JP2001069387A - Recorder and recording method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve convenience by starting recording based on a waiting period at the time of recoding animation and finishing the recording based on the recording period of animation/sound so as to give a useful self-timer function corresponding to a case when a still picture and animation can be recorded. SOLUTION: In self-timer photographing, two periods of a waiting time and an animation/sound recording period can be set as time setting concerning a self-timer. Then, at the time of recording animation, photographing (recording) is started when the set waiting period passes after the operation of a release key and the animation recording is finished with the lapse of the set animation/ sound recording period. In this recorder, in a count down area A12, the animation/sound recording period set to an animation/sound recording period setting area A17 on a detailed setting picture is counted down and the recording of animation/sound is continued until count down display becomes zero.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a recording apparatus and a recording method capable of recording a captured image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, as a video camera in which an image pickup device such as a camera and a recording / reproducing device such as a video deck are integrated, a device capable of recording and reproducing a picked-up image by digital data, for example, has become popular. Particularly, in the case of a digital video camera, as a file in which a captured image is recorded, not only a moving image file but also a still image file photographed like a still camera can be easily recorded. Here, for example, conventional digital still cameras and the like having a self-timer function are widely used. In other words, a standby time until a still image is captured is provided, and a still image is recorded when the standby time has elapsed from the time when the shutter was operated. Therefore, for example, if the video camera as described above is provided with a self-timer function, the usability is further improved.

[0003]

However, the self-timer function provided in a conventional still camera is based on the premise of recording a still image. Therefore, if a self-timer function is to be provided to the video camera, the self-timer function must be useful not only when recording a still image but also when recording a moving image.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a more useful self-timer in a case where a still image and a moving image can be recorded, such as a video camera device. It is an object of the present invention to provide a function to improve convenience.

[0005] For this reason, an image pickup means for photoelectrically converting a continuously input optical signal into an image signal, and recording the image signal as a still image or a moving image obtained by the image pickup means on a predetermined recording medium. Recording means, operating means, first time setting means for setting by storing a first time designated by an operation on the operating means, and second means designated by an operation on the operating means Second time setting means for setting by storing the time;
Mode switching means for switching between a still image recording mode for recording an image signal as a still image and a moving image recording mode for recording an image signal as a moving image, and a case of the still image recording mode Controls the recording means so that the recording of the image signal of the still image is performed based on the first time set by the first time setting means, and the first time in the case of the moving image recording mode. A recording unit configured to start recording an image signal of a moving image based on the first time set by the setting unit and to end recording based on the second time set by the second time setting unit; And a control means for controlling the recording apparatus.

Further, a recording method for recording an image signal as a still image or a moving image obtained by photoelectrically converting an optical signal continuously input by imaging on a predetermined recording medium is configured as follows. That is, a first time setting step of setting by storing a first time designated by an operation in a predetermined storage area, and a second time setting step designated by the operation
A second time setting step of setting the time by storing the time in a predetermined storage area, a still image recording mode for recording an image signal as a still image, and recording an image signal as a moving image. A mode switching step capable of switching to a moving image recording mode, and, in the case of a still image recording mode, recording of an image signal of a still image based on a first time set in a first time setting step. Is performed, and in the case of the moving image recording mode, the recording of the image signal of the moving image is started based on the first time set in the first time setting step, and the second time setting is performed. And a recording control step of performing control so that recording is terminated based on the second time set by the step.

According to each of the above configurations, the first time and the second time are set for the self-timer operation. Then, at the time of moving image recording, recording is started based on the first time, and is ended based on the second time. That is,
When recording a movie using the self-timer, the time for the end of recording (second time) is set in addition to the waiting time (first time) until the recording, and recording is automatically performed. Can be terminated. Further, in the above configuration, the recording start is commonly set by the first time when recording a still image and when recording a moving image.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. The recording device of the present embodiment is mounted on a portable video camera in which a camera device and a recording / reproducing device capable of recording / reproducing images (still images or moving images) and audio are integrated. Take the case as an example. Further, the recording / reproducing device unit mounted on the video camera of the present embodiment is known as a type of magneto-optical disk,
A configuration for recording and reproducing data corresponding to a so-called mini-disc is adopted. The description will be made in the following order. 1. Disk format 2. 2. External configuration of video camera 3. Internal configuration of video camera 4. Configuration of media drive section 5. Example of disk structure corresponding to this embodiment 6. Thumbnail image generation processing Script 8. Operation screen display 9. Self-timer function 9-1. Operation example 9-2. Processing operation

1. Disc Format The recording / reproducing device section mounted on the video camera of this example is assumed to be compatible with a format called MD data, which records / reproduces data in correspondence with a mini disc (magneto-optical disc). . As this MD data format, two types of formats called MD-DATA1 and MD-DATA2 have been developed, but the video camera of this example is capable of recording at higher density than MD-DATA1. It is assumed that recording and reproduction are performed in accordance with the format. So first, MD
-Disc format of DATA2 will be described.

FIGS. 1 and 2 conceptually show an example of a track structure of a disk as MD-DATA2. FIGS. 2A and 2B are a cross-sectional view and a plan view, respectively, showing an enlarged portion enclosed by a broken line A in FIG. As shown in these figures, two types of grooves (grooves) are previously formed on the disk surface: a wobbled groove WG provided with wobbles (meandering) and a non-wobbled groove NWG provided with no wobble. It is formed. The wobbled groove WG and the non-wobbled groove NWG
Exist in a double spiral on the disk so as to form a land Ld therebetween.

In the MD-DATA2 format, a land Ld is a recording track (a track on which data is recorded).
Since the wobbled groove WG and the non-wobbled groove NWG are formed as described above, the track Tr is also used as the recording track.
-The two tracks A, Tr and B are independent of each other,
It will be formed in a double spiral (double spiral) shape. The track Tr · A is a track in which the wobbled groove WG is located on the outer peripheral side of the disk and the non-wobbled groove NWG is located on the inner peripheral side of the disk.
On the other hand, the track Tr · B is a track in which the wobbled groove WG is located on the inner peripheral side of the disk and the non-wobbled groove NWG is located on the outer peripheral side of the disk.
In other words, it can be considered that wobbles are formed only on one side on the outer peripheral side of the disk for the track Tr.A, and wobbles are formed only on one side on the inner side of the disk for the track Tr.B. . In this case, the track pitch is a distance between the centers of the adjacent tracks Tr.A and Tr.B, and the track pitch is 0.95 μm as shown in FIG. 2B.

Here, the wobbles formed in the groove as the wobbled groove WG are formed based on a signal in which the physical address on the disk is encoded by FM modulation + biphase modulation. For this reason, it is possible to extract the physical address on the disk by demodulating the reproduction information obtained from the wobbling given to the wobbled groove WG at the time of recording / reproduction. Further, the address information as the wobbled groove WG is commonly effective for the tracks Tr · A and Tr · B. In other words, the track Tr · A located on the inner periphery of the wobbled groove WG and the track Tr · B located on the outer periphery share the address information by the wobbling given to the wobbled groove WG. . Such an addressing method is also called an interlace addressing method. By adopting this interlace addressing method, for example, it is possible to reduce the track pitch while suppressing crosstalk between adjacent wobbles. For a method of recording an address by forming a wobble in a groove, A
Also called DIP (Adress In Pregroove) method.

The identification of which of the tracks Tr.A and Tr.B sharing the same address information is being traced as described above can be performed as follows. For example, in a state where the main beam traces a track (land Ld) by applying a three-beam method, the remaining two side beams trace grooves located on both sides of the track traced by the main beam. It is possible to make it.

FIG. 2B shows, as a specific example, a state where the main beam spot SPm traces the track Tr · A. In this case, of the two side beam spots SPs1 and SPs2, the inner side beam spot SPs1 traces the non-wobbled groove NWG and the outer side beam spot S
Ps2 traces the wobbled groove WG. On the other hand, although not shown, if the main beam spot SPm traces the tracks Tr and B, the side beam spot SPs1 traces the wobbled groove WG and the side beam spot SP
s2 traces the non-wobbled groove NWG. Thus, the main beam spot SPm
Tracing the track Tr · A and the track T
In the case of tracing r · B, the grooves to be traced by the side beam spots SPs1 and SPs2 are necessarily replaced by the wobbled groove WG and the non-wobbled groove NWG.

Side beam spots SPs1, SPs2
As a detection signal obtained by the photodetector due to the reflection of light, different waveforms are obtained depending on which of the wobbled groove WG and the non-wobbled groove NWG is being traced. By determining which of the side beam spots SPs1 and SPs2 traces the wobbled groove WG (or the non-wobbled groove NWG), the main beam is moved to the tracks Tr · A,
Which of Tr and B is being traced can be identified.

FIG. 3 shows the main specifications of the MD-DATA2 format having the track structure as described above.
It is a figure shown in comparison with D-DATA1 format.
First, in the MD-DATA1 format, the track pitch is 1.6 μm and the pit length is 0.59 μm / bi.
t. The laser wavelength λ is set to 780 nm, and the aperture ratio NA of the optical head is set to 0.45. As a recording method, a groove recording method is adopted. That is, the groove is used as a track for recording and reproduction. As a method of addressing, a method is used in which a groove (track) is formed by a single spiral, and a wobbled groove in which wobbles are formed as address information on both sides of the groove.

EFM (8
-14 conversion). As an error correction method, ACIRC (Advanced Cross Interleave Reed-
Solomon Code) and a convolutional data interleave. Therefore, the data redundancy is 46.3%.

In the MD-DATA1 format, a CLV (Constant Linear V) is used as a disk drive system.
erocity) is adopted, and the linear velocity of CLV is
1.2 m / s. The standard data rate for recording and reproduction is 133 kB / s, and the recording capacity is 140 MB.

On the other hand, the MD-DATA2 format which can be supported by the video camera of this embodiment has a track pitch of 0.95 μm and a pit length of 0.39 μm / b.
It can be seen that both are shorter than the MD-DATA1 format. For example, in order to realize the pit length, the laser wavelength λ = 650 nm and the aperture ratio NA of the optical head are set to 0.52, thereby narrowing the beam spot diameter at the in-focus position and expanding the band as an optical system. .

As described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a land recording system is adopted as a recording system, and an interlace addressing system is adopted as an address system. As a modulation method of recording data, an RLL (1, 7) method (RLL;
Run Length Limited), the RS-PC method is used as an error correction method, and the block complete type is used as data interleaving. As a result of adopting each of the above methods, the data redundancy can be suppressed to 19.7%.

Also in the MD-DATA2 format, CLV is adopted as a disk drive system, but its linear velocity is 2.0 m / s, and the standard data rate for recording / reproducing is 589 kB / s. It is said. As a result, a recording capacity of 650 MB can be obtained. Compared with the MD-DATA1 format, this means that a high-density recording of almost four times is realized. For example, assuming that a moving image is to be recorded in the MD-DATA2 format, MPEG
In the case where the compression encoding by 2 is performed, it is possible to record a moving image of 15 minutes to 17 minutes in time, depending on the bit rate of the encoded data. Also, assuming that only audio signal data is recorded, the ATR
When a compression process using AC (Adaptive Transform Acoustic Coding) 2 is performed, recording can be performed for about 10 hours.

2. Next, an example of the appearance of the video camera of this embodiment will be described. FIGS. 6A, 6B, 7A, and 7B are a plan view, a side view, a front view, and a rear view of the video camera of the present example, respectively. As shown in these figures, a camera lens 201 provided with an imaging lens, an aperture, and the like for taking a picture is provided on a front portion of a main body 200 of the video camera according to the present embodiment. Further, a microphone 202 for picking up an external sound at the time of shooting is provided on the lower side of the rear part of the same main body 200. That is, in this video camera, it is possible to record an image captured by the camera lens 201 and record stereo sound collected by the microphone 202. Here, it is assumed that a speaker 205 for outputting a reproduced sound is provided at the same position as the microphone 202. The speaker 205 also outputs a required message sound such as a beep sound.

