JP2004364044A - Image recording apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a camcorder automatically recording information related to a photograph object, as well as an image, at the time of photographing. <P>SOLUTION: The information of the photograph object originated from a wireless tag 10 is received by an antenna 4 having the same directivity as an image angle of a lens 21 in the camcorder 1. The above information is synchronized with video data output from a camera block 2 by a video signal processor 3, and is recorded on videotape 7 of a recording medium at a recorder 6 as metadata. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus such as a camcorder in which a camera and a recorder for recording video are integrated.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in order to search for a desired video from a video captured by an imaging device such as a camera-integrated video tape recorder (hereinafter, referred to as a camcorder), a user plays back the captured video and visually A method of confirming and obtaining a desired image has been adopted. In addition, several methods have been proposed for recording detailed information about a video as metadata after shooting.
[0003]
Further, in a news system for use in a broadcasting station or the like, a title for managing the shot video, information on a shooting date and time, information on a photographer and a shooting location, and the like are recorded in the shot video in advance, and a video signal is recorded. Is also proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
International Publication No. WO 96/36177 pamphlet [0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, when searching for a desired video using a conventional camcorder, it has been troublesome to check all of the captured videos one by one. In addition, when recording detailed information about a video as metadata so that a keyword search can be performed, a cumbersome operation for the user such as adding metadata after shooting is required.
[0006]
In a video signal transmission device used in a news system or the like as described above, it is troublesome that a user has to record detailed information on a captured video in advance, or the detailed information is recorded. Large-scale equipment is also required.
[0007]
The present invention has been proposed in view of such a conventional situation, and information of an object imaged by a device such as a camcorder that integrates a camera and a storage for recording is automatically recorded at the time of photographing. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image pickup device recorded in a camera.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above-described object, an image recording apparatus according to the present invention includes an imaging unit that captures an image of an object to obtain a captured image, and a predetermined recording medium that uses the captured image obtained by the imaging unit as image data. An image recording apparatus comprising: a recording unit that records information from an information transmitting device that transmits information of an object to be carried by the object within a field angle of an image captured by the imaging unit. Receiving means for receiving only the object information, meta information generating means for generating meta information of the object from the object information obtained by the receiving means, and synchronizing the meta information generated by the meta information generating means with the image data. Recording means for recording the data.
[0009]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. This embodiment is applied to a camera-integrated video tape recorder (hereinafter, referred to as a camcorder) that captures an object to obtain image data.
[0010]
The embodiment of the present invention is applied to, for example, a photographing system 100 using a camcorder 102 for photographing a user having a device 101 for transmitting photographed object information, as shown in FIG. The camcorder 102 can receive information from the transmitting device 101 when there is a user who has the transmitting device 101 of the object information within the angle of view of the captured image (within α in FIG. 1). Is recorded together with the image data. However, if the user who has the transmitting device 101 or a non-user who does not have the transmitting device 101 is within the angle of view of the captured image outside the angle of view of the captured image, No information can be received and no object information is recorded.
[0011]
Hereinafter, a camcorder 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described. The camcorder 1 has a configuration as shown in FIG. The camcorder 1 outputs a video signal and an audio signal obtained by capturing an image of an object to be shot to a video signal processing unit 3, and converts the signal output from the camera block 2 into image data and audio data by performing signal processing. A video signal processing unit 3, an antenna 4 for receiving information transmitted from a wireless tag 10 described later, a wireless tag receiving unit 5 for demodulating radio waves received from the antenna 4 and outputting the demodulated radio wave to the video signal processing unit 3; A recording unit 6 for recording the image data and audio data multiplexed by the video signal processing unit 3 and the metadata from the wireless tag 10, a video tape 7 as a recording medium for recording the image data and the like, and a camcorder 1. It comprises a control unit 8 for controlling various operations and an operation unit 9 for operating the camcorder 1.
[0012]
The camera block 2 includes a lens unit 21 that converges light reflected from the object, a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) 22 that is an imaging unit that converts the light converged by the lens unit 21 into an electric signal, and a CCD 22. A / D (Analog to Digital) converter 23 for quantizing the output electric signal, microphone 24 for collecting the sound of the object to be photographed, and A / D conversion for quantizing the collected sound. And a unit 25. The image signal and the audio signal converted into digital signals by the A / D converters 23 and 25 are output to the video signal processor 3.
[0013]
The video signal processing unit 3 is controlled by the control unit 8 and performs digital signal processing on the image signal and the audio signal supplied from the camera block 2 to generate image data and audio data. The metadata supplied from the wireless tag receiving unit 5 is multiplexed and supplied to the recording unit 6.
[0014]
The metadata is data representing information about the object such as the name and attribute of the object, and is data in which information necessary for identifying the object from other objects is described.
