Patent Publication Number: US-2002008774-A1

Title: Prompter and signal processing device therefor

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] 1. Field of the Invention  
       [0002] The present invention relates to a prompter and its signal processing device, and particularly to a prompter which displays a script image, etc. for a person who works in front of a camera and its signal processing device.  
       [0003] 2. Description of the Related Art  
       [0004] A prompter displays a script on a monitor to allow a newscaster to read the script displayed on the monitor as if he or she knew the script from memory by looking at a TV camera. The monitor is facing up in front of the bottom of a taking lens, and a half-silvered mirror is mounted in front of the taking lens at a 45-degrees angle to the monitor. The half-silvered mirror reflects the script image form the monitor toward the newscaster without interfering with the shooting of the newscaster (Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 1147970). A prompter that has a liquid crystal display for a script image beside a taking lens without a half-silvered mirror is also known (Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 7170430).  
       [0005] A signal processing device for a prompter that records a script image in an embedded memory before the shooting and outputs the recorded script image to the monitor at the shooting is also known.  
       [0006] The signal processing device outputs not only the recorded script image but also an image the camera is capturing and a real-time image on the air. The newscaster can check his or her appearance and the like before the shooting and check the camera during the shooting with the prompter.  
       [0007] Conventionally, a special device that displays characters “NEWSCASTER CUE” indicating that an image of the newscaster is on the air is used for the newscaster. A special device that displays characters “NOTICE FU” indicating that voice of the newscaster is on the air is also used for the newscaster.  
       [0008] A rechargeable battery is used for the prompter at a place where there is no power source such as a news-gathering scene. The battery can be exhausted during the shooting. In this case, the reporter needs to replace the battery and shoot again. When the reporter goes to a news-gathering scene and shoots alone, the reporter checks the standing position and appearance by looking at an image on the monitor the camera is capturing and rehearse by displaying the script image on the monitor. This exhausts the battery before the shooting, and the battery easily is exhausted during the shooting. A battery has an indicator that indicates a residual amount of it, but the reporter needs to move to the prompter to check the residual amount.  
       [0009] The reporter also needs to work as a cameraman. The reporter can not adjust conditions (a zoom, an aperture, a type of an ND filter, and a type of a color filter) of the camera alone by looking at a viewfinder (electronic viewfinder). Even if the reporter can adjust them with a remote control, the viewfinder shows the current condition, and the reporter can not check them at the standing position.  
       [0010] Making the special device for the easy noticeability is time consuming, and it is a problem where to put the special device. In case an assistant holds it or it is put in a studio, the special device or the assistant can be in the shooting area. If the special device is away from the shooting area, the newscaster can not see that.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0011] The present invention has been developed in view of the above-described circumstances, and has as its object the provision of a prompter that prevents a battery for the prompter from being exhausted during a shooting.  
       [0012] Moreover, the present invention provides a signal processing device of a prompter that enables a person who works in front of a camera to check conditions of a camera at a standing position for a shooting without looking at a viewfinder.  
       [0013] Furthermore, the present invention provides a prompter which can display a message that is noticeable for a person who works in front of a camera such as a newscaster.  
       [0014] In order to achieve the above-described objects, the present invention is directed to a prompter which displays a script image on a monitor for a person in front of a camera, the prompter comprising: a battery residual amount determining device that determines a residual amount of a battery for the prompter; and a battery information displaying device that displays battery information on the monitor according to the residual amount determined by the battery residual amount determining device.  
       [0015] The battery information is the residual amount of the battery or a warning when the residual amount is less than a predetermined amount.  
       [0016] The prompter further comprises a power input terminal connected to a power source other than the battery, and the power source supplies power to the prompter through the power input terminal when the residual amount of the battery determined by the battery residual amount determining device is less than a predetermined amount. The prompter may further comprises a power input terminal connected to a power source other than the battery, the battery information is one of the residual amount of the battery and a warning when the residual amount is less than a first predetermined amount, and the power source supplies power to the prompter through the power input terminal when the residual amount of the battery determined by the battery residual amount determining device is less than a second predetermined amount.  