A viewfinder 204 is provided on the back side of the main body 200, and displays an image (also referred to as a through image) taken from the camera lens 201, a character image, and the like during a recording operation and a standby state. Is done. The user can use this viewfinder 204
You can shoot while watching Also, a main dial 300, a release key 301, and a delete key 3 which will be described later.
The portion provided with 02 is openable and closable as a battery cover 206, and by opening the battery cover 206, a battery (rechargeable battery) can be loaded and unloaded.

A movable panel 203 is provided on the side surface of the main body 200. By being supported by the movable support portion 208, it is movably attached to the main body 200. The movement of the movable panel section 203 will be described later.

A display panel 67 (display screen) is provided on the rear side of the movable panel section 203. Therefore,
When the movable panel unit 203 is in the housed state as shown in FIG. 6B, the display panel 67 is in a state of being housed facing the main body.

The display panel 67 is a portion for displaying and outputting a photographed image, an image reproduced by an internal recording and reproducing device, and the like. In addition, a message display using characters, characters, or the like for notifying a user of a required message according to the operation of the device is performed. The display device actually used as the display panel 67 is not particularly limited here, but a liquid crystal display or the like may be used, for example. In addition, the display panel 67
For example, a touch panel is provided on the back side of the display surface of the liquid crystal display to detect a pressing operation and output the information as operation information. That is, in the present embodiment, an operation as a so-called GUI in which a pressing operation is performed on an image displayed on the display panel 67 can be performed. Here, the operation on the display panel 67 may be performed by a finger or the like because the position at which the pressing force is applied to the touch panel is detected as coordinate position information. However, taking into account that the display area of the display panel 67 is limited, and the pointing operation may be difficult with a finger,
As shown in FIG. 6B, a stick-shaped pen 320
Is attached. The user replaces this finger with this pen 3
20 can be used to perform a pointing (touch) operation on the display panel 67.

A portion on the side of the main body 200 in which the movable panel portion 203 is accommodated is a disk loading / unloading portion 205. A disc can be inserted or ejected.

Although not shown here, actually, a video output terminal for outputting a reproduced image signal or the like to an external video device or a reproduced audio signal for outputting to an external audio device or headphones is provided. Headphone / line terminals, etc. are provided. In addition, an I / F corresponding to an interface function for performing data transmission with an external data device is provided.
Terminals and the like are also provided.

Further, various controls for user operation are provided in each part of the main body 200. Hereinafter, the main operators will be described. Main dial 300
Is provided on the back side of the main body 200 as shown in FIG.
An operation element for setting a reproduction operation. In this case, a rotation operation can be performed. Main dial 30
When 0 is at the power-off position PS2, the power is off. Then, for example, when the main dial 300 is rotated from this state to the reproduction / edit position PS1, the power is turned on, and a mode state in which a recorded file can be reproduced and various editing operations can be performed. Further, if a rotation operation is performed to the camera mode position PS2, a mode (camera mode) in which a recorded file as a moving image or a still image can be recorded in a power-on state. Further, the camera mode position P
If S2, the mode is the interview mode. Although the interview mode is not described in detail here, the recording operation is such that recording is performed mainly by voice, and at any time, a release key 301 or a photo key 304 described later is used.
Is a mode in which an image taken at that time is recorded as a still image by pressing. In the reproduction in the interview mode, a recorded file recorded in the interview mode is reproduced. At this time, for example, the still image is switched and displayed at the timing of recording while reproducing the audio.

A release key 301 is provided at the center of the rotating part of the main dial 300. The release key 301 functions as an operator for starting / ending recording in the camera mode or the interview mode.

A jog dial 303 is also provided on the back of the main body 200. The jog dial 303 is a disc-shaped operation element, is mounted so as to be rotatable in forward / reverse directions, and has a click feeling at each predetermined rotation angle. This jog dial 30
3 is, for example, actually combined with, for example, a two-phase rotary encoder or the like so that one click becomes one rotation step, and information on the number of rotation steps corresponding to the rotation direction and rotation angle is obtained. Output. In this case, the jog dial 311 can be pressed in the leftward direction in FIG. 7B.

The delete key 302 functions as a decision button for deleting data reproduced in a predetermined mode.

As shown mainly in FIG. 6A, a photo key 304, a zoom key 305, a focus key 306, and a backlight compensation key 307 are provided on the side of the main body 200 in a slightly upward state. The photo key 304 is an operator that functions as a shutter for recording a recorded file of a still image by pressing the photo key 304 in a camera mode, for example.

A zoom key 305 is an operator for operating a zoom state (tele side to wide side) in the lens optical system (camera lens 201). Focus key 306
Indicates the focus state of the lens optical system (for example, normal /
Control to switch between infinity, etc.). A backlight correction key 307 is an operator for turning on / off a backlight correction function.

As shown in FIG. 6B, on the side of the main body 200 on the side where the movable panel section 203 is disposed, a reproduction / pause key 308 is provided as a key mainly for recording / reproducing a file (track). Stop key 30
9, slow playback key 310, search keys 311 and 31
2. A recording key 313 is provided. As shown in FIG. 6A, a screen display key 314 for displaying a screen and volume keys 315 and 316 for adjusting the volume of audio output from a speaker are provided on the upper surface of the main body 200. .

Note that the appearance of the video camera shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 is merely an example, and may be changed as appropriate in accordance with the actual use conditions required for the video camera of the present embodiment. . Of course, various types of operation elements, operation methods, and connection terminals with external devices can be considered.

The manner of movement of the movable panel section 203 described above will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 8, the appearance of the video camera is simplified for convenience of explanation. As the movement of the movable panel 203,
First, the position state can be changed from the position state shown in FIG. 6B along the direction of the arrow YJ1 as shown in FIG. 8A. In this case, the display screen (display panel 67) faces the photographer (viewfinder 204), and faces in a direction substantially opposite to the camera lens 201 that captures the captured image. In this position state of the display panel, for example, a photographer having a video camera can shoot (record) while monitoring the captured image displayed on the display panel 67.

Further, the movable panel 203 can be rotated from the state shown in FIG. 8A in the range of about 180 ° along the direction of the arrow YJ2. That is, as shown in FIG. 8B, the display panel 67 can be set to a position in which the display panel 67 faces the subject (camera lens). In this state, the user on the subject side can see the captured image. When a disk is inserted into or removed from the disk loading / unloading section 205, FIG.
As shown in (b), the operation is performed with the movable panel 203 raised from the main body 200.

Further, from the state shown in FIG.
The movable panel 203 can also be moved in the direction 3.
By doing so, although not shown, the movable panel 203 is in the storage position with the display panel 67 visible from the outside.

When the display panel is rotated in the direction of arrow YJ2 as described above, when the display panel 67 faces the photographer and when the display panel 67 faces the subject,
Although the appearance of the display image is inverted up and down and left and right as it is, in the present embodiment, the display image on the display panel 67 is always displayed by the user (the photographer and the subject) according to the rotation state of the movable panel unit 203. The above inconvenience is solved by performing the reverse display control so that the image can be viewed in an appropriate direction from the above (2).

3. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of the video camera of the present embodiment. The lens block 1 shown in FIG. 1 includes, for example, an optical system 11 actually including an imaging lens and a diaphragm. The camera lens 201 shown in FIG. 6 is included in the optical system 11. The lens block 1 includes a focus motor for causing the optical system 11 to perform an autofocus operation, a zoom motor for moving a zoom lens based on the operation of the zoom key 304, and the like.
Provided as

The camera block 2 is provided with a circuit for mainly converting image light captured by the lens block 1 into a digital image signal. For the CCD (Charge Coupled Device) 21 of the camera block 2,
An optical image of the subject transmitted through the optical system 11 is provided. C
In the CD 21, an image pickup signal is generated by performing photoelectric conversion on the optical image, and the sample hold / AGC (A
utomatic Gain Control) circuit 22. The sample hold / AGC circuit 22 adjusts the gain of the imaging signal output from the CCD 21 and performs waveform shaping by performing sample hold processing. The output of the sample hold / AGC circuit 2 is a video A / D
By being supplied to the converter 23, it is converted into digital image signal data.

The above CCD 21, sample hold / AG
Signal processing timing in the C circuit 22 and the video A / D converter 23 is controlled by a timing signal generated by a timing generator 24. The timing generator 24 receives a clock used for signal processing in a data processing / system control circuit 31 (in the video signal processing circuit 3) described later and generates a required timing signal based on the clock. Is done. Thereby, the signal processing timing in the camera block 2 is synchronized with the processing timing in the video signal processing unit 3. Camera controller 2
Reference numeral 5 is for performing necessary control so that each of the functional circuit units provided in the camera block 2 operates properly, and for performing autofocus, automatic exposure adjustment, aperture adjustment, zooming, and the like on the lens block 1. Is controlled. For example, in the case of auto-focus control, the camera controller 25 performs, based on focus control information obtained according to a predetermined auto-focus control method,
Controls the rotation angle of the focus motor. As a result, the imaging lens is driven to be in the just-focused state.

At the time of recording, the video signal processing unit 3 performs a compression process on the digital image signal supplied from the camera block 2 and the digital audio signal obtained by collecting sound by the microphone 202, and compresses the compressed data. The data is supplied to the subsequent media drive unit 4 as user recording data. Further, an image generated from the digital image signal and the character image supplied from the camera block 2 is supplied to the viewfinder drive unit 207 and displayed on the viewfinder 204. Further, at the time of reproduction, demodulation processing is performed on user reproduction data (data read from the disk 51) supplied from the media drive unit 4, that is, image signal data and audio signal data that have been subjected to compression processing, and these are reproduced. , And output as a reproduced audio signal.

In this example, as a compression / expansion processing method for image signal data (image data), MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) 2 is adopted for moving images, and JPEG (Joint Photographic) is applied for still images.
Coding Experts Group). Also, the audio signal data compression / expansion processing method includes ATR
AC (Adaptive Transform Acoustic Coding) 2 shall be adopted.

The data processing / system control circuit 31 of the video signal processing section 3 mainly performs control processing relating to compression / expansion processing of image signal data and audio signal data in the video signal processing section 3 and video signal processing section 3. Executes the process for controlling the input and output of the data passing through. The data processing / system control circuit 31
The control processing for the entire video signal processing unit 3 including
The video controller 38 is made to execute. The video controller 38 includes, for example, a microcomputer, and can communicate with the camera controller 25 of the camera block 2 and a driver controller 46 of the media drive unit 4 described later via, for example, a bus line (not shown). Have been.

As a basic operation at the time of recording in the video signal processing unit 3, the image signal data supplied from the video A / D converter 23 of the camera block 2 is input to the data processing / system control circuit 31. The data processing / system control circuit 31 supplies the input image signal data to, for example, the motion detection circuit 35. The motion detection circuit 35 performs image processing such as motion compensation on the input image signal data while using the memory 36 as a work area, and supplies the processed image signal data to the MPEG2 video signal processing circuit 33.

The MPEG2 video signal processing circuit 33 performs compression processing on input image signal data in accordance with the MPEG2 format while using, for example, the memory 34 as a work area, and generates a bit stream (MPEG2) of compressed data as a moving image. Bit stream). In the MPEG2 video signal processing circuit 33, for example, when extracting image data as a still image from image signal data as a moving image and performing compression processing on the extracted image data, the compressed image data as a still image in accordance with the JPEG format is used. Is configured to generate It should be noted that JPEG was not adopted and MPEG
As compressed image data in the second format, an I picture (Intra Picture), which is regular image data, may be treated as still image data. MPEG
The image signal data (compressed image data) compression-encoded by the two video signal processing circuit 33 is written into the buffer memory 32 at a predetermined transfer rate and temporarily stored. In the MPEG2 format, as is well known, a so-called encoding bit rate (data rate) is used as a constant bit rate (CBR).
ate) and a variable bit rate (VBR), and the video signal processing unit 3 can cope with these.

