JP5207943B2 - Imaging device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention is, after recording the execution of a predetermined time from the recording start to stop automatically records relates recordable imaging equipment and video by a so-called snap movie recording mode.

  In recent years, digital video cameras (hereinafter referred to as “DVC”) using a randomly accessible recording medium such as an optical disk, a hard disk drive, and a flash memory, in addition to the conventionally known magnetic tape, have been widely used as an apparatus for recording moving images. Yes. In addition, digital still cameras (hereinafter referred to as digital cameras) used for recording still images are increasingly equipped with a function capable of recording moving images.

  A feature of these devices is that they can randomly access a recording medium and have high compatibility with other digital devices such as a personal computer (PC). Because of these features, these devices can easily create short-time video files (hereinafter referred to as “snap movies”), send them attached to e-mails, etc., or upload them on a Web page for publication. It has become.

  Typical recording modes for DVC and digital cameras include a normal recording mode and a snap movie recording mode. The normal recording mode is a conventional usage mode in which continuous recording is performed until a user instruction is given as long as the capacity of the recording medium permits. On the other hand, the snap movie recording mode is a mode in which recording is automatically stopped after recording for a predetermined time from the start of recording for the purpose of creating a snap movie. Patent Document 1 discloses a device that can select a normal recording mode and a snap movie recording mode.

  When viewing a moving image recorded in the normal recording mode or the snap movie recording mode, it is necessary to display the moving image in a list (for example, a simple image such as a thumbnail) and select it as a transmission or reproduction target. Therefore, when selecting a moving image recorded in a desired recording mode, it is necessary to determine whether the recorded moving image is recorded in the normal recording mode or in the snap movie recording mode.

  Patent Document 2 discloses a device for classifying recorded moving images, which uses time information added to the moving images and performs grouping based on time difference information from the start of recording to the next recording start. Yes.

JP-A-6-153028 Japanese Patent No. 4045651

  However, the technique described in Patent Document 2 discriminates a recording time interval between a moving image and another moving image, and detects and classifies a plurality of moving images as one unit. For this reason, if there are a mixture of videos shot in the normal recording mode and the snap movie recording mode with different recording modes, the recording start time interval is determined even if only the video in the snap movie recording mode is selected when browsing or playing back the movie. Just do not classify.

  On the other hand, when moving images are classified according to the recording mode, classification can be performed by adding or associating each information of the normal recording mode and the snap movie recording mode as the moving image attribute information by selecting the recording mode. If information is added in this way, only the video shot in the snap movie recording mode can be extracted, and the user can continuously play the cut snap movie without taking any special editing work. .

  Here, in the DVC and the digital camera, it is conceivable that the user intentionally records a moving image as a snap movie in the normal recording mode.

  However, even if the user intentionally records as a snap movie for a short time in the normal recording mode, this moving image is not classified as the snap movie recording mode. For this reason, even if only the movie in the snap movie recording mode is reproduced, the movie is not reproduced.

  In view of the actual situation, the present invention enables an imaging apparatus capable of recording a moving image in the snap movie recording mode to handle a moving image recorded in another recording mode as a snap movie, and for reproducing a recorded moving image. Improve operability and usability.

The imaging apparatus of the present invention includes a first recording mode in which recording is automatically stopped after recording for a predetermined recording time from the start of moving image recording as a plurality of recording modes, and the first recording mode An imaging apparatus for recording a moving image in a second recording mode in which recording is stopped under different conditions, the recording time acquiring means for acquiring the recording time of the recorded moving image, and the recorded moving image Recording mode attribute associating means for associating attribute information indicating the recording mode or the second recording mode, and the recording mode attribute associating means is recorded in the second recording mode acquired by the recording time acquiring means. If the recording time of the moving image recorded in the second recording mode is shorter than the predetermined time, the recording time of the recorded moving image is compared with the predetermined time. Characterized in that associating the attribute information indicating that the recording by the first recording mode.
Another imaging apparatus of the present invention includes a first recording mode in which recording is automatically stopped after recording for a predetermined recording time from the start of recording of a moving image as a plurality of recording modes; An imaging device that records a moving image in a second recording mode that stops recording under conditions different from the recording mode, and a recording time acquisition unit that acquires a recording time of the recorded moving image, Recording mode attribute association means for associating attribute information indicating the first recording mode or the second recording mode, wherein the recording mode attribute association means is the second recording acquired by the recording time acquisition means. When the recording time of the moving image recorded in the mode is compared with the first time and the second time, and is within the range of the first time and the second time, at least the first Characterized in that associating the attribute information indicating that the recording by the recording mode.

