JP2003061018A - Imaging system, imaging device, control method for the imaging device, control program, and computer-readable storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an imaging system that can adaptively record static images and moving images to recording media with matched capacities. SOLUTION: The imaging system includes a digital camera 100, having a memory card mount section and capable of photographing static, images and moving pictures and a moving image recorder 200 that is removably connected to the memory card mount section of the digital camera 100. The digital camera 100 is provided with a moving image recorder mount detection section 152 that detects whether or not the moving image recorder 200 is mounted, and a CPU 150 that selects a static picture recording mode, when the moving picture recorder 200 is not mounted or a moving image recording mode, when the moving image recorder 200 is mounted.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image pickup system capable of recording both still images and moving images, an image pickup apparatus, a method for controlling the image pickup apparatus, a control program, and a computer-readable storage medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional digital camera, a digital camera capable of capturing and recording both still images and moving images has been announced. In addition, there are even audio recorders that can record audio.

Most of these digital cameras record still image data, moving image data, and audio data in a memory card such as a compact flash (R) card or a smart medium using a semiconductor memory.

[0004]

However, in the conventional digital camera, still image data, moving image data,
Since the recording destination of audio data etc. is limited to the memory card,
In particular, the recording capacity is often insufficient when recording moving image data. For example, even if a few hundred still images can be recorded, a moving image with audio can only be recorded for a few minutes.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and it is an object of the present invention to adaptively record a still image and a moving image on a recording medium having a corresponding capacity.

[0006]

An image pickup system of the present invention comprises an image pickup apparatus capable of picking up a still image and a moving image,
An image pickup system comprising a moving image recording device detachably attached to the image pickup device, comprising: detection means for detecting whether or not the moving image recording device is attached to the image pickup device; It is characterized in that it is provided with a control means for setting a still image recording mode when the device is not mounted and a moving image recording mode when the moving image recording device is mounted on the imaging device.

Another feature of the image pickup system of the present invention is that the image pickup apparatus includes a mounting portion to which a memory card for recording a still image can be attached and detached, and the moving image recording apparatus is attached to the mounting portion. Is in the point of wearing.

Another feature of the image pickup system of the present invention is that the power supply means on the image pickup apparatus side, the power supply means on the moving image recording apparatus side, and the still image with respect to the image pickup apparatus. In the recording mode, power is supplied from the power supply means on the side of the imaging device, and in the moving image recording mode, the power supply means on the side of the imaging device is stopped and power is supplied from the power supply means on the side of the moving image recording device. And a power supply switching means for switching.

Another feature of the image pickup system of the present invention is that the above-mentioned moving picture recording device is provided with a sound recording means for recording sound during moving picture recording.

Another feature of the image pickup system of the present invention is that the above-mentioned moving picture recording apparatus is provided with a monitor means for monitoring a moving picture being recorded or a recorded picture.

The image pickup apparatus of the present invention is an image pickup apparatus capable of taking a still image and a moving image and having a moving image recording apparatus detachable, and detects whether or not the moving image recording apparatus is attached. And a control means for setting a still image recording mode when the moving image recording device is not attached and a moving image recording mode when the moving image recording device is attached. .

A method of controlling an image pickup apparatus according to the present invention is a method of controlling an image pickup apparatus in which a moving image recording apparatus can be attached and detached while still images and moving images can be taken. And a control procedure for detecting whether or not the moving image recording device is not attached, and setting a still image recording mode when the moving image recording device is not attached, and a moving image recording mode when the moving image recording device is attached. It is characterized by points.

The control program of the present invention is a control program capable of shooting still images and moving images, and controlling an image pickup device to which the moving picture recording device is detachable, and is equipped with the moving picture recording device. A detection process for detecting whether or not the moving image recording device is not attached, and a control process for setting a still image recording mode when the moving image recording device is not attached and a moving image recording mode when the moving image recording device is attached. It is characterized by points.

The computer-readable storage medium of the present invention is characterized in that the above control program is stored.

[0015]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of an image pickup system, an image pickup apparatus, a control method for an image pickup apparatus, a control program, and a computer-readable storage medium according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the digital camera system of this embodiment. The digital camera system according to the present embodiment includes a digital camera 100 capable of capturing still images and moving images, and a digital camera 1.
00 and removable moving image recording apparatus 200.

In the digital camera 100, 102 is a CCD, 104 is an image AD conversion circuit, 106 is a data conversion circuit, 108 is a still image compression circuit, 110 is a buffer,
112 is a memory, 114 is a compact flash (R)
Card interface, 116 Compact Flash (R) card, 120 small EVF, 150 CP
U, 152 is a moving image recording device mounting detector, 154 is a power supply control circuit, and 156 is a battery.