For example, when performing image compression processing using VBR, for example, the motion detection circuit 35 performs motion detection on the image data within a range of several tens to several hundreds of frames before and after on a macroblock basis to determine that there is motion. If this is done, the detection result is transmitted to the MPEG2 video signal processing circuit 33 as motion vector information. In the MPEG2 video signal processing circuit 33, the quantization coefficient for each macroblock is calculated by using the required information such as the motion vector information so that the image data after the compression and encoding has a certain required data rate. It will be decided.

The audio compression encoder / decoder 37 includes:
A / D converter 64 (display / image / audio input / output unit 6)
For example, the sound collected by the microphone 202 is input as digital sound signal data. The audio compression encoder / decoder 37 performs compression processing on the input audio signal data in accordance with the ATRAC2 format as described above. This compressed audio signal data is also written into the buffer memory 32 by the data processing / system control circuit 31 at a predetermined transfer rate, and is temporarily stored here.

As described above, the compressed image data and the compressed audio signal data can be stored in the buffer memory 32. The buffer memory 32 mainly absorbs the speed difference between the data transfer rate between the camera block 2 or the display / image / audio input / output unit 6 and the buffer memory 32 and the data transfer rate between the buffer memory 32 and the media drive unit 4. Has a function for Buffer memory 3
The compressed image data and the compressed audio signal data stored in 2 are read out sequentially at a predetermined timing during recording, and are transmitted to the MD-DATA2 encoder / decoder 41 of the media drive unit 4. However, for example, during the reproduction, the reading of the data stored in the buffer memory 32 and the operation of recording the read data from the media drive unit 4 to the disk 51 via the deck unit 5 are performed intermittently. No problem. The control of writing and reading data to and from the buffer memory 32 is executed by, for example, the data processing / system control circuit 31.

The operation at the time of reproduction in the video signal processing section 3 is roughly as follows. At the time of reproduction, compressed image data and compressed audio signal data (user reproduction data) read from the disk 51 and decoded according to the MD-DATA2 format by the processing of the MD-DATA2 encoder / decoder 41 (in the media drive unit 4) Data processing / system control circuit 31
Is transmitted to The data processing / system control circuit 31 temporarily stores the input compressed image data and compressed audio signal data in the buffer memory 32, for example. Then, the compressed image data and the compressed audio signal data are read from the buffer memory 32 at a required timing and at a transfer rate at which the reproduction time axis can be matched.
The compressed audio signal data is supplied to the video signal processing circuit 33, and the compressed audio signal data is supplied to the audio compression encoder / decoder 37.

In the MPEG2 video signal processing circuit 33,
Decompresses the input compressed image data,
It is transmitted to the data processing / system control circuit 31. In the data processing / system control circuit 31,
The decompressed image signal data is supplied to the video D / A converter 61 (in the display / image / audio input / output unit 6). The audio compression encoder / decoder 37 performs an expansion process on the input compressed audio signal data,
/ A converter 65 (in display / image / audio input / output unit 6)
To supply.

In the display / image / audio input / output unit 6,
The image signal data input to the video D / A converter 61 is converted into an analog image signal here, and is branched and input to the display controller 62 and the composite signal processing circuit 63. The display controller 62 drives the display unit 6A based on the input image signal. As a result, a reproduced image is displayed on the display unit 6A. Further, in the display unit 6A, not only an image obtained by reproducing from the disk 51 but also a captured image obtained by photographing with a camera part composed of the lens block 1 and the camera block 2 as a matter of course. It is possible to display and output almost in real time. In addition to the reproduced image and the captured image, as described above, a message display using characters, characters, or the like for notifying the user of a required message in accordance with the operation of the device is also performed. Such a message display should be output from the data processing / system control circuit 31 to the video D / A converter 61 so that required characters, characters, and the like are displayed at predetermined positions under the control of the video controller 38, for example. Processing for synthesizing image signal data such as required characters and characters may be performed on the image signal data.

A display panel 67 is formed by combining a touch panel 6B with the display section 6A. The touch panel 6B detects the position information of the pressing operation performed on the display unit 6A, and outputs this to the video controller 38 as operation information.

The composite signal processing circuit 63 converts the analog image signal supplied from the video D / A converter 61 into a composite signal and outputs the composite signal to the video output terminal T1. For example, if a connection is made to an external monitor device or the like via the video output terminal T1, an image reproduced by the video camera can be displayed on the external monitor device.

In the display / image / sound input / output unit 6, the sound signal data input from the sound compression encoder / decoder 37 to the D / A converter 65 is converted into an analog sound signal here, and the signal is supplied to a headphone / line terminal. T
2 is output. Further, the analog audio signal output from the D / A converter 65 is also branched and output to the speaker 205 via the amplifier 66, whereby the reproduced audio and the like are output from the speaker 205. Become.

The media drive unit 4 mainly encodes recording data in accordance with the MD-DATA2 format at the time of recording so as to be suitable for disk recording and transmits the encoded data to the deck unit 5. By performing decoding processing on the read data, reproduction data is obtained and transmitted to the video signal processing unit 3.

The MD-DAT of the media drive unit 4
When recording, the A2 encoder / decoder 41
Recording data (compressed image data + compressed audio signal data) is input from the data processing / system control circuit 31, the recording data is subjected to a predetermined encoding process in accordance with the MD-DATA2 format, and the encoded data is temporarily stored. The data is stored in the buffer memory 42. Then, the data is transmitted to the deck unit 5 while being read at a required timing.

At the time of reproduction, the digital reproduction signal read from the disk 51 and input via the RF signal processing circuit 44 and the binarization circuit 43 is subjected to MD-DAT.
A decoding process according to the A2 format is performed, and the data is transmitted to the data processing / system control circuit 31 of the video signal processing unit 3 as reproduction data. Also at this time, if necessary, the reproduced data is temporarily stored in the buffer memory 42, and the data read therefrom at a required timing is transmitted to the data processing / system control circuit 31 for output. Such write / read control for the buffer memory 42 is performed by the driver controller 46. For example, even when the servo or the like is deviated due to disturbance or the like at the time of reproduction of the disk 51 and reading of a signal from the disk becomes impossible, the read data is not stored in the buffer memory 42 during the period. If the reproduction operation for the disc is resumed, the chronological continuity as the reproduction data can be maintained.

The RF signal processing circuit 44 includes a disk 51
By performing the required processing on the read signal from
For example, a servo control signal such as an RF signal as reproduction data, a focus error signal for servo control of the deck unit 5, and a tracking error signal is generated. RF
The signal is binarized by the binarization circuit 43 as described above, and input to the MD-DATA2 encoder / decoder 41 as digital signal data. The generated various servo control signals are supplied to the servo circuit 45. In the servo circuit 45, based on the input servo control signal,
The required servo control in the deck section 5 is executed.

In this example, MD-DATA1
An encoder / decoder 47 corresponding to the format is provided. The encoder / decoder 47 encodes the recording data supplied from the video signal processing unit 3 in accordance with the MD-DATA1 format and records the encoded data on the disk 51. It is also possible to perform decoding processing on data encoded in accordance with the MD-DATA1 format, and transmit and output it to the video signal processing unit 3. That is, as the video camera of this example, the MD-DATA2 format and the MD-DATA2 format are used.
It is configured to obtain compatibility with the DATA1 format. The driver controller 46 is a functional circuit unit for controlling the media drive unit 4 as a whole.

The deck section 5 is a part comprising a mechanism for driving the disk 51. Although not shown here, in the deck section 5, the disk 5 to be loaded is
1 is detachable, and has a mechanism (disk slot 203 (see FIG. 6)) that can be replaced by a user's work. Further, it is assumed that the disk 51 here is a magneto-optical disk corresponding to the MD-DATA2 format or the MD-DATA1 format.

In the deck section 5, a spindle motor 5 for rotating the loaded disk 51 by CLV is used.
2 is driven to rotate by the CLV. The optical head 53 irradiates the disk 51 with laser light during recording / reproduction. The optical head 53 performs high-level laser output for heating the recording track to the Curie temperature during recording, and performs relatively low-level laser output for detecting data from reflected light by the magnetic Kerr effect during reproduction. . Therefore, the optical head 53
Although not shown in detail here, a laser diode as a laser output unit, an optical system including a polarizing beam splitter and an objective lens, and a detector for detecting reflected light are mounted. The objective lens provided in the optical head 53 is held, for example, by a biaxial mechanism so as to be displaceable in the radial direction of the disk and in the direction in which the disk comes into contact with and separates from the disk.

The optical head 5 with the disk 51 interposed
A magnetic head 54 is arranged at a position facing 3. The magnetic head 54 performs an operation of applying a magnetic field modulated by recording data to the disk 51. Although not shown, the thread motor 55
And a thread mechanism driven by the thread mechanism. By driving the sled mechanism, the entire optical head 53 and the magnetic head 54 can be moved in the disk radial direction.

The operation section 7 corresponds to the various operators shown in FIG. 6, and various operation information of the user by these operators is output to, for example, the video controller 38. The video controller 38 controls the camera controller 25 and the driver controller 46 with control information for causing each unit to execute necessary operations corresponding to the operation information output from the touch panel 6B and the operation unit 7 described above. To supply.

The external interface 8 is provided so that data can be mutually transmitted between the video camera and the external device. For example, the external interface 8 is provided between the I / F terminal T3 and the video signal processing unit as shown in FIG. Can be The external interface 8 is not particularly limited here, but may be, for example, IEEE 1394 or the like. For example, when an external digital imaging device and the video camera of this embodiment are connected via the I / F terminal T3, it becomes possible to record an image (audio) captured by the video camera on the external digital imaging device. . In addition, image (audio) data reproduced by an external digital image device or the like is captured via the external interface 8 so that MD-
It is also possible to record on the disk 51 in accordance with the DATA2 (or MD-DATA1) format. Further, for example, a file as character information used for inserting a caption can be captured and recorded.

The power supply block 9 supplies a required level of power supply voltage to each functional circuit unit using a DC power supply obtained from a built-in battery or a DC power supply generated from a commercial AC power supply. The power supply on / off by the power supply block 9 is controlled by the video controller 38 according to the operation of the main dial 300 described above. During the recording operation, the video controller 38 causes the indicator 206 to emit light.

4. Configuration of Media Drive Unit Next, as the configuration of the media drive unit 4 shown in FIG. 4, a detailed configuration in which a functional circuit unit corresponding to MD-DATA2 is extracted will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG. Although FIG. 5 shows the deck unit 5 together with the media drive unit 4, the internal configuration of the deck unit 5 has been described with reference to FIG. I do. In the media drive unit 4 shown in FIG. 5, the same reference numerals are given to the ranges corresponding to the blocks in FIG.

Information detected by data reading operation of the optical head 53 from the disk 51 (photocurrent obtained by detecting laser reflected light by a photodetector)
Is supplied to the RF amplifier 101 in the RF signal processing circuit 44. The RF amplifier 101 generates a reproduction RF signal as a reproduction signal from the input detection information and supplies the reproduction RF signal to the binarization circuit 43. The binarization circuit 43 binarizes the input reproduction RF signal to obtain a digital reproduction RF signal (binary RF signal). This binarized RF signal is supplied to the MD-DATA2 encoder / decoder 41, and first, the AGC / clamp circuit 103
, And then input to the equalizer / PLL circuit 104. The equalizer / PLL circuit 104 performs equalizing processing on the input binary RF signal, and
5 is output. In addition, binarization R after equalizing processing
By inputting the F signal to the PLL circuit, the binarized RF
Clock C synchronized with signal (RLL (1,7) code string)
Extract LK.

The frequency of the clock CLK corresponds to the current disk rotation speed. Therefore, the CLV processor 11
1, the clock C is output from the equalizer / PLL circuit 104.
LK is input, error information is obtained by comparing with a reference value corresponding to a predetermined CLV speed (see FIG. 3), and this error information is used as a signal component for generating a spindle error signal SPE. In addition, the clock CLK includes, for example, the RLL (1, 7) demodulation circuit 106 and the like.
It is used as a clock for processing in a required signal processing circuit system.