  According to the present invention, in an imaging device capable of recording a moving image in the snap movie recording mode, a scene recorded in another recording mode can be handled as a snap movie, and operability related to reproduction of a recorded moving image, etc. And usability can be improved.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a system configuration of an imaging apparatus which is an example of an embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, reference numeral 101 denotes an image sensor that performs photoelectric conversion. Reference numeral 102 denotes an analog front end circuit (AFE) that performs sampling of a captured image and DA conversion. Reference numeral 103 denotes a camera signal processing circuit that converts a signal input from the analog front end circuit 102 into a video signal.

  A system controller 104 performs system control of the imaging apparatus. Reference numeral 105 denotes a moving image recording start / stop switch (corresponding to the operation unit in the present invention) that instructs to start and stop moving image recording. Reference numeral 106 denotes a recording mode switch for switching between the normal recording mode and the snap movie recording mode.

  Reference numeral 107 denotes a recorder signal processing circuit that converts a video signal into moving image data (hereinafter, also referred to as a unit “moving image”) in a predetermined recording format and records it on a recording medium. Reference numeral 108 denotes a memory controller that controls reading and writing of moving image data. Reference numeral 109 denotes a recording medium (memory) for storing moving image data.

  Reference numeral 110 denotes an operation mode changeover switch for switching the operation of the imaging apparatus to a shooting mode or a reproduction mode. Reference numeral 111 denotes a menu key for selecting and determining a menu item on a menu screen for performing various settings of the imaging apparatus. The menu screen is displayed on a display device (not shown). A reproduction key group 112 includes a plurality of key switches that perform reproduction control such as reproduction, stop, and list display of moving images in the reproduction mode.

  First, the flow of a moving image signal in the imaging apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described. In the photographing mode, the light incident on the image sensor 101 is photoelectrically converted, and the analog front end circuit 102 performs signal sampling and conversion into digital data. The converted digital data is input to the camera signal processing circuit 103, is subjected to gamma control and color control, and is output as a video signal (the configuration in the camera signal processing circuit 103 is not shown).

  The video signal from the camera signal processing circuit 103 is encoded into a predetermined recording format by a codec unit (encoder, decoder) provided in the recorder signal processing circuit 107 and output as moving image data. The recorder signal processing circuit 107 can also simultaneously output a video signal to a display device attached to the imaging device and an external video signal output terminal (a codec configuration and a display device are not shown). The output moving image data is recorded on the recording medium 109 via the memory controller 108.

  In the playback mode, the moving image recorded on the recording medium 109 is input to the recorder signal processing circuit 107 via the memory controller 108. The moving image data input to the recorder signal processing circuit 107 is decoded and output as a video signal. The video signal is output to the display device and the external video signal output terminal, and the content can be confirmed by the user.

  Next, the recording operation in the shooting mode will be described. The moving image can be recorded by switching the operation mode switch 110 to the shooting mode. Further, by operating the recording mode changeover switch 106, the recording mode is switched between the normal recording mode and the snap movie recording mode by a toggle operation. The snap movie recording mode corresponds to the first recording mode in the present invention. The normal recording mode is an example corresponding to the second recording mode in the present invention, and indicates a mode in which recording is performed under conditions different from the first recording mode in the present invention.

  When the normal recording mode is selected, recording starts when the user presses the moving image recording start / stop switch 105 in the recording standby state. Pressing the switch again during recording stops recording and returns to the recording standby state.

  On the other hand, when the snap movie recording mode is selected, recording is started by pressing the moving image recording start / stop switch 105 of the user, and then recording is automatically performed when recording is performed for a predetermined recording time, for example, 4 seconds. To return to the recording standby state.

  In the recording operation, the system controller 104 acquires the status of the recording mode changeover switch 106 and the moving image recording start / stop switch 105, and controls the recording mode and the recording operation instruction to the camera signal processing circuit 103 and the recorder signal processing circuit 107. I do. Further, the system controller 104 measures the recording time at the time of recording, generates attribute information of the recorded moving image from the recording time and the recording mode, and transmits the information to the recorder signal processing circuit 107 as management information (attribute information) of the moving image. Is output.

  At the end of moving image recording, the recorder signal processing circuit 107 writes the moving image attribute information obtained from the system controller 104 to a predetermined data area as attribute information related to the moving image that has been recorded. As a result, it is possible to determine in which recording mode the recorded moving image was recorded even after recording.

