JP2005341412A - Image acquisition apparatus and imaging apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image acquisition apparatus and an imaging apparatus capable of extracting a static image from an animation, configured with a plurality of the static images mixed up serially and appending a date/time information based on a date/time information concerning the moving video. <P>SOLUTION: A digital camera 1 appends a photographed date/time, corresponding to a last static picture in the animation photographed in a camera portion 15, to animation and records it in the record medium 20. The digital camera 1 accepts selection of the desired static picture during the reproduction of the animations currently recorded on record medium 20 at a display portion 29. A control portion 10 specifies the static picture received the selection, while the portion measures a time interval between the specified static picture and the last static picture of the animation. Moreover, the control portion 10 computes a date/time went back from the photographed date/time for the last static picture of the animation by the measured time interval, and generates character information for display of the computed date/time, and composites the information with the desired static picture. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image acquisition device and an imaging device that acquire a still image from a moving image composed of a plurality of still images moving back and forth in time series.

  Digital cameras that can record images obtained by shooting still images, moving images, and the like on a recording medium have become widespread, and images shot by digital cameras can be reproduced on their own monitors. In addition, the digital camera is configured to be connected to a display device such as a television device or a display device via a cable, and a captured image can be transferred to the display device and reproduced on the display device. On the other hand, a recording / reproducing apparatus that receives a broadcast program by television broadcasting, records it on a recording medium, reads out the broadcasting program from the recording medium as needed, and reproduces it on its own monitor or a connected external display device is also widespread. doing.

  In an apparatus capable of recording and reproducing an image acquired in this way, it is important that the user can easily find a desired image when reproducing the recorded image. Therefore, some digital cameras have a configuration in which captured images are recorded together with information about each image, and a desired image is searched based on the information about each image (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The recording / reproducing apparatus records program information such as the broadcast time and channel of the broadcast program corresponding to each broadcast program, and searches for the desired broadcast program based on the program information of each broadcast program. There exists an apparatus which has the structure to do (for example, refer patent document 2).

  In addition to the information related to the image captured by the digital camera as described above and the program information related to the broadcast program recorded in the recording / reproducing apparatus, the thumbnail indicating the image captured by the digital camera and the broadcast program recorded in the recording / reproducing apparatus. There is also provided a device for displaying the image, and when such a device is used, the user can more easily select a desired image or broadcast program based on the displayed thumbnail.

On the other hand, software capable of performing image processing for extracting a still image from a moving image by being read and executed by a personal computer is provided, and a personal computer loaded with such software is provided with a digital camera. By capturing and executing a moving image obtained by imaging, a still image can be extracted from a moving image desired by the user, and the extracted still image can be used as a thumbnail.
JP 2004-88252 A JP 2003-32582 A

  However, in an apparatus that stores each image as described above in a large-capacity recording medium such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), an enormous number of images can be recorded. Even when based on information and thumbnails, there is a problem that it is very difficult to find a desired image.

  In addition, when a still image is extracted from a moving image captured by a digital camera by being executed by a personal computer, the captured moving image needs to be read into the personal computer and the personal computer needs to be operated in a predetermined procedure. In addition, the operation of the personal computer by the user is complicated. Further, even when software for extracting still images from moving images by using a personal computer is used, processing is performed to reflect the shooting date and time of moving images captured by a digital camera in still images extracted from moving images. No software is provided.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and extracts a desired still image from a moving image composed of a plurality of still images moving back and forth in time series, and the date and time related to the moving image is extracted to the extracted still image. An object of the present invention is to provide an image acquisition device and an imaging device capable of adding date and time information based on information.

  An image acquisition apparatus according to the present invention is an image acquisition apparatus that includes a plurality of still images moving back and forth in time series, and acquires a still image from a moving image having date and time information related to a reference still image among the still images. A time difference receiving unit that receives a time difference from the first still image or the last still image of the plurality of still images, a specifying unit that specifies a still image corresponding to the time difference received by the time difference receiving unit, Based on the time difference received by the time difference receiving means, measuring means for measuring the time interval between the still image specified by the specifying means and the reference still image, the time interval measured by the measuring means, and the date and time related to the reference still image And calculating means for calculating date and time information relating to the still image specified by the specifying means based on the information.

