JP2005311899A - Animation imaging apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform operating instructions of starting of imaging, pausing of the imaging and stopping of the imaging by a single depression switch. <P>SOLUTION: An animation imaging apparatus 1 includes a depression type imaging button 5a in an operating unit 5. The depression detector 5d of the operating unit 5 detects that the imaging button 5a is depressed to the half of the depression stroke (half depression) and depressed to a stroke end (full depression), and transmits the detected contents to a system controller 16. The system controller 16 controls to pause the imaging when the effect that the half depression is performed, is sent during the imaging, and controls to stop the imaging when the effect that the full depression is performed, is sent during the imaging. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a moving image capturing apparatus with improved operability with respect to image capturing stop and image capturing stop related to moving image capturing.

  Conventionally, there are a digital video camera, a digital camera corresponding to moving image capturing, and the like as devices capable of capturing moving images. A digital video camera usually includes a recording start / stop button and a shutter button as operation buttons related to imaging, and a digital camera generally includes a shutter button as an operation button related to imaging.

  In moving image imaging with a digital video camera, the user first operates the recording start / stop button to start imaging, and then operates the recording start / stop button again to stop imaging. The captured moving image is recorded as a file, but the captured moving image is recorded as one file after the start of imaging until the recording start / stop button is operated. Also, the shutter button of a digital video camera is not used when capturing a moving image, and is normally used only when capturing a still image.

On the other hand, in digital cameras that can capture moving images, the shutter button is often used to start and stop imaging, and there is a specification that starts imaging when the shutter button is pressed once and stops imaging when the shutter button is pressed again. It is common. The processing relating to the captured moving image is disclosed in Patent Document 1 below.
JP 2004-23419 A

  In the conventional digital video camera, when the recording start / stop button is operated during image capturing, the image capturing is temporarily stopped. Therefore, the file related to the recorded moving image is divided according to the operation of the recording start / stop button. There was a problem. In addition, since recent digital video cameras have been reduced in size, there is a problem that it is difficult to provide a large number of buttons on the housing. Furthermore, since conventional digital video cameras have two different buttons for capturing moving images and still images, it is necessary for the user to use different buttons for capturing moving images and still images. There is a problem that it is not. Also, with conventional digital cameras, since moving image capturing is basically started and stopped with only the shutter button, the file is divided in the same way as with a digital video camera, and the image is temporarily stopped and the file is deleted. There is a problem that processing that cannot be divided cannot be handled.

The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and can divide a file to be recorded so as to be able to start imaging, stop imaging, and pause imaging according to the operation of a single push-down switch. It is an object of the present invention to provide a moving image pickup apparatus that allows a user to control the above.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a moving image capturing apparatus that can start, stop, and stop imaging by appropriately operating two switches.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, a moving image capturing apparatus according to the present invention is a moving image capturing apparatus that starts capturing a moving image based on a push-down operation of a push-down switch. And a means for pausing or stopping the imaging based on the operation and a means for pausing or pausing the imaging based on a pressing operation to the stroke end of the pressing stroke of the push-down switch during the imaging of the moving image.

  In the present invention, moving image capturing is started by pressing a single push-down switch, and imaging is paused or stopped by a so-called half-pressing operation of the push-down switch during moving image capturing. Since imaging is stopped or paused by a so-called full-press operation, imaging start, imaging stop, and imaging pause can be performed with only a single push-down switch. As a result, when the imaged moving image file is also paused, the file is not divided before and after the pause, and the file can be divided when imaging is stopped. In addition, the configuration of the operation unit can be simplified and the operability can be improved as compared with the conventional digital video camera, and the imaging pause process can be performed on the digital camera without changing the hardware configuration related to the operation unit. Become.

  Further, the moving image capturing apparatus according to the present invention is a moving image capturing apparatus that starts capturing a moving image based on a depressing operation of the push-down switch. An assigning unit that assigns a pause or stop of imaging to one of the operations, and when the assigning unit assigns a pause or stop of imaging to the one operation, Means for assigning a stop or pause.

  In the present invention, the assigning unit assigns the setting of the pause or stop of imaging in response to one of the so-called half-press operation and full-press operation, and is not assigned to the other operation. Since the operation content is assigned, the user can freely set the operation content of the half-press operation and the full-press operation. Therefore, operability according to the user's convenience can be provided.