In the moving image recording apparatus 200, 202 is a memory, 204 is a moving image compression circuit, 206 is a recording encoding circuit, 208 is a recording head, 210 is a recording medium, 212 is a recording / decoding circuit, and 214 is a moving image expansion circuit. Reference numeral 216 is a large liquid crystal monitor, 218 is a microphone, 220 is an audio AD conversion circuit, 222 is an audio DA conversion circuit, 224 is a speaker, and 256 is a battery.

FIG. 2 shows a digital camera 1 according to this embodiment.
00 is an external perspective view of 00, (A) is a view seen from the front side,
(B) is a view seen from the back side. In the figure, 10
0 is a digital camera. A compact flash (R) card 116 is provided. Reference numeral 101 denotes a compact flash (R) card socket. 120 is a small EVF
Is. Reference numeral 152 denotes a moving image recording device mounting detection unit.

FIG. 3 shows a digital camera 1 according to this embodiment.
00 and an external perspective view of the video recording device 200,
(A) is a view seen from the front side, and (B) is a view seen from the back side. In the figure, 100 is a digital camera. Reference numeral 101 denotes a compact flash (R) card socket. 120 is a small EVF. Reference numeral 152 denotes a moving image recording device mounting detection unit. Reference numeral 200 is a moving image recording device. 216 is a large-sized liquid crystal monitor. 256 is a battery. Reference numeral 201 denotes a connecting portion corresponding to the compact flash (R) card socket 101 of the digital camera 100.

The control processing operation in the digital camera system according to the present embodiment will be described below with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

In this embodiment, the digital camera 100 is used.
The still image recording mode and the moving image recording mode are switched based on the result of whether or not the moving image recording device 200 is attached. That is, the CPU 150 of the digital camera 100 detects whether or not the moving picture recording device 200 is mounted through the moving picture recording device mounting detection unit 152 (step 401). Then, when the moving picture recording device 200 is not mounted, the mode is switched to the still picture recording mode, and when it is mounted, the mode is switched to the moving picture recording mode.

That is, in the still image recording mode, the appearance is
The moving picture recording device 200 is not mounted, and the compact flash (R) card 116 is built in the digital camera 100, which is the appearance of the digital camera 100 alone as shown in FIG. 2B. When a still image is to be recorded (still image recording mode), the digital camera 10
0 CompactFlash (R) card socket 10
The image is recorded on the compact flash (R) card 116 inserted in the card 1.

On the other hand, in the moving image recording mode, the moving image recording device 200, which is separate from the digital camera 100 in appearance, is used.
Is mounted, and the digital camera 100 and the moving image recording apparatus 200 are integrated as shown in FIG. Then, when it is desired to record a moving image (moving image recording mode), an image is recorded in the moving image recording device 200 in which the connecting portion 201 is inserted into the compact flash (R) card socket 101 of the digital camera 100. As the moving image recording apparatus 200, there are several options in recent years such as a product for recording on a magnetic tape such as a digital video and a product for recording on a disk such as a DVD, but the type is not limited as long as it can record digital data. .

2 and 3, the moving image recording device mounting detection unit 152 is shown by a contact type switch.
Other methods, such as one using one signal of the flash card interface 114, may be used for detection.

Here, the basic processing operation in the still image recording mode will be described. As described above, in the still image recording mode, the compact flash (R) card 116 is used as the recording medium. That is, the moving picture recording device 200 is not connected to the compact flash card interface 114 (compact flash (R) card socket 101) of the digital camera 100, but the compact flash (R) card 116 is inserted.

The analog image signal output from the CCD 102 is converted into digital data by the image AD conversion circuit 104, and converted by the data conversion circuit 106 into a digital data format convenient for compression and storage processing. This digital data is input to the still image compression circuit 108 and the buffer 110 in parallel.

For writing to the memory 112, digital data from the still image compression circuit 108 is sent out. The still image compression circuit 108 performs a compression process using a compression method such as JPEG that is advantageous for compressing a still image.

The buffer 110 is a simple buffer that does not process digital data, and only controls selection of writing digital data to the memory 112.

The compact flash (R) card interface 114 adjusts the data transmission timing for transferring the still image data stored in the memory 112 to the compact flash (R) card 116, and
Various timing signals for writing to the compact flash (R) card 116 are generated, and the compressed still image data is written to the compact flash (R) card 116 after passing through this circuit.

The power supply control and the writing control to the memory 112 in the still image recording mode will be described in detail below. In the still image recording mode, the power source of the digital camera is covered by the battery 156 of the digital camera 100 (step 402). That is, the CPU 150 controls the power supply control circuit 15
4 sends a control signal to the power supply control circuit 154 to select the battery 156 of the digital camera 100 as the power supply of the digital camera. That is, the power supply control circuit 15
4 is a digital camera 10 as a power source for the digital camera.
0 functions as a circuit for switching control whether to use the built-in power supply or the power supply installed in the moving image recording apparatus 200.