  In the present invention, a time difference from the first still image or the last still image of a moving image having a date and time information related to a reference still image among the still images, which is composed of a plurality of still images moving back and forth in time series. And a still image corresponding to the received time difference is specified, and a time interval between the specified still image and the reference still image is measured based on the received time difference. Further, the date information related to the identified still image is calculated based on the measured time interval and the date information related to the reference still image. Therefore, for example, the user can specify a still image to be extracted from a moving image based on a time difference from the first still image or the last still image of the moving image. It is possible to add date and time information based on the date and time information related to the reference still image.

  An image acquisition apparatus according to the present invention is an image acquisition apparatus that includes a plurality of still images moving back and forth in time series, and acquires a still image from a moving image having date and time information related to a reference still image among the still images. A moving image reproducing unit that reproduces the moving image, a selection receiving unit that receives selection of a still image constituting the moving image reproduced by the moving image reproducing unit, and a specifying unit that specifies the still image that the selection receiving unit has received the selection. And a measuring unit that measures a time interval between the still image identified by the identifying unit and the reference still image, and a time interval measured by the measuring unit and date information related to the reference still image. And calculating means for calculating date information relating to the identified still image.

  In the present invention, during playback of a moving image having date and time information related to a reference still image among the still images, the still image in the moving image is selected. The still image received and selected is specified, and the time interval between the specified still image and the reference still image is measured. Further, the date information related to the identified still image is calculated based on the measured time interval and the date information related to the reference still image. Therefore, for example, the user can select a still image that the user wants to extract from the movie during playback of the movie, and the date and time information based on the date and time information related to the reference still image in the movie is added to the still image extracted from the movie. Can be added.

  In the image acquisition device according to the present invention, the character creating unit that creates character information for expressing the date and time indicated by the date and time information calculated by the calculating unit, and the specifying unit specifies the character information created by the character creating unit. And a synthesizing unit for synthesizing the still image.

  In the present invention, creating character information indicating the date and time indicated by the date and time information calculated corresponding to the still image identified from the moving image, and combining the created character information with the identified still image Thus, it is possible to generate a still image to which the date and time indicated by the date and time information calculated from the date and time information in the moving image is added.

  In the image acquisition device according to the present invention, the reference still image is a last still image among the still images constituting the moving image, and the calculation unit calculates the date and time indicated by the date and time information related to the reference still image, The date and time is traced back by the time interval measured by the measuring means.

  In the present invention, when the reference still image in the moving image is the last still image among the still images included in the moving image, the specified still image and the reference are determined from the date and time indicated by the date and time information in the reference still image. The date and time that goes back by the time interval from the still image is set as the date and time in the specified still image. In this way, the date and time of the still image selected by the user can be easily calculated based on the date and time of the reference still image in the moving image.

  An imaging device according to the present invention is an imaging device configured to capture a moving image having a shooting date and time related to a first still image or a last still image of a plurality of still images that are arranged in time series. A time difference receiving unit that receives a time difference from the first still image or the last still image in the captured moving image, a specifying unit that specifies a still image corresponding to the time difference received by the time difference receiving unit, and the time difference receiving unit Based on the received time difference, the measuring unit that measures the time interval between the still image specified by the specifying unit and the first still image or the last still image, the time interval measured by the measuring unit, and the first Based on the imaging date and time related to the still image or the last still image, a calculating means for calculating the imaging date and time related to the still image specified by the specifying means, and the imaging date and time calculated by the calculating means Character creating means for creating character information, combining means for combining the character information generated by the character generating means with the still image specified by the specifying means, and storage for storing the still image in which the combining means combines the character information Means.

