JP2001320619A - Image recorder and image recording method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image recorder that can efficiently record a retrieved image. SOLUTION: When a moving picture switch 34 enters an instruction of recording start, a moving picture compression circuit 16 compresses a moving picture outputted from a camera signal processing circuit 14. A recording processing circuit 24 applies recording processing to an output of the circuit 16, voice information from a voice signal processing circuit 20, and an output of a time code generating circuit 22 and a magnetic head 26 records the processed data onto a magnetic tap 28. When the instruction of the recording start is entered, the recording of the data to the magnetic tape 28 is started. A retrieved image compression 30 captures the image at moving picture recording start as a retrieved image and compresses the image. A system control circuit 36 checks a difference between the recording date and time of the precedingly recorded retrieved image and the recording start date and time this time and writes the compressed retrieved image by the retrieved image compression circuit 30 to a flash memory 32 with the time code.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus and method, and more particularly, to an image recording apparatus and method for recording a moving image and a search image thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A video tape recorder VTR (or video cassette recorder VCR) using a magnetic tape as a recording medium is known as a device for recording moving images. With a sequential access medium such as a magnetic tape, a long-time video can be recorded, but fast-forward and rewind take time, so it is possible to check the content recorded at an arbitrary point on the tape or to reach a target scene. There is a problem that a troublesome operation is required beforehand and it takes too much time.

Therefore, a non-volatile memory such as a flash memory is provided in the main body of the VTR or the tape cassette, and images of main scenes such as image information at the start of recording are compressed and stored together with the recording position of the video tape. It can be used to check the recorded contents of a video tape, find the target scene, and the like. If a flash memory or the like is mounted on a cassette tape, even if the tape cassette is exchanged, it can be used for confirming the recorded contents of the loaded tape cassette and moving at high speed to a main scene. Even when the flash memory is built in the main body of the VTR, the same function can be realized if individual cassettes can be identified.

[0004]

In a camera-integrated VTR, short-time recording is often repeated. Therefore, if the image information at the start of recording is compressed and stored in the flash memory, the amount of information stored in the flash memory becomes enormous even though it is compressed, and the amount of information does not fit into the limited amount of memory. .

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide an image recording apparatus and method for solving such a disadvantage.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An image recording apparatus according to the present invention is an image recording apparatus for recording sequentially inputted moving images together with a search image thereof on a recording medium, and includes a time information generating means for generating current time information. And moving image recording processing means for recording a moving image and recording the moving image on the recording medium, and comparing means for comparing the recording start time of each moving image with the recording time of the search image recorded immediately before on the recording medium, If there is a predetermined time difference or more between the recording start time of the moving image and the recording time of the search image recorded on the recording medium immediately before, the search image is extracted from the moving image according to the output of the comparing means. And a search image recording processing means for recording on the recording medium.

[0007] An image recording method according to the present invention is an image recording method for recording a moving image sequentially input together with a search image thereof on a recording medium, and a moving image recording process for recording a moving image and recording the moving image on the recording medium. And a comparing step of comparing the recording start time of each moving image with the recording time of the search image recorded immediately before on the recording medium; and a search image recorded on the recording medium immediately before the recording start time of the moving image. If there is a predetermined time difference from the recording time, a retrieval image recording processing step of extracting a retrieval image from the moving image and recording the retrieved image on the recording medium in accordance with the output of the comparison step. And

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention applied to a camera-integrated digital VTR. Reference numeral 10 denotes a photographing lens, 12 denotes a CCD image sensor, 14 denotes a camera signal processing circuit for processing image signals output from the image sensor 12, 16 denotes a series of image signals output from the camera signal processing circuit 14, A moving image compression circuit for rearranging the recording format, a microphone 18 for recording surrounding sounds, a digitizing output of the microphone 18,
An audio signal processing circuit for encoding in a predetermined format, 22 is a time code generation circuit for generating date and time information (time code) in a predetermined format, 24 is an output of the moving image compression circuit 16, an output of the audio signal processing circuit 20, A recording processing circuit for multiplexing the time code output from the code generation circuit 22 and processing it for recording, and a magnetic head 26 for recording the output of the recording processing circuit 24 on a magnetic tape 28.

Reference numeral 30 denotes a search image compression circuit for compressing a predetermined image from among the outputs of the camera signal processing circuit 14 for search.
Reference numeral 2 denotes a flash memory that stores the compressed search image output from the search image compression circuit 30 together with the time code output from the time code generation circuit 22.

