JP2001218147A - Image pickup device and image pickup method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image pickup device and an image pickup method by which a user can easily recognize a scene and a photographing place of a picture having been recorded on a video tape 14 in a short time without the need for reproduction of the video tape 14. SOLUTION: The image pickup device records image data D1 supplied via a camera section 3, position data D3 of a photographing place detected via a GPS receiver 4, and attribute data D6 including a tape ID specifying a recording object of the image data D1 onto a video tape 14, captures the image data D1, the position data D3 and the attribute data D6 only in designated timing and records them to a removable mobile external memory 6. Thus, by having only reproduce and display the mobile external memory 6 recording only the image data D1, the position data D3 and the attribute data D6 only in designated timing, the user can easily recognize the scene, the photographing place and the tape ID recorded on the video tape 14 in a short time without the need for reproducing the video tape 14.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image pickup apparatus and an image pickup method, and is suitably applied to, for example, a video camera for recording an image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a video camera, a photographer records an image on a recording medium such as a video tape while confirming a subject through a viewfinder. In a video camera, image data obtained by reproducing a video tape is output to a monitor via a transmission cable or the like, so that the user can confirm an image recorded on the video tape via the monitor. ing.

In recent years, attribute information such as date and time measured by a built-in GPS receiver and position information of a shooting place have been
A video camera adapted to be recorded on a video tape together with a photographed image has been proposed.When an image recorded by the video camera is reproduced, by displaying position information and attribute information along with the reproduced image, The photographing date and time and the photographing place can be recognized by the user.

[0004]

By the way, in a video camera having such a configuration, it is possible to record position information and attribute information together with an image on a video tape. There is a problem that the user cannot know what image is recorded on the tape and when and where the image was taken, which is inconvenient.

In this case, in the video camera, image data must be transmitted by wire to a monitor via a transmission cable such as an RS232C cable in order to allow a user to check a recorded image by reproducing a video tape. However, there is a problem that the operation is troublesome, a long time is required for the transmission processing, and a data error occurs on the transmission line during the transmission.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an image pickup apparatus and an image pickup method capable of easily recognizing an image, a photographing place, and the like recorded on a recording medium without reproducing the recording medium in a short time. It is intended to propose.

[0007]

According to the present invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, image data supplied through an image pickup device, position data of a photographing location detected through a positioning device, and image data are stored. Attribute data including identification information for specifying a recording target is recorded on a first recording medium, image data, position data, and attribute data are fetched only at designated timings and recorded on a detachable second recording medium. With this configuration, only the second recording medium on which only the image data, the position data, and the attribute data at the designated timing are recorded is reproduced and displayed, and the first recording medium is reproduced without reproducing the first recording medium. The user can easily recognize the image, the photographing place, and the identification information recorded on the recording medium in a short time.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a camcorder (combined by combining a video camera and a video tape recorder) as an image pickup apparatus to which the present invention is applied, and a main unit 2 and a camera unit 3 as image pickup means. The main body 2 has a GP as a positioning means.
An S (Global Positionig System) receiver 4 and a gyro sensor 5 as azimuth detecting means are built in, and a random externally accessible portable external memory 6 such as a Memory Stick (trademark) is inserted through an insertion port 7. Is detachably inserted.

In this case, the camcorder 1 operates with electric power supplied from a mounted battery (not shown), and has a CPU (not shown) provided therein as a control unit.
(Central Processing Unit) controls each circuit block to be described later as a whole.

[0011] The GPS receiver 4 is about 21,000 [Km] on the ground.
A navigation signal obtained by receiving, via a GPS antenna (not shown), satellite signals transmitted every second from a plurality of GPS satellites orbiting the orbit of the satellite via a GPS antenna (not shown), and analyzing the received satellite signals. Each GPS based on the message
By calculating the distance from the satellite, the receiving position, that is, the latitude, longitude and altitude of the shooting location are detected as position data in real time.

The gyro sensor 5 is, for example, a piezoelectric vibrating gyro, and detects an imaging direction and an imaging angle of the camera unit 3 as imaging state data based on a rotational angular velocity according to the movement of the camcorder 1.

The portable external memory 6 includes an electrically rewritable nonvolatile memory (for example, an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Program) in a thin plastic case.
A flash memory card which stores a flash memory element which is a kind of mable read only memory) and which can write and read various data such as image data and audio data via a 10-pin terminal.

In practice, the camcorder 1 sends image data D1 captured by the camera unit 3 to the video circuit 11 of the video signal processing unit 10 in the main unit 2, as shown in FIG. The video circuit 11 converts the image data D1 into a predetermined data format and sends it to the addition circuit 12 as image data D2.