  In the present invention, an imaging device configured to capture a moving image having a shooting date and time related to a first still image or a last still image of the still images, which is composed of a plurality of still images moving back and forth in time series, A time difference from the first still image or the last still image in the moving image obtained by imaging is received, a still image corresponding to the received time difference is specified, and date information corresponding to the specified still image is calculated. Therefore, the user can specify the still image to be extracted from the moving image captured by the imaging device based on the time difference from the first still image or the last still image of the moving image. It becomes possible to add the imaging date and time based on the imaging date and time in the first still image or the last still image which is the reference still image in the moving image. Further, by creating character information for expressing the calculated imaging date and time and synthesizing it with the still image specified from the moving image, it is possible to add a date to the still image acquired from the moving image.

  An imaging device according to the present invention is an imaging device configured to capture a moving image having a shooting date and time related to a first still image or a last still image of a plurality of still images that are arranged in time series. A moving image reproducing unit for reproducing the captured moving image, a selection receiving unit for receiving selection of a still image constituting the moving image to be reproduced by the moving image reproducing unit, and a specifying unit for specifying the still image received by the selection receiving unit Measuring means for measuring the time interval between the still image specified by the specifying means and the first still image or the last still image, the time interval measured by the measuring means, and the first still image or the last Based on the imaging date and time related to the still image, a calculating means for calculating the imaging date and time related to the still image specified by the specifying means, and a character creating means for generating character information for expressing the imaging date and time calculated by the calculating means A combining unit that combines the character information generated by the character generating unit with the still image specified by the specifying unit; and a storage unit that stores the still image combined with the character information by the combining unit. .

  In the present invention, an imaging device configured to capture a moving image having a shooting date and time related to a first still image or a last still image of the still images, which is composed of a plurality of still images moving back and forth in time series, During playback of a moving image obtained by imaging, the selection of a still image in the moving image is received, the still image for which the selection has been received is specified, and date / time information corresponding to the specified still image is calculated. Therefore, the user can select a still image to be extracted from the moving image during playback of the moving image, and adds date / time information based on the date / time information in the reference still image in the moving image to the still image extracted from the moving image. It becomes possible. Further, by creating character information for expressing the calculated imaging date and time and synthesizing it with the still image specified from the moving image, it is possible to add a date to the still image acquired from the moving image.

  In the present invention, for example, the user specifies a still image corresponding to the specified time difference by specifying the time difference from the first still image or the last still image in the moving image, and based on the specified time difference, Date and time information in the identified still image is calculated. In addition, the user can select a desired still image during reproduction of a moving image, specifies the selected still image, and calculates date and time information on the specified still image. Therefore, it is possible not only to specify and extract a desired still image from a moving image, but also to add date and time information based on date and time information in the moving image to the extracted still image.

  In addition, by combining the still image extracted from the moving image with character information indicating the date and time indicated by the date and time information calculated corresponding to the still image, for example, the still image indicating the date and time is output as a photograph. can do. Further, in a device that records a plurality of moving images and performs a reproduction process as necessary, a still image extracted from each of the recorded moving images is displayed as an index image of each moving image, and based on each index image. Thus, the user can easily find a desired moving image.

  In the present invention, when the reference still image in the moving image is the last still image among the still images included in the moving image, the time interval between the still image specified from the moving image and the last still image is measured, The date and time of the still image extracted from the moving image based on the date and time information in the moving image by setting the date and time that is back by the measured time interval from the date and time indicated by the date and time information in the still image as the date and time in the specified still image Can be easily calculated. Therefore, for example, after a compression process based on the Motion JPEG (Motion Joint Photographic Expert Group) method, MPEG2 (Moving Picture Expert Group 2) method or MPEG4 method is performed, a time stamp indicating the recording date and time information is attached to the recording medium. When a still image is extracted from the moving image recorded in the above, date / time information corresponding to the extracted still image can be calculated based on the date / time information indicated by the time stamp.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on the drawings showing an image acquisition device and an imaging device which are embodiments thereof. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration example of a digital camera as an image acquisition apparatus and an imaging apparatus according to the present invention. The digital camera 1 according to the present embodiment includes a control unit 10, a ROM 11, a RAM 12, a timer 13, an A / D converter 16, a signal processing unit 17, an image compression / decompression unit 18, a display unit 19, a recording medium 20, and the like. These are connected to each other via a system bus 1a.

