an enlarged manner. The scan mirror  17  includes a worm gear  28  which is driven by a motor  27 , a bevel gear  25  which is connected with a wheel gear  29  engaging with the worm gear  28 , another bevel gear  27  engaging with the bevel gear  25  and having another worm gear  30 , and a mirror  32  which is fixed to another wheel gear  31  engaging with the worm gear  30 .  
         [0057]    The bevel gears  25  and  26  are provided with notches respectively. The bevel gear  26  is urged by a spring in one direction.  
         [0058]    The mirror  32  is maintained in an initial position by engagement of the notches provided in the bevel gears  25  and  26 . When the motor  27  is rotated, the bevel gear  25  is rotated through the worm gear  28  and the wheel gear  29 . Thus, the other bevel gear  26  is rotated to rotate the worm gear  30  and the wheel gear  31 , thereby rotating the mirror  32 . When the notches of the bevel gears  25  and  26  again engage with each other, the rotation is stopped and the mirror  32  is brought back to the initial position by a spring. Such an operation is so repeated that the CCD  17  scans the overall region of the film  20  crossing the feed direction.  
         [0059]    [0059]FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a principal portion of a control part in the film player  1  according to the first embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0060]    Referring to FIG. 6, a CPU  40  for controlling the overall film player  1  is connected with a magnetic read part  41  which reads magnetic information from a film in response to a read timing signal which is received from the CPU  40  for outputting the data to the CPU  40  as digital information. The magnetic read part  41 , which has a magnetic head for reading the magnetic information from the film, an amplifier for amplifying the same and a recording function, transmits information as to presence/absence of magnetic information on the film.  
         [0061]    The CPU  40  is further connected with a film feed control part  42 , which comprises-frame feeding, rewinding and positioning functions for the film. The film feed control part  42  detects presence/absence of perforations in the film, and gives an alarm signal to the CPU  40  if the film has no perforations.  
         [0062]    A lens switching part  43  switches the magnification of a pickup lens in response to a switching signal received from the CPU  40 .  
         [0063]    A CCD scanning part  44  controls pickup scanning by the CCD  17  in response to a scanning timing signal received from the CPU  40 .  
         [0064]    An aperture control part  45  controls the aperture ( 22  shown in FIG. 5) for pickup exposure control in response to an aperture control signal received from the CPU  40 . As hereinabove described with reference to FIG. 5, the CPU  40  utilizes photometric data received from the photometric sensor  21  in order to obtain the aperture control signal. In other words, the CPU  40  calculates the aperture value to attain proper exposure in taking, and feeds back the same to the aperture control part  45 .  
         [0065]    The CPU  40  controls on-off of the pickup light source  5 , and supplies a pickup timing signal to the CCD  17 . A picture signal taken by the CCD  17  is stored in a pickup data memory  50 .  
         [0066]    The CPU  40  is further connected with a picture processing part  48  which processes the picture data stored in the pickup data memory  50  and outputs the same to a television set as a video signal.  
         [0067]    The CPU  40  is further connected with an audio output part  46 , which D-A converts audio data received from a ROM  47  and outputs the converted data to the television set as an audio signal. The ROM  47 , which is a memory storing audio data, outputs corresponding data to the audio output part  46  in response to an addressing signal received from the CPU  40 .  
         [0068]    The CPU  40  is further connected with a manual operation switch  49 . It is possible to transversely rotate, zoom, horizontally pan, vertically tilt, or hold a picture provided on the film, or to automatically start the film player  1  itself by controlling the operation switch  49 .  
         [0069]    The operation of the film player  1  according to the first embodiment of the present invention is now described with reference to flow charts shown in FIGS.  7  to  10 . First, the film player  1  is started, to wait loading (or insertion) of a film (or a piece film) (step S 11 : hereinafter the term “step” is omitted). If the film player  1  is loaded with a film at S 11 , a winding motor is normally rotated to normally rotate the feed rollers  10  for the piece film  13  or the film feed gears  11  for the film provided in the cartridge  1 - 2 . The magnetic head  4  reads magnetic information recorded on the received film, for checking presence/absence of such magnetic information (S 15  and S 17 ). If the received film is provided with magnetic information, presence/absence of perforations is judged (S 19 ). If the film has perforations, the magnetic information is read (S 21 ). If a determination is made at S 17  that the film has no magnetic surface, a warning is given since the film is provided with no magnetic information or has been loaded or inserted reversely (S 31 ). If a determination is made at S 19  that the film has no perforations, a warning is given to eject the film, since the film has been loaded or inserted upside down (S 31  and S 33 ).  
         [0070]    It is assumed here that the magnetic information showing shooting situation is recorded on the film to be reproduced in the film player  1  and perforations for positioning are provided only on the upper or lower side of the film.  
         [0071]    In order to eject this film, the motor  9  shown in FIG. 9 is reversed.  
