Electronic studio sets controlled by a computer (abstract)

摘要

NHK has carried out research on the development of electronic studio sets for television program production employing digital video processing technology, and has progressed to their practical application.

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Used in place of the conventional studio sets built with ordinary construction materials, the electronic set can use a computer graphic or other electronic video image as the background scene. This background is synthesized with the foreground image filmed by the television camera, producing a realtime video image that parallels that made using an actual set.

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A high definition television format image is used for the background electronic set. For this reason, the newly developed digital image processor has been equipped with the high definition television frame storage capability, and the functions emulating the normal camera functions of zooming, panning and focusing are handled electronically, producing a background image synchronized with the operation of the foreground camera.

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The panning and tilting data from the foreground camera is detected by two rotary encoders attached to the universal head, while zooming and focusing data detection is handled by a potentiometer attached to the lens. The host computer continually gathers camera operation data and controls the digital image processor in order to produce a background video image which follows the movement of the camera. The computer can also read a new electronic studio set from magnetic disk to instantly produce changes of background scenes.

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Currently, NHK uses this electronic studio set in its daily broadcasts of regular news, sports news and commentary programs.