The GPS receiver 4 calculates 150-byte position data D3 indicating the latitude, longitude and altitude of the shooting location every second, and sends it to the addition circuit 12. The gyro sensor 5 constantly detects the imaging direction and the imaging angle of the camera unit 3 and sends them to the addition circuit 12 as imaging state data D4.

The video circuit 11 counts the date and time (year, month, day, time) and time code at the time of photographing by a counter circuit (not shown) as a measuring means provided therein, and is loaded into the main body 2. A tape ID (IDentifier), which is identification information unique to the video tape 14, is read from an integrated circuit (IC) memory (not shown) on the surface of the cassette housing of the video tape 14, and the date, time, and time code are read out. And the tape ID and the like are sent to the addition circuit 12 as additional data D5.

The adding circuit 12 adds the position data D3 supplied from the GPS receiver 4 to the image data D2 supplied from the video circuit 11, and also adds the photographing state data D4 supplied from the gyro sensor 5. And the additional data D5 supplied from the video circuit 11 as attribute data D6, thereby adding the video recording data D5.
7 is sent to the video recording circuit 13 as the first recording means.

The video recording circuit 13 digitally records the video recording data D7 on a video tape 14 as a first recording medium via a recording / reproducing head (not shown).
Note that the video recording circuit 13 also outputs audio data collected by a microphone (not shown) provided near the camera section 3 together with the video recording data D7 to the video tape 1.
4 is digitally recorded.

Here, as a tape track pattern for digitally recording the video recording data D7 on the video tape 14, as shown in FIG. 3, two image data recording areas and one audio data recording are provided for each track. An area is provided, and blank areas are provided at both ends of the track.

That is, the video recording circuit 13 records the image data D2 of the video recording data D7 in two image data recording areas, records the audio data in the audio data recording area, and stores the position data D3 and the attribute data D6. Is recorded in blank areas at both ends of the track.

The camcorder 1 actually records video recording data D7 for one frame across a plurality of tracks as shown in FIG.
For No. 3, the recording is divided into the blank areas of the tracks for 10 frames.

In this camcorder 1, since the frame frequency is 30 [Hz], video recording data D7 for 30 frames is recorded per second. Data D3 is 1
Since the same position data D3 is updated every 10 seconds,
Record three times per frame.

As a result, the camcorder 1 records the same position data D3 three times.
Even if an error has occurred in one of the three, two position data D3 remain, and it can be ensured that the position data D3 can be reliably read when the video recording data D7 is reproduced.

Note that the camcorder 1 operates with respect to the attribute data D6 corresponding to the video recording data D7 of each frame.
The recording is divided into the blank areas of a plurality of tracks forming one frame.

The camcorder 1 reproduces the video tape 14 via the video reproducing circuit 15 as the first reproducing means to obtain the video reproduction data D8 and sends it to the video circuit 11.

The video circuit 11 outputs the video reproduction data D8
Is displayed on the display unit 16 composed of a viewfinder,
For example, NTSC (National Television System Committe
e) A display image signal D9 composed of a luminance signal and a color difference signal of the system
Is output to the display unit 16 to display a reproduced image on the display unit 16.

In addition to this configuration, when the shutter switch 8 provided on the surface of the main body 2 is pressed, the camcorder 1 issues a recording command S10 to an external memory recording / reproducing circuit 17 as a second recording means. Given.

The external memory recording / reproducing circuit 17 takes in the video recording data D7 corresponding to the still image at the timing when the shutter switch 8 is pressed down from the adding circuit 12 based on the recording command S10, and transfers the video recording data D7 to the second Is converted into a format for recording in the portable external memory 6 as a recording medium, and this is converted into the external memory recording data D11.
In the portable external memory 6.

The camcorder 1 has a portable external memory 6
When the external memory recording data D11 is recorded on the video tape 14, the digital recording processing of the video recording data D7 on the video tape 14 is continued.

Therefore, the external memory recording data D11 recorded in the portable external memory 6 is composed of the image data D2, the timing of the shutter switch 8 being pressed, of the video recording data D7 digitally recorded on the video tape 14.
This matches the position data D3 and the attribute data D6.

As shown in FIG. 5, as the memory map for recording the external memory recording data D11 in the portable external memory 6, attribute data D6 is recorded from address 0 to address k, and address (k + 1) , Address data D3 is recorded from address (l + 1) to address m, audio data is recorded from address (l + 1) to address m, and image data D2 is recorded from address (m + 1) to address n.