       [0017] According to the present invention, since the monitor displays the residual amount of the battery or the warning when the residual amount is less than a predetermined amount, the person can replace the battery before it is exhausted. If the person uses the prompter before the shooting, he or she can be cautious in order to prevent the battery from being exhausted during the shooting.  
       [0018] When the residual amount is less than the predetermined amount, the power source other than the battery supplies the power to the prompter. This prevents the battery from being exhausted during the shooting.  
       [0019] The present invention is also directed to a signal processing device of a prompter that outputs video signals to a monitor on which a script image is displayed for a person in front of a camera, the signal processing device comprising: a first input terminal through which video signals of an image that one of the camera and another camera is capturing are inputted to the signal processing device; a second input terminal through which video signals of an image that an electronic viewfinder is displaying are inputted to the signal processing device; and a switching device that switches the video signals to be outputted to the monitor between the video signals inputted through the first input terminal and the video signals inputted through the second input terminal.  
       [0020] The electronic viewfinder displays information on conditions of the camera, and the monitor displays the information when the video signals inputted through the second input terminal is outputted to the monitor by the switching device.  
       [0021] According to the present invention, since the monitor can display the image the camera is capturing and the image the electronic viewfinder is displaying, the person can easily check the conditions of the camera at the standing position for the shooting without looking at the electronic viewfinder.  
       [0022] The present invention is also directed to a prompter which displays a script image on a monitor for a person in front of a camera, wherein the monitor displays a message for the person.  
       [0023] The message informs the person that one of an image and voice of the person is on the air.  
       [0024] According to the present invention, the monitor displays the message for the person. For example, the message informs the person that the image or voice of the person is on the air. A special device does not need to be made, and where and how to put the special device do not need to be determined. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0025] The nature of this invention, as well as other objects and advantages thereof, will be explained in the following with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the figures and wherein:  
     [0026]FIG. 1 is a view showing a news-gathering shooting with a TV camera using a prompter of the present invention;  
     [0027]FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a structure for displaying battery information on a monitor;  
     [0028] FIGS.  3 (A),  3 (B),  3 (C),  3 (D) and  3 (E) show characters and diagrams indicating residual amounts of a battery displayed on the monitor;  
     [0029]FIG. 4 is a block diagram shows a structure of a battery switching part of the prompter in which two batteries are switched;  
     [0030]FIG. 5 is a view showing a news-gathering shooting with the TV camera using the prompter of the present invention;  
     [0031]FIG. 6 is a view showing the monitor when video signals are outputted from a viewfinder to the monitor;  
     [0032]FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a circuit of a signal processing device of the prompter;  
     [0033]FIG. 8 is a view showing a newscast shooting with a TV camera using a prompter;  
     [0034]FIG. 9 is a view showing a message for a newscaster;  
     [0035]FIG. 10 is a view showing a message for the newscaster; and  
     [0036]FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a circuit of a signal processing device for the newscaster. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
     [0037] Hereunder preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail in accordance with the accompanying drawings.  
     [0038]FIG. 1 shows a news-gathering shooting with a TV camera  10  using a prompter  12  of the present invention. Suppose a case in which a reporter M (person) goes to a news-gathering scene and reads a script displayed on the prompter  12  in front of the TV camera  10  alone. The TV camera  10  (a camera body  10 A and a taking lens  10 B) is mounted on a pedestal  14 , and the prompter  12  is provided in front of the TV camera  10  on the pedestal  14 .  
     [0039] The prompter  12  is composed of a monitor  18  facing up and a half-silvered mirror  16  mounted at a 45-degrees angle to the monitor  18  in front of the taking lens  10 B. A casing  20  for the monitor  18  contains devices and circuits including a signal processing device  32  (not shown). The signal processing device  32  records an image (such as a script image) to be displayed on the monitor  18  as inputted video signals in an embedded memory, or outputs an image recorded in the memory to a video signal input terminal of the monitor  18  as video signals. The signal processing device  32  switches video signals to be outputted to the video signal input terminal of the monitor  18  between video signals inputted from the outside in real time and the video signals stored in the memory according to operation of a remote control  22  that the reporter M is holding.  