[0015]
The antenna 4 is for receiving the metadata of the object transmitted from the wireless tag 10 and has a directivity substantially equal to the angle of view of the lens unit 21 of the camcorder 1. Therefore, when the object having the wireless tag 10 enters the angle of view of the camera, the antenna 4 can receive the meta information of the object from the wireless tag.
[0016]
The wireless tag receiving unit 5 demodulates the signal received by the antenna 4 and supplies the demodulated signal to the video signal processing unit 3 as metadata of the object.
[0017]
The recording unit 6 includes, for example, a recording / reproducing head for recording and / or reproducing image data, audio data, and metadata on a video tape 7 as a recording medium, and is controlled by the control unit 8 to control the video signal processing unit. The image data, audio data, and metadata supplied from 3 are recorded on the video tape 7. In the present invention, the recording medium is not limited to a video tape. For example, a recording medium of a nonvolatile memory such as a flash memory, a disk-shaped recording medium such as a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), or the like may be used. Good.
[0018]
The control unit 8 incorporates, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and a ROM (Read Only Memory), and controls and controls each of the above-described components. , The operation of the entire camcorder 1 is controlled.
[0019]
The operation unit 9 has, for example, various buttons and switches, and supplies an instruction for operating the camcorder 1 to the control unit 8.
[0020]
Next, the wireless tag 10 for transmitting the metadata of the photographed object will be described with reference to FIG.
[0021]
The wireless tag 10 is a device including a unique identification information and a readable and writable storage area, and is a device that transmits a radio wave corresponding to the identification information and the stored information. The radio wave transmitted from the wireless tag 10 is received by the reading device. The reader identifies the wireless tag 10 by reading the identification information of the wireless tag 10 and the information written in the storage area from the received radio wave. Therefore, it is possible to determine the article and the owner using the unique ID and other information written in the wireless tag.
[0022]
As shown in FIG. 3, the wireless tag 10 having the above-described features includes a memory unit 11 that stores information of an object to be photographed in advance, and modulates data stored in the memory unit 11 so that the antenna 13 It comprises a wireless transmitting unit 12 for outputting and an antenna 13 for transmitting a signal supplied from the wireless transmitting unit 12.
[0023]
Next, how the camcorder 1 of the first embodiment captures an image of an object having the wireless tag 10 will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 4, balloons from the recording section 6 in the camcorder 1 schematically show image data and metadata recorded on a recording medium.
[0024]
Now, there are a user A holding the wireless tag 10A, a user B holding the wireless tag 10B, and a non-user C not holding the wireless tag 10. In each of the wireless tags 10A and 10B, information that can identify the user A, for example, "Mr. A" and information that can identify the user B, for example, the information of "Mr. B" are stored in the respective memory sections 11A, 11B is assumed to be stored in advance.
[0025]
As shown in FIG. 4A, when the user A holding the wireless tag 10A is within the angle of view of the lens unit 21 of the camcorder 1 and is imaged by the camcorder 1, the user A of the lens unit 21 of the camcorder 1 The object information is received from the antenna 4 having substantially the same directivity as the angle of view, and metadata “Mr. A” of the user A holding the wireless tag 10A is recorded together with the image data.
[0026]
Next, as shown in FIG. 4B, when a non-user C who does not have the wireless tag 10 is within the angle of view of the lens unit 21 of the camcorder 1 and is imaged by the camcorder 1, Since the tag 10 is not possessed, the object information from the wireless tag 10 is not transmitted, and the metadata of the non-user C is not recorded. That is, this is the same as the case where the image is captured by the conventional camcorder.
[0027]
Next, as shown in FIG. 4C, a user A holding the wireless tag 10A and a non-user C not holding the wireless tag 10 are within the angle of view of the lens unit 21 of the camcorder 1. When the image is captured by the camcorder 1, the image data of the user A and the non-user C is recorded, but the image data of the user 4 is transmitted from the antenna 4 having the same directivity as the angle of view of the lens unit 21 of the camcorder 1. Only the object information of A is received, and only the metadata of "A" of the user A who has the wireless tag 10A is recorded together with the image data. That is, the metadata of the non-user C who does not have the wireless tag 10 is not recorded.
[0028]
Next, as shown in FIG. 4D, a user A holding the wireless tag 10A and a user B holding the wireless tag 10B are within the angle of view of the lens unit 21 of the camcorder 1. When the image is captured by the camcorder 1, the object information is received from the antenna 4 having the same directivity as the angle of view of the lens unit 21 of the camcorder 1 together with the image data of the users A and B, The metadata of "Ms. A" and "Ms. B" are also recorded at the same time.