Therefore, when the next external memory recording data D11 is recorded in the portable external memory 6 in response to the depression of the shutter switch 8, the area after the address (n + 1) is used. The external memory recording data D11 is recorded in the portable external memory 6 in response to the pressing.

Incidentally, the camcorder 1 reproduces the external memory recording data D11 recorded in the portable external memory 6 by the external memory recording / reproducing circuit 17 as the second reproducing means, and reproduces the video as the external memory reproducing data D12. By outputting to the display unit 16 via the circuit 15 and the video circuit 11, a reproduced image reproduced from the portable external memory 6 can be displayed on the display unit 16.

Next, while the video recording data D7 is being recorded on the video tape 14 in the camcorder 1, the image data D2 as a still image at that moment, the position data D3, A processing procedure when recording the data D6 as the external memory recording data D11 in the portable external memory 6 will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG.

The camcorder 1 enters from the start step of the routine RT1 and moves to step SP1. Step SP
In FIG. 1, the CPU of the camcorder 1 controls the videotape 1 in response to the photographer pressing a photographing button (not shown).
4 starts recording processing of video recording data D7,
Move to the next step SP2.

In step SP2, the CPU determines whether or not the photographer has pressed down the shutter switch 8 while recording the video recording data D7 on the video tape 14.
The determination is made based on the presence or absence of a recording command S10 given from the shutter switch 8 to the external memory recording / reproducing circuit 17.

If a negative result is obtained here, this means that the shutter switch 8 has not been pressed, and the CPU waits until the shutter switch 8 is pressed.

On the other hand, if a positive result is obtained in step SP2, this means that the photographer has pressed down the shutter switch 8 at a desired timing during photographing. At this time, the CPU proceeds to the next step. Move to SP3.

In step SP3, the CPU adds the video recording data D7 at the timing when the shutter switch 8 is depressed to the external memory recording / reproducing circuit 17 from the adding circuit 12.
The external memory recording / reproducing circuit 17 converts the video recording data D7 into a format for recording on the portable external memory 6, and records this as external memory recording data D11 on the portable external memory 6; And the above processing is repeated.

During recording of the video recording data D7 on the video tape 14, each time the shutter switch 8 is depressed by the photographer, the camcorder 1 outputs the image data D2 representing the still image at that timing. Position data D3 indicating a place and attribute data D6 (additional data D5 such as shooting state data D4, date and time, time code and tape ID) can be sequentially recorded in the portable external memory 6.

Thus, in the portable external memory 6, the data at the timing when the shutter switch 8 is pressed down of the video recording data D7 recorded on the video tape 14 is recorded simultaneously as the external memory recording data D11. It can be used as a tape index for notifying when, where and what image was recorded, and is a tool for easily executing the editing operation of the video tape 14.

Subsequently, in the camcorder 1, the video tape 14 on which the video recording data D7 is recorded is reproduced, and the user presses the shutter switch 8 at a desired timing while checking the reproduced image on the display section 16 which is a viewfinder. By performing the operation, the image data D2, the position data D3, and the attribute data D6, which are still images at that moment, are obtained.
Is recorded in the portable external memory 6 as the external memory recording data D11 with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

The camcorder 1 enters from the start step of the routine RT2 and moves to step SP11. Step S
In P11, the CPU of the camcorder 1 reproduces the video tape 14 on which the video recording data D7 is recorded by the video reproduction circuit 15 in response to the user's pressing operation of the reproduction button (not shown), and displays the reproduced image on the display unit 16 And the user proceeds to the next step SP12.

At step SP12, the CPU determines whether or not the shutter switch 8 has been pressed by the user who is checking the reproduced image while reproducing the video tape 14.

If a negative result is obtained here, this means that the shutter switch 8 has not been pressed, and the CPU waits until the shutter switch 8 is pressed.

On the other hand, if a positive result is obtained in step SP12, this means that the user who is checking the reproduced image has pressed down the shutter switch 8 at a desired timing. Step SP
Move to 13.

In step SP13, during reproduction of the video tape 14, the CPU fetches the video reproduction data D8 at the timing when the shutter switch 8 is depressed from the video reproduction circuit 15 to the external memory recording / reproduction circuit 17, and the external memory recording / reproduction circuit 17 In step 17, the video reproduction data D8 is converted into a format for recording in the portable external memory 6, and this is recorded as external memory recording data D11 in the portable external memory 6, and the process returns to step SP12 to repeat the above processing.