The Viterbi decoder 105 has an equalizer / P
The binary RF signal input from the LL circuit 104 is subjected to a decoding process according to a so-called Viterbi decoding method. As a result, reproduced data as an RLL (1, 7) code string is obtained. This reproduced data is RLL (1,
7) The signal is input to the demodulation circuit 106, where RLL (1,
7) The data stream is subjected to demodulation.

The data stream obtained by the demodulation processing in the RLL (1, 7) demodulation circuit 106 is written to the buffer memory 42 via the data bus 114, and is developed on the buffer memory 42. The data stream expanded on the buffer memory 42 in this manner is first subjected to error correction processing in error correction block units according to the RS-PC system by the ECC processing circuit 116, and further descramble / E
The DC decoding circuit 117 performs a descrambling process and an EDC decoding process (error detection process). The data processed so far is the reproduction data DA
TAp. The reproduction data DATAp is transmitted at a transfer rate according to the transfer clock generated by the transfer clock generation circuit 121, for example, from the descrambling / EDC decoding circuit 117 to the data processing / processing of the video signal processing unit 3.
The data is transmitted to the system control circuit 31.

The transfer clock generation circuit 121 includes, for example,
When a crystal clock is used for data transmission between the media drive unit 4 and the video signal processing unit 3 and data transmission between functional circuit units in the media drive unit 4,
This is a portion for generating a transfer clock (data transfer rate) having a frequency appropriately determined. Further, it generates a clock of a required frequency to be supplied to each functional circuit unit of the media drive unit 4 and the video signal processing unit 3 according to the operation state of the video camera.

The detection information (photocurrent) read from the disk 51 by the optical head 53 is transmitted to the matrix amplifier 1
07 is also supplied. The matrix amplifier 107 performs required arithmetic processing on the input detection information, thereby obtaining a tracking error signal TE, a focus error signal FE, and groove information (absolute address information recorded as a wobbled groove WG on the disk 51) GFM. Are supplied to the servo circuit 45. That is, the extracted tracking error signal TE and focus error signal FE are supplied to the servo processor 112, and the groove information GFM is stored in the ADIP bandpass filter 108.
Supplied to

The groove information GFM band-limited by the ADIP band-pass filter 108 is supplied to an A / B track detection circuit 109, an ADIP decoder 110, and a CLV.
It is supplied to the processor 111. In the A / B track detecting circuit 109, based on the input groove information GFM, for example, the track currently being traced is determined by the method described in FIG.
A, TR or B is determined, and the track determination information is transmitted to the driver controller 46.
Output to The ADIP decoder 110 decodes the input groove information GFM to extract an ADIP signal, which is absolute address information on the disk, and outputs the signal to the driver controller 46. The driver controller 46 executes necessary control processing based on the track discrimination information and the ADIP signal.

The CLV processor 111 receives the clock CLK from the equalizer / PLL circuit 104 and the groove information GFM via the ADIP bandpass filter 108. The CLV processor 111 generates a spindle error signal SPE for CLV servo control based on, for example, an error signal obtained by integrating a phase error between the groove information GFM and the clock CLK, and outputs the spindle error signal SPE to the servo processor 112. The required operation to be executed by the CLV processor 111 is controlled by the driver controller 46.

The servo processor 112 receives various servo control signals based on the tracking error signal TE, focus error signal FE, spindle error signal SPE, track jump command and access command from the driver controller 46 input as described above. (Tracking control signal, focus control signal, thread control signal, spindle control signal, etc.) are generated and output to the servo driver 113. In the servo driver 113,
A required servo drive signal is generated based on the servo control signal supplied from the servo processor 112. Here, the servo drive signal includes a two-axis drive signal (two types of focus direction and tracking direction) for driving the two-axis mechanism, a sled motor drive signal for driving the sled mechanism, and a spindle motor drive signal for driving the spindle motor 52. Becomes By supplying such a servo drive signal to the deck section 5, focus control and tracking control on the disk 51 and CLV control on the spindle motor 52 are performed.

When a recording operation is performed on the disk 51, for example, data processing /
Scramble / ED from system control circuit 31
The recording data DATAR for the C encoding circuit 115
Will be input. This user record data DAT
Ar is input in synchronization with a transfer clock (data transfer rate) generated by the transfer clock generation circuit 121, for example.

Scramble / EDC encoding circuit 11
In step 5, for example, the recording data DATAR is written into the buffer memory 42 and expanded, and the data scramble processing is performed.
DC encoding processing (addition processing of an error detection code by a predetermined method) is performed. After this processing, for example, the ECC processing circuit 116 adds an error correction code according to the RS-PC method to the recording data DATAR developed in the buffer memory 42. The recording data DATAR that has been processed up to this point is read from the buffer memory 42 and transmitted to the RL via the data bus 114.
The signal is supplied to the L (1, 7) modulation circuit 118.

In the RLL (1, 7) modulation circuit 118, RLL (1, 7) is applied to the input recording data DATAR.
7) A modulation process is performed, and the recording data as the RLL (1, 7) code string is output to the magnetic head drive circuit 119.

By the way, the MD-DATA2 format employs a so-called laser strobe magnetic field modulation system as a recording system for a disk. The laser strobe magnetic field modulation method refers to a recording method in which a magnetic field modulated by recording data is applied to a recording surface of a disk, and a laser beam to be irradiated on the disk is pulsed in synchronization with the recording data. In such a laser strobe magnetic field modulation method, the process of forming a pit edge recorded on a disk does not depend on transient characteristics such as the reversal speed of a magnetic field, but is determined by the laser pulse irradiation timing. For this reason, the laser strobe magnetic field modulation method is compared with, for example, a simple magnetic field modulation method (a method in which a laser beam is constantly irradiated onto a disk and a magnetic field modulated by recording data is applied to a disk recording surface). In this case, the jitter of the recording pit can be extremely reduced. That is, the laser strobe magnetic field modulation method is a recording method advantageous for high-density recording.

The magnetic head drive circuit 119 of the media drive unit 4 operates so that a magnetic field modulated by the input recording data is applied from the magnetic head 54 to the disk 51. Further, the RLL (1, 7) modulation circuit 118 outputs a clock synchronized with the recording data to the laser driver 120. The laser driver 120 controls the optical head 5 so that the disk is irradiated with a laser pulse synchronized with recording data generated as a magnetic field by the magnetic head 54 based on the input clock.
The third laser diode is driven. At this time, the laser pulse emitted and output from the laser diode is based on a required laser power suitable for recording. In this way, the recording operation as the laser strobe magnetic field modulation method is enabled by the media drive unit 4 of the present embodiment.

5. Next, an example of a data structure of the disk 51 according to the present embodiment will be described. First, data units called sectors and clusters will be described as the format of MD-DATA2. A sector is a minimum unit for physically reading data from a disk.
An SA (Physical Sector Address) is assigned. The cluster is a minimum unit of physical data writing to the disk, and is formed by a set of 16 consecutive sectors having a PSA of 0h to Fh. Each cluster is assigned a PCA (Physical Cluster Address). A sector in a lead-in area (pre-mastered area) described later can be uniquely specified by the PCA. Further, as for the clusters in the recordable area, the clusters having the same PCA exist for each of the tracks Tr.A and Tr.B.

FIG. 9 conceptually shows an example of a data management form of the disk 51 according to this embodiment. Note that the physical format of the disk 51 shown in this figure is as described above with reference to FIGS. In the disk 51, for example, PTOC and RTOC are set as management information. PTOC is
Required management information is recorded in a pit form. This P
The contents of the TOC cannot be rewritten. RTOC
For example, basic information necessary for managing data recorded on a disc is recorded. For example, in the case of this example, as data recorded on the disk, tracks (sometimes synonymous with files) and folders (structures for managing tracks by grouping them) are used for recording and reproducing. Information is stored. Note that RT
The contents of the OC are sequentially rewritten in accordance with, for example, the results of data recording on the disk and the results of editing processing such as deletion of tracks (files) and folders.

The user data is managed as a volume folder located in one root folder. In the present embodiment, a volume
Is defined as a complete set of user data, and is defined as having only one volume on one disk. The data contained in this volume is stored as folders and tracks under the volume folder except for those managed by the PTOC and RTOC.

In the volume folder, a volume index track (VIT) of a predetermined size (for example, 12 clusters) is placed. This volume index track is, for example,
If the OC and RTOC are the main management information, they are defined as areas in which the sub-management information is recorded.
Data) has a table in which information for managing properties, titles, and packet data forming a track is recorded.

Also, as a track managed in the volume folder, a thumbnail track (Thumbnail Pictu
re Track) can be placed as an option.
In the present embodiment, one still image with a predetermined resolution can be included as a thumbnail image in association with each file recorded on the disk. The thumbnail image is treated as a representative image for making the file visually recognizable. The thumbnail track is recorded together with index information indicating a correspondence with a file (track) recorded on the disc and a storage position of the thumbnail image. The data length of the thumbnail track can be arbitrarily expanded according to the number of stored thumbnail images and the like.

For example, image / audio data recorded by the user by photographing or the like is managed on a file basis, and placed in a volume folder as a track under the volume folder or in a folder placed below the volume folder. Will be placed. FIG. 9 shows a state in which a certain file is represented as one track and this track is stored in a certain folder. As described above, a folder has a structure for managing tracks or folders in one group. Therefore, in the structure below the volume folder, an arbitrary number of tracks or folders is stored within the range defined by the maximum number of records that can be stored in the volume folder and the maximum number of levels in the folder hierarchical structure.

An auxiliary data track storing auxiliary data (Auxiliary Data) is stored in the volume folder.
(Auxiliary Data Track) is placed. The information to be stored in the auxiliary data track is arbitrary depending on, for example, an application to be actually applied. In the present embodiment, script information as playback control information is stored. Although detailed description is omitted here, the image data (Imag
e) is also stored.

By the way, the PTO which is the management information
The information stored in the C, RTOC, or even the volume index track (these information is collectively referred to as “management information” in the present embodiment) is read, for example, when a disc is loaded. For example,
The data is held in a predetermined area of the buffer memory 42 (or the buffer memory 32) of the media drive unit 4. Then, at the time of data recording or editing, the management information stored in the buffer memory is rewritten according to the recording result or the editing result, and then, at a predetermined opportunity and timing, the management information is rewritten to the buffer memory. The management information of the disk 51 is rewritten (updated) based on the content of the held management information (however, P
No update is performed for the TOC).

FIG. 10 shows the data management form shown in FIG. 9 in correspondence with the physical structure of the disk 51. The lead-in area shown in this figure is a pit area on the innermost circumference of the disc, in which PTOC information is recorded.

A recordable area is formed around the outer periphery of the lead-in area via a transition area. This recordable area is a magneto-optical recording area where magneto-optical recording and reproduction can be performed. In the recordable area, as described above with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, two tracks of the tracks Tr.A and Tr.B are formed on a double spiral.

In the innermost circumference of the recordable area,
An RTOC area is provided for each of the tracks Tr.A and Tr.B. Then, in the RTOC area of the track Tr · A, information of the RTOC having a size of four clusters is repeatedly recorded three times. And following this, 12
A cluster size volume index track is arranged. Following the volume index track, a thumbnail track can be arranged as an option. It is defined that at least the first cluster is located as a thumbnail track in the RTOC area. Then, for example, when the number of thumbnail image data increases as the number of files increases and exceeds the capacity of the thumbnail track in the RTOC area, additional recording can be performed in a recordable data area described later. . At this time, the thumbnail track on the recordable data area is managed by a volume index track (or RTOC).

Following the thumbnail track in the RTOC area, an area for recording script and image data as auxiliary data can be set as an option. Further, when the script and image data exceed the recordable capacity in the RTOC area, they are additionally recorded in the recordable data area in a form managed by the volume index track (or RTOC). You can go.