  The control unit 10 is configured by a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or a MPU (Micro Processor Unit) having a clock means (not shown), and controls each of the above hardware units connected via the system bus 1a. At the same time, various operations are executed in accordance with a control program stored in the ROM 11 in advance. The ROM 11 stores in advance various control programs necessary for operating the digital camera 1 as an image acquisition device and an imaging device according to the present invention. The RAM 12 is configured by SRAM, flash memory, or the like, and temporarily stores data generated when the control unit 10 executes the control program.

  The control unit 10 is connected to the operation unit 14. The operation unit 14 includes various keys necessary for the user to operate the digital camera 1. When each key is operated by the user, a control signal corresponding to the operated key is sent to the control unit 10. And the control part 10 performs the process corresponding to the acquired control signal. The timer 13 starts timing processing in response to an instruction from the control unit 10 and ends timing processing in response to an instruction from the control unit 10.

  A camera unit 15 is connected to the A / D converter 16. The camera unit 15 generates an analog image signal by photoelectrically converting an optical signal input via the CCD and inputs the analog image signal to the A / D converter 16. The A / D converter 16 is an amplifier (not shown) that amplifies an analog image signal input from the camera unit 15 with a predetermined amplification factor, and a correlated double that samples the amplified image signal at a certain timing. A sampling function (CDS) and the like are incorporated, and each value obtained by sampling processing by CDS is converted into a digital signal, and the obtained digital image signal is input to the signal processing unit 17.

  The signal processing unit 17 performs predetermined signal processing such as gamma correction processing, filtering processing, and contour enhancement processing on the image signal obtained by imaging with the camera unit 15 to perform YUV (Y: luminance signal, U: red color difference signal, V: blue color difference signal) signal is generated, and the generated YUV signal is input to the image compression / decompression unit 18.

  The image compression / decompression unit 18 is a codec that performs compression processing and decompression processing based on, for example, the MPEG (Moving Picture Expert Group) system, and executes predetermined compression processing on the image signal (YUV signal) input from the signal processing unit 17. To do. The image compression / decompression unit 18 uses the memory 18a connected to itself as a buffer for compression processing and decompression processing. The image signal (YUV signal) that has been subjected to predetermined signal processing by the signal processing unit 17 can also be input to the display unit 19 for display.

  The control unit 10 executes a predetermined control program stored in the ROM 11 for the image signal compressed by the image compression / decompression unit 18 to thereby obtain a current time (time stamp) indicated by its own clock means. Is added and recorded on the recording medium 20. The image information includes a recording time of the image signal indicated by the current time on the recording medium 20, a recording time of the image signal, an identifier indicating that the image signal is MPEG-compressed data, and the like.

  In the digital camera 1 of the present embodiment, the image information including the time stamp is added when the image signal is recorded on the recording medium 20, and the recording time (date information) indicated by the time stamp is the still image. In the case, the imaging time is shown. In the case of a moving image, the imaging time of the last still image (reference still image) among a plurality of still images moving back and forth in time series is shown.

  The recording medium 20 is configured by an HDD, an optical disk, a memory card, or the like, and records a plurality of image signals (compressed signals) to which predetermined image information is added by the control unit 10 as described above. The recording medium 20 records the image signal to which the image information is added as an image file, and a writing process and a reading process are performed for each image file.