During recording of the video recording data D7 on the video tape 14, each time the photographer presses the shutter switch 8, the video data D2 representing the still image at that timing is obtained. Position data D3 indicating a place and attribute data D6 (additional data D5 such as shooting state data D4, date and time, time code and tape ID) can be sequentially recorded in the portable external memory 6.

The camcorder 1 displays the image data D2 representing the still image at that timing and the shooting location at that time each time the shutter switch 8 is pressed by the user who is checking the reproduced image on the video tape 14. Position data D3 and attribute data D6 (photographing state data D
4. Additional data D5) such as date and time, time code and tape ID can be sequentially recorded in the portable external memory 6.

Thus, in the portable external memory 6, the data at the timing when the shutter switch 8 is pressed down of the video recording data D7 recorded on the video tape 14 is recorded as the external memory recording data D11. Also in this case, the portable external memory 6 can be used as a tape index for easily executing the editing operation of the video tape 14 later.

In the above configuration, the camcorder 1 records the image data D2, the position data D3, and the attribute data D6 on the video tape 14 as the video recording data D7, while the video recording data is recorded at the timing when the shutter switch 8 is pressed. D7 is fetched and recorded as external memory recording data D11 in the portable external memory 6, so that the external memory recording data D11 of the portable external memory 6 and the video recording data D11 of the video tape 14 are recorded.
7 can be linked at the timing when the shutter switch 8 is pressed.

Thus, the camcorder 1 reproduces the portable external memory 6 and displays it as an index image on the display unit 16 so that the image recorded on the video tape 14 without reproducing the video tape 14 or the tape I
D, the shooting location, the date and time, the time code, the shooting direction and the shooting angle, and the like can be easily recognized in a short time by the user.

The camcorder 1 has a shutter switch 8
The still image, the shooting location, the shooting state, and the tape ID shot at the timing when the button is pressed are stored in the portable external memory 6.
, The portable external memory 6 can be used as a tape index, and as a result, the user is forced to perform a complicated and cumbersome operation such as writing down the shooting location and shooting status on a video tape label. Can be prevented.

Further, in the camcorder 1, since the portable external memory 6 is provided detachably from the main body 2, the portable external memory 6 can be detached and the portable external memory 6 can be reproduced. Can be inserted into other devices such as a personal computer, a video camera, and a navigation system, so that the contents of the video recording data D7 recorded on the video tape 14 by other devices can be promptly provided to the user. It can be easily recognized.

That is, since the portable external memory 6 is detachably provided, it can be used as a means for transferring data between the camcorder 1 and another device. As a result, the portable external memory 6 is connected via a transmission cable or the like. Since there is no need to transmit data to other devices, transmission errors on the transmission path can be reliably prevented, and data can be easily shared between the camcorder 1 and other devices.

According to the above configuration, the camcorder 1 records the video recording data D7 on the video tape 14 while fetching the video recording data D7 at the timing when the shutter switch 8 is pressed, and stores the video recording data D7 in the external memory recording data. By recording D11 in the portable external memory 6, the portable external memory 6 can be used as a tape index.

Thus, when the user plays back the portable external memory 6 with the camcorder 1 or another device and confirms the contents, the user can reproduce the image and the photographing location recorded on the video tape 14 without playing the video tape 14. And the like can be easily recognized in a short time.

In the above-described embodiment, a case has been described in which the portable external memory 6 is used as the second recording medium. However, the present invention is not limited to this, as long as it can be accessed randomly. For example, IC memory and C
A DR (Compact Disc Recordable) or the like may be used. In this case, the same effect as in the above-described embodiment can be obtained.

In the above embodiment, the case where the video tape 14 is used as the first recording medium has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this.
-A magneto-optical disk such as RW (Digital Video Disc-Re Writable) may be used.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case has been described where the image data D2 at the timing when the shutter switch 8 as the timing designating means is pressed is recorded as a still image in the portable external memory 6. The present invention is not limited to this, and the image data D for a plurality of frames while the shutter switch 8 is pressed down is
2 may be recorded as a moving image in the portable external memory 6.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the image data D2 when the shutter switch 8 is pressed at a desired timing is recorded in the portable external memory 6 has been described. Alternatively, the image data D2 may be recorded in the portable external memory 6 at predetermined time intervals in advance.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, a case has been described in which the photographing state data D4 and the additional data D5 such as date and time, time code, and tape ID are recorded in the portable external memory 6 as the attribute data D6. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a shot number or a still image number for specifying the image data D2 may be added as the attribute data D6 as needed.