  A moving image capturing apparatus according to the present invention includes a first switch and a second switch, and starts capturing a moving image based on an operation of the first switch. Means for pausing or stopping imaging based on both switch operations, and means for stopping or pausing imaging based on one of the operations of the first switch or the second switch during moving image imaging. .

  In the present invention, moving image capturing is started by depressing the first switch, and both the first switch and the second switch are operated during moving image capturing, and only one of them is operated. Since either imaging pause or stop is performed, the first switch and the second switch can start imaging, stop imaging, and pause imaging. As a result, it becomes possible to control the division and non-division of the recorded file according to the way each switch is operated. In addition, the number of operation switches can be reduced as compared with a conventional digital video camera, and an operation unit corresponding to downsizing of the apparatus can be provided. For a digital camera, the imaging pause process can be performed by adding only one switch in addition to the shutter button.

  In addition, a moving image capturing apparatus according to the present invention includes a first switch and a second switch, and in the moving image capturing apparatus that starts capturing a moving image based on an operation of the first switch, Allocating means for allocating pause or stop of imaging to either one of the operations of the second switch or one of the first switch or the second switch, and the allocating means for the one operation And means for assigning stop or pause of imaging to the other operation when the pause or stop of imaging is assigned.

  In the present invention, the assigning means assigns the pause or stop of imaging corresponding to either one of the operations of the first switch and the second switch or one of the operations, and for the other operation. Therefore, the operation contents corresponding to the various operation methods of the two switches can be freely set. Therefore, the operability related to the two switches can be changed according to the user's convenience.

In the present invention, since it is possible to start imaging, stop imaging, and stop imaging only with a single push-down switch, the user can select whether or not to divide the file related to the recorded moving image, and the operation unit The structure can be simplified and the operability can be improved.
In the present invention, since the user can freely set the pause or stop of the imaging for the half-pressing operation and the full-pressing operation of the push-down switch, it is possible to provide operability according to the user's usability.

Furthermore, in the present invention, the first switch and the second switch can start imaging, stop imaging, and stop imaging, so that the user can select whether to divide the file related to the recorded moving image, The number of operation switches can be reduced as compared with the prior art, and the apparatus can be reduced in size.
Furthermore, in the present invention, the user can freely set the pause or stop of the imaging with respect to both the first switch and the second switch or one of the operations, so that the user can use his / her own convenience. The corresponding operability can be secured.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a moving image capturing apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The moving image capturing apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment includes an imaging lens unit 3 on a front surface 2a of a box-shaped housing, and a monitor unit 4 and an operation unit 5 having a liquid crystal display screen on a back surface 2b. The operation unit 5 is formed of a plurality of switches, among which an imaging button 5a corresponding to a push-down switch, a zoom switch 5b for imaging range adjustment, a menu displayed on the monitor unit 4, a thumbnail image, and the like are selected. And a cross switch 5c for making a decision.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration of the moving image capturing apparatus 1. The moving image capturing apparatus 1 performs necessary compression processing on the captured moving image and records it on the recording medium K, and expands the moving image recorded on the recording medium K so that it can be reproduced and displayed on the monitor unit 4. Note that the moving image pickup apparatus 1 of the present embodiment uses a semiconductor memory as the recording medium K, and allows the semiconductor memory to be mounted in a slot portion not shown in FIG. In addition to the semiconductor memory, a digital video tape, a hard disk device, various optical disks, and the like can be applied to the recording medium K. In this case, a mounting unit, a driving unit, and the like corresponding to the recording medium to be applied It is necessary to provide

  As shown in FIG. 2, in the moving image pickup apparatus 1, first, an image is collected on the image pickup device 10 by the image pickup lens 3 a, and the image pickup device 10 converts the collected image into an electric signal related to the image and converts it into a camera signal processing unit. 11 is transmitted. The camera signal processing unit 11 performs necessary signal processing on the transmitted electrical signal and transmits it to the recording / playback processing unit 13. Note that the processing of the camera signal processing unit 11 is controlled by the camera control unit 12, and when capturing a moving image, the above-described processing is performed 30 times per fixed interval, for example, per second. The camera control unit 12 controls the camera signal processing unit 11 based on the content operated by the operation unit 5.