     [0040] The operation of the reporter M before and during the shooting will now be explained. First, the reporter M connects a video signal output terminal of the TV camera  10  with a video signal input terminal on the casing  20  through a cable. This inputs video signals outputted from the TV camera  10  to the signal processing device  32 . The reporter M shoots a sheet of a manuscript with the TV camera  10  to input the video signals to the signal processing device  32 . Then, the reporter M stores the video signals in the memory with the remote control  22 . The reporter M repeats the recording for each sheet of the manuscript. Alternatively, the reporter M records a script made with a personal computer in the memory. In this case, the reporter M connects a video signal output terminal of the personal computer with the video signal input terminal of the prompter  12  through a cable, and inputs the video signals to the signal processing device  32 .  
     [0041] Next, the reporter M connects the video signal output terminal of the TV camera  10  with the video signal input terminal on the casing  20  through the cable to input video signals outputted from the TV camera  10  to the signal processing device  32 . The reporter M also outputs the video signals from the signal processing device  32  to the monitor  18 . This makes the monitor  18  display the real-time image the TV camera  10  is capturing. The reporter M checks his or her standing position and appearance by looking at the reflected image on the half-silvered mirror  16 . At the same time, the reporter M operates, the TV camera  10  to adjust the view angle and so on with the remote control  22  (or another remote control). If the reporter M wants to rehearse, the reporter M outputs the video signals recorded in the memory to the monitor  18  to display the script image on the monitor  18  with the remote control  22 . Then, the reporter M scrolls and reads the script to confirm the shooting time, etc.  
     [0042] After the preparation is finished, the shooting starts. The reporter M outputs the video signals stored in the memory to the monitor  18  with the remote control  22  to display the script image on the monitor  18 . Next, the reporter M starts the recording of the TV camera  10  with the remote control  22 , and scrolls and reads the script displayed by the prompter  12 . After reading the entire script, the reporter M stops the recording of the TV camera  10  with the remote control  22  to end the shooting.  
     [0043] One or more rechargeable batteries (storage batteries) can be used for the TV camera  10  and the prompter  12  since there is no power source at the news-gathering scene. In this case, one battery is connected to a power input terminal on the casing  20 , and the power is supplied to the monitor  18 , the signal processing device  32 , etc. of the prompter  12 . Generally, each of the TV camera  10  and the prompter  12  has one battery, but they may share one battery.  
     [0044] In the case where the battery is used for the prompter  12 , the battery is used before the shooting, and can be exhausted during the shooting. To address this problem, the monitor  18  displays a residual amount of the battery as battery information. Alternatively, it displays a warning as the battery information when the residual amount is less than a predetermined amount. This informs the reporter M of that the battery is going to be exhausted before the battery is exhausted. In case the reporter M prepares for the shooting, the prompter  12  informs the reporter M that the battery is going to be exhausted before the shooting. Thus, the reporter M can prevent the battery from being exhausted during the shooting by taking a measure such as a replacement of the battery.  
     [0045]FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a structure for displaying the battery information on the monitor  18 . The power input terminal  20 A on the casing  20  is connected to the battery  30  through the cable, and the power is supplied to the devices and the circuits of the prompter  12 . The casing  20  contains not only the signal processing device  32  and the monitor  18  but also a superimposing device  34  that displays the battery information on the monitor  18 .  
     [0046] The signal processing device  32  records the image (the script image) as the video signals inputted through the video signal input terminal  20 B on the casing  20  in the embedded memory (image memory), or outputs the image recorded in the memory as the video signals to the monitor  18 . The signal processing device  32  switches the video signals to be outputted to the monitor  18  between the video signals stored in the memory and the video signals inputted through the video signal input terminal  20 B in real time.  
     [0047] The video signals are stored and switched according to operation of the remote control  22  or a switch on the casing  20  or the like. The signal processing device  32  may be separate from the prompter  12 .  
     [0048] The superimposing device  34  comprises a superimposing circuit  36  that superimposes signals of the battery information on the video signals outputted from a video signal output terminal of the signal processing device  32  and outputs the superimposed signals to the video signal input terminal of the monitor  18 , a CPU  38  that designates characters or a diagram to be displayed for the superimposing circuit  36 , and an A/D converter  40  that converts the voltage applied through the power input terminal  20 A into a digital voltage and applies the digital voltage to the CPU  38 . Since superimposition of characters or a diagram on an image is widely known, the structure of the superimposing circuit  36  is not shown in detail. The superimposing device  34  may be integrated with the signal processing device  32 .  