[0063]

As described above, according to the present invention, the image data supplied via the imaging means, the position data of the photographing location detected via the positioning means, and the recording target of the image data are specified. Attribute data including identification information is recorded on a first recording medium, image data, position data, and attribute data are fetched only at designated timings, and are recorded on a second recording medium that is randomly accessible and detachable. The image data at the specified timing,
The image, shooting location, and identification information recorded on the first recording medium without reproducing the first recording medium only by reproducing and displaying the second recording medium on which only the position data and the attribute data are recorded. Can be easily recognized by the user in a short time.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic external view showing a configuration of a camcorder according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of the camcorder.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a tape track pattern of a video tape.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram for explaining divisional recording of position data.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating a memory map of a portable external memory.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a recording processing procedure for a portable external memory during shooting.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a recording processing procedure for a portable external memory being reproduced.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Camcorder, 2 ... Main unit, 3 ... Camera unit, 4
... GPS receiver, 5 ... Gyro sensor, 6 ... Portable external memory, 8 ... Shutter switch, 10 ... Video signal processing unit, 11 ... Video circuit, 12 ... Addition circuit, 13 ... Video Recording circuit, 14 video tape,
15 video reproducing circuit, 16 display unit, 17 external memory recording / reproducing circuit.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04N 5/91 L F term (Reference) 2F029 AA07 AB07 AC02 AC04 AC06 AC20 5C018 FA02 FA04 FB04 FB06 5C022 AA11 AA13 AB68 AC00 AC03 AC77 5C053 FA07 FA21 FA23 FA25 GA10 GB05 HA29 HA32 HA33 JA16 JA22 JA24 LA01 LA05 LA06 5D080 BA01 BA03 BA10 DA04 DA10 EA03 EA40 FA02 JA06 JA09

Claims (16)

[Claims] An image data supplied via an imaging means, position data of a photographing location detected via a positioning means, and attribute data including identification information for specifying a recording target of the image data are stored in a file. A first recording means for recording the image data, the position data and the attribute data only at designated timings,
And a second recording means for recording on the recording medium. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising timing specification means for specifying the timing for taking in the image data, the position data, and the attribute data.
An imaging device according to claim 1. A first reproducing means for reproducing the first recording medium, wherein the second recording means reproduces the image data of the first recording medium reproduced by the first reproducing means. 2. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the position data and the attribute data are fetched at the designated timing and recorded on the second recording medium. 4. The image data recorded on the second recording medium by reproducing the second recording medium,
2. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a second reproducing unit that outputs the position data and the attribute data. 5. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an azimuth detecting means for detecting an image pickup direction and an image pickup angle when the image data is picked up as the attribute data. 6. A date when the image data is taken,
2. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a measuring unit that measures a time and a time code as the attribute data. 7. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first recording medium is a tape-shaped recording medium or a disk-shaped recording medium, and said second recording medium is a semiconductor flash memory. apparatus. 8. The second recording means records the image data as a continuous moving image on the second recording medium together with the position data and the attribute data over a period in which the timing is designated. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein
An imaging device according to claim 1. 9. An image data supplied via an image pickup means, position data of a photographing place detected via a positioning means, and attribute data including identification information for specifying a recording target of the image data. A first recording step of recording on the first recording medium by the first recording means, and the image data, the position data and the attribute data are fetched by the second recording means only at designated timings, and A second recording step of recording on a second recording medium. 10. The imaging method according to claim 9, further comprising a timing designation step of designating the timing for taking in the image data, the position data, and the attribute data by timing designation means. 11. A first reproducing step of reproducing said first recording medium by a first reproducing means, wherein said second recording step is performed by said first reproducing step. 10. The image data, the position data, and the attribute data of the recording medium according to claim 1, wherein the image data, the position data, and the attribute data are fetched by the second recording means at the designated timing and recorded on the second recording medium. Imaging method. 12. A second reproducing means for reproducing said second recording medium by means of second reproducing means to output said image data, said position data and said attribute data recorded on said second recording medium. The imaging device according to claim 9, further comprising a reproducing step. 13. The imaging method according to claim 9, further comprising an azimuth detecting step of detecting an imaging direction and an imaging angle when the image data is imaged by the azimuth detecting means as the attribute data. 14. The imaging method according to claim 9, further comprising a measurement step of measuring the date, time, and time code when the image data was captured as the attribute data by a measurement unit. 15. The imaging apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said first recording medium is a tape-shaped recording medium or a disk-shaped recording medium, and said second recording medium is a semiconductor flash memory. Method. 16. The method according to claim 16, wherein the image data is converted into a continuous moving image by the second recording means together with the position data and the attribute data over a period in which the timing is designated. 10. The imaging method according to claim 9, wherein recording is performed on the second recording medium.