  The display unit 19 is configured by a liquid crystal display panel in which a plurality of liquid crystal elements are arranged in a two-dimensional matrix. The operation status of the digital camera 1, information to be notified to the user, a predetermined signal by the signal processing unit 17. The processed image signal and the image signal recorded on the recording medium 20 are displayed. The image signal (compressed signal) recorded on the recording medium 20 is subjected to a predetermined expansion process by the image compression / expansion unit 18 and decoded, and then input to the display unit 19. In addition, by using the touch panel type display unit 19, some or all of the various keys of the operation unit 14 can be substituted.

  With the above-described configuration, for example, when the user operates a shutter button (not shown) of the operation unit 14, the digital camera 1 acquires an analog still image signal by the camera unit 15, and the A / D converter 16 and the signal A still image capturing function for generating a still image by executing predetermined signal processing by the processing unit 17, for example, when the user operates a recording button (not shown) of the operation unit 14, a recording stop button (see FIG. Until the camera unit 15 is operated, for example, 30 still image signals per second are acquired by the camera unit 15 and a predetermined signal processing is sequentially executed by the A / D converter 16 and the signal processing unit 17 to obtain a moving image. A moving image capturing function for generating

  The digital camera 1 also has a storage function for storing the image signal (still image signal, moving image signal) obtained by imaging as described above in the recording medium 20, the image signal obtained by imaging, or the recording medium 20. The display unit 19 has a display function for displaying the image signal recorded on the display unit 19. Furthermore, when the digital camera 1 is configured to be connected to an external computer, it is also possible to transmit an image signal obtained by imaging or an image signal recorded on the recording medium 20 to an external computer. It becomes.

  Furthermore, the digital camera 1 according to the present embodiment extracts a still image desired by the user from the moving image signal among the image signals recorded on the recording medium 20, and also provides date and time information about the extracted still image. For example, the extracted still image can be output as a photograph to which date / time information is added, and the extracted still image can be used as an index image of the moving image.

  Hereinafter, a process of acquiring a still image from a moving image recorded on the recording medium 20 in the digital camera 1 of the present embodiment will be described. When the user selects a moving image for which a still image is desired to be acquired, the control unit 10 reads the selected moving image from the recording medium 20, inputs the selected moving image to the display unit 19, and causes the display unit (moving image reproducing unit) 19 to reproduce the selected moving image. The user can select a desired still image by operating a predetermined operation key when the desired still image is displayed on the display unit 19. In the digital camera 1, the control unit 10 starts the time measurement process by the timer 13 when the reproduction process on the display unit 19 of the moving image desired by the user is started.

  When the user operates a predetermined operation key to specify a desired still image, the control unit 10 operates as a selection receiving unit that receives selection of still images in moving images that are sequentially played back. At this time, the display unit 19 It operates as specifying means for specifying the still image displayed on the screen. In addition, the control unit 10 extracts the specified still image, that is, the still image signal displayed on the display unit 19 when the user operates a predetermined operation key, stores the extracted still image signal in the RAM 12, and measures the time by the timer 13. End the process.

  Next, based on the measurement time indicated by the timer 13, the control unit 10 operates as a measurement unit that measures the time interval between the still image selected by the user and the last still image that is the reference still image. That is, the time obtained by subtracting the measurement time indicated by the timer 13 from the recording time indicated by the image information in this moving image indicates the time interval between the still image selected by the user and the last still image. measure. Specifically, for example, in a moving image having a recording time of 30 minutes, when the timer 13 indicates 10 minutes when the user selects a desired still image, the control unit 10 is selected by the user. It is calculated that the time interval between the still image and the last still image is 20 minutes.

  Further, the control unit 10 calculates the date and time (date / time information in the still image selected by the user) by calculating the date and time that is backed by the time interval measured as described above from the image and date and time corresponding to the last still image. It operates as a calculation means for calculating. For example, as described above, when the time interval between the still image selected by the user and the last still image is 20 minutes, and the date and time indicated by the time stamp is 14:30 on April 30, 2004, the still image The generation unit 21 can calculate 14:10 on April 30, 2004 as the imaging date and time corresponding to the still image selected by the user.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for acquiring a still image from a moving image in the digital camera 1 according to the present invention. In the digital camera 1, when the user instructs the reproduction of the moving image recorded on the recording medium 20 by operating a predetermined operation key of the operation unit 14, the control unit 10 displays the moving image recorded on the recording medium 20. In order to select, a selection screen (not shown) including an index image of each moving image is displayed on the display unit 19 (S1). When the index image displayed here is not the still image selected by the user, the first still image in the corresponding moving image or the still image when a predetermined time has elapsed is displayed.