         [0072]    Then, shooting time information which is magnetically recorded on continuous frames provided on the film is read to judge the order of pictures (S 23 ). In response to the result of this judgement, a determination is made as to whether the film is a normal wind film which may be wound frame by frame or a pre-wind film which has been fully wound once and then rewound frame by frame. Thus, a winding flag WF is set or reset (S 25  or S 27 ). Then, an initial position of the film is decided (S 29 ). In more concrete terms, the head portion of the frames is placed on the pickup surface. Then the audio signal is reproduced to instruct initial picture display (S 35  and S 37 ). In the initial picture display, a demo picture or characters such as “Minolta” may be displayed, for example.  
         [0073]    Then the picture signal is started (S 39 ) and the winding flag WF is judged to determine whether the film is normally rotated or back-fed by two frames in response to the state of the film (S 41  and S 43  or S 47 ). The reason for such a determination is now described with reference to FIGS.  11 (A) and  11 (B). FIGS.  11 (A) and  11 (B) show normal wind and pre-wind films  20  respectively. In either case, it is assumed that frames a, b and c have been subjected to shooting in this order, and picture processing of the frame b is just finished. It is also assumed that magnetic information  24  is successively recorded along arrows.  
         [0074]    In order to move the frame c of the normal wind film  20  to a pickup region b for scanning, the film  20  may be directly fed along arrow shown in FIG. 11(A) so that the magnetic head  4  can read the magnetic information  24 . In the pre-wind film  20  shown in FIG. 11(B), on the other hand, the frame c to be subsequently read must be first moved to the position of the frame a, so that the magnetic head  4  can read the magnetic information  24 .  
         [0075]    The frames are thus positioned and the film feed motor  9  is stopped (S 49  and S 51 ). Then, a determination is made as to whether or not electrozooming (EZ) is required (S 53 ). This information is included in the magnetic information  24 . If a determination is made at S 53  that electrozooming is required, a telephoto lens is selected by the converter lens  23  for taking, while a wide angle lens is selected for taking in other case (S 55  or S 57 ).  
         [0076]    In order to perform trim taking, the magnification is doubled by electrozooming and the telephoto lens is selected by the converter lens  23  shown in FIG. 5, whereby the magnification is quadrupled in total.  
         [0077]    Then the light source  5  is turned on to measure light on the film surface with the photometric sensor  21  thereby controlling the aperture  22  for scanning by the CCD  17 , and then the light source  5  is turned off (S 59  to S 69 ).  
         [0078]    After the scanning, the next frame is previously moved to the pickup region (b in FIG. 11(A)) and information is read from the next frame (S 71  and S 73 ). A determination is previously made as to whether or not the converter lens  23  is required from EZ information of the next frame, and picture production is performed in this state (S 75  and S 77 ). The content of the picture production is described later.  
         [0079]    Then, a determination is made as to whether or not the next frame can be scanned (S 79 ), in order to judge whether or not production such as zooming or panning of the preceding frame is completed and picture data of the preceding frame recorded in a main memory  54  as described later are not further processed. When the picture data are completely processed, those stored in a display memory  56  as described later are reproduced on a TV screen, whereby it is possible to newly record picture data of the next frame in the main memory  54 .  
         [0080]    When a determination is made that scanning is possible, another determination is made as to whether or not the frame under reproduction is the final one from information included in the magnetic information  24  (S 81 ). If a determination is made that scanning is possible and the frame is not the final one, the process is returned to S 59  to start scanning of the next frame. Thereafter the aforementioned routine is repeated.  
         [0081]    If a determination is made at S 81  that the frame is the final one, on the other hand, multiscreen display is performed to display all frames heretofore taken on a single screen (S 83 ). In this case, an instruction is made for dividing the screen into four, nine or  25  screens (S 85 ). This instruction is made through the manual operation switch  49  or the like, for example.  
         [0082]    In order to perform multiscreen display, all frames heretofore taken are rewound one by one in order which is reverse to that in reproduction, so that respective pictures and magnetic data are inputted in the CPU  40 .  
         [0083]    Namely, the film  20  is rewound frame by frame, a lens is set, the light source  5  is turned on, the light is measured by the photometric sensor  21 , and the aperture  22  is controlled (S 87  to S 95 ). Then rough scanning is performed by the CCD  17 . In order to perform multiscreen display, the pictures are partially skipped for reducing the scanning time (S 97 ). If four pictures are simultaneously displayed, for example, the picture data may be reduced to ¼, while the picture data may be reduced to {fraction (1/9)} if nine pictures are simultaneously displayed.  
         [0084]    Then the light source  5  is turned on for multi-reproduction (S 99  and S 101 ). A determination is made as to whether or not a prescribed number of four, nine or 25 pictures are reproduced (S 103 ), and if the determination is of yes, another determination is made as to whether or not the film is rewound to the first frame (S 105 ), to repeat multi-reproduction until the film is rewound to the first frame (S 105 ). If the determination at S 103  is of no, on the other hand, the program is returned to S 87 .  