  The recording / playback processing unit 13 performs various processes related to moving image recording, playback, display, and the like based on the control of the system controller 16 described later. For recording processing of the captured moving image, processing is performed in which the image related to the transmitted electrical signal is compressed by a required compression method (MPEG2 format in the present embodiment) and transmitted to the recording medium interface unit 15. During the recording process, the recording / playback processing unit 13 performs processing so as to record from imaging start to imaging stop (stop) as one file, and when an imaging pause (pause) is interposed during imaging, the file The processing is performed so that the moving images recorded before and after the imaging pause are recorded as one file without being divided.

  Further, the recording / playback processing unit 13 performs processing for decompressing the compressed image to the original state and transmitting it to the display interface unit 14 for playback of the recorded moving image. Further, when the imaging target is displayed on the monitor unit 4 before imaging, the recording / playback processing unit 13 performs processing for sequentially transmitting the electrical signal from the camera signal processing unit 11 to the display interface unit 14. The recording / playback processing unit 13 also performs processing when displaying various menus, thumbnails, and the like on the monitor unit 4. In response to the menu display, the recording / playback processing unit 13 transmits the menu image recorded in the ROM 16a of the system controller 16 to the monitor unit 4 and displays a frame image of each moving image recorded on the recording medium K when displaying a thumbnail. And a process of creating thumbnails in which the respective frame images are reduced and transmitting them to the monitor unit 4.

  The display interface unit 14 performs a process of displaying the image transmitted from the recording / playback processing unit 13 on the monitor unit 4. The recording medium interface unit 15 writes the image compressed by the recording / playback processing unit 13 to the recording medium K, and reads the image on which the recording / playback processing unit 13 performs the expansion process from the recording medium K, and performs recording / playback. The data is transmitted to the processing unit 13.

  The operation unit 5 performs a process of receiving an operation from the user by each switch and transmitting to the system controller 16 that each switch has accepted the operation. The imaging button 5a included in the operation unit 5 of the present embodiment has a structure in which a certain pressing stroke is ensured, and detects whether the imaging button 5a is pressed down to half of the pressing stroke or is pressed down to the stroke end. A push-down detection unit 5 d is provided in the operation unit 5. When detecting that the imaging button 5a has been pressed down to half (hereinafter referred to as “half-pressing operation”), the pressing-down detecting unit 5d transmits to the system controller 16 that the half-pressing operation has been performed, and performs imaging. When it is detected that the button 5a has been pushed down to the stroke end (hereinafter referred to as a full press operation), the fact that the full press operation has been performed is transmitted to the system controller 16.

  On the other hand, the system controller 16 includes a ROM 16a and a RAM 16b, and performs overall control of the moving image pickup apparatus 1. The ROM 16a stores a program that defines the contents of processing performed by the system controller 16, menu data, and the like, and the RAM 16b temporarily records the contents related to the processing of the system controller 16. The system controller 16 performs control processing related to imaging start, imaging stop, and imaging pause according to the operation of the imaging button 5a based on the program.

  Specifically, the system controller 16 performs control to start imaging when recording that the operation unit 5 has been fully pressed by the operation unit 5 while imaging is stopped or imaging is paused. The recording process of the moving image imaged by the processing unit 13 is performed. In addition, when a message indicating that the operation button 5a has been half-pressed is transmitted from the operation unit 5 during imaging of the moving image, the system controller 16 performs control to pause (pause) imaging, and the recording / playback processing unit 13 Pause the recording process. Further, when a message indicating that the operation button 5a has been fully pressed is transmitted from the operation unit 5 during imaging of the moving image, the system controller 16 performs control to stop the imaging to perform the recording / reproduction processing unit 13. Stop the recording process at.

  Therefore, as illustrated in FIG. 3, when the user performs a full pressing operation of the operation button 5 a in a state where imaging is not performed, the moving image capturing apparatus 1 starts moving image capturing and records the captured moving image on the recording medium K. . When the user performs a half-press operation on the operation button 5a during imaging, the moving image imaging apparatus 1 pauses imaging and also pauses recording on the recording medium K. Furthermore, when the user performs a full pressing operation of the operation button 5a during the imaging pause, the moving image imaging apparatus 1 resumes imaging and resumes recording on the recording medium K, and the user fully presses the operation button 5 during imaging. When the operation is performed, imaging is stopped and recording on the recording medium K is also stopped. As a result, the moving image is not recorded during the imaging pause (hatched portion in FIG. 3), but the moving images taken before and after the imaging pause are recorded as one file (file 1) without being divided. Recorded on the medium K. In FIG. 3, the horizontal axis indicates the passage of time t.