     [0049] When the power of the prompter  12  is on, the CPU  38  of the superimposing device  34  obtains the voltage from the battery  30  through the A/D converter  40  and determines the residual amount of the battery  30 . Then, the CPU  38  designates the characters or the diagram of the battery information according to the residual amount. If the CPU  38  knows the relation between the voltage and the residual amount of the battery  30 , it does not have to calculate the residual amount from the voltage. Thus, the CPU  38  may designate the battery information according to the voltage.  
     [0050] First, the case where the residual amount of the battery  30  is displayed as the battery information will be explained. The CPU  38  determines the characters or the diagram according to the residual amount, and commands the superimposing circuit  36  to superimpose the signals of the characters or the diagram on the video signals outputted from the signal processing device  32  and output the superimposed signals to the monitor  18 . The CPU  38  designates the position, the size, the color, etc. of the characters or the diagram for the superimposing circuit  36 .  
     [0051] FIGS.  3 (A),  3 (B),  3 (C),  3 (D) and  3 (E) show characters and diagrams indicating residual amounts of the battery  30  displayed on the monitor  18 . Each figure shows three steps from the full-charged battery to the exhausted battery. FIG. 3,(A) shows battery-shaped diagrams, and a black area of each diagram indicates the residual amount. FIG. 3(B) shows bar-shaped diagrams, and a black area of each diagram indicates the residual amount. FIG. 3(C) shows percentages of the residual amounts, and FIG. 3(D) shows voltages of the battery  30 , and FIG. 3(E) shows remaining time of the battery  30 . Other diagrams and characters may be used to indicate the residual amount of the battery  30 .  
     [0052] The residual amount does not need to be displayed all the time, and it may be displayed only when the residual amount is low or the reporter M commands the prompter  12  to display the residual amount with the remote control  22  or the like. In case of the all-the-time display, the residual amount may be inconspicuously displayed (for example, it is displayed in a comer of the monitor  18  in a small size, and an inconspicuous color, density and brightness) when the residual amount is large, and it may be conspicuously displayed (for example, it is displayed in the center of the monitor  18  in a large size, and an conspicuous color, density and brightness) when the residual amount is small.  
     [0053] Next, the case in which the warning is displayed as the battery information when the residual amount is less than the predetermined amount (threshold) will be explained. When the residual amount is less than the predetermined amount (or the voltage is less than the predetermined voltage), the CPU  38  commands the superimposing circuit  36  to superimpose the signals of the warning characters or diagram on the video signals outputted from the signal processing device  32  and output the superimposed signals to the monitor  18 . The CPU  38  designates the position, the size, the color, etc. of the characters or the diagram for the superimposing circuit  36 .  
     [0054] The warning preferably starts to be displayed when the residual amount is enough for the shooting. The threshold may be determined according to the average time of shootings, and the reporter M may determine it on the basis of the shooting time. The reporter M may freely determine it.  
     [0055] The warning may be the characters such as “REPLACE BATTERY” or the diagram such as a lamp-shaped diagram. When the residual amount is less than the threshold, the remaining time of the battery  30  may be displayed all the time or at predetermined times. A warning screen is displayed on the whole monitor  18  instead of the superimposed warning. In this case, the prompter  12  can not be used until the reporter M turns off the warning screen with the remote control  22  or the like. Both the residual amount and the warning may be displayed, and the reporter M may determine whether or not he or she wants to display each of them.  
     [0056] The residual amount or the warning displayed on the monitor  18  can prevent the battery  30  from being exhausted during the shooting.  
     [0057] The case in which the two batteries are switched will now be explained. FIG. 4 shows a structure of a battery switching part of the prompter  12 . The monitor  18 , the signal processing device  32  and the superimposing device  34  (excluding the CPU  38 ) are not shown in FIG. 4. The casing  20  of the prompter  12  has the power input terminal  20 A connected to the battery  30 A for the prompter  12  and a power input terminal  20 C connected to the battery  30 B for the camera. A battery other than the battery  30 A may be connected to the power input terminal  20 C instead of the battery  30 B. A switch  50  is provided in the casing  20 , and the power is supplied from the batteries  30 A and  30 B to the devices and the circuits of the prompter  12  through the switch  50 .  