         [0085]    While the multi-reproduction (S 101 ) is performed in advance of the determination as to the screen number (S 103 ), this step may be carried out after S 103 . When the multi-reproduction is performed before the determination as to the screen number, prescribed pictures are successively outputted on prescribed positions, while overall pictures are simultaneously displayed on the multiscreen if this step is carried out after the determination as to the screen number.  
         [0086]    Although the final frame is judged in the aforementioned embodiment for multiscreen display, only frames of the same date may be subjected to multiscreen display at the end of the day, for example.  
         [0087]    When the multiscreen display is performed at the last step, it is possible to perform multi-reproduction while rewinding the film.  
         [0088]    When the film is rewound to the first frame, the multiscreen is displayed for a constant period, whereafter the reproduction is terminated and the audio signal is stopped (S 107  to S 111 ).  
         [0089]    The picture production mentioned above in relation to S 77  in FIG. 9 is now described. FIGS.  12  to  14  are flow charts showing the content of picture production.  
         [0090]    First, a determination is made as to whether or not the magnetic information  24  includes data such as the base color of the film  20 , color development, gamma correction, density and colors employed in printing in a laboratory, and the like (S 201 ). If the determination is of yes, color tones and gamma correction are instructed (S 203 ). If the determination at S 201  is of no, on the other hand, another determination is made as to presence/absence of light source type information (S 205 ), to judge data as to whether the light source employed for shooting is a fluorescent lamp or a tungsten lamp, whether or not a flash lamp is employed, and the like. Color balance is instructed in response to presence/absence of the data, and the vertical direction of the film  20  is judged (S 209 ). The vertical direction is judged also when no light source type information is obtained at S 205 . If the film is judged to be vertically inverted, rotation of pictures is instructed (S 211 ), and a determination is made as to whether or not the pictures are continuous (S 213 ). If the determination at S 213  is of no, another determination is made as to information on time and date (S 215 ). If no information is obtained at S 215 , a random number is generated to twitch the method of displaying the pictures on the screen to scroll switching or cutback switching (S 217 , S 219  and S 221 ). “Scroll switching” is a method of successively switching the pictures from the left end of the screen, for example, while “cutback switching” is a method of instantaneously switching the pictures.  
         [0091]    If the determination at S 213  is of yes and the time and date are recognized at S 215 , overlap switching is performed for wiping off a reproduced picture while reproducing a next picture (S 223 ).  
         [0092]    In any switching method, a determination is made as to whether or not the pictures can be switched in relation to timing with the picture previously displayed (S 225 ), and the frames are switched if the determination is of yes (S 227 ). If the determination at S 225  is of no due to zooming or the like, on the other hand, allowance of switching is waited.  
         [0093]    Then, a determination is made as to presence/absence of user information, so that the user information is outputted and superimposed if the determination is of yes (S 231  and S 233 ). The “user information” is that inputted by the user during or after shooting, such as the title of the frame, for example.  
         [0094]    Then, a determination is made as to whether or not the pictures are continuous, regardless of presence/absence of the user information (S 235 ), so that no zooming for smoothing the scene change is performed if the determination is of yes. If the determination at S 235  is of no, a zooming start instruction is made for double zooming, and a determination is made as to whether or not the pictures are in vertical positions (S 237 , S 239  and S 241 ). If the determination at S 241  is of no, another determination is made as to whether or not the pictures are panoramic (S 243 ). If the determination at S 243  is of yes, a panning start is instructed (S 247 ), while an oblique movement start is instructed if the determination is of no (S 245 ). If the determination at S 241  is of yes, on the other hand, a tilting start is instructed (S 249 ).  
         [0095]    The tilting start, panning start and the like are now described with reference to FIGS.  15 (A) to  15 (C). FIG. 15(A) illustrates oblique movement, FIG. 15(B) illustrates panning, and FIG. 15(C) illustrates tilting.  
         [0096]    When a picture is neither in a vertical position nor a panoramic one, this picture is taken downwardly obliquely from the above or vice versa as shown in FIG. 15(A). On the other hand, a panoramic picture is transversely panned and taken as shown in FIG. 15(B). In the case of tilting, a picture is vertically taken as shown in FIG. 15(C). In every case, the picture is reproduced by the picture processing circuit  48  not in only one direction but automatically reversed on a unidirectional end to another end.  
         [0097]    When the pictures are reproduced in the aforementioned manner for a constant period (S 251 ), a determination is made as to whether or not the oblique movement, panning or tilting is completed at a central portion of the picture from which taking is started and the film is returned to the first position again (S 253 ). If the determination at S 253  is of yes, zooming is terminated (S 255 ).  
         [0098]    The picture production is now described in detail. FIG. 16(A) is a block diagram illustrating the picture processing circuit  48  shown in FIG. 6 in detail, and FIG. 16(B) is a typical diagram illustrating the line sensor  17  shown in FIG. 16(A) in detail.  