  When the operation button 5a is fully pressed after the operation button 5a is fully pressed, the moving image imaging apparatus 1 stops the imaging and stops recording on the recording medium K. Therefore, even when the operation button 5a is fully pressed again, the moving image capturing apparatus 1 displays the moving image from the first operation button 5a to the second full press operation in one file (file 2). ) And a moving image is recorded as a separate file (file 3) from the third full-press operation.

  As described above, since the moving image imaging apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment can accept the operation of the imaging start, the imaging pause, and the imaging stop from the user with only the single operation button 5a, the user presses the operation button 5a halfway. The degree to which the file to be recorded is divided can be selected simply by properly using the operation and the full-press operation, and the operability can be improved and the number of switches related to the operation unit can be reduced. In addition, the configuration according to the first embodiment can be applied to a digital video camera and a digital camera that can also capture moving images. Further, the mobile phone having a moving image capturing function can be pressed down halfway and fully. It can be applied by providing a switch.

  In addition, the moving image imaging device 1 of the first embodiment has a modified example other than the above-described embodiments, and by changing the specified content of the program, the imaging is stopped by half-pressing the operation button 5a, and is fully pressed. It is also possible for the system controller 16 to perform control so as to pause imaging. In addition, for the half-pressing operation and the full-pressing operation of the operation button 5a, it may be configured such that imaging pause and imaging stop can be set according to the user's preference.

  In this case, for example, a setting menu 18 for setting contents for a half-press operation as shown in FIG. 4 is recorded in the ROM 16 a and a nonvolatile memory is connected to the system controller 16. The program recorded in the ROM 16a causes the setting menu 18 to be displayed on the monitor unit 4 by a required operation, and the user operates the cross switch 5c of the operation unit 5 so that the imaging pause or the half-pressing operation is performed. It is accepted that imaging stop is set. When the setting is accepted, the system controller 16 assigns the operation content accepted for the half-press operation, and the operation content that is not set by the half-press operation is automatically assigned to the full-press operation. Allocating and writing each allocated content to the non-volatile memory. Accordingly, since the system controller 16 performs control related to imaging based on the content recorded in the nonvolatile memory for the operation of the operation button 5a, the operation mode of the imaging button 5 is adjusted to the content according to the user's usability. Can do.

  When the setting menu 18 in FIG. 4 is changed to the content for accepting the setting of the pause or stop of the imaging with respect to the full-pressing operation, and the setting of the content of the full-pressing operation is assigned, the other setting is performed with respect to the half-pressing operation. The operation content may be automatically assigned by the system controller 16.

  FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the moving image capturing apparatus 20 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The moving image pickup apparatus 20 of the second embodiment is externally pushed down to the front surface 22a provided with the image pickup lens portion 23 of the housing 22 in comparison with the moving image pickup apparatus 10 of the first embodiment (first button). The difference is that it is equivalent to 2 switches). The other points are the same as in the first embodiment, and a monitor unit 24, an imaging button 25a (corresponding to the first switch), a zoom switch 25b, a cross switch 25c, and the like are provided on the back surface 22b of the housing 22. Yes. Note that the imaging button 25a and the auxiliary button 25e are arranged at positions where the user can simultaneously operate with each finger of the right hand while holding the housing 22 during imaging.

  FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a part of the internal configuration of the moving image capturing apparatus 20 according to the second embodiment. The operation unit 25 is connected to the camera control unit 31 and the system controller 36, and detects whether or not the imaging button 25a and the auxiliary button 25e have been pressed by the user by the pressing operation unit 25d. Further, when the push-down operation unit 25d detects the operation of each button 25a, 25e, it transmits the detected content to the system controller 36.