Further, the CPU 150 controls the data to be written in the memory 112 and controls the output enable of the output stage of the still image compression circuit 108 or the buffer 110 to select the data on the memory input bus ( Step 403). In this case, since the still image recording mode is set, the CPU 150 outputs a control signal to enable the output of the still image compression circuit 108 and disable the output of the buffer 110 as described above.

Next, a basic processing operation in the moving image recording mode will be described. As described above, in the moving image recording mode, the moving image recording device 200 is used as the recording medium. That is, the compact flash (R) card 116 is not inserted into the compact flash card interface 114 (compact flash (R) card socket 101) of the digital camera 100, but the moving image recording device 200 is connected.

The analog image signal output from the CCD 102 is converted into digital data by the image AD conversion circuit 104, and converted by the data conversion circuit 106 into a digital data format convenient for compression and storage processing. This digital data is input to the still image compression circuit 108 and the buffer 110 in parallel.

Writing to the memory 112 is performed by the CPU 150.
Under the control of, the digital data from the buffer 110 is sent out.

The power supply control and the write control to the memory 112 in the moving image recording mode will be described in detail below.
In the moving picture recording mode, the battery 25 on the side of the moving picture recording apparatus 200, which is input through the compact flash (R) interface 114 as the power source of the digital camera.
6 is selected (step S404). That is, CPU1
The power supply control circuit 154 selects the battery 256 of the video recording device 200 as the power supply of the digital camera by the control signal 504 sent to the power supply control circuit 154.

Further, the CPU 150 controls the data to be written in the memory 112 and controls the output enable of the output stage of the still image compression circuit 108 or the buffer 110 to select the data on the memory input bus ( Step 405). In this case, since it is in the moving image recording mode, the output of the buffer 110 is enabled and the output of the still image compression circuit 108 is disabled as described above.
PU150 outputs a control signal.

The flow of recording data to the recording medium is as follows.
The uncompressed digital data recorded in the memory 112 is the CompactFlash (R) interface 114.
Is transferred to the memory 202 of the moving picture recording device 200 through. Next, the image data on this memory is input to the moving picture compression circuit 204, and if the recording medium is a digital video device, it is digital video compression, and if it is a disk device, it is MP.
Data compression of a moving image is performed like EG compression. Then, the recording encoding circuit 206 performs format processing suitable for the recording medium, preprocessing for error correction, and the like, and recording is performed on the recording medium 210 by the recording head 208.

At this time, the sound is input as an analog signal by the microphone 218 in the moving picture recording apparatus 200, converted into an analog signal by the sound AD conversion circuit 220, and the digital data is multiplexed with the digital image by the recording and coding circuit 206. And record it on a recording medium.

Further, the image confirmation at the time of recording can be performed by outputting the moving image input to the memory 202 to the large-sized liquid crystal monitor 220 of the moving image recording apparatus 200. As a result, the compact E
It is possible to make up for a defect relating to the monitor function during shooting of a digital camera having only the VF 120 and a small liquid crystal screen.

When reproducing moving image data from the recording medium, the compressed image data and audio data on the recording medium 210 are input to the recording / decoding circuit 212 through the recording head 208. In the recording / decoding circuit 212, ECC processing,
Processing for extracting digital image data and digital audio data from the format on the recording medium is performed.

The digital image data is input to the moving picture expansion circuit 214, uncompresses the compressed data, and temporarily records it in the memory 202. The data recorded in the memory 202 is transmitted to the large-sized liquid crystal monitor 216, so that the reproduced image can be confirmed.

The digital audio data is input from the recording / decoding circuit 212 to the audio DA conversion circuit 222,
Here, digital-analog conversion is performed, and an analog audio signal is input to the speaker 224 to confirm reproduction.

(Other Embodiments) In order to operate various devices so as to realize the functions of the above-described embodiments, a computer in an apparatus or system connected to the various devices is operated in the above-described embodiment. Supply the program code of software to realize the function of
What was carried out by operating the above-mentioned various devices according to the program stored in the computer (CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus is also included in the category of the present invention.

Further, in this case, the program code itself of the software realizes the function of the above-described embodiment, and the program code itself constitutes the present invention. As a transmission medium of the program code, a communication medium (a wired line such as an optical fiber or a wireless line) in a computer network (LAN, WAN such as the Internet, a wireless communication network, etc.) system for propagating and supplying the program information as a carrier wave. Etc.) can be used.

Further, means for supplying the program code to a computer, for example, a recording medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention. A flexible disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a magnetic tape, a non-volatile memory card, a ROM, or the like can be used as a recording medium for storing the program code.