         [0099]    Referring to FIG. 16(A), the line sensor  17  is connected to a timing generator (TG)  51  provided in the picture processing circuit  48 , so that its picture signal is transmitted to an A-D converter  52  pixel by pixel by timing from the TG  51 . A picture to be incorporated is successively scanned by the scan mirror  16  from top to bottom, so that a single picture is converted to an electric signal by the line sensor  17 .  
         [0100]    As shown in FIG. 16(B), the line sensor  17  is repeatedly provided with color filters of green, red and blue in a zigzag manner successively from an end thereof. Thus, the line sensor  17  apparently has quadruple resolution.  
         [0101]    Referring again to FIG. 16(A), A-D converted picture data are carried on a data bus  53 , and stored in the main memory  54 . A controller  55  records the picture data in the main memory  54  by an enable signal EN 1 .  
         [0102]    The display memory  56  is in one-to-one correspondence to the screen of a television monitor as described later, so that a picture placed on the display memory  56  is directly projected on the television monitor. When a part of the main memory  54  having larger capacity than the display memory  56  is transferred to the display memory  56 , therefore, this part is projected on the television monitor.  
         [0103]    The display memory  56  has a dual port, so that data are transferred from the main memory  54  to the display memory  56  by the data bus  53  and an address bus  57 , while the controller  55  makes memory access to the display memory  56 . On the other hand, the content of the display memory  56  is transmitted to a matrix circuit  60  every {fraction (1/60)} seconds through a display data bus  58  and a display address bus  59 .  
         [0104]    The picture data transmitted to the matrix circuit  60  are converted from red, green and blue to color difference signals Y, R-Y and B-Y, further converted to NTSC signals by an encoder  61 , and outputted on the screen of the television monitor by a D-A converter  62  as analog NTSC signals.  
         [0105]    The controller  55  is connected with a ROM  63 , which is adapted to store data for placing characters or a blue back on the display memory  56 .  
         [0106]    [0106]FIG. 17 shows relations between data addresses (i) of the main memory  54  and a picture position (ii) on the film and between data addresses (iii) of the display memory  56  and a picture position (iv) on the television monitor.  
         [0107]    Referring to (i) and (ii) in FIG. 17, a picture provided in a frame of the film enclosed by symbols A′, B′, C′ and D′ is converted to a picture signal by the line sensor  17 , to be stored in correspondence to a portion of the main memory  54  enclosed by symbols A, B, C and D. The main memory  54  is formed by 2n by 2m pixels, each having 6-bit gradation.  
         [0108]    Referring to (iii) and (iv) in FIG. 17, the display memory  56  is formed by n by m pixels each having 6-bit gradation, so that a position of the display memory  56  enclosed by symbols a, b, c and d corresponds to a position of the television monitor enclosed by symbols a′, b′, c′ and d′ for picture display.  
         [0109]    Parts of data (a(1, 1) to a(2m, 2n)) of the main memory  54  are placed in the display memory  56  (b(1, 1) to b(m, n)) for the operation such as panning, tilting or zooming, as hereafter described.  
         [0110]    (i) When all contents of the main memory  54  are displayed:  
         [0111]    a(2i, 2j)=b(i, j) (i=1 to m, j=1 to n)  
         [0112]    The data are transferred from the main memory  54  to the display memory  56  along the above expression. Namely, it is possible to project all pictures contained in the main memory  54 , by skipping every other data of the main memory  54  and transferring the same to the display memory  56 .  
         [0113]    (ii) Panning  
         [0114]    First, a picture on an upper left quarter of the main memory  54  is displayed along the following expression:  
         [0115]    a(i, j)=b(i, j) (i=1 to m, j=1 to n)  
         [0116]    Then, the following expression is employed and the value k is successively incremented from 1:  
         [0117]    a(i, j+k)=b(i, j) (i=1 to m, j=1 to n)  
         [0118]    When the value k reaches the value n, the picture is moved to an upper right quarter of the main memory  54 , as shown in FIG. 18.  
         [0119]    (iii) Tilting  
         [0120]    Similarly to the case of panning, a picture on the upper left quarter of the main memory  54  is downwardly tilted along the following expression:  
         [0121]    a(i+k, j)=b(i, j) (i=1 to m, j=1 to n)  
         [0122]    The value k is successively incremented from 1 to m. FIG. 19(A) illustrates this state.  
         [0123]    (iv) Zooming  
         [0124]    In the aforementioned state (i) of displaying all contents of the main memory  54 , a zoom-up operation is performed along the following expression:  
         [0125]    a(m+pk, n  30  pL)=b(m/2+k, n/2+L) (k=±1 to ±m/2, L=±1 to ±n/2)  
         [0126]    The zoom magnification p is changed tenth by tenth from 2 to 1, and approximated to the closest integer if the value pk or pL is a decimal number.  