Reference numeral 34 denotes a moving image switch for inputting an instruction to start, stop, and end recording of a moving image, and 36 denotes a system control circuit for controlling the whole. The system control circuit 36 particularly operates the moving image compression circuit 1 in accordance with the operation of the moving image switch 34.
6. Control the recording processing circuit 24, the search image compression circuit 30, and the flash memory 32.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of capturing a search image when recording a moving image. When the power is turned on, the image sensor 1
2 converts the optical image by the taking lens 10 into an image signal,
The camera signal processing circuit 14 continuously processes the output image signal of the image sensor 12 and outputs moving image data of a predetermined format. The audio signal processing circuit 20 digitizes and encodes the audio signal from the microphone 18. The moving image compression circuit 16, the recording processing circuit 24, and the search image compression circuit 30 are stopped.

The operation waits until a recording start instruction is input by the moving image switch 34 (S1). When a recording start instruction is input (S1), recording on the magnetic tape 28 is started (S2). That is, the moving image compression circuit 16 compresses the output image of the camera signal processing circuit 14 and converts it into a moving image recording format. The recording processing circuit 24 multiplexes the output of the audio signal processing circuit 20, the output of the moving image compression circuit 16, and the time code output from the time code generation circuit 22, and applies the multiplexed data to the magnetic head 26. The magnetic head 26 records the output of the recording processing circuit 24 on the magnetic tape 28.

After the start of recording on the magnetic tape 28, the system control circuit 36 checks the recording date and time of the previously recorded search image, and checks the difference from the current recording start date and time (S3). The recording date and time of the search image is recorded in the flash memory 32 as additional information of the search image. The difference between the previous recording date and time of the search image and the current recording start date and time is defined as D. If D is equal to or more than a predetermined value (T) (S4), the recording start time in the flash memory 32 as the second recording medium is determined. The compressed search image obtained by compressing the frame image by the search image compression circuit 10 is recorded (S
5) Wait until there is a recording stop instruction with the moving image switch 34 (S6). Also, when D is smaller than the predetermined value (T) (S4), the process waits until a recording stop instruction is issued by the moving image switch 34 (S6). When there is an instruction to stop recording (S
6) The moving image recording operation on the magnetic tape 28 as the first recording medium is stopped (S7).

FIG. 3 shows an example of correspondence between a moving image recorded on the magnetic tape 28 and a search image recorded on the flash memory 32.

The recording start time of cut No. 1 is exactly 12:00 on May 3, 2001, and the recording start time of cut No. 2 is 1 minute and 20 seconds later. Here, the video is 1 minute 20 minutes
Seconds are not recorded. For example, cut No. 1 is recorded for one minute, and cut No.
Shows the case where the recording of “.” Is started.

Threshold T (predetermined value) for recording date difference D
Is set to 30 seconds, the search image is not recorded in the flash memory 32 because the start time of the cut No. 3 is only 20 seconds after the cut No. 2. In short time intervals,
Since the search image is not recorded in the flash memory 32, the flash memory 32 can be used effectively.

The search image recorded in the flash memory 32 is reproduced and displayed on a multi-screen for search as shown in FIG. This makes it easy to check the contents of the magnetic tape 28 and to find the target scene.

FIG. 5 shows another operation flowchart of this embodiment. The process waits until a recording start instruction is input by the moving image switch 34 (S11). When a recording start instruction is input (S11), a moving image recording operation is started (S1).
2). The recording date and time of the previously recorded search image is checked, and the difference (Dn) from the current recording start date and time is calculated (S13). It is checked whether or not the flash memory 32 as the second recording medium has a space for recording the search image (S14). If there is a vacancy (S14), a compressed search image obtained by compressing the frame image at the start of recording by the search image compression circuit 30 is stored in the flash memory 3.
2 is recorded together with Dn (S15). Movie switch 34
To continue the moving image recording until a recording stop instruction is issued (S1).
6) When there is a recording stop instruction (S16), the moving image recording operation on the magnetic tape 28 is stopped (S17).

If there is no free space in the flash memory 32 (S14), Dn is compared with the minimum value of the time difference D (D1 to Dn-1) recorded in the flash memory 32 (S18). If the latest Dn is larger than the recorded minimum value of D (S19), the current search image and its additional information are overwritten on the past search image having the minimum value of D and its additional information ( (S20) The moving image recording is continued until the recording stop instruction is given by the moving image switch 34 (S16). When the recording stop instruction is given (S16), the moving image recording operation on the magnetic tape 28 is stopped (S17). If the latest Dn is equal to or smaller than the minimum value of the recorded D (S19), the current search image is not recorded in the flash memory 32, and the moving image recording is continued until the recording stop instruction is issued by the moving image switch 34 (S16). ,
When there is a recording stop instruction (S16), the moving image recording operation on the magnetic tape 28 is stopped (S17).

FIG. 6 shows an example of the correspondence between moving image recording and search image recording according to the operation flowchart shown in FIG. It is assumed that the flash memory 32 has a capacity capable of recording up to eight search images and its additional information, for example. The memory 32 is full up to the cut No. 8 and the cut N
At the start of recording of o9, as described above, the minimum of the time difference D of the search images recorded so far is checked (S18).