  Next, the operation in the playback mode will be described. By switching the operation mode switching switch 110 to the playback mode, it is possible to view a moving image, that is, display a list or play back.

  In the playback mode, by operating the playback key group 112, a list of videos to be played back, selection of videos to be played back, and playback of videos including special playback such as playback, stop, pause, forward, and return It can be performed. Although the detailed configuration of the reproduction key group 112 is not illustrated, it can be configured with a touch panel, a hardware switch, or the like. In the list display, it is conceivable to display an image such as the beginning of a moving image with simple information such as a thumbnail, or simply display a list of file names.

  Further, by operating the recording mode changeover switch 106, there are a normal playback mode in which all recorded videos can be viewed (list display, playback) and a snap movie playback mode in which only snap movies can be viewed (list display, playback). It can be switched by toggle operation.

  When a moving image is reproduced in the snap movie reproduction mode, the moving image to be reproduced is a moving image to which the attribute of the snap movie recording mode is added as recording mode attribute information. For this reason, when the scene is reproduced, the scenes cut and divided in a short time are continuously reproduced. Note that the display control process for list display corresponds to one process of the list display control means in the present invention, and the process of continuously playing moving images recorded in the snap movie recording mode is the present invention. This corresponds to an example of processing of the reproduction control means.

  Next, processing for determining the recording mode attribute information by the system controller 104 in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing recording mode attribute information determination processing in processing from the start to the end of moving image recording in the shooting mode.

  First, in step S201, the system controller 104 periodically monitors the moving image recording start / stop switch 105 in a recording standby state, and detects a moving image recording start request. When a moving image recording start request by pressing the switch is detected, a recording start instruction is issued to the recorder signal processing circuit 107, and the process proceeds to step S202.

  In step S202, the system controller 104 starts measuring the recording time T in synchronization with the start of the moving image recording process of the recorder signal processing circuit 107. When measurement is started, the process proceeds to step S203.

  In step S203, the system controller 104 updates the measurement data of the recording time T at regular intervals, and proceeds to step S204.

In step S204, the system controller 104 periodically monitors the state of the moving image recording start / stop switch 105 and the measurement data of the recording time T, and detects a moving image recording end request. In the normal recording mode, detection of pressing of the switch is set as an end request. In the snap movie recording mode, whether the measurement data of the recording time T is equal to or longer than the snap movie recording time T _snap is compared, and if T> T _snap , the end request is made. When an end request is generated, an instruction to end recording is issued to the recorder signal processing circuit 107, and the process proceeds to step S205. If no termination request is generated, the process returns to step S203.

  In step S205, the system controller 104 ends the measurement of the recording time T, adds it as metadata (attribute information) to the moving image that has been recorded in step S204 as recording time information according to a predetermined format, and proceeds to step S206.

  In step S206, the system controller 104 acquires the recording mode in which moving image recording was performed in step S204. If the recording mode is the normal recording mode, the process proceeds to step S207. If the recording mode is the snap movie recording mode, the process proceeds to step S211.

  In step S207, the system controller 104 adds a normal recording attribute as recording mode attribute information to the moving image that has been recorded in step S204. When the attribute is added, the process proceeds to step S208.

  In step S208, the system controller 104 acquires the recording time T related to the moving image that has been recorded, and proceeds to step S209. This processing is an example of processing for recording time acquisition means in the present invention.

Step S209 the system controller 104 compares the recording time T snap movie recording limit time T _1. If the comparison result is T ≦ T ₁ , the process proceeds to step S210. If was T> T ₁ and ends the process.

In step S210, the system controller 104 compares the recording time T snap movie recording limit time T _2. If the comparison was the result T> T _2, the process proceeds to step S211. If T ≦ T ₂ , the process ends. That is, if the moving image recording time T is within the range of “T ₂ <T ≦ T ₁ ”, the process proceeds to step S211.

In step S211, the system controller 104 adds or associates a snap movie recording attribute as recording mode attribute information to the moving image that has been recorded in step S204. The process ends when the attribute is added. If the recording mode is the snap movie recording mode in step S204, the snap movie recording attribute is added as recording mode attribute information to the moving image that has been recorded in step S204 in step S211, and the process ends. Note that the processing in steps S209 to S211 corresponds to a processing example of the recording mode attribute association unit in the present invention. The snap movie recording upper limit time T ₁ corresponds to a predetermined time or the first time in the present invention, and the snap movie recording lower limit time T ₂ corresponds to the second time in the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the relationship between the recording time T, the snap movie recording time T _snap , the snap movie recording upper limit time T ₁ , and the snap movie recording lower limit time T ₂ in the flowchart of FIG.

When the recording time T is equal to or shorter than the snap movie recording lower limit time T ₂ (T ≦ T ₂ ), the recording mode attribute information is a normal recording attribute. On the other hand, when the snap movie recording lower limit time T _{2 is} longer than the snap movie recording upper limit time T ₁ (T ₂ <T ≦ T ₁ ), the recording mode attribute information includes the normal recording attribute corresponding to the original recording mode, A snap movie recording attribute is also added. When the recording time T is longer than the snap movie recording upper limit time T ₁ (T> T ₁ ), the normal recording attribute is set.

For example, if the snap movie recording upper limit time T ₁ is set to the same time (the same) as the snap movie recording time T _snap , a moving image equivalent to recording in the snap movie recording mode can be reproduced. Further, the snap movie recording limit time T ₂ are to prevent extremely too short video is played, that the time to the extent that the content reproduced can be confirmed preferred. In other words, the snap movie recording lower limit time T ₂ can be arbitrarily set as the shortest time that can be achieved as a moving image recording.

As a specific example, the recording mode attribute information when the snap movie recording time T _snap , the snap movie recording upper limit time T ₁ , and the snap movie recording lower limit time T ₂ are 4 seconds, 10 seconds, and 2 seconds, respectively, will be described with reference to FIG. To do.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing recording mode, recording time, and recording mode attribute information generated by the system controller 104 for each scene for a total of seven recording scenes.

  Scenes 1, 2, 3, and 6 are moving images recorded in the snap movie recording mode. Therefore, a snap movie recording attribute is added as recording mode attribute information.

  On the other hand, since scenes 4, 5, and 7 are recorded in the normal recording mode, the normal recording attribute is added as the recording mode attribute information.

Here, since the recording time T of the scene 4 is 30 seconds and exceeds the snap movie recording upper limit time T ₁ of 10 seconds, the scene 4 is not treated as a snap movie and is attribute information of only a normal recording attribute. However, since scene 5 has a recording time T of 6 seconds and satisfies the relationship of T ₁ <T ≦ T ₂ , a snap movie recording attribute is added in addition to the normal recording attribute. Further, the scene 7 1 second recording time T, for less than 2 seconds snap movie recording limit time T _2, not treated as a snap movie, it is only normal recording attribute recording mode attribute information.

  As a result, when the playback mode is switched to the snap movie playback mode, the scene 5 is also a playback target in addition to the scenes 1, 2, 3, and 6, and the snap movies of all five scenes are continuously played back. In addition, when selecting a snap movie to be transmitted or reproduced, five scenes of scenes 1, 2, 3, 5, and 6 are displayed in a list.

  The embodiment of the present invention has been described above. In the present embodiment, even if a moving image was shot in a mode other than the snap movie recording mode for a moving image having a predetermined recording time, it is regarded as recording in the snap movie recording mode, and the attribute of the snap movie recording mode is set. Added or associated information.

  That is, with such a configuration, even when a moving image is recorded in the normal recording mode, if the recording time is equal to or shorter than a predetermined time, information that is recorded in the snap movie recording mode is added, and automatic recording and manual recording are performed. Snap movies can be classified by. Based on the classification of video attributes, even for videos recorded in the normal recording mode, not only videos recorded by the user in the snap movie recording mode, but also short-time videos recorded as a snap movie in the normal recording mode. Can also be played back together. In this playback operation, a short-time video shot as a snap movie in the normal recording mode can be played along with a video recorded in the snap movie recording mode without requiring any user operation. , It can save time and effort for user operation. Therefore, it is possible to improve user operability and usability related to the list display and playback of the snap movie.

  In the present embodiment, the snap movie recording mode information is not added to a moving image recorded in the normal recording mode and having a recording time that is so short that the content cannot be confirmed when played back.

  With such a configuration, it is possible to prevent a movie that is too short from being reproduced when the snap movie is reproduced. More specifically, by setting an upper limit and a lower limit for the recording time, a moving image in which the recording time is extremely short and the content cannot be confirmed at the time of reproduction, such as an erroneous shooting, is not handled as a snap movie. This prevents the moving images from being inadvertently reproduced when the snap movie is reproduced.

  In the present embodiment, recording mode attribute information is acquired at the end of recording for a moving image, and is added or associated. In addition to recording mode attribute information, if recording time and recording mode are added in advance to the corresponding movie at the end of recording, the recording mode attribute information can be acquired by acquiring the recording time and recording mode of the movie during playback. It goes without saying that it is possible.