  The user can select a desired moving image by operating a predetermined operation key based on a selection screen including an index image of each moving image, and the control unit 10 operates the predetermined operation key by the user. If it is determined that the predetermined operation key is not operated (S2: NO), the display of the selection screen is continued (S1). If the control unit 10 determines that a predetermined operation key has been operated (S2: YES), the control unit 10 reads the corresponding moving image signal from the recording medium 20, and executes the expansion process by the image compression / expansion unit 18 (S3).

  The image compression / decompression unit 18 performs the decompression process and sequentially inputs the expanded video signals to the display unit 19 to be displayed on the display unit 19, and the control unit 10 causes the timer 13 to start the time measurement process (S4). The user searches for a desired still image while viewing the moving image displayed on the display unit 19, and operates a predetermined operation key of the operation unit 14 when a desired still image is found. The control unit 10 determines whether or not a predetermined operation key has been operated by the user (S5), and if it is determined that the user has not operated (S5: NO), the image compression / decompression unit 18 decompresses the image to be expanded. The display by the display unit 19 is continued (S4).

  When it is determined that the predetermined operation key has been operated (S5: YES), the control unit 10 displays the selected still image on the display unit 19 when the user operates the predetermined operation key. The still image that has been processed is extracted and stored in the RAM 12 (S6), and the timing process by the timer 13 is terminated (S7). Next, the control unit 10 sets the time interval between the reference still image (the last still image in the moving image) in the still image selected by the user based on the measurement time measured by the timer 13 and the recording time in the moving image. Measure (S8).

  Further, the control unit 10 calculates the date and time when the selected still image is captured by calculating the date and time that is back by the time interval with the reference still image of the selected still image from the recording date and time of the reference still image indicated by the time stamp. Is calculated (S9), and the calculated imaging date and time is added to the selected still image and recorded on the recording medium 20 (S10). As a result, the user can select a desired still image while sequentially displaying the moving image for which a still image is to be generated on the display unit 19, and the digital camera 1 sets the imaging date and time corresponding to the selected still image to the moving image. Can be added based on the recording time indicated by the time stamp.

  In addition, the control unit 10 operates as a character creation unit that creates character information for representing the imaging date and time calculated as described above according to a predetermined control program stored in advance in the ROM 11. It operates as a combining unit that extracts information from a moving image and combines it with a still image stored in the RAM 12. The still image combined with character information is stored in the RAM (storage unit) 12 or the recording medium (storage unit) 20. Remember. The still image combined with the character information in this manner can be output as a photograph with a date as shown in FIG.

  In the digital camera 1 described above, when acquiring a still image from a moving image recorded on the recording medium 20, the user sets a desired elapsed time from the first still image in the moving image to be selected, for example. Still images can be selected. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration example of a selection screen for selecting a moving image for which a still image is to be generated. The selection screen illustrated in FIG. 4 is an index image indicating each moving image recorded on the recording medium 20. In addition, for a still image to be extracted from the selected moving image, an elapsed time from the first still image of the moving image is received by an input from the user. Note that the desired elapsed time input by the user is not limited to the first still image of the moving image, that is, the elapsed time from the starting time of the moving image, for example, as the time difference from the last still image of the moving image, that is, the end time of the moving image. Also good.