[0029]
Further, as shown in FIG. 4E, the user A holding the wireless tag 10A is within the angle of view of the lens unit 21 of the camcorder 1, is being imaged, and has the wireless tag 10B. When the user B who is present is near the user A but outside the angle of view of the lens unit 21 of the camcorder 1, the antenna 4 having the same directivity as the angle of view of the lens unit 21 of the camcorder 1 is covered. Only the metadata "Mr. A" of the user A who has the wireless tag 10A capable of receiving the photographed object information is recorded together with the image data. That is, even if there is a user B holding the wireless tag 10B, since the user B is not within the angle of view of the lens unit 21 of the camcorder 1, the antenna 4 cannot receive the object information, The image of the user B is not recorded, and the metadata of the user B is not recorded.
[0030]
As described above, when the user carrying the wireless tag 10 is within the angle of view of the camera, the antenna 4 having the same directivity as the angle of view of the lens unit 21 of the camcorder 1 is received. The camera information can be received, and the camcorder 1 can record information on the object to be received from the wireless tag 10 simultaneously with the image data. Therefore, the photographer can easily search for a video in which a specific object is recorded, using the recorded information on the object.
[0031]
Next, a camcorder 30 according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0032]
The camcorder 30 according to the second embodiment of the present invention has a configuration as shown in FIG. The components having the same functions and configurations as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.
[0033]
The camcorder 30 uses an LED (light emitting diode) tag as a method for recognizing and recording information on the object to be photographed. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5, the camcorder 30 includes the LED signal processing unit 14.
[0034]
The LED signal processing unit 14 receives image data via the video signal processing unit 3, extracts a blinking pattern of the LED 42 from the image data, and obtains information on the object from the blinking pattern. The obtained information on the object is input to the video signal processing unit 3, and the image data and the information on the object are synchronized and supplied to the recording unit 6, as in the camcorder 1. It is recorded on the tape 7.
[0035]
Next, the LED tag 40 for transmitting the metadata of the photographed object will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 6, the LED tag 40 converts the data stored in the memory unit 11 into a signal such as a blinking LED and the like, and blinks the LED 42. The control unit 41 includes an LED 42 that blinks in response to an input signal.
[0036]
Since the camcorder 30 as described above obtains information of the object from the photographed LED tag 40, the metadata of the object outside the angle of view, that is, the object having the LED tag 40 that has not been photographed, is recognized. It is not recorded.
[0037]
The method of identifying the object to be photographed is not limited to the blinking pattern of the LED as described above, and may be, for example, a method based on a difference in the number of blinks per unit time or a difference in the color of the LED. .
[0038]
In the camcorder 30 using the LED tag 40, as in the first embodiment, the main body of the camcorder 30 may be provided with an LED tag light receiving unit having the same directivity as the camera angle of view.
[0039]
Further, when the object is photographed and information of the object is recorded from the wireless tag 10 or the LED tag 40, a means for notifying the fact, for example, information of the object is recorded. A light-emitting element or the like that lights up when the camera is turned on may be attached to the main body of the camcorder. By doing so, the photographer can keep the photographed object within the angle of view even if he does not recognize the desired photographed object, and at the same time, the information of the photographed object is recorded. Then, it is possible to easily search for a video in which a specific object is recorded later.
[0040]
【The invention's effect】
As described in detail above, the image recording apparatus according to the present invention can automatically record the object information from the information transmitting apparatus together with the video, so that the photographer can concentrate on the act of shooting. it can.
[0041]
In addition, by using the recorded metadata, for example, a video can be searched for using a keyword, and a video in which a desired object to be shot is recorded can be easily searched and reproduced.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the camcorder 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a wireless tag 10 that transmits information on an object to be shot to the camcorder 1.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the camcorder 1 according to the first embodiment captures an image of an object having a wireless tag 10;
FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a camcorder 30 according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an LED tag 40 for transmitting information of an object to be photographed to the camcorder 30.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 camcorder, 2 camera block, 3 video signal processing unit, 4, 13 antenna, 5 wireless tag receiving unit, 6 recording unit, 7, 41 control unit, 8 operation unit, 9 LED signal processing unit, 10 wireless tag, 11 memory, 12 wireless transmission section, 21 lens section, 22 CCD, 23, 25 A / D conversion section, 24 speaker, 40 LED tag, 42 LED

Claims (3)

An image recording apparatus comprising: an imaging unit that captures an image of an object to obtain a captured image; and a recording unit that records the captured image obtained by the imaging unit on a predetermined recording medium as image data.
A receiving unit that receives a signal from an information transmitting device that transmits information of an object to be carried by the object only within an angle of view of an image captured by the imaging unit,
Meta information generating means for generating meta information of the object from the object information obtained by the receiving means,
Recording means for recording the meta information generated by the meta information generating means in synchronization with the image data,
An image recording apparatus comprising: The information transmitting device is a wireless tag carried by the object, and the receiving unit includes an antenna having a directivity in the same range as an angle of view of an image captured by the imaging unit. Item 2. The image recording apparatus according to Item 1. 2. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information transmitting device is an LED tag carried by the object, and the receiving unit receives a signal from the LED tag reflected in a captured image.

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