Since the time difference between the recording date and time of Cut No. 2 and Cut No. 3 is the shortest at 20 seconds and shorter than the current time difference of 1 minute and 20 seconds, the search image of Cut No. 3 and its additional information are deleted, and the search image of Cut No. 9 is deleted. And the additional information thereof are recorded in the flash memory 32. Similarly, in the case of cut No. 10, the search image of cut No. 8 and its additional information are deleted,
The search image of the cut No. 10 and its additional information are recorded in the flash memory 32. As a result, the search image in the case where the interval of the recording start time is long is left in the flash memory 32.

In the above description, the magnetic tape 28 has been illustrated as a moving image recording medium and the flash memory 32 has been illustrated as a search image recording medium, but other recording media may be used.
Further, the moving image and the search image may be recorded on the same recording medium by dividing the recording medium into a plurality of areas.

[0024]

As can be easily understood from the above description, according to the present invention, the recording capacity of the recording medium for recording the search image can be effectively utilized without any troublesome operation.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a first operation flowchart of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing correspondence between moving image recording and search image recording corresponding to the operation shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an example of a search screen in a reproduction mode.

FIG. 5 is a second operation flowchart of the embodiment.

6 is a schematic diagram showing correspondence between moving image recording and search image recording corresponding to the operation shown in FIG. 5;

[Explanation of symbols]

 10: Photographing lens 12: CCD imaging device 14: Camera signal processing circuit 16: Moving image compression circuit 18: Microphone 20: Audio signal processing circuit 22: Time code generation circuit 24: Recording processing circuit 26: Magnetic head 28: Magnetic tape 30: Search image compression circuit 32: Flash memory 34: Video switch 36: System control circuit

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04N 5/907 H04N 5/782 K F term (Reference) 5C018 FA02 FB01 FB04 5C022 AB64 AB68 AC00 AC69 AC79 5C052 AA17 GA01 GB06 GB09 GE06 5D044 AB07 BC01 CC03 DE17 DE27 DE57 DE58 EF05 5D110 AA04 AA29 DA17 DB05 DE06 EA08 EA09 FA02

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. An image recording apparatus for recording a moving image sequentially inputted together with a search image thereof on a recording medium, comprising: a time information generating means for generating current time information; Moving image recording processing means for recording on the medium; comparing means for comparing the recording start time of each moving image with the recording time of the search image recorded on the recording medium immediately before; and the recording immediately before the recording start time of the moving image. When there is a predetermined time difference or more between the recording time of a search image recorded on a medium and a search image, a search image is extracted from the moving image and recorded on the recording medium in accordance with the output of the comparing means. And an image recording apparatus. 2. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an imaging unit that outputs the moving image. 3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording medium comprises a moving image recording medium for recording a moving image and a search image recording medium for recording a search image. 4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said search image recording medium comprises a solid-state memory device. 5. When the recording medium has no free space for newly recording a search image, a time difference from a recording time of a search image recorded immediately before on the recording medium, and a recorded search image The recording time interval of the search image is checked, and when the time difference from the recording time of the search image recorded immediately before on the recording medium is smaller than the minimum value of the recording time interval of the recorded search image, the recording of the search image is stopped. If the recording time interval of the recorded search image is equal to or greater than the minimum value, the recorded search image having the minimum recording time interval is deleted, and a new search image is recorded in the search image recording processing means. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising control means for causing the image processing apparatus to perform the control. 6. An image recording method for recording a moving image sequentially inputted together with a search image thereof on a recording medium, comprising: a moving image recording processing step of recording a moving image and recording the moving image on the recording medium; Comparing the recording start time with the recording time of the search image recorded immediately before on the recording medium; and comparing the recording start time of the moving image with the recording time of the search image recorded on the recording medium immediately before. An image recording method, comprising: a search image recording processing step of extracting a search image from a moving image according to an output of the comparison step and recording the search image on the recording medium when there is a predetermined time difference or more. 7. The image processing method according to claim 6, wherein the recording medium includes a moving image recording medium for recording a moving image and a search image recording medium for recording a search image. 8. The image processing method according to claim 7, wherein said search image recording medium comprises a solid-state memory device. 9. When there is no free space for newly recording a search image on the recording medium, a time difference from the recording time of the search image recorded immediately before on the recording medium, and a recorded search image If the time difference between the investigating step of examining the recording time interval of the search image and the recording time of the search image recorded immediately before on the recording medium is smaller than the minimum value of the recording time interval of the recorded search image, the recording of the search image is performed. When the recording is stopped and the recording time interval of the recorded search image is equal to or more than the minimum value, the recorded search image having the minimum recording time interval is deleted, and a new search image is recorded on the recording medium. 7. The image processing method according to claim 6, further comprising: