VIDEO PRODUCTION SWITCHER WITH NON LINEAR ARRANGEMENT
OF PROGRAM KEYS
Ref: CVPS
[0001] This present invention relates to a video production switcher that employs a plurality of control units to perform transitions of video sources.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] Video production switchers are used in the television broadcast industry in order to switch between various video sources. These sources include cameras, video recording and reproducing devices (such as VTRs or video servers), computer graphics elements, other video production switchers, external links and in general any device that may produce a video signal.
[0003] In these switchers the sources are located in a linear manner, as keys (buttons), usually numbered to the respective media source. For example a switcher handling 12 video cameras and 4 video recorder's outputs, is handling 16 sources. On the switch board 16 keys located in a linear form from left to right are assigned to these sources identified as caml, cam2, cam3 vtrl, vtr2,vtr3, vtr4. All assignments originate from the switcher main frame, while the switcher is a side panel. Many more sources may be assigned in a switcher.
[0004] Most switchers contain more than one set of linear keys which are called mix effect buses and are identified as ME1, ME2, ME3 etc. After the assignment of the sources to ME 1, the same sources are allocated to each other available MEs, giving the opportunity to the switcher operator to use each ME at his own desire.
[0005] Each ME is a linear array of keys which contains two buttons per source located one on top and one below in the same linear deployment. The bottom set of keys of each array, called preview, allows the operator to preview the source he is willing to transit to, in a central large preview monitor, while to top set of keys are used for the actual transition from one source to another, their output displayed also in a central large program monitor. A third linear array of keys is located on top of the program and preview arrays, used for the keying process between sources.
[0006] One lever (T-bar) on the right bottom part of the switcher allows the operator to switch between sources using a transition effect. The source to replace the active one is selected by the preview buttons of the same mix effect linear array. The type of transition is selectable by keys for auto transition or cut transition. Many more types of transition effects can be selected from a separate menu.
[0007] During normal operations, the switcher operator or the director operating the switcher, is monitoring the sources in monitors spread over a wall opposite to him (the monitor stack). Each monitor is equipped with an "under monitor display" (UMD) which is stating the number or the name of the source for identification.
[0008] When the operator is willing to switch to any desired source, first he has to observe the action at the respective monitor, then he has to observe the UMD indicator underneath it, then he has to correlate the UMD indication to the numbering system of the linear board keys, and then to press the appropriate key in order to switch to the desired source.
[0009] This practice is costing significant time between the decision to switch to a source and the action resulting to the transition. This practice is more difficult when many sources are in operation i.e. a Champions League soccer match where more than sixteen camera and twelve video outputs are used.
[0010] An improved system and method for applying transitions in a video production switcher is desirable.
DISCLOSE OF THE INVENTION
[0011] The Non Linear Video Production Switcher (fig 1) is a device that rearranges the linear array of the key buttons of a specific mix effect bus, in a form adoptable to the shooting area where cameras are distributed and also incorporates other sources located outside of the shooting area.
[0011] The central part of the switcher consists of one LCD monitor (1) which corresponds to the field of action. The contrast and brightness of the monitor is adjusted by the rotary buttons (6) and (5) respectively. The video input of this monitor is selectable using the switch button (4).
[0012] The input can be either be the standard preview & program video feeds as available at the monitor stack, or a specific feed selected from the top set of keys (3). There are twelve keys allocated for this function but as many more sources may be used, the shift key (18) allows the operator to navigate to all sources available for selection. [0013] Surrounding the central LCD monitor of the switcher is a cyclical array of one hundred ninety two dual programmable program keys (2) spread in three homocentric groups, representing all possible camera positions within a field of shooting. Each key is paired with the key immediate below it (19). The top keys are the transition or program keys, while their paired bottom keys are the preview ones.
[0014] The area of the switcher hosting the program (2) and preview (19) buttons corresponds to the surrounding the field of action area, where usually cameras are located. According to the physical camera position used in studio or a play ground, one engineer will assign the respective key on the Switcher.
[0015] Assigned keys and their pair will be lit, while non- assigned keys will be inactive. Once all keys have been programmed the switcher will reveal all cameras and their position within the shooting area, while the central the LCD monitor (1) will representing the action field.
[0016] Pressing a program key will result to the transition from one camera to another. Program and preview sources can be switched using also a transition switch (T-bar) (15) located at the right bottom of the Switcher. A selection of the transition method (|CUJj or ^UTO)| is available by pressing key (13) and (14). Should the operator whishes to fade to black the key |FTB| (16) shall provide for
[0017] The right side of the switcher hosts three columns of keys. The left column (10) hosts twenty programmable keys for macro commands. From the total twenty, fifteen macro keys are assigned to the source located to the key immediate to its right side flMacro 1| to
Macro 15|) while |Macro 15| to [Macro 20| keys are used for individual macro commands unrelated to any sources.
[0018] The middle column (11) hosts fifteen keys |EXT1| to
EXT 15 where other than a camera sources (as video recorders or external links) are assigned. By pressing this key the operator will transit to the source assigned to it.
[0019] The right column (12) hosts fifteen keys |PV 1| to |PV 15 each paired to the key immediate on its left side, and serves the preview function of its paired source key.
[0020] Switching between Mixed Effect buses is provided by the keys |ME 21 (7) [ME 3 (8) and |ME 4[ (9) located at the top right of the switcher Pressing any of these keys will transit to the ME bus of a conventional switcher where the operator has pre-created a video signal using features of the conventional switcher which are not incorporated in the non linear switcher. By pressing the same ME key again the switcher will come back to its previous state and source output. The same applies to all program keys, thus by pressing a source key once will result to a transition to the respective to the key source, pressing the same key again will result to a transition to the last selected source.
[0021] The wireless key (17) allows the switcher to be connected to the main frame using IP protocol . This feature allows free movement of the switcher operator.
METHODOLOGY OF OPERATION
[0022] Once the switcher operator or the director operating the switcher has a generic view of the field of action as provided in the central LCD monitor, immediately realizes where the action is happening in relation to the field of shooting. Whenever a transition is required, selection of the respective camera and pressing the appropriate key can be performed immediately. Precious time is saved resulting to increased production value of the event produced .
[0023] The skilled switching operator and director will appreciate that combining any of the above-recited features of the present invention together may be attractive and adding to the simplification of operation of the video production switcher.
List of Drawings
Figure 1 : Non Linear Video Production Switcher Top View
Figure 2 : Detail of Figure 1
Figure 3 : Detail of Figure 1
Figure 4 : Detail of Figure 1
Figure 5 : Detail of Figure 1