  In addition to recording time and recording mode attribute information as metadata corresponding to each moving image, it is possible to write and manage as content management information in data different from the moving image. Needless to say.

Further, since the snap movie recording upper limit time T ₁ and the snap movie recording lower limit time T ₂ can be set arbitrarily, it is needless to say that the user can change the time from the menu screen.

  In order to realize the present invention, a storage medium in which a program code (computer program) of software that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments may be used. In this case, the object of the present invention is achieved by supplying the storage medium to the system or apparatus, and the computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus reads and executes the program code stored in the storage medium.

  In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the program code itself and the storage medium storing the program code constitute the present invention.

  As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a flexible disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, or the like can be used.

  Needless to say, the OS (basic system or operating system) running on the computer performs part or all of the actual processing based on the instruction of the program code.

  Furthermore, the program code read from the storage medium may be written in a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer. In this case, based on the instruction of the written program code, the CPU or the like provided in the function expansion board or function expansion unit may perform part or all of the actual processing.

1 is a diagram illustrating a system configuration of an imaging apparatus that is an example of an embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a flowchart illustrating recording mode attribute information determination processing in processing from the start to the end of moving image recording in the imaging mode in the imaging apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. Is a diagram showing the recording time T of the videos recorded by the imaging device in an embodiment, the snap movie recording time T _snap, snap movie recording limit time T _1, the relationship between the snap movie recording limit time T ₂ of the present invention . It is the figure which showed the recording mode and recording time about the moving image recorded with the imaging device in embodiment of this invention, and the recording mode attribute information which a system controller produces | generates.

Explanation of symbols

101 Image sensor 102 Analog front end circuit (AFE)
103 camera signal processing circuit 104 system controller 105 moving image recording start / stop switch 106 recording mode changeover switch 107 recorder signal processing circuit 108 memory controller 109 recording medium 110 operation mode changeover switch 111 menu key 112 reproduction key group

Claims (8)

As a plurality of recording modes, at least after recording for a predetermined recording time from the start of moving image recording, the first recording mode that automatically stops recording and the recording are stopped under conditions different from the first recording mode An imaging device for recording a moving image in a second recording mode,
Recording time acquisition means for acquiring the recording time of the recorded video;
Recording mode attribute association means for associating attribute information indicating the first recording mode or the second recording mode with respect to the recorded moving image;
The recording mode attribute association unit compares the recording time of the moving image recorded in the second recording mode acquired by the recording time acquisition unit with a predetermined time, and compares the recording time of the moving image recorded in the second recording mode. When the recording time is shorter than the predetermined time, the imaging apparatus is characterized by associating the moving image with attribute information indicating at least recording in the first recording mode.   2. The predetermined time to be compared with a recording time of a moving image recorded in the second recording mode is the same as the predetermined recording time set in the first recording mode. The imaging device described. As a plurality of recording modes, at least after recording for a predetermined recording time from the start of moving image recording, the first recording mode that automatically stops recording and the recording are stopped under conditions different from the first recording mode An imaging device for recording a moving image in a second recording mode,
Recording time acquisition means for acquiring the recording time of the recorded video;
Recording mode attribute association means for associating attribute information indicating the first recording mode or the second recording mode with respect to the recorded moving image;
The recording mode attribute association means compares the recording time of the moving image recorded in the second recording mode acquired by the recording time acquisition means with the first time and the second time, An imaging apparatus characterized in that, when it is within the second time range, attribute information indicating at least recording in the first recording mode is associated with the moving image. The first time to be compared with the recording time of the moving image recorded in the second recording mode is the predetermined recording time set in the first recording mode;
The imaging apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the second time is shorter than the first time and longer than the shortest time for moving image recording.   5. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the attribute information associated by the recording mode attribute association unit is stored as management information of a moving image when the recording of the moving image ends. It has a list display control means for displaying a list of simple information of recorded videos on a display device,
The list display control unit acquires the attribute information output by the recording mode attribute association unit for the recorded moving image, and displays a list of at least simple information of the moving image recorded in the first recording mode. The imaging device according to any one of claims 1 to 5. Replay control means for replaying the recorded moving image on the display device;
The reproduction control unit acquires the attribute information output by the recording mode attribute association unit for the recorded moving image, and continuously reproduces only the moving image recorded in at least the first recording mode. The imaging device according to any one of claims 1 to 6.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second recording mode is a recording mode in which recording of a moving image is started or stopped based on an operation of an operation unit.

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