Further, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by executing the supplied program code by the computer, but also the OS (operating system) in which the program code is operating in the computer or other It goes without saying that the program code is also included in the embodiment of the present invention when the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized in cooperation with the application software of the above.

Furthermore, after the supplied program code is stored in the memory provided in the function expansion board of the computer or the function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function expansion board or function expansion unit is instructed based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that the present invention also includes a case where the CPU or the like included in the above-mentioned performs some or all of the actual processing and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

It should be noted that the shapes and structures of the respective portions shown in the above-mentioned embodiments are merely examples of the embodiment in carrying out the present invention, and the technical scope of the present invention is thereby provided. It should not be construed as limiting. That is, the present invention can be implemented in various forms without departing from the spirit or the main features thereof.

[0050]

As described above, according to the present invention, a still image having a small capacity is recorded on a recording medium such as a memory card.
A moving image having a large capacity can be adaptively switched to a dedicated moving image recording device according to the capacity of the recording medium.

Further, in the moving image recording mode, if the power supply from the power supply means on the image pickup device side is stopped and the power is supplied from the power supply means on the moving image recording device side to the image pickup device, a large power supply capacity is required. It is possible to supply power to the entire imaging device from the moving image recording device side having a large power supply capacity when recording a moving image.

Further, if the moving picture recording device is provided with the sound recording means, the moving picture recording device can record the sound simultaneously with the moving image.

Further, if the moving picture recording device is provided with a monitor means for monitoring a moving image being recorded or already recorded, and further a sound, a larger liquid crystal screen provided in the moving picture recording device in the case of moving image recording, It is possible to monitor with a large speaker. As a result, when a higher shooting technique such as moving image recording is required, it is possible to monitor with higher accuracy than with a small screen of the image pickup device or a speaker, which is very suitable for the user.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a digital camera.

2 is an external perspective view of the digital camera 100. FIG.

FIG. 3 shows a digital camera 100 and a video recording device 200.
FIG.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a control processing operation of the digital camera.

[Explanation of symbols]

100 Digital Camera 102 CCD 104 Image AD Conversion Circuit 106 Data Conversion Circuit 108 Still Image Compression Circuit 110 Buffer 112 Memory 114 Compact Flash (R) Card Interface 116 Compact Flash (R) Card 120 Small EVF 150 CPU 152 Video Recording Device Attachment Detection Unit 154 Power supply control circuit 156 Battery 200 Video recording device 202 Memory 204 Moving picture compression circuit 206 Recording coding circuit 208 Recording head 210 Recording medium 212 Recording decoding circuit 214 Moving picture expansion circuit 216 Large liquid crystal monitor 218 Microphone 220 Audio AD conversion circuit 222 Audio DA conversion circuit 224 Speaker 256 Battery

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. An imaging system comprising: an image pickup device capable of picking up a still image and a moving image; and a moving image recording device detachable from the image pickup device, wherein the moving image recording device is attached to the image pickup device. Detecting means for detecting whether or not the moving image recording device is mounted on the image capturing device, and a moving image when the moving image recording device is mounted on the image capturing device. An image pickup system comprising: a control unit for setting a recording mode. 2. The image pickup device comprises a mounting portion to which a memory card for recording a still image is detachably mounted, and the moving image recording device is mounted to the mounting portion. Imaging system. 3. The power supply means on the image pickup device side, the power supply means on the moving image recording device side, and the power supply means on the image pickup device side for the image pickup device in the still image recording mode. And a power supply switching means for switching to supply power from the power supply means on the side of the moving image recording apparatus while stopping the power supply means on the side of the image pickup apparatus in the moving image recording mode. The imaging system according to claim 1. 4. The image pickup system according to claim 1, wherein the moving image recording device includes an audio recording unit that performs audio recording when recording a moving image. 5. The image pickup system according to claim 1, wherein the moving image recording device comprises a monitor unit for monitoring an image which is being recorded or has already been recorded. 6. An image pickup device capable of taking a still image and a moving image and having a moving image recording device attachable and detachable, and detecting means for detecting whether or not the moving image recording device is attached. An image pickup apparatus comprising: a control unit for setting a still image recording mode when the moving image recording apparatus is not attached and a moving image recording mode when the moving image recording apparatus is attached. 7. A method of controlling an image pickup device capable of taking a still image and a moving image and detachably attaching a moving image recording device, the detection method detecting whether or not the moving image recording device is attached. And a control procedure for setting a still image recording mode when the moving image recording device is not attached and a moving image recording mode when the moving image recording device is attached. Control method. 8. A control program for controlling an imaging device capable of taking a still image and a moving image and having a moving image recording device detachable, and detecting whether or not the moving image recording device is attached. And a control process for setting a still image recording mode when the moving image recording device is not attached and a moving image recording mode when the moving image recording device is attached. Control program. 9. A computer-readable storage medium in which the control program according to claim 8 is stored.