A recordable data area is provided from the address position indicated by the recordable data area start address W. AV data, that is, track (file) data, is recorded in the recordable data area. The thumbnail image data and auxiliary data described above can also be recorded.

When the recordable data area ends, a lead-out area is formed from the address position indicated by the lead-out area start address L to the outermost periphery.

The above description relates to the track Tr.A. However, as can be seen from FIG.
However, the RTOC area is undefined at this stage. That is, the RTOC area includes the track Tr
Only A is used substantially.

Note that the example of the disk structure shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 is merely an example, and the physical positional relationship of each area on the disk may be changed according to actual use conditions and the like. The structure in which the data is stored can be changed.

6. Thumbnail Image Generation Processing The thumbnail images stored in the thumbnail tracks shown in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 can be generated by the video camera of the present embodiment. Let me explain. Here, a case will be described in which a thumbnail image is generated for an image file already recorded on a disc.

As described above, for example, the management information (PTOC, RTOC, volume index track) recorded on the disk 51 is read out at a predetermined timing such as when the disk is loaded, and is stored in the buffer memory 42 (or the buffer memory 42). 32).

The driver controller 46 refers to, for example, management information stored in the buffer memory 42 and records image data designated as a thumbnail image for a file from which a thumbnail image is to be generated. By obtaining an address on the disk and accessing the address to execute a read operation on the disk, image data as a thumbnail image generation source is obtained. This image data is
The data is sequentially transmitted from the media drive unit 4 to the video signal processing unit 3 and supplied to the data processing / system control circuit 31. Unless otherwise specified, the image data specified as the thumbnail image generation source by the management information is assumed to specify, for example, the first frame (or field) image data in the file.

The data processing / system control circuit 31 first controls the MPEG2 video signal processing circuit 33 for the supplied screen data,
Decompression processing according to the EG2 format is performed, and data decoded to the level of image data in field image units is obtained.

For example, at the stage of image data decoded to the level of the field image unit, usually,
The data is data having an image size (number of pixels) enough to be displayed in a substantially full size on the display screen. Therefore,
After the full-size image data in the unit of the field image is obtained, the reduction processing is performed on the full-size image data so that the actual required thumbnail image size can be obtained. Become. In order to reduce the image size, for example, the original full-size image data is sampled at appropriate timing for pixel data, and a signal is generated to reconstruct the image data using the sampled pixel data. What is necessary is just to perform a process.

Then, for example, the video controller 38
Generates index information (described with reference to FIG. 9) for the thumbnail image data thus obtained,
Control is performed so that the thumbnail image data is recorded on the thumbnail track of the disk together with the index information. In this way, thumbnail image data corresponding to each file is obtained and recorded on the disc.

In this embodiment, as can be seen from the above description, in addition to image data (including audio data), audio data using only audio, and character information data can be recorded as a file. However, for example, if there is no image data from which the thumbnail image is generated in the file, such as audio data and character information data, for example, it is visually determined that the data is audio data or character information data in advance. Prepare image data of a pattern that can be recognized by the
M, or stored in a predetermined area of a disk), and this image data may be used as a thumbnail image.

7. Script In the present embodiment, it is possible to perform an editing process on a file (mainly a recorded file) recorded by the video camera, such as specifying a reproduction order and giving a required special effect at the time of reproduction. In performing the editing as described above, in the present embodiment, a script is provided as playback control information capable of giving a required playback output mode for a recorded file. In a video camera, for example, the video controller 38 By interpreting the script, a reproduction output mode (for example, reproduction order) according to the editing result is obtained. In the editing stage, the content of the script is updated to execute the editing process. In addition,
Here, the “script” refers to a procedure writing structure described in a predetermined programming language in order to reproduce and output moving image data, still image data, audio data, and even document data at the same time. Is done.

First, a script used as reproduction control information in the present embodiment will be schematically described.

In this embodiment, SMIL (Synchronized Multimedia Integration Language) is used as a script.
ge). SMIL is a language standardized by W3C (Internet standardization organization) in order to realize, for example, television program broadcasting and presentations on the Internet.
It is intended to realize a chronological presentation or the like based on the grammar of a (super set of TML).

First, the scheduling is <seq>, <
par>. <Seq>
Means sequential, that is, serial, and the information enclosed by this tag is reproduced in chronological order. <
par> means parallel, that is, parallel,
The information enclosed by the tags is reproduced synchronously.

Here, for example, in a file assumed to be recorded on a disc, video1, video1
2, for a file of image data represented as video3, video1 → video2 → video3
<Seq><video src = “video 1”><video src = “video 2”><video src = “video 3”></seq> or <seq><play video 1 ><Playvideo2><playvideo3></seq>

In addition, file video1 → video
2 → video3 and video1
For audio1 which is a file of audio data
<Seq><par><video src = “video1”><audio src = “audio1”></par><video src = “video2”><video src = ”video3” "></Seq> is described as follows.

A description is also provided for specifying a file to be reproduced synchronously with a certain file, such as starting from a position several seconds after the reproduction of the certain file. For example, in a case where a caption (for example, an image as character information) is displayed 5 seconds after the image file of video 1 is displayed (reproduced), <par><video src = “video 1”><image src = "Scratch1" begi
n = “5s”></par> The description is made as follows.

For example, if the user instructs to display the file picture1 as a still picture file for 5 seconds, <image src = “picture1” dur
= "5s">.

[0115] Also, when a so-called frame mute is used to extract and reproduce a part of a certain moving image file, "range" is used. For example, SMPTE (Society of Motion Pictu
re and Television) standard, <video src = “video1” range
= "Smpte: 10: 07: 00-10: 07: 3"
3 ">.

To repeat a file by designating a certain file, "repeat" is used. For example, vi
If the file of video1 is repeated 10 times, <video src = “video1” repe
at = “10”>.

In the present embodiment, such a script called SMIL is used to execute display control for giving a required display form as a thumbnail display. For this reason, for example, in the video camera system of the present embodiment, this S
Interpretation and script description (generation) corresponding to MIL
, A subset of XML is prepared. For example, the program may be stored in advance in a ROM or the like in the video controller 38 as a program to be executed by the video controller 38, or may be recorded in an application layer of a disc and read out.

In the present embodiment, such a script is generated or updated by the video controller 38 in, for example, an editing stage (or a stage in which a recording operation is being performed). It is to be kept in the area. Then, the script held in the buffer memory 32 in this manner is recorded on a disk at a predetermined opportunity or timing. The data of this script is shown in FIG. 9 and FIG.
Auxiliary Data Trac described in
k) is stored as a script file. By recording the script on the disc in this way, the next time the disc is newly loaded, the script recorded on the disc is read out,
For example, by holding the data in the buffer memory 32 and referring to the data, it is possible to perform editing and reproduction in accordance with the reproduction order and the like obtained by the previous editing.

8. Operation Screen Display In the video camera of the present embodiment, an operation screen is displayed on the display panel 67 when searching for a file recorded on a disc, and performing various editing and setting processes. The operation screen presents various information on the currently loaded disc and files recorded on the disc. Then, various operations for a certain purpose are realized by using a pressing operation on the operation screen (hereinafter referred to as a pointing operation) and an operation on various operating elements in combination.
Here, as the operation screen of the present embodiment, a so-called thumbnail display for presenting a corresponding thumbnail image (small image) for each file recorded on the currently loaded disc is also performed. That is, the user can visually confirm the contents of the file (track) recorded on the disc by looking at the thumbnail image displayed on the operation screen. In addition, a file search, reproduction, and the like can be performed by operating the thumbnail image.

FIG. 11 shows an example of a display form of the operation screen displayed on the display panel 67 of the video camera according to the present embodiment. This operation screen is displayed as an initial screen when, for example, a reproduction / edit mode is set in a state where a disc is loaded.

In this figure, first, an information display area A1 is provided in the upper part of the display area. In the information display area A1, various kinds of information required by the user are presented. Here, the battery remaining amount display area A1-1, the sports mode display area A1
-2, a reproduction mode display area A1-3, a remaining recording time display area A1-4, and a disc icon A1-5.

In the remaining battery level display area A1-1, the remaining battery level is indicated by a battery symbol and time. Although detailed description is omitted here, in the video camera of the present embodiment, a sports mode in which a user can confirm a movement of a subject or the like photographed by performing frame-by-frame playback or the like as a playback mode, for example, is performed. It can be set. Then, in the sport mode display area A1-2, when the sport mode is set, the fact that the sport mode is currently set is notified by, for example, characters "SPORT" as shown in the figure. In the reproduction mode display area A1-3, various special reproduction modes such as shuffle reproduction, repeat reproduction, and reproduction between AB are presented by characters, symbols, and the like. The remaining recording time display area A1-4 indicates the remaining recordable capacity of the disc by time. The disc icon A1-5 displays, for example, that a disc is loaded. When a pointing operation is performed on the disc icon A1-5, various information on the currently loaded disc is displayed from the operation screen shown in FIG. Is displayed,
It is possible to switch to the display of the disc information screen.

A thumbnail display area A2 is provided below the information display area A1. Here, up to 9
It is possible to display a thumbnail image (for nine files), and here, a state is shown in which thumbnail images SN of A to I are displayed. Although not shown here, for example, actually, as each thumbnail image SN,
For example, if the file is a recorded file, an image extracted from the recorded file is displayed as a still image.

Here, the arrangement order of the thumbnail images SN in alphabetical order of A to I basically follows the reproduction order. That is, in the present embodiment, the thumbnail images can be displayed in a predetermined arrangement order according to the file reproduction order specified by the script. However, if an operation such as sorting is performed, thumbnails are displayed according to the sort order.

In this case, the number of thumbnail images that can be displayed at one time is nine. For example, when the number of tracks (files) recorded on the disc is more than nine, and thus the number of thumbnail images is also more than nine, Is to point the scroll bar A4 displayed on the right side of the thumbnail display area A2 by pointing and performing, for example, a drag operation, so that the thumbnail images displayed in the thumbnail display area A2 are displayed while being scrolled. Can be done.

Various icons are superimposed on each thumbnail image SN displayed in the thumbnail display area A2. As these icons, a moving image icon i1 indicates that the file corresponding to the thumbnail image on which this icon is superimposed is a file in which a moving image is recorded. In the case of FIG. 11, it is recognized that the thumbnail images (A, B, C, D, E) are moving image files.

The icon displayed on the thumbnail image (G) is a still image icon i2, which indicates that the file is a still image file. What is displayed on the thumbnail image (H) is the interview file icon i3, which indicates that it is an interview file recorded in the above-described interview mode. Also, the group icon i4 is displayed on the thumbnail image (I). In the video camera according to the present embodiment, as a management on the thumbnail display, a plurality of files that are continuous in reproduction order are grouped together, and the files thus grouped are displayed as one thumbnail image. can do. The group icon i4 is superimposed on the thumbnail image corresponding to the grouping in this way.

The icon displayed on the thumbnail image (F) is a memo file icon i5. In the video camera according to the present embodiment, as an editing function, the contents of a memo written by the user can be created as one independent file. For example, if such a memo file is inserted in front of an arbitrary file and reproduced, the title content of the file can be displayed by the memo file. The memo file icon i5 indicates that the file is a memo file.

[0129] For example, the icon imitating a pencil displayed on the thumbnail image (C, E) is a graffiti icon i6. As an editing function of the video camera of the present embodiment, the user can use the pen 320 or the like to perform an operation trajectory on the panel display unit 67 or to paste a stamp image or the like on an already recorded image file.
It is possible to add a graffiti-like image.
The graffiti icon i6 indicates that the file has been scribbled by the scribble function.

Further, a mark icon i7 is displayed on the thumbnail images (B, E). The user can add a mark to an arbitrary file by an operation described later. For example, the user is made to mark a file that is important to him as a reminder. The mark icon i7 indicates that the mark is attached.

A lock icon i8 is displayed on the thumbnail images (A, E). The user can set “lock” so as not to delete or change any of the files by an operation described later. The lock icon i8 indicates that the file is locked. An effect icon i9 is displayed below the thumbnail images (A, E). In the present embodiment, it is possible to give a special reproduction effect such as various scene changes or mosaics to the file.
Indicates that the file has such a special effect.

In this embodiment, various icons are superimposed and displayed on the thumbnail image in this manner, so that various attributes such as the type of the file corresponding to the thumbnail image and various setting conditions can be provided to the user. It is possible to make them visually recognized.

The pointer icon i10 displayed so as to frame the image of the thumbnail image (E) is displayed by, for example, the user performing a pointing operation on the thumbnail image with the pen 320 or the like. It is moved and displayed with respect to the image. Then, the thumbnail image in which the pointer icon i10 is arranged and displayed is currently selected. Here, for example, if the user operates the reproduction / pause key 308, the reproduction is started from the track on which the pointer icon i10 is arranged and selected.

A menu key area A3 for displaying various menu keys is provided on the left side of the thumbnail display area A2. In this menu key area A3,
In order from the top, a reproduction menu key A3-1, an edit menu key A3-2, a graffiti / effect menu key A3-3, a studio menu key A3-4, and a setting menu key A3-
5. The advanced menu key A3-6 is arranged and displayed.

The reproduction menu key A3-1 is a key for presenting a menu relating to various types of reproduction and setting the reproduction mode. For example, a reproduction mode or the like reflected in the reproduction mode display area A1-3 can be set. The edit menu key A3-2 presents various items related to editing in a recorded file unit. For example, a track (file) is moved, copied, deleted, track divided, a file is grouped, and a still image is taken out ( For example, selection of a still image to be displayed as a thumbnail image) can be performed. Also,
The operation for displaying the track information and performing a transition to the track information screen on which various settings for each track information can be performed can also be performed here.

The graffiti / effect menu key A3-3 is used to set a graffiti function and various special reproduction effects such as scene change (fade-in, fade-out, wipe, etc.), audio special effects, and image special effects (mosaic, sepia processing). Is presented. Further, the video camera of the present embodiment has a function of easily creating a video work by recording and operating the user according to the GUI. Studio menu key A3-4
Presents a menu corresponding to such a simplified video work creation function.

The setting menu key A3-5 is a menu for making various settings such as the brightness of the screen as the display section 6A, the shade of the panel color, the brightness of the viewfinder, the date and time setting, and the still image setting time. Be presented. The advanced menu key A3-6 presents a menu relating to a connection function with a personal computer, a demo mode, and the like.

[0138] A track information display area A5 is provided below the display area. In the track information display area A5, information about the track corresponding to the thumbnail image selected in the thumbnail display area A2 (where the pointer icon i10 is arranged) is displayed. Here, first, the track number is shown in the track number display area A5-1, and subsequently,
In the date / time / title display area A5-2, the recording date / time and the title assigned to the track are alternately displayed at predetermined time intervals (for example, several seconds). The total time of the track is displayed in the time display area A5-3. The shortcut icons A5-4 correspond to the various icons described above (for example, the moving image icon i1 and the still image icon i) in accordance with the type of the file corresponding to the selected thumbnail image, the presence or absence of the grouping setting, and the like.
2. One of the interview file icon i3, the group icon i4, and the memo file icon i5) is displayed. And this shortcut icon A5-4
When a pointing operation is performed on the track information screen, it is possible to move to a track information screen.

Here, as an operation example of the menu key area A3, the case of the reproduction menu key A3-1 will be described with reference to FIG. For example, as shown in FIG. 12, when a pointing operation is performed on the reproduction menu key A3-1 with, for example, the pen 320, a first pop-up menu is displayed. First
In this case, the pop-up menu contains "← back",
Menu items of “sport analysis mode”, “play mode”, and “sort” are displayed. When the first pop-up menu is displayed, for example, when the jog dial 303 is rotated (or may be dragged on the screen with a pen or the like), the selected item moves according to the rotation direction. Let go. Then, for example, as shown in the figure, "play mode"
Is selected and the jog dial 303 is pressed (or a pointing operation with a pen for a certain period of time or more may be performed) to display a second pop-up menu.

Here, in the second pop-up menu,
Four items of "normal", "disk repeat", "shuffle", and "intro scan" are displayed. Then, the user can select and determine a desired item from these items by performing the same operation on the second pop-up menu as the above-described operation on the first pop-up menu. The play mode set in this way is reflected, for example, as the display content of the playback mode display area shown in FIG.

An operation example for the edit menu key A3-2 will be described with reference to FIG. When a pointing operation is performed on the edit menu key A3-2, for example, a first pop-up menu shown in FIG. 13 is displayed. In the first pop-up menu here, menu items of “move”, “delete”, “track division”, “group”, “title”, “take out still image”, “copy”, “track information”, and “return” are displayed. .
If the user rotates the jog dial 303 (or drags with a pen or the like) while the first pop-up menu is displayed, these items are selected, and the selected items are selected according to a sequentially displayed guide. Can be edited according to. The track to be edited is a track corresponding to the thumbnail image on which the pointer icon i10 is arranged and displayed in the thumbnail display area A2 when the edit menu key A3-2 is operated.

9. Self-timer function 9-1. Operation Example The video camera of the present embodiment configured as described above has a self-timer function. The self-timer function according to the present embodiment is adapted to both the recording of a still image and the recording of a moving image as follows.

FIGS. 13 and 14 show an operation procedure for photographing (recording) using the self-timer function by the video camera of the present embodiment and for setting a time for the self-timer photographing. In the present embodiment, such an operation relating to the self-timer shooting also involves an operation for an image displayed on the display panel 67.

In the case of the self-timer shooting, since the captured image is recorded, the user is required to use the main dial 30.
Operate 0 to set the camera mode. The operation screen shown in FIG. 11 is displayed in the playback / edit mode, but when the camera mode is set, the initial screen is
As shown in FIG. 13A, a current captured image (through image) is displayed on the display screen of the display panel 67, and then a menu key area A3 as shown in the figure is displayed.
Menu key area A3 corresponding to this camera mode
For example, first, a camera menu key A3-7 specific to the camera mode is displayed. Further, a setting menu key A3-5 and a studio menu key A3-5 are displayed as the same as the menu keys displayed on the operation screen shown in FIG.

The camera menu key A3-7 provides a menu for various operations related to image shooting (recording). For example, when a pointing operation is performed on the camera menu key A3-7 with the pen 320 or the like, a pop-up menu as a camera menu is displayed as shown in FIG. here,
In the pop-up menu, there are nine menu items: “← Back”, “Self-timer”, “Interval shooting”, “Program AE”, “Digital zoom”, “Wide TV”, “Image stabilization”, “White balance”, and “Auto shutter”. I have.

When the user sets the self-timer shooting or the time setting for the self-timer shooting, the user selects the “self-timer” item in the pop-up menu according to the operation procedure described with reference to FIG. To be. Then, the display panel 67 shifts to the self-timer mode screen as shown in FIG. In this case, a through image is displayed as the self-timer mode screen, and "self-timer mode" is displayed in the mode display area A9 at the upper left of the screen, indicating that the camera is in the self-timer mode. In addition,
13 and 14 to be described later, there is a mode in which “Self-timer mode” is displayed in the mode display area A9. In that case, the display in the self-timer mode is similarly performed. It indicates that there is. Further, at the lower right of the screen, a stop button A10 and a detailed setting button A11 are displayed as operation keys.

In the state where the self-timer mode screen shown in FIG.
Operate 01. When the user wants to perform self-timer shooting of a still image, he operates the photo key 304. When the release key 301 or the photo key 304 is operated, the screen shifts to a shooting standby screen shown in FIG. The display mode of the shooting standby screen shown in FIG. 13C and the operation at the time of the display will be described later.

When the cancel button A10 on the self-timer mode screen is operated, the self-timer mode is canceled, and the screen shifts to, for example, the initial screen of the camera mode described with reference to FIG. When the detail setting button A11 is operated, the screen shifts to a detail setting screen shown in FIG.

The detailed setting screen shown in FIG. 13D is an operation screen for the user to set various setting items related to the self-timer shooting. This screen is a screen for setting the time for the self-timer shooting, and for this purpose, a waiting time setting area A16 and a moving picture recording time setting area A17 are displayed.

First, the waiting time setting area A16 is an area for setting a waiting time from when the user operates the release key or the photo key until recording of a moving image or a still image is started. For example, the waiting time setting area A1
6, the waiting time setting area A16 is activated by a pointing operation to the jog dial 3
By performing the rotation operation 03, for the waiting time, for example, three times of [5 seconds, 10 seconds, 15 seconds] can be selected by a so-called toggle operation. In addition, depending on the operation on the moving image / audio recording time setting area A17, the time from the start of recording of a moving image to the end thereof can be set. The time set here also determines the duration of audio recording when audio is recorded in conjunction with recording a still image. That is, the moving image / audio recording time setting area A17 is an area for commonly setting the recording time of a moving image and the audio recording time when recording a still image. In the same manner as described above, the moving image / audio recording time setting area A17 is activated, and the jog dial 303 is rotated to operate the moving image / audio recording time setting area A17.
For the audio recording time, for example, [5 seconds, 10 seconds, 20 seconds
, 30 seconds, and 60 seconds] can be selected by a so-called toggle operation. The setting operation of the waiting time and the moving image / audio recording time is merely an example. Therefore, the selectable time candidates may be actually changed, and an operation procedure other than the toggle operation may be adopted.

On the detailed setting screen shown in FIG. 13D, a return button A14 and a decision button A15 are displayed. If a pointing operation is performed on the return button A14 and the user clicks the button, the settings made on the detailed setting screen opened this time are canceled, and the previous settings are made effective. The screen is returned to the self-timer mode screen shown in ()). On the other hand, when the enter button A15 is operated, the setting made on the detailed setting screen (and the voice setting screen described later) which is opened this time is made effective, and the screen returns to the self-timer mode screen.

In the detailed setting screen shown in FIG. 13D, a voice setting key A17-1 is displayed, and when a pointing operation is performed on this key, the sound setting key A17-1 is displayed. The screen shifts to the voice setting screen shown in d). When recording a still image, if the video camera has the configuration of the present embodiment, it is possible to record, for example, audio input from a microphone at this time in correspondence with the still image. However, if the user wants to record audio along with a still image, for example, depending on the situation in which the user is shooting, for example, it is naturally possible that the user does not need to do so. Therefore, on the audio setting screen shown in FIG. 14D, it is possible to set the presence / absence of audio recording during still image recording as self-timer shooting. That is, the audio setting screen displays an audio recording setting area A19 as shown in the figure. By activating the audio recording setting area A19 and performing, for example, a jog dial operation, "no audio recording" and "audio recording available" Item can be selected by toggle. Here, if "no sound recording" is selected and the decision is made, no sound is recorded at the time of the still image recording of the self-timer shooting, and if "with sound recording" is selected and the decision is made, the sound is recorded. Will be done. At this time, audio is recorded for a time set in the moving image / audio recording time area A17 shown in FIG.

[0153] Also, on the voice setting screen shown in Fig. 14D, a return button A14 and a decision button A15 are displayed. In this case, when a pointing operation is performed on the return button A14 to click it, FIG.
Is returned to the detailed setting screen shown in FIG. When the enter button A15 is operated, for example, the settings made on the detailed setting screen and the voice setting screen which have been opened this time are enabled, and the self-timer mode screen shown in FIG. I'm going back.

Then, while the self-timer mode screen shown in FIG. 13B is being displayed, the release key 301 (corresponding to moving image shooting) or the photo key 30 is displayed.
When 4 (corresponding to still image shooting) is operated, as described above, the screen shifts to the shooting standby screen shown in FIG. Also on this shooting standby screen, a through image is displayed so that the user can see the current captured image. Then, on this screen, a countdown area A12 is displayed.
A display for counting down the waiting time set on the detailed setting screen (FIG. 13D) is performed. For example, if 10 seconds is set as the waiting time, [10] →
Display is performed as [9] → [8]... [1] → [0]. The user prepares, for example, by taking a pause when shooting is performed before the count value becomes [0] while watching the countdown display on the shooting standby screen. Here, if the user performs an operation on the stop button A13, the self-timer operation is released, and the display returns to, for example, the self-timer mode screen (or the initial screen of the camera mode) shown in FIG. 13B. To be.

Then, assuming that the countdown display becomes [0] and the photographing is started, a transition is made to a moving image photographing screen shown in FIG. 14A at the time of recording a moving image, and FIG. The screen shifts to the still image shooting screen shown in b). When the display of the moving image shooting screen shown in FIG. 14A is started, the recording of the moving image on the disc also starts. Thereafter, an image displayed as a through image on this moving image shooting screen is recorded as a moving image. In the case of recording a moving image, the sound input from the microphone is also recorded unless the setting is changed.

The countdown area A12 is also displayed on the moving image shooting screen. In the countdown area A12, the moving image / audio recording time setting area A in the detailed setting screen shown in FIG.
The moving image / audio recording time set for 17 is counted down, and the recording of the moving image / audio is continued until the countdown display becomes [0]. Then, at the timing when the countdown display in the countdown area A12 becomes [0], the recording of the moving image / audio is ended. Then, as shown in FIG. 14C, the screen returns to the initial screen in the camera mode. Note that FIG.
If the operation of the stop button A18 in this screen is performed when the moving image shooting screen shown in (a) is displayed and the data recording to the disc is being executed, the data recording so far is not performed. Will be terminated. As a display, for example, the display returns to the self-timer mode screen (or the initial screen of the camera mode) shown in FIG.

In the case where the still image shooting screen shown in FIG. 14B is displayed, the image that has been captured and displayed as a through image at this time when the screen display is started is displayed as a still image. And this still image is recorded on the disc. Note that, at this time, an animation display simulating the shutter operation is performed, for example, as indicated by hatching in the figure. Here, in the voice setting screen previously shown in FIG.
If "no sound recording" is set, for example, this still image shooting screen is displayed for about several seconds, and then, as shown in FIG.
The screen returns to the initial screen of the camera mode shown in FIG. When “with sound recording” is set, after the still image shooting screen shown in FIG. 14B is displayed for a certain short time, for example, the moving image shooting shown in FIG. The display shifts to, for example, the same display as the screen. Then, in this screen, in the countdown area A12, the audio recording time (moving picture /
(Time set for audio recording time setting area A17)
Is counted down, and the recording of the sound is ended at the timing when the countdown display becomes [0]. Then, the screen returns to the initial screen of the camera mode shown in FIG.

As described above, in the self-timer shooting of the present embodiment, first, as the time setting relating to the self-timer, the waiting time and the moving image / audio recording time are set.
One can be set. At the time of moving image recording, after the set wait time elapses after the release key is operated, shooting (recording) is started, and the moving image recording is ended after the set moving image / audio recording time elapses. Let me. That is, the self-timer function of the present embodiment includes
In addition to providing a standby time before starting moving image recording, the moving image recording operation thereafter can be automatically started / terminated in accordance with the setting of the moving image / audio recording time.

At the time of recording a still image, the apparatus waits from the operation of the photo key to the recording of the still image according to the set waiting time. This is the minimum necessary operation for taking a self-timer image of a still image. Then, in the present embodiment, as an additional function when the still image is photographed by the self-timer, the presence / absence of audio recording can be set along with the still image recording. Here, if audio recording is set not to be performed, the still image captured at this time can be treated by the user as substantially the same as an image captured by a normal digital still camera, In terms of hardware, since it is only necessary to record a still image, lighter signal processing is required than in the case of recording (reproducing) audio data together, and the recording capacity of a recording medium can be saved. In addition, when performing audio recording, it is possible to store not only a mere still image but also audio such as a conversation at that time, so that higher entertainment can be obtained.

Further, in the case of the time setting described above and the self-timer shooting based on this time setting, the set waiting time is shared between the still image recording and the moving image recording, and is similarly set. The moving image / audio recording time is also shared by the moving image recording time when recording a moving image and the audio recording time when recording a still image. That is, one waiting time, one video /
If the audio recording time is set, the time for the self-timer shooting of a still image and a moving image can be set. For example, in the video camera according to the present embodiment, it is easily possible to set a different waiting time and a different recording duration for each of the self-timer shooting of a still image and a moving image as a method. However, such a configuration may actually be performed. However, if the waiting time and the moving image / audio recording time are shared during the self-timer shooting of the still image and the moving image as described above, the setting operation becomes simpler and easier to understand. It can help to improve the usability.

9-2. Processing Operation Subsequently, the processing according to the setting operation regarding the self-timer shooting of the present embodiment described with reference to FIGS. 13 and 14 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The processing operation shown in this figure is performed, for example, after the video controller 38 functions as a master controller, as necessary.
This is realized by the data processing / system control circuit 31 or the like executing the control processing. This is the same for the processing operation of FIG. 16 described later.

The processing shown in this figure is performed under the condition that the detailed setting screen shown in FIG. 13D or the voice setting screen shown in FIG. 14D is displayed.
Then, here, first, in step S101, it is determined whether or not an operation on the enter button A15 has been performed. If it is determined that the operation on the determination button A15 has not been performed, the process proceeds to step S102.

In step S102, it is determined whether a setting item change operation has been performed. The operation for changing the setting item here is a detailed setting screen (FIG. 13).
In order to select and activate any one of the waiting time setting area A16, the moving image / audio recording time A17, and the audio recording setting area A19 in the audio setting screen (FIG. 14D) in (d)). Pointing operation. Here, if it is determined that an operation corresponding to the setting item change has been performed based on the detection information from the touch panel 6B, the process proceeds to step S103. In step S103, the setting items are changed according to the operation. At this time, display control is performed on the display screen so that the selected setting item becomes active and operable.

For example, when a pointing operation for activating the moving image / audio recording time area A17 is performed from the state in which the waiting time setting area A16 has been activated, the waiting time setting area A16 is used instead. The display for activating the audio recording time area A17 is performed. In addition, the detailed setting screen (FIG. 13)
In the state where (d)) is displayed, the operation for shifting from the state where the waiting time setting area A16 and the moving image / audio recording time A17 are activated to the audio setting screen (FIG. 14D) ( If the operation on the audio setting key A17-1) is performed, first, the display screen is shifted from the detailed setting screen to the audio setting screen, and then a display for activating the audio recording setting area A19 is performed.
Conversely, when the return button A14 is operated from the state where the voice setting screen (FIG. 14D) is displayed, the screen is shifted to the detailed setting screen (FIG. 13D). ,
For example, the display is performed so that the waiting time setting area A16 is initially activated. After the process of step S103 is performed, the process returns to step S101.

If it is determined in step S102 that the operation for changing the setting item has not been performed, the process proceeds to step S104. Step S104
In, it is determined which setting item is currently selected. That is, it is determined whether the currently active setting item is the waiting time setting area A16, the moving image / audio recording time A17, or the audio recording setting area A19.

If it is determined in step S104 that the waiting time has been selected as a setting item, the operation on the waiting time setting area A16 is in a state where it can be operated. Therefore, in this case, the process proceeds to step S105,
It is determined whether or not a time setting operation (for example, the above-described operation on the jog dial 303) has been performed on the waiting time setting area A16. Here, if it is determined that the operation has not been performed, step S10 is performed.
However, when it is determined that the operation is being performed, the process proceeds to step S106, and the waiting time T1 selected according to the operation is set. For example, actually, the selected waiting time T1 is held as a provisional value in, for example, an internal RAM of the video controller 38. At this time, the display contents in the waiting time setting area A16 are also changed according to the time setting operation. If it is determined that the process of step S106 has been completed, the process returns to step S101.

If it is determined in step S104 that the moving image / audio recording time has been selected as a setting item, the flow advances to step S107. Then, it is determined whether or not a time setting operation has been performed on the moving image / audio recording time A17. If it is determined that no operation has been performed, the process returns to step S101. If it is determined that an operation has been performed, step S10 is performed.
Proceeding to 8, the setting of the moving image / audio recording time T2 selected according to the operation (and the change of the display content in the moving image / audio recording time A17 according to the time setting operation) is performed. Then, after the process of step S108 is completed, the process returns to step S101.

If it is determined in step S104 that the setting for the presence / absence of voice recording has been selected as a setting item, the flow advances to step S109.
Then, it is determined whether or not a setting operation has been performed on the audio recording setting area A19 in the audio setting screen shown in FIG. If it is determined that the setting operation has not been performed, the process returns to step S101. On the other hand, if it is determined that the operation is being performed, step S
Proceeding to 110, the setting for the presence or absence of the voice recording selected according to the operation is changed. At this time, the display in the audio recording setting area A19 is also changed according to the set contents. Then, after the process of step S110 ends, the process returns to step S101.

If it is determined in step S101 that the operation on the determination button A15 has been performed, the flow advances to step S111. In step S111, the currently set waiting time T1, moving image / audio recording time T
2, and the setting of the presence or absence of voice recording (voice setting)
It is stored and retained in an internal ROM (which is rewritable in this case) of the video controller 38. Then, the processing for the setting so far is completed. At this time, as described above with reference to FIG. 13, the detailed setting screen (FIG. 13D) or the voice setting screen (FIG. 14)
From the state where (d)) is displayed, the display returns to the self-timer mode screen shown in FIG.

Although not shown here, FIG.
When an operation is performed on the return button A14 on the detailed setting screen shown in (d), the information of the waiting time T1, the moving image / audio recording time T2, and the audio setting changed by the previous operation are cleared. The setting is performed such that the previously determined waiting time T1, moving image / audio recording time T2, and information of the audio setting become valid again.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing a processing operation for realizing the self-timer photographing (recording) operation of the present embodiment. The processing shown in FIG.
The process is started in a state where the self-timer mode display shown in FIG.

Here, first, it is determined whether or not the release key 301 is operated in step S201. If it is determined that the release key 301 is operated, the moving image recording in steps S202 to S207 is performed. The process proceeds to self-timer recording in the mode.
On the other hand, in step S201, the release key 30
If it is determined that there is no operation on the photo key 304, the process advances to step S208 to determine whether an operation on the photo key 304 is performed. Here, if it is determined that the operation on the photo key 304 has been performed, step S
The process shifts to a self-timer process in the still image recording mode in steps 209 to S216. Meanwhile, Photo key 3
If the operation on 04 is not performed, the process returns to step S201.

In other words, the release key 301 or the photo key 304
Waiting for an operation on,
This process also functions as a mode switching process in which a moving image recording mode is set when the release key 301 is operated, and a still image recording mode is set when the photo key 304 is operated. .

The processing in the moving image recording mode after step S202 is executed as follows. In step S202, a countdown is performed for the currently set waiting time T1. Although illustration is omitted here, at this time, a control process for displaying a shooting standby screen shown in FIG. 13C is executed. Then, the process of step S202 is continued until it is determined in the next step S203 that T1 = 0 for the waiting time T1, and when it is determined that the waiting time T1 = 0, the process proceeds to step S204. .
In step S204, control processing for recording an image (and sound) obtained by imaging as a moving image file is started. Then, the next step S205
, The currently set video / audio recording time T
Start countdown for 2. Then, this processing is continued until the moving image / audio recording time T2 = 0 in the next step S206. This step S20
As the process 5, the control process for displaying the moving image shooting screen shown in FIG. 14A and performing the countdown display at the time of shooting is also executed.

If it is determined in step S206 that the moving image / audio recording time T2 = 0 has been reached, the process proceeds to step S207, and processing for terminating the recording of the moving image is executed. I do. At this time,
Display control for shifting the display screen to the initial screen in the camera mode shown in FIG. 14C is also performed.

The processing in the still image recording mode after step S209 is as follows. Step S20
9, after displaying the photographing standby screen shown in FIG. 13C, the waiting time T is set in the next step S210.
The wait time T1 is counted down until it is determined that 1 = 0. If it is determined in step S210 that the waiting time T1 = 0, the process proceeds to step S210.
Proceeding to 211, a determination is made as to the audio setting status described with reference to FIG.

If it is determined in step S211 that "no sound recording" has been set, the flow advances to step S212 to control the recording of the captured image as a simple still image file on the disk. Execute the process. That is, at this time, recording of the audio signal input from the microphone is not performed. At this time, control for displaying the still image photographing screen shown in FIG. 14B is also performed. Then, the process exits this routine when the recording is completed.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S211 that “voice recording is set”, the process proceeds to step S213 and subsequent steps. When "with audio recording" is set as the audio setting, audio data is added to still image data as a recording file. Therefore, in step S213, the captured image is recorded as still image data, and the audio (audio data) input from the microphone is recorded.
To start the operation of recording the data on the disc. The audio data recorded at this time is recorded in a form managed as audio data of the same file as the still image data recorded together. Then, in the following step S214, the moving image /
The currently set moving image / audio recording time T2 is counted down until it is determined that the audio recording time T2 = 0.

Here, in response to the still image recording in the previous step S213, a still image recording screen shown in FIG. 14B is displayed, and subsequently, the countdown of the audio recording time T2 in step S214 is performed. Is executed, a screen similar to the moving image shooting screen shown in FIG. 14A is displayed, and recording of audio is continued.

If it is determined in step S215 that the moving image / audio recording time T2 = 0 has been reached, the process proceeds to step S215.
Proceeding to 216, a process for terminating the recording of the sound that has been executed so far is executed. Then, when the recording of the audio is completed, the processing as this routine is completed.

Although not shown in this figure, if the stop button A18 is operated during the execution of the recording operation as described with reference to FIG. Upon completion, for example, a recording file is created based on the data content recorded so far.

In the above description, the self-timer shooting of the present embodiment is performed in the camera mode. However, in the present embodiment, the sound is continuously recorded and the photo is taken at an arbitrary timing. An interview mode for recording a still image by operating the key 304 is also provided. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the self-timer shooting function described above can be applied to this interview mode.

In the above embodiment, switching between the still image recording mode and the moving image recording mode when performing self-timer shooting is performed by operating the photo key 304 while the self-timer mode screen is displayed and by releasing the photo key 304. Key 301
Is set in accordance with the operation described above, but the switching setting between the still image recording mode and the moving image recording mode is not limited to this. However, as in the present embodiment, the photo key 30
If the setting is performed in accordance with the operation of the release key 301 and the operation of the release key 301, it is possible to save the trouble of switching the mode by another setting operation.

In the above-described embodiment, when sound is recorded when the self-timer shooting is performed in the still image recording mode, the period from the recording of the still image to the lapse of the moving image / audio recording time T2. The audio recording is performed over a period of time. For example, as the timing of the audio recording and the still image recording, first, the audio recording is started after the waiting time has elapsed, and the still image recording is performed at a predetermined timing therebetween. And so on.

Further, as the video camera of the present embodiment, a disk recording / reproducing device based on MD-DATA2 is used as a video recording / reproducing portion. However, the video recording / reproducing portion has a configuration other than that of this embodiment. Alternatively, the recording / reproducing apparatus may be a recording / reproducing apparatus compatible with other types of disc-shaped recording media.

The recording medium is not limited to a disk-shaped recording medium. For example, the present invention can be applied to a recording / reproducing apparatus corresponding to a recording medium having a solid memory element. Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the description has been made on the assumption that the MPEG2 method is used for compressing moving image data. However, for example, a method capable of compressing and encoding other moving image data may be adopted. The compression method for still image data and audio data is also exemplified in the present embodiment (JPEG, ATRAC2).
Etc.) does not need to be particularly limited.

[0187]

As described above, according to the present invention, the first time (waiting time) and the second time (second waiting time) can be used in a case where either a still image or a moving image can be recorded by self-timer recording.
(Video / audio recording time) is set. And
At the time of video recording, recording starts based on the first time,
The recording is terminated based on the second time. This means that when a moving image is shot by the self-timer shooting, a standby time until the recording can be set, and also a timing for automatically ending the moving image recording can be set. Thus, the present embodiment provides a self-timer function that is highly convenient for moving image recording.

Further, in the configuration according to the present invention, the timing until the start of recording is set commonly for the still image recording and the moving image recording by the first time.
At least the timing until the start of recording can be set for both still image recording and moving image recording at the same time by setting the first time, and the operation should be simple and easy to understand. Can be.

Further, according to the present invention, when a still image is recorded by self-timer photographing, it is possible to configure so that the sound input at this time is not recorded. Even when applied to a device such as a video camera that records video and audio together, it can be used as a normal still camera, and since the audio is not recorded, the data size of the file is reduced and disc recording is performed. It is also possible to save capacity.

On the other hand, according to the present invention, when a still image is recorded by self-timer photographing, it is possible to record the sound input at this time. The audio recording start / end timing is determined based on the set first time and second time. In other words, even in this configuration, if the operation of setting the first time and the second time is performed without performing a troublesome procedure of separately providing a time setting item related to the audio recording timing and performing the setting, This means that the audio recording timing has been set.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a track structure of a disc corresponding to a video camera according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a track portion of a disc corresponding to the video camera of the embodiment in an enlarged manner.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing specifications of a disc corresponding to the video camera of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an internal configuration of the video camera according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an internal configuration of a media drive unit of the video camera according to the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a side view and a plan view of the video camera of the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a front view and a rear view of the video camera of the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the movement of a movable panel unit.

FIG. 9 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of a data structure in a disk according to the embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of a data structure in a disk according to the embodiment, corresponding to a physical area of the disk.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a display form example of an operation screen (thumbnail display) in the video camera of the present embodiment.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing an operation example of a reproduction menu key.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a self-timer shooting procedure and a setting operation procedure related to the self-timer together with a display screen.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a self-timer shooting procedure and a setting operation procedure related to the self-timer together with a display screen.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating a processing operation according to a setting operation regarding a self-timer.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating a processing operation for realizing a recording operation as self-timer shooting.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 lens block, 2 camera block, 3 video signal processing section, 4 media drive section, 5 deck section,
6 display / image / audio input / output unit, 6A display unit, 6B
Touch panel, 7 operation unit, 8 external interface, 9 power supply block, 11 optical system, 12 motor unit, 22 sample hold / AGC circuit, 23 A /
D converter, 24 Timing generator, 25
Camera controller, 31 data processing / system control circuit, 32 buffer memory, 33 video signal processing circuit, 34 memory, 35 motion detection circuit, 36
Memory, 37 audio compression encoder / decoder, 38
Video controller, 41 MD-DATA2 encoder / decoder, 42 buffer memory, 43 binarization circuit, 44 RF signal processing circuit, 45 servo circuit, 46
Driver controller, 51 disk, 52 spindle motor, 53 optical head, 54 magnetic head,
55 thread motor, 61 video D / A converter, 62 display controller, 63 composite signal processing circuit, 64 A / D converter, 65 D / A converter, 66 amplifier, 101 RF amplifier, 103 A
GC / clamp circuit, 104 equalizer / PLL circuit, 105 Viterbi decoder, 106 RLL (1,
7) Demodulation circuit, 107 matrix amplifier, 108 A
DIP bandpass filter, 109 A / B track detection circuit, 110 ADIP decoder, 111 CLV processor, 112 servo processor, 113 servo driver, 114 data bus, 115 scramble / EDC encoding circuit, 116 ECC processing circuit, 1
17 descrambling / EDC decoding circuit, 118
RLL (1,7) modulation circuit, 119 magnetic head drive circuit, 120 laser driver, 121 transfer clock generation circuit, 201 camera lens, 202 microphone, 203 movable panel unit, 204 viewfinder, 205 speaker, 300 main dial, 30
1 Release key, 302 Delete key, 303 Jog dial, 304 Photo key, 305 Zoom key,
306 focus key, 307 backlight correction key, 308
Play / pause key, 309 stop key, 310 slow playback key, 311, 312 search key, 313 record key, 314 screen display key, 315, 316 volume key, 320 pen, SN thumbnail image, A-1 information display area, A- 2 Thumbnail display area, A-3
Menu key area, A-4 scroll bar, A5
Track information display area, i1 to i10, i20 to i
21 Icon (displayed on thumbnail image), A
9 Mode display area, A10, A13, A18 Stop button, A11 detail setting button, A14 return button, A15 determination button, Ld land, NWG non wobbled groove, WG wobbled groove, Tr
・ A, Tr ・ B Truck

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 5C022 AA00 AA13 AC01 AC31 AC42 AC52 AC71 AC72 AC80 5C053 FA10 FA23 GB38 JA01 KA30 LA01 LA06

Claims (6)

[Claims] An imaging unit for photoelectrically converting a continuously input optical signal into an image signal, and recording the image signal as a still image or a moving image obtained by the imaging unit on a predetermined recording medium. Recording means, operating means, first time setting means for setting by storing a first time designated by an operation on the operating means, and a second time designated by an operation on the operating means Second time setting means for setting by storing time, a still image recording mode for recording an image signal as the still image, and a moving image recording for recording an image signal as the moving image Mode switching means capable of switching between modes, and in the case of the still image recording mode, a still image recording mode based on a first time set by the first time setting means. The control unit controls the recording unit so that the image signal of the image is recorded. In the case of the moving image recording mode, the moving image is recorded based on the first time set by the first time setting unit. Control means for controlling the recording means so that recording of the image signal is started and recording is terminated based on the second time set by the second time setting means. Recording device. 2. An audio signal input unit for inputting an external audio as an audio signal, wherein the recording unit converts the audio signal input by the audio signal input unit into a still image or a moving image obtained by the imaging unit. After being able to record on the recording medium in correspondence with an image signal as an image, the control means, in the case of the still image recording mode, performs the recording of the audio signal obtained by the audio signal input means. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording apparatus is configured not to execute recording on a medium. 3. An audio signal input unit for inputting an external audio as an audio signal, wherein the recording unit converts the audio signal input by the audio signal input unit into a still image or a moving image obtained by the imaging unit. After being able to be recorded on the recording medium in association with the image signal as an image, the control means, in the case of the still image recording mode, performs the audio signal obtained by the audio signal input means on the audio signal. The recording means such that recording is started based on the first time set by the first time setting means, and is ended based on the second time set by the second time setting means. 2. The control according to claim 1, wherein
The recording device according to claim 1. 4. A recording method for recording an image signal as a still image or a moving image obtained by photoelectrically converting an optical signal continuously input by imaging on a predetermined recording medium, wherein the method is specified by an operation. A first time setting step for setting by storing the first time in a predetermined storage area; and a second time setting step for storing the second time specified by the operation in the predetermined storage area. A time setting step; a mode switching step capable of switching between a still image recording mode for recording an image signal as a still image and a moving image recording mode for recording an image signal as a moving image In the case of the still image recording mode, control is performed such that recording of an image signal of a still image is performed based on the first time set in the first time setting step. In the case of the moving image recording mode, recording of an image signal of a moving image is started based on the first time set in the first time setting step, and is set in the second time setting step. A recording control step of performing control so that recording is terminated based on the set second time; and a recording method. 5. An external sound is input as an audio signal, and the audio signal can be recorded on the recording medium in correspondence with an image signal as a still image or a moving image obtained by the imaging. The recording method according to claim 4, wherein the control step is configured not to execute recording of the audio signal on the recording medium in the still image recording mode. 6. An external audio is input as an audio signal, and the audio signal can be recorded on the recording medium in correspondence with an image signal as a still image or a moving image obtained by the imaging. In the control step, in the case of the still image recording mode, recording of the audio signal is started based on the first time set in the first time setting step, and the second time setting step 5. The recording method according to claim 4, wherein control is performed such that recording is terminated based on the second time set by the following.