     [0058] A comparator  52  compares the voltage of the battery  30 A with a reference voltage. If the voltage of the battery  30 A is higher than the reference voltage (the residual amount is larger than a predetermined amount), the comparator  52  outputs a Low signal to put the switch  50  on the battery  30 A side. Thus, the power is supplied from the battery  30 A to the devices and the circuits of the prompter  12 .  
     [0059] If the voltage of the battery  30 A is the reference voltage or lower (the residual amount is the predetermined amount or smaller), the comparator  52  outputs a High signal to put the switch  50  on the battery  30 B side. Thus, the power is supplied from the battery  30 B to the devices and the circuits of the prompter  12 .  
     [0060] The batteries  30 A and  30 B can be switched just before the battery  30 A is exhausted.  
     [0061] The switch of the batteries  30 A and  30 B can prevent the battery  30 A from being exhausted during the shooting.  
     [0062] The comparator  52  outputs the Low signal or the High signal to the CPU  38  of the superimposing device  34 . If the CPU  38  detects that the Low signal is switched to the High signal, it commands the superimposing circuit  36  (see FIG. 2) to superimpose signals of characters or a diagram indicating the switch of the batteries  30 A and  30 B on the video signals and output the superimposed signals to the monitor  18 . The monitor displays the characters or the diagram, and this informs the reporter M of the switch of the batteries  30 A and  30 B. The reporter M also knows that they need to replace the battery  30 A for the prompter  12 . The battery which is being used may be also displayed on the monitor  18 . The voltages of the batteries  30 A and  30 B may be inputted to the CPU  38  in order to enable the residual amounts of the batteries  30 A and  30 B and the warnings to be also displayed.  
     [0063] Another embodiment will now be explained.  
     [0064] The casing  20  for the monitor  18  contains devices and circuits including a signal processing device  130  (not shown) in FIG. 5. The signal processing device  130  has two video signal input terminals  130 A and  130 B. The video signal input terminal  130 A is connected to the video signal output terminal  10 C of the camera body  10 A through a cable, and the video signals that the taking lens  10  is capturing are inputted to the video signal input terminal  130 A. The video signal input terminal  130 B is connected to a video signal output terminal  124 A of an electronic viewfinder  124  of the camera  10  through a cable, and video signals of an image displayed on the viewfinder  124  are outputted to the video signal input terminal  130 B.  
     [0065] The signal processing device  130  also has a video signal output terminal  130 C that is connected to the video signal input terminal of the monitor  18 . The monitor  18  displays an image of video signals outputted from the signal processing device  130 .  
     [0066] The video signals to be outputted from the signal processing device  130  to the monitor  18  are switched between the real-time video signals inputted from the camera  10  to the video signal input terminal  130 A, the real-time video signals inputted from the viewfinder  124  to the video signal input terminal  130 B, and video signals of an image (such as a script image) recorded in an embedded image memory  132  (see FIG. 7). The image memory  132  can record an image of the video signals inputted from the camera  10  (or another camera) to the video input terminal  130 A of the signal processing device  130 . For example, the camera  10  shoots the manuscript to be read and the image memory  132  records the script image before the shooting.  
     [0067]FIG. 6 shows the monitor  18  when the video signals are outputted from the viewfinder  124  to the monitor  18 . The monitor  18  displays the same image as the viewfinder  124  displays, and the image is composed in such a manner that information on conditions of the camera body  10 A and the taking lens  10 B (information on conditions of the camera  10 ) is superimposed on the image the camera  10  is capturing. A bar-shaped zoom indicator is displayed on the top of the screen to indicate the current zoom position. A type of an ND filter (code), an F-number, whether or not an extender is being used and a type of a light balancing filter (code) are displayed on the bottom of the screen. The information displayed on the viewfinder  124  and the monitor  18  is not limited to this.  