         [0127]    (v) Oblique Movement  
         [0128]    Referring to FIG. 19(B), oblique movement of a picture is now described. Similarly to the cases of panning and tilting, a picture on the upper left quarter of the main memory  54  is obliquely moved to a lower right position along the following expression:  
         [0129]    a(i+k 1 , j+k 2 )=b(i, j) (i=1 to m, j=1 to n)  
         [0130]    The value k 1  is successively incremented from zero to m, while the value k 2  is successively incremented from zero to n.  
         [0131]    Similarly, a picture on the upper right quarter is moved to a lower left position along the following expression:  
         [0132]    a(j+k 1 , j−k 2 ) b(i, j) (i=1 to m, j=n to 2n)  
         [0133]    Similarly, a picture on a lower left quarter is moved to an upper right position along the following expression:  
         [0134]    a(i−k 1 , j+k 2 )=b(i, j) (i=m to 2m, j=1 to n)  
         [0135]    Similarly, a picture on a lower right quarter is moved to an upper left position along the following expression:  
         [0136]    a(i−k 1 , j−k 2 )=b(i, j) (i=m to 2m, j=n to 2n)  
         [0137]    In every case, the values k 1  and k 2  are incremented from zero to m and n respectively.  
         [0138]    (vi) Multiscreen Display  
         [0139]    Multiscreen display is now described with reference to FIG. 20. Picture signals loaded from the line sensor  17  shown in FIG. 16 and converted by the A-D converter  52  are not stored in the main memory  54  but skipped by the controller  55 , to be stored in the display memory  56 .  
         [0140]    More specifically, a picture signal for a first picture displayed on the multiscreen is skipped and stored in a part A of the display memory  56  shown in FIG. 20, and then successively stored in parts B to I.  
         [0141]    The line sensor  17  may not continuously scan the overall film  20 . For example, the former may discretely scan the latter at two-stage intervals. Thus, it is possible to reduce the picture incorporation time. Although FIG. 20 shows a multiscreen with nine pictures, the present invention is also applicable to four pictures and 25 pictures.  
         [0142]    (vii) Overlapping  
         [0143]    Screen switching by overlapping is now described with reference to FIG. 21. Pictures from the display memory  56  are gradually wiped off to be newly switched to those from the main memory  54 . When such screen switching is performed by overlapping, pictures from both memories are temporarily overlapped with each other.  
         [0144]    First, the number of data from the display memory  56  is halved and further halved to gradually wipe off the pictures. For example, every other pixels are alternately culled out as shown in FIG. 21, for example.  
         [0145]    Referring to FIG. 21, circles and crosses represent pixels of currently and subsequently reproduced frames. While picture signals for all pixels are displayed in the case of normal picture display, every other crossed pixels are culled out while remaining circled pixels, for example. Picture signals from the main memory  54  (signals for the next frame) are skipped-and inserted in the portions from which the crossed pixels are pulled out, to obtain an overlapped state. Then, values of picture data for the circled pixels are further halved and these portions are wiped off so that picture signals for the main memory  54  are also inserted in the portions of the circled pixels. Thus, the pictures from the display memory  56  are wiped off to be newly replaced by those from the main memory  54  (next frame).  
         [0146]    (viii) Superimposition and Blue Backing  
         [0147]    Superimposition and blue backing are now described. The controller  55  can freely rewrite the contents of the display memory  56 . To this end, the controller  55  has the ROM  63  which previously stores fonts for characters, numerals and specific patterns (including those for changing the color of the overall screen to blue), and loads the font data in the display memory  56  at need. As the result, superimposition, blue backing and the like are enabled on a TV screen. The term “blue backing” means an operation for bluing a portion on the TV screen displaying no shot picture.  
         [0148]    (ix) Scrolling  
         [0149]    Scrolling of the screen is now described. In the main memory  54  shown at (iii) and (iv) in FIG. 17, pixel data are transferred to the display memory  56  to satisfy the following expression:  
         [0150]    a (i, j)=b(i, j+1) (i=1 to m, j=1 to n−1)  
         [0151]    The value j in the above expression is changed from 1 to (n−1), whereby a picture stored in the display memory  56  leftwardly slides by one pixel. It is possible to insert a monochrome back or a picture from the main memory  54  in the portion left by such movement of the picture.  
         [0152]    (x) Rotation by 180° 
         [0153]    An operation for rotating a picture by 180° is now described. In the main memory  54  shown at (iii) and (iv) in FIG. 17, the following calculation is made to switch data, thereby rotating the picture by 180°:  
         [0154]    a(i, j)=b(m−i+1, n−j+1) (i=1 to m, j=1 to n)  
         [0155]    (xi) White Balance (WB)  
         [0156]    White balance is now described. A picture on a film illuminated by the light source  5  shown in FIG. 4(A) is taken by the line sensor  17  and signal-processed to be stored in the main memory  54 .  