  The system controller 36 performs various controls based on the program as in the first embodiment. In the second embodiment, the system controller 36 starts imaging, stops imaging, and stops imaging according to the operation of the operation button 25a and the auxiliary button 25e. ing. Specifically, when the operation unit 25 transmits that the operation button 25a is operated from the operation unit 25 while the imaging is stopped or paused, the system controller 36 starts imaging and captures the captured moving image. Control of the recording process. Further, the system controller 36 performs control to pause the recording process by stopping the imaging when it is transmitted that both the operation button 25a and the auxiliary button 25e are simultaneously operated during the imaging of the moving image. Furthermore, when a message indicating that only one operation of the operation button 5a has been performed during moving image capturing, the system controller 36 performs control to stop the image capturing and stop the recording process. Note that the moving image capturing apparatus 20 of the second embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment except for the configuration and processing described above, and a description thereof will be omitted.

  Therefore, even in the moving image imaging apparatus 20 of the second embodiment, if the user operates both the imaging button 25a and the auxiliary button 25e simultaneously during imaging (hereinafter referred to as both operations), imaging can be paused, and imaging is performed during imaging. If only the button 25a is operated (corresponding to one operation), the imaging can be stopped, and the file division can be appropriately operated. Note that the configuration of the moving image capturing apparatus 20 of the second embodiment can also be applied to a digital video camera, a digital camera compatible with moving image capturing, and a mobile phone having a moving image capturing function.

  Various modifications can also be applied to the moving image imaging apparatus 20 of the second embodiment. For example, the imaging button 25a and the auxiliary button 25e are not push-down switches, and other types of switches such as slide switches can be applied. In addition, the moving image imaging apparatus 20 may pause imaging by operating only the auxiliary button 25e (corresponding to one-side operation) during imaging, and the operation contents of both operations and one-side operation are reversed from those described above. It is also possible.

  Furthermore, the user may be able to set the operation content of both operations and one operation. In this case, the operation setting menu 38 shown in FIG. 7 is displayed on the monitor unit 24, and imaging pause or imaging stop is performed for both operations. The system controller 36 automatically assigns the contents of the operation that was not assigned to both operations to one of the operations. By doing in this way, the operation interface according to the user's usability can be established. In the operation setting menu 38 of FIG. 7, a setting assigned by the user to one operation instead of both operations is accepted, and the system controller 36 indicates the operation contents of the operation that cannot be assigned to either operation. You may make it allocate automatically.

1 is a perspective view of a moving image capturing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of a moving image imaging device. It is a figure explaining the form of the file which concerns on the imaged moving image. It is a figure which shows the menu which concerns on the setting of operation content. It is a perspective view of the video imaging device concerning a 2nd embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows a part of internal structure of a moving image imaging device. It is a figure which shows the menu which concerns on the setting of operation content.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1,20 Movie imaging device 5, 25 Operation part 5a, 25a Imaging button 5d, 25d Push-down detection part 16, 36 System controller 18 Setting menu 38 Operation setting menu K Recording medium

Claims (4)

In a moving image capturing apparatus that starts capturing a moving image based on a pressing operation of a push switch,
Means for pausing or stopping imaging based on a pressing operation up to the middle position of the pressing stroke of the pressing switch during moving image capturing;
A moving image imaging apparatus comprising: means for stopping or pausing imaging based on a depressing operation to a stroke end of a depressing stroke of the push-down switch during moving image imaging. In a moving image capturing apparatus that starts capturing a moving image based on a pressing operation of a push switch,
Allocating means for allocating a pause or stop of imaging to either one of an operation of depressing the push-down switch to an intermediate position of a depressing stroke or an operation of depressing to a stroke end during moving image capturing;
And a means for assigning a stop or pause of imaging to the other operation when the assigning means assigns a pause or stop of imaging to the one operation. In a moving image capturing apparatus that includes a first switch and a second switch, and starts capturing a moving image based on an operation of the first switch.
Means for pausing or stopping imaging based on the operation of both the first switch and the second switch during moving image imaging;
And a means for stopping or pausing imaging based on an operation of one of the first switch and the second switch during moving image imaging. In a moving image capturing apparatus that includes a first switch and a second switch, and starts capturing a moving image based on an operation of the first switch.
Allocating means for assigning pause or stop of imaging to either one of the operations of the first switch and the second switch or one of the operations of the first switch and the second switch during moving image imaging;
And a means for assigning a stop or pause of imaging to the other operation when the assigning means assigns a pause or stop of imaging to the one operation.

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