     [0068] The operation of the reporter M before and during the shooting will now be explained. First, the reporter M sets the camera  10  and the prompter  12  at the news-gathering scene as shown in FIG. 5. Then, the reporter M shoots a sheet of the manuscript with the camera  10  to input the video signals to the signal processing device  130 , and stores the video signals in the image memory  132  with the remote control  122 . The reporter M repeats the recording for each sheet of the manuscript. The reporter M may record the script before the setting of the camera  10 .  
     [0069] Next, the reporter M outputs the video signals from the camera  10  to the monitor  18  with the remote control  122 . This causes the monitor  18  to display the real-time image the camera  10  is capturing. The reporter M checks his or her standing position and appearance by looking at the reflected image on the half-silvered mirror  16 . Then, the reporter M outputs the video signals from the viewfinder  124  to the monitor  18  with the remote control  122 . This makes the monitor  18  display the real-time image the viewfinder  124  is displaying as shown in FIG. 6. This enables the reporter M to adjust the conditions (the zooming, the aperture, the type of the ND filter, the type of the color filter, and so on) of the camera  10  at the standing position by looking at the image displayed on the monitor  18 . Therefore, the reporter M does not need to move to the viewfinder  124  of the camera body  10 A.  
     [0070] After the preparation is finished, the shooting starts. The reporter M outputs the video signals stored in the image memory  132  to the monitor  18  with the remote control  122  to display the script image on the monitor  18 . Next, the reporter M starts the recording of the camera  10  with the remote control  122 , and scrolls and reads the script displayed by the prompter  12 . After reading the entire script, the reporter M stops the recording of the camera  10  with the remote control  122  to end the shooting.  
     [0071] A video signal output terminal of a camera (script camera for shooting the script may be connected to the video signal input terminal  130 A of the signal processing device  130 . This makes it possible to shoot the script with the script camera in real time and display the script image on the monitor  18 . Another remote control may be used instead of the remote control  122 .  
     [0072]FIG. 7 shows a circuit of the signal processing device  130  of the prompter  12 . The signal processing device  130  has the video signal input terminal  130 A connected to the camera body  10 A, the video signal input terminal  130 B connected to the viewfinder  124 , and the video signal output terminal  130 C connected to the monitor  18 .  
     [0073] The video signal input terminal  130 A is directly connected to a terminal  2  of a switch S 1 , and connected to a terminal  3  of the switch S 1  through the image memory  132 . A terminal  1  of the switch S 1  is connected to the terminal  2  or the terminal  3  according to a command from a controlling circuit  134 , and connected to a terminal  2  of a switch S 2 . A terminal  1  of the switch S 2  is connected to the terminal  2  or a terminal  3  according to a command from the controlling circuit  134 , and connected to the video signal output terminal  130 C. The video signal input terminal  130 B is connected to the terminal  3  of the switch S 2 .  
     [0074] When the reporter M commands the prompter  12  to display the image the camera  10  is capturing with the remote control  122 , the controlling circuit  134  receives the command by wireless or wire and outputs the video signals from the camera body  10 A to the monitor  18  by connecting the terminal  1  of the switch S 1  with the terminal  2  and connecting the terminal  1  of the switch S 2  with the terminal  2 . This displays the image the camera  10  is capturing on the monitor  18 . If the reporter M commands the prompter  12  to record the image in the image memory  132  with the remote control  122 , the controlling circuit  134  stores the video signals inputted through the video signal input terminal  130 A as digital data (image data) in the image memory  132 . FIG. 7 does not show a processing circuit that converts the video signals into the image data.  
     [0075] If the reporter M commands the prompter  12  to display the image recorded in the image memory  132  with the remote control  122 , the controlling circuit  134  connects the terminal  1  of the switch S  1  with the terminal  3  and connects the terminal  1  of the switch S 2  with the terminal  2 . This outputs the image data stored in the image memory  132  to the monitor  18  as the video signals, and the monitor  18  displays the script image. FIG. 7 does not show a processing circuit that converts the video signals into the image data.  
     [0076] If the reporter M commands the prompter  12  to display the image which the viewfinder  124  is displaying with the remote control  122 , the controlling circuit  134  can not operate the switch S 1  and that connects the terminal  1  of the switch S 2  with the terminal  3 . This outputs the video signals from the viewfinder  124  to the monitor  18 , and the monitor  18  displays the image the viewfinder  124  is displaying. Since the viewfinder  124  shows the conditions of the camera  10  (the camera body  10 A and the taking lens  10 B) with the image the camera  10  is capturing, the reporter M can adjust the conditions by looking at the monitor  18 .  
     [0077]FIG. 8 shows a newscast shooting with a TV camera  210  using a prompter  212 . Suppose a case in which a newscaster A (person) sits in front of the TV camera  210  (a camera body  210 A and a taking lens  210 B) and reads a script displayed on the prompter  212  in front of the taking lens  210 B of the TV camera  210 . The prompter  212  is composed of a monitor  214  facing up in front of the taking lens  210 B and a half-silvered mirror  216  mounted at a  45 degrees angle to the monitor  214 . The monitor  214  and the half-silvered mirror  216  are mounted on a pan head  218  for the camera body  210 A or the TV camera  210 .  
     [0078] A video signal input terminal of the monitor  214  is connected to a video signal output terminal of a signal processing device  220 , and the monitor  214  displays an image of video signals outputted from the signal processing device  220 . The signal processing device  220  and the monitor  214  may be in one casing, and they may be separate.  
     [0079] The signal processing device  220  has one or more video signal input terminals. One of them is connected to a video signal output terminal of a script camera  222  that shoots a script S to be read, and video signals are outputted from the script camera  222  to the monitor  214  through the signal processing device  220 . This displays a script image on the monitor  214 . In case the signal processing device  220  has two or more video signal input terminals, the newscaster A can choose video signals with a control part  224  at hand. For example, the newscaster A may choose video signals of an image on the air, video signals outputted from the TV camera  210 , or the video signals outputted from the script camera  222 .  
     [0080] The image (such as the script image) inputted to the signal processing device  220  as the video signals can be recorded in a memory in the signal processing device  220 , and the recorded video signals or the video signals inputted to the signal processing device  220  in real time may be outputted to the monitor  214 . Thus, the script camera  222  can shoot the script and the memory of the signal processing device  220  can record the script image before the newscast shooting, and the monitor  214  can display the recorded script image at the shooting. The newscaster A can scroll the script with the control part  224  at hand when he or she reads it.  
     [0081] When the monitor  214  displays the image such as the script image, the image is reflected into the half-silvered mirror  216  so that the newscaster A can look at the reflected image without looking away from the TV camera  210 .  
     [0082] The signal processing device  220  has an easy-noticeability function that displays messages for the newscaster. The messages include characters “NEWSCASTER CUE” for informing the newscaster A that the image of him or her is on the air and characters “NOTICE FU” for informing the newscaster A that his or her microphone is on. Video signals of the characters are superimposed on the video signals of the script image or the like so that the characters are displayed on the monitor  214  with the script image or the like. The characters “NEWSCASTER CUE” are displayed in the lower left hand comer of the script screen as shown in FIG. 9, and the characters “NOTICE FU” are displayed in the lower left hand corner of the script screen as shown in FIG. 10. A director or someone else can turn on and off the easy-noticeability function with a switch of a control part  226  connected to the signal processing device  220  by wire or wireless or a switch on the casing of the signal processing device  220 . The message is noticeable for the newscaster when he or she is reading the script. Since the messages are displayed on the monitor  214 , the camera  210  does not shoot unneeded objects.  
     [0083]FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a circuit of the signal processing device  220 . The casing  230  of the signal processing device  220  has the video signal input terminal  230 A connected to the script camera  222 , etc. and the video signal output terminal  230 B connected to the video signal input terminal of the monitor  214 . The casing  230  may have two or more video signal input terminals. The signals that pass the video signal input terminal  230 A and the video signal output terminal  230 B may be composite video signals such as NTSC signals, or component signals such as RGB signals.  
     [0084] The video signals inputted through the video signal input terminal  230 A are inputted to a video signal switching part  232  with the memory that records the script image and so on. The video signal converting part  232  stores the video signals inputted through the video signal input terminal  230 A in the memory, outputs the video signals stored in the memory, and switches the video signals to be outputted through the video signal output terminal  230 B between the stored video signals and the video signals inputted through the video signal input terminal  230 A in real time in accordance with a command from a control part (for example, the control part  224  in FIG. 8). The video signals outputted from the video signal converting part  232  is outputted to the monitor  214  through a video switch  240  and the video signal output terminal  230 B.  
     [0085] The signal processing device  220  also has a CPU  234  that superimposes the messages on the script image, an on-screen character display LSI  236 , a synchronizing signal extracting circuit  238  and the video switch  240 . The casing  230  or the control part  226  in FIG. 8 has switches S, S 2 , S 3 , . . . , SN for choosing the messages, and the CPU  234  determines whether the switches are S 1 -SN on or off by wire or wireless. For example, the switch S 1  is for the message “NEWSCASTER CUE,” and the switch S 2  is for the message “NOTICE FU.” The other switches S 3 -SN are auxiliary switches, and a message needs to be registered in the CPU  234  for each of them.  
     [0086] When the CPU  234  detects that one of the switches S 1 -SN has been turned on, the CPU  234  commands the on-screen character display LSI  236  to superimpose the message on the script image. The command indicates codes for the characters, the size, the position, the color, etc. of the message. If two or more switches are turned on at one time, the CPU  234  determines the arrangement of the messages. The user may send a signal (a signal used for turning on a tally lamp) indicating that the image of the newscaster A is on the air to the CPU  234  instead of turning on the switch S 1 . The user may directly command the on-screen character display LSI  236  with a personal computer.  
     [0087] Horizontal synchronizing signals and vertical synchronizing signals of the video signals extracted by the synchronizing signal extracting circuit  238  are inputted to the on-screen character display LSI  236 .  
     [0088] The on-screen character display LSI  236  outputs superimposition signals for superimposing the message on the script image to the video switch  240  in synchronization with the video signals according to the command from the CPU  234  and the synchronizing signals from the synchronizing signal extracting circuit  238 .  
     [0089] The video switch  240  is put not on a video signal switching part side but a brightness level side only when the video switch  240  receives the superimposition signals so that the CPU  234  superimposes the message on the script image. The video switch  240  may be incorporated in the on-screen character display LSI  236 . In case of color message, if the video signals are composite signals, the video signals are converted into RGB signals, and a signal is superimposed on each of the RGB signals, and then the composed signals are converted into composite signals.  
     [0090] The superimposed video signals are outputted from the video signal output terminal  230 B to the video signal input terminal of the monitor  214  of the prompter  212 . This superimposes the messages such as “NEWSCASTER CUE” and “NOTICE FU” on the script image as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10.  
     [0091] The messages are characters in the embodiment, but they may be diagrams or marks. The prompter  212  can make the message conspicuous by making it flicker, reversing the brightnesses of the message and its circumference, or changing its color to a conspicuous color such as red.  
     [0092] The prompter  212  may display how long the newscaster A has before the start or end of the shooting as a message. For example, the user turns on a switch to display characters “30 SECONDS” when the newscaster A has thirty seconds left, and the CPU  234  counts down.  
     [0093] In case there are two or more newscasters and each of them has a script image, the script images are switched in response to an operation of a newscaster switch indicating who is the next. However, it is hard to determine whose script image is being displayed. For this reason, the number of a script image that is being displayed may be displayed in response to the operation of the newscaster switch.  
     [0094] As has been described above, since the monitor displays the residual amount of the battery or the warning when the residual amount is less than a predetermined amount, the person can replace the battery before it is exhausted. If the person uses the prompter before the shooting, he or she can be cautious in order to prevent the battery from being exhausted during the shooting.  
     [0095] When the residual amount is less than the predetermined amount, the power source other than the battery supplies the power to the prompter. This prevents the battery from being exhausted during the shooting.  
     [0096] As has been described above, since the monitor can display the image the camera is capturing and the image the electronic viewfinder is displaying, the person can easily check the conditions of the camera at the standing position for the shooting without looking at the electronic viewfinder.  
     [0097] As has been described above, the monitor displays the message for the person. For example, the message informs the person that the image or voice of the person is on the air. A special device does not need to be made, and where and how to locate the special device do not need to be determined. This also prevents unneeded objects from being shot during the shooting.  
     [0098] It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the invention is to cover all modifications, alternate constructions and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.