  When the user selects a desired moving image according to the selection screen shown in FIG. 4 and inputs the desired elapsed time and operates the OK button, the control unit 10 determines the elapsed time input from the moving image selected by the user. That is, it operates as a time difference receiving means for receiving a time difference for receiving a time difference from the first still image of the moving image, and operates as a specifying means for specifying a still image corresponding to the received elapsed time. In addition, the control unit 10 reads out a still image signal of a still image specified based on the elapsed time set by the user from the recording medium 20 and stores it in the RAM 12.

  Next, the control unit 10 operates as a measurement unit that measures the time interval between the identified still image and the last still image that is the reference still image based on the elapsed time set by the user. That is, the time obtained by subtracting the elapsed time set by the user from the recording time indicated by the image information in the moving image is measured. Furthermore, the control unit 10 calculates the date and time of the still image corresponding to the elapsed time input by the user by calculating the date and time that is back by the time interval measured as described above from the imaging date and time corresponding to the last still image. Operates as calculation means for calculating the date and time (date information).

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for acquiring a still image from a moving image in the digital camera 1 according to the present invention. The user operates a predetermined operation key of the operation unit 14 to obtain a still image for a desired moving image among moving images stored in the digital camera 1. When a predetermined operation key is operated by the user, the control unit 10 displays a selection screen as shown in FIG. 4 on the display unit 19 (S11).

  The user selects a desired moving image by operating the operation unit 14 based on the selection screen displayed on the display unit 19, inputs the elapsed time in the still image to be extracted from the selected moving image, and presses the OK button. Manipulate. The control unit 10 determines whether or not the OK button has been operated by the user (S12), and when determining that the OK button has not been operated (S12: NO), continues to display the selection screen (S11). ). If the control unit 10 determines that the OK button has been operated (S12: YES), the control unit 10 reads out a still image signal corresponding to the elapsed time input by the user from the recording medium 20, and the image compression / decompression unit 18 performs decompression processing. Is stored in the RAM 12 (S13).

  Next, based on the elapsed time input by the user and the recording time of the moving image, the control unit 10 performs a reference still image (the last still image in the moving image) in the still image corresponding to the elapsed time input by the user. Is measured (S14). Further, the control unit 10 calculates the imaging date / time in the still image corresponding to the elapsed time input by the user by calculating the date / time back by the measured time interval from the imaging date / time in the reference still image indicated by the time stamp. Then, the calculated imaging date and time is added to the selected still image and recorded on the recording medium 20 (S16).

  As described above, the user can select a still image to be extracted from a moving image for which a still image is to be generated based on the elapsed time from the start of the moving image, and the digital camera 1 can capture an image corresponding to the selected still image. The date and time can be added based on the recording time indicated by the time stamp in the moving image. Further, the control unit 10 creates character information for indicating the imaged date and time calculated as described above, and extracts the created character information from the moving image and combines it with the still image stored in the RAM 12. As shown in FIG. 3, it is possible to output an image as a dated photograph.

  In the embodiment described above, the digital camera 1 acquires one still image from the moving image captured by the camera unit 15 and recorded on the recording medium 20, and date / time information (imaging date / time) corresponding to the acquired still image. However, it is also possible to extract a still image from a moving image acquired from the outside and add the corresponding date / time information. In the above-described embodiment, the digital camera 1 has been described as an example. However, the present invention can be applied to any apparatus capable of recording a moving image, such as a recording / reproducing apparatus having various recording media.

  Further, in the digital camera 1 of the above-described embodiment, the time stamp included in the image information added to the moving image signal recorded on the recording medium 20 records the last still image included in the moving image. The recording time recorded on the medium 20 is shown, and the date / time information in the desired still image is calculated based on the recording time in the last still image. For example, as in the AVI format, When the header information indicating the recording time for recording the first still image among the still images included in the recording medium 20 is added and recorded on the recording medium 20, such a moving image is recorded by the header information. The time elapsed from the start time of the moving image to the still image to be extracted can be used as the date / time information corresponding to the extracted still image.