         [0157]    At the same time, magnetic information recorded on the film is also read. The controller  55  reads light source information (WB) in shooting by a camera from the magnetic information. Namely, white balance for the picture data read from the main memory  54  is set on the basis of the light source information (WB) in shooting and a constant (stored in a ROM (not shown)) corresponding to every color temperature for red, green or blue in the matrix circuit  60 .  
         [0158]    (2) Second Embodiment  
         [0159]    A second embodiment of the present invention is now described.  
         [0160]    While the storage capacity of the main memory in the first embodiment is only for one screen, the film player is further improved in convenience if the main memory has capacity for two screens. In order to perform production such as panning or tilting as described with reference to FIGS.  18  or  19 (A), it is necessary to process picture data recorded in the main memory. When the main memory has capacity for only one screen, therefore, it is necessary to complete such processing of the picture data to record those of a next frame in the main memory. In other words, it is necessary to start scanning of the next frame after processing of the picture data of a preceding frame is completed.  
         [0161]    When the main memory has capacity for two screens, it is possible to record the picture data of the next frame in a second screen during production of those of the preceding frame. Thus, it is possible to start scanning of the next frame before the preceding frame is completely processed.  
         [0162]    With reference to FIG. 22, a scanning operation in the second embodiment of the present invention is now described in relation to a main memory having capacity for two screens. The basic operation of this embodiment is absolutely similar to that of the first embodiment, and hence redundant description is omitted. FIG. 22 is a flow chart showing a different part of the second embodiment corresponding to that of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 9. A storage region of the main memory for two screens is divided into first and second memories.  
         [0163]    After a procedure similar to that of the first embodiment up to S 55  (S 57 ) shown in FIG. 8, a light source  5  is turned on, light on a film surface is measured, an exposure value is calculated, an aperture  22  is controlled and scanning by a CCD  17  is performed at S 301  to S 309 . At S 311 , a determination is made as to whether or not a flag is zero, in order to judge whether picture data from the CCD  17  are to be recorded in the first memory or the second memory. If the flag is zero, the picture data are recorded in the first memory, while the same are recorded in the second memory if the flag is  1  (S 313  or S 315 ). Immediately after the film player is loaded with the film, this flag is zero for the first frame. After the picture data are recorded, the light source  5  is turned off and a next frame is previously moved to a pickup region while information of the next frame is simultaneously read (S 317  to S 321 ). At S 323 , a converter lens  23  is set on the basis of the read information of the next frame.  
         [0164]    At S 325 , a determination is again made as to whether or not the flag is zero, and a further determination is made at S 327  as to whether or not the second memory is under production if the flag is zero. If the determination at S 327  is of no, a further determination is made as to whether or not a frame in the second memory is the final one (S 329 ). If the determination is of no, production of the picture data recorded in the first memory at S 313  is started (S 331 ), and the flag is set at 1 (S 333 ). Thereafter the process is returned to S 301  to repeat the prescribed operation up to S 301 , and thereafter a determination is made at S 311  that the flag is 1, and picture data of the next frame are recorded in the second memory. These operations are performed in parallel-with production of the picture data of the first memory.  
         [0165]    When a determination is made at S 325  that the flag is 1, on the other hand, production of the second memory is started at S 339  and thereafter the process is returned to S 301  to record the picture data of the next frame in the first memory.  
         [0166]    When a determination is made at S 329  or S 337  that production of all frames is completed, the process is advanced to S 343  for multiscreen display. The subsequent operation is similar to that in the first embodiment, and hence redundant description is omitted. In the multiscreen display, the picture data are recorded through either the first or second memory.  
         [0167]    ( 3 ) Third Embodiment  
         [0168]    A third embodiment of the present invention is now described with reference to sampling of a CCD line sensor.  
         [0169]    [0169]FIG. 23 is a block diagram showing a principal part of a film player according to the third embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0170]    Referring to FIG. 23, a picture on a film  121  is loaded by a CCD  17 , and subjected to correlated double sampling in a CDS (correlated double sampler)  2 . A CPU  40  judges transverse and vertical positions of the film  121  in shooting and makes a determination as to whether the picture is normal or panoramic, so that the data in the CCD  17  are skipped by a skip circuit  103  in response to the shooting state.  
         [0171]    A driver  114  is driven by pulses from a timing generator  113  to read all data from the CCD  17 , whereafter the film  121  is moved so that a next portion is read out. Also in this case, the amount of movement of the film  121  is varied with the shooting state. The skip circuit  103  skips the data in the CCD  17  not only in units of pixels but in units of lines.  
         [0172]    The skipped data are passed through a WB (white balance), gamma control and matrix circuit  104 , to be converted to a luminance signal Y and a color difference signal C.  
         [0173]    The signals Y and C are A-D converted in A-D conversion circuits  105  and  106  respectively, and subjected to data compression by compression ICs  107  and  108 , to be loaded in a semiconductor memory  109 . The data compression is performed by a still picture compression method such as predictive coding, orthogonal conversion, Huffman coding or the like.  
         [0174]    An effect IC  112  is a circuit for transferring an arbitrary part of the content of the semiconductor memory  109  to a VRAM  110 , thereby enabling panning, tilting or electrozooming.  
         [0175]    The VRAM  110  is in one-to-one correspondence to a television, so that a picture written in the VRAM  110  is fed to an encoder  111  every field ({fraction (1/60)} sec.), combined with a signal from a synchronizing signal generator (SSG)  118  in the encoder  111  and D-A converted in a D-A conversion circuit  119  to an NTSC signal, to be transmitted to the television.  
         [0176]    An operation switch  49  is adapted to recognize states of operating parts of the apparatus, while a mechanical switch  117  is adapted to recognize the states in the mechanism of the apparatus such as the position of the film  121 , the position of the CCD  17  upon movement, and the like.  
         [0177]    A magnetic read part  41  including a magnetic head for reading magnetic information recorded on the film  121  detects the format of the film  121  from the as-read magnetic information and outputs the content to the CPU  40 .  
         [0178]    The film  121  is fed by a film feed part  122  at a rate controlled by a film feed rate control part  123 , so that desired taking is performed in the format of the film  121 .  
         [0179]    A part of the CCD  17  for reading the film  121  is now described with reference to FIG. 24.  
         [0180]    The CCD  17  is fixed on a base  133 , while the film  121  is driven by a winding mechanism  131  and passed under the CCD  17  so that the picture on the film  121  is loaded.  
         [0181]    A feeding mechanism  132  applies tension to the film  121  in a direction opposite to that of winding, in order to prevent deflection.  
         [0182]    As shown in FIG. 25, the CCD  17  has 560 red pixels, 560 green pixels and 560 blue pixels, for example. Thus, the total number of the pixels is 16800 (5600×3). According to this embodiment, it is assumed that the vertical direction of the film  121  is a main scanning direction, and the direction of relative movement of the CCD  17  and the film  121  is a subscanning direction. A set of a red pixel, a green pixel and a blue pixel is hereafter denoted by symbol P.  
         [0183]    [0183]FIG. 26 illustrates the structure of the memory VRAM  110  for outputting the picture of the film  121  on the television and the relation between the number of scanning lines and horizontal resolution upon output on the television. According to this embodiment, it is assumed that the number of scanning lines is 480 and horizontal resolution is 400 for the quality of the picture outputted on the television.  
         [0184]    Referring to FIG. 26, the VRAM  110  is in one-to-one correspondence to the television, and the vertical direction of the VRAM  110  corresponds to 480 while the transverse direction thereof corresponds to 400. On the basis of these values, the number of pixels of the CCD sensor  17  and a read number S in the subscanning direction are set.  
         [0185]    [0185]FIG. 27(A) illustrates a scan method for a normal format transverse position. Symbols A, B, C and D denote the film  121 , while slant lines show a portion outputted to the VRAM  110  to be reproduced on the television. The portion with slant lines is outputted (enlarged) and moved to enable panning or tilting, depending on which portion is outputted to the VRAM  110 . Assuming that the enlargement ratio is 1.4 and a picture enlarged by 1.4 corresponds to the aforementioned picture quality, it is necessary to store the vertical direction (between A and C) of the film  121  with a pixel number of 480 P×1.4≠700P. Symbol P represents a set of a red pixel, a green pixel and a blue pixel as hereinabove described, and hence the actual pixel number is 700×3. Similarly, it is necessary to read the transverse direction (between A and B) with 400S×1.4=560S, where S represents the read number (step number).  
         [0186]    [0186]FIG. 27(B) shows a pickup region in a unit time t. The overall film is taken through 560 steps.  
         [0187]    [0187]FIG. 28(A) illustrates a scan method for a panoramic format transverse position. Similarly to the case shown in FIG. 27(A), symbols A, B, C and D denote the film  121 , while slant lines show a portion reproduced on the television. The ratio of the vertical length of the film  121  to that of the portion projecting the picture (BD:EF) is 1.7:1.  
         [0188]    Assuming that the picture on the portion with slant lines corresponds to the aforementioned picture quality, it is necessary to store the vertical direction (between A and C) of the film  121  with a pixel number of 480P×1.7≠800P. The actual pixel number is 800×3. Similarly, it is necessary to read the transverse direction (between A and B) with a read number of 400S×1.7≠700S.  
         [0189]    [0189]FIG. 28(B) shows a pickup region in a unit time t, and the overall film  121  is taken through 700 steps. It is assumed that the width of a portion taken in the unit time t is 560/700 on the basis of the normal format transverse position. The film feed rate control part  123  thus controls the film feed rate.  
         [0190]    [0190]FIG. 29(A) shows a scan method for a normal format vertical position. In this case, the vertical direction (between A and C) of the film  121  is outputted along a transverse direction on the television screen, and hence the same is stored with a pixel number of 400P. Then, the read number between A and B is obtained. In general, the aspect ratio of a film is 24 mm:36 mm =2:3, and that of a television is 3:4. From these aspect ratios, the ratio bd to AB is 1:2 and the read number is 480S×2=960S in the case of the vertical position.  