It is a schematic diagram which shows the structural example of the digital camera as an image acquisition apparatus and an imaging device which concerns on this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence which acquires a still image from a moving image in the digital camera which concerns on this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the still image which synthesize | combined character information. It is a schematic diagram which shows the structural example of a selection screen. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence which acquires a still image from a moving image in the digital camera which concerns on this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 Digital camera (image acquisition device, imaging device)
10 Control unit (selection accepting means, specifying means, measuring means, calculating means, character creating means, synthesizing means, time difference accepting means)
12 RAM (storage means)
15 Camera unit 19 Display unit (moving image playback means)
20 Recording medium (storage means)

Claims (6)

An image acquisition device configured to acquire a still image from a moving image having date and time information related to a reference still image of the still images, the image acquisition device including a plurality of still images moving back and forth in time series,
A time difference receiving means for receiving a time difference from the first still image or the last still image of the plurality of still images;
Specifying means for specifying a still image corresponding to the time difference received by the time difference receiving means;
Measuring means for measuring a time interval between the still image specified by the specifying means and the reference still image based on the time difference received by the time difference receiving means;
An image acquisition apparatus comprising: a calculation unit configured to calculate date information related to the still image specified by the specifying unit based on a time interval measured by the measurement unit and date information related to the reference still image. An image acquisition device configured to acquire a still image from a moving image having date and time information related to a reference still image of the still images, the image acquisition device including a plurality of still images moving back and forth in time series,
Video playback means for playing back the video;
Selection accepting means for accepting selection of a still image constituting a moving picture to be played by the moving picture playing means;
Specifying means for specifying the still image for which the selection receiving means has received selection;
Measuring means for measuring a time interval between the still image specified by the specifying means and the reference still image;
An image acquisition apparatus comprising: a calculation unit configured to calculate date information related to the still image specified by the specifying unit based on a time interval measured by the measurement unit and date information related to the reference still image. Character creation means for creating character information for expressing the date and time indicated by the date and time information calculated by the calculation means;
The image acquisition apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a combining unit configured to combine the character information generated by the character generating unit with the still image specified by the specifying unit. The reference still image is the last still image among the still images constituting the moving image,
The said calculation means is comprised so that the date and time which went back by the time interval which the said measurement means measured from the date and time which the date and time information which concerns on the said reference | standard still image shows may be calculated. The image acquisition device according to any one of the above. In an imaging device that is configured with a plurality of still images moving back and forth in time series, and that captures a moving image having an imaging date and time related to the first still image or the last still image of the still images,
A time difference receiving means for receiving a time difference from the first still image or the last still image in the captured video;
Specifying means for specifying a still image corresponding to the time difference received by the time difference receiving means;
Based on the time difference received by the time difference receiving unit, the measuring unit that measures the time interval between the still image specified by the specifying unit and the first still image or the last still image;
Calculating means for calculating the imaging date and time related to the still image specified by the specifying means based on the time interval measured by the measuring means and the imaging date and time related to the first still image or the last still image;
Character creation means for creating character information for notifying the imaging date and time calculated by the calculation means;
Combining means for combining the character information created by the character creating means with the still image specified by the specifying means;
An image pickup apparatus comprising: storage means for storing a still image in which the combining means combines character information. In an imaging device that is configured with a plurality of still images moving back and forth in time series, and that captures a moving image having an imaging date and time related to the first still image or the last still image of the still images,
A video playback means for playing back the captured video;
Selection accepting means for accepting selection of a still image constituting a moving picture to be played by the moving picture playing means;
Specifying means for specifying the still image for which the selection receiving means has received selection;
Measuring means for measuring a time interval between the still image specified by the specifying means and the first still image or the last still image;
Calculating means for calculating the imaging date and time related to the still image specified by the specifying means based on the time interval measured by the measuring means and the imaging date and time related to the first still image or the last still image;
Character creation means for creating character information for notifying the imaging date and time calculated by the calculation means;
Combining means for combining the character information created by the character creating means with the still image specified by the specifying means;
An image pickup apparatus comprising: storage means for storing a still image obtained by combining the character information with the combining means.

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