         [0191]    [0191]FIG. 29(B) shows a pickup region in a unit time t, and the overall film  121  is taken through 960 steps. It is assumed that the width of the portion taken in the unit time t is 560/960 on the basis of the normal format transverse position. The film feed rate control part  123  thus controls the film feed rate.  
         [0192]    [0192]FIG. 30(A) shows a scan method for a panoramic format transverse position. Similarly to the case shown in FIG. 27(A), symbols A, B, C and D denote a region of one frame of the film  121 , and slant lines show a portion reproduced on the television. The ratio of the vertical length of the film  121  to that of the portion projecting the picture (BD:EF) is 1.7:1. Assuming that the picture on the portion with slant lines corresponds to the aforementioned picture quality, it is necessary to store the vertical direction (between A and C) of the film with a pixel number of 400P×1.7≠700P. The number 400P is multiplied by 1.7, in the same idea as that for the normal format vertical position. The actual pixel number is 700 ×3. Similarly, it is necessary to read the transverse direction (between A and B) with a read number of 480S×1.7×2≠1650S.  
         [0193]    [0193]FIG. 30(B) shows a pickup region in a unit time t, and the overall frame of the film  121  is taken through 1650 steps. It is assumed that the width of the portion taken in the unit time t is 560/1650 on the basis of the normal format transverse position. The film feed rate control part  123  thus controls the film feed rate.  
         [0194]    [0194]FIG. 31 illustrates ranges of pixel numbers and read numbers of the CCD  17  based on the number of pixels incorporated in the memory  109  in each format and the read number. It is assumed that the CCD  17  has a pixel number of 5600, which is the least common denominator of the pixel numbers 700, 800, 400 and 700 required for the respective formats. Thus, a picture is taken with the pixel number of 5600 (the actual pixel number is 5600×3). In this case, the CCD  17  samples the following data:  
         [0195]    (1) In the case of a normal format transverse position, only one of eight data is transmitted to the memory  109 , while the remaining seven data are skipped by the skip circuit  103 .  
         [0196]    (2) In the case of a panoramic format transverse position, only one of seven data is transmitted to the memory  109 , while the remaining six data are skipped by the skip circuit  103 .  
         [0197]    (3) In the case of a normal format vertical position, only one of 14 data is transmitted to the memory  109 , while the remaining 13 data are skipped by the skip circuit  103 .  
         [0198]    (4) In the case of a panoramic format vertical position, only one of eight data is transmitted to the memory  109 , while the remaining seven data are skipped by the skip circuit  103 .  
         [0199]    The read number in the film transverse direction is 560 to 1650, and the film feed rate is so controlled as to change the read number in response to the format. This also applies to the case of moving the CCD  17 .  
         [0200]    With reference to FIG. 32, the operation of the film player according to this embodiment is described, first in relation to a case where the CCD  17  is fixed. When the film  121  is inserted in a receiving part (not shown) of the film player and set in an initial position, a magnetic read part  41  detects the format in shooting of each frame from a lead portion of the film  121  (S 401  to S 405 ). Depending on the result of such detection, the program branches to a step S 405 , S 425 , S 445  or S 465 .  
         [0201]    When the frame of the film  121  is in the format of a normal transverse position (yes at S 405 ), a timer t is reset/started so that a picture of the frame is taken by the CCD  17  (S 407  and S 409 ). Then, the data are skipped by the skip circuit  103  as hereinabove described, and subjected to signal processing by the WB, gamma correction and matrix circuit  104  and transmitted to the memory  109  (S 411  to S 415 ). Then the film  121  is fed for a prescribed time at a prescribed rate by the film feed part  122  and the film feed rate control part  123 . Thereafter feeding of the film  121  is stopped, and this is repeated until the overall frame thereof is completely scanned (S 417  to S 423 ).  
         [0202]    When the frame on the film  121  is in a panoramic transverse position, a normal vertical position or a panoramic vertical position, steps following S 427 , S 447  or S 465  are repeated. Contents of-these steps are similar to those for the normal transverse position except that the film  121  is driven at each of the aforementioned film feed rates, and hence redundant description is omitted.  
         [0203]    A modification of this embodiment is now described. In the modification, the film  121  is fixed while the CCD  17  is moved in place thereof. FIG. 33 illustrates a flow chart of this modification. The content of FIG. 33 is substantially similar to that shown in FIG. 32 except that the film feed rate control in FIG. 32 is replaced by moving rate control for the CCD  17 , and hence redundant description is omitted.  
         [0204]    Although the present invention has been described and illustrated in detail, it is clearly understood that the same is by way of illustration and example only and is not to be taken by way of limitation, the spirit and scope of the present invention being limited only by the terms of the appended claims.