JP2006005723A - Image pickup device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily confirm record contents for a medium on which an image is recorded, from now after the power is supplied. <P>SOLUTION: An image pickup device is provided with an image picking-up means, a recording means for recording moving image information photographed by the image picking-up means on a recording medium, a generation means for generating a representative image signal that is representative of the moving image information recorded on the recording medium, a storage means for storing the representative image signal, and a control means for displaying an image by the representative image signal stored in the storing means for a predetermined period of time until the moving image information can be photographed and recorded in accordance with the application of power. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus, and more particularly to processing at power-on.

  Currently, in an imaging apparatus such as a video camera recorder, as the system becomes more complex and more accurate, it is not possible to immediately take a picture when the power is turned on. Is needed. For example, if a high-magnification lens system is installed, the position of each lens is confirmed, and the movable position is moved from end to end in order to realign. For example, in the case of a device that runs a video tape, the position of the tape is confirmed, the tension on the tape is adjusted, and the positions of the guide posts are arranged.

  Although the initialization time is not necessary for the system, the user has to wait for a long time. Also, in order to prepare for shooting during the waiting time, the viewfinder for displaying various settings along with the shot image has been in a non-display state.

Therefore, a video camera recorder or the like that uses a method of displaying an opening image or the like built in in advance during the initialization time to relieve the user's sense of waiting time has been proposed (see Patent Document 1). .
JP 2000-50116 A

  However, the display content in the prior art is an image prepared in advance or an image that can be set by the user, and has nothing to do with the original photographing function.

  An object of the present invention is to solve such problems and to make it possible to easily confirm the recorded contents of a medium on which an image will be recorded in the period after the power is turned on.

Therefore, in the present invention, imaging means,
Recording means for recording the moving image information captured by the imaging means on a recording medium, generating means for generating a representative image signal representative of the moving image information recorded on the recording medium, and storing the representative image signal Storage means, and control means for displaying an image based on the representative image signal stored in the storage means on a display device for a predetermined period until the moving image information can be captured and recorded in response to power-on. .

  According to the present invention, the content recorded on the recording medium can be confirmed during the waiting time at the start-up after the power is turned on.

  A first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  In FIG. 1, 101 is an optical lens for imaging, 102 is an image sensor that converts an optical image into an electrical image signal, and 103 is a signal that processes the image signal from the image sensor 102 and converts it into recordable image data. A processing circuit 104 is a recording / reproducing apparatus that records or reproduces the image data tape converted by the signal processing circuit 103, and 105 displays a signal from the signal processing circuit to confirm and reproduce an image for photographing. A finder monitor for confirming images, displaying various information, etc., 106 for controlling the above-mentioned parts, a controller for capturing still image data from moving image data and recording processing, and 107 for a non-volatile memory for recording still image data , 108 is a power switch for instructing power on / off, 109 is a recording switch for instructing start / stop of recording, and 110 is a video cassette. Tape extraction switch for an instruction to eject the tape, 111 is a mode switch for instructing switching of whether the shooting mode or playback mode.

  The normal operation in this figure will be described. When a subject is photographed, an optical image is formed on the image sensor 102 through the lens 101 and converted into an electric image signal. The image signal is processed by the signal processing circuit 103 and sent to the recording / reproducing device 104 as image data, and recorded as digital data on the tape. A signal is sent from the signal processing circuit 103 to the finder monitor 105 to display an image at the time of shooting. The moving image recorded on the tape can be reproduced from the recording / reproducing apparatus 104, converted into a signal by the signal processing circuit 103, and viewed on the finder monitor 105.

  The controller 106 performs various controls relating to shooting and recording and reproduction on the above-described 101 to 105, but detailed description of this case is omitted.

  When the power switch 108 is pressed, the controller 106 operates to turn on or off the imaging apparatus. When the recording switch 109 is pressed, the controller 106 starts and stops recording in the recording mode. When the tape ejection switch 110 is pressed, the controller 106 performs the cassette tape ejection operation when a cassette tape is loaded. When the mode switch 111 is switched, the controller 106 switches the operation mode to the recording mode or the playback mode.

  At the time of shooting, the cassette tape is inserted, the power is turned on by the power switch 108, the recording mode is set by the mode switch 111, and the recording switch 109 is pressed to start the recording.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the inside of the nonvolatile memory 107 of FIG. In this embodiment, the nonvolatile memory 107 is divided into eight equal parts, and still image data can be recorded on each of them. Among these, the areas “A” to “C” are image data prepared by a manufacturer and written in advance when the apparatus is manufactured. The next “User” area is image data that can be stored arbitrarily taken by the user and can be used in place of the “A” to “C” areas. The last area “PB0” to “PB3” is an area used in the present invention, and image data is automatically recorded in accordance with photographing as described later.

  The operation will be described with reference to FIG. In the drawing, the upper part schematically shows the state of a tape on which moving image data is recorded and recorded, and shows the operation at each time point. The lower part is the non-volatile memory 107 of FIG. 2, and the state of still image data stored in the non-volatile memory 107 at each time point of the upper part is shown.

  The operation at the point (1) in FIG. 3 will be described. First, when the tape take-out switch 110 is pushed to insert a tape, the cassette tape insertion opening is opened. At this time, all stored data in the “PB” area of the nonvolatile memory 107 is erased. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the operation of the controller 106 at this time.

  Next, at the time of (2), the recording switch 109 is pressed to start recording. At this time, the controller 106 generates a still image from the first moving image that starts recording, and stores the still image as still image data in the “PB 0” area of the nonvolatile memory 107. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the controller 106 at this time.

Recording is stopped by pressing the recording switch 109 at the time point (3) to (5). At this time, the controller 106 generates a still image from the moving image immediately before the recording stop position, and stores it in the respective areas “PB1” to “PB3” of the nonvolatile memory 107 in order. The operation of the controller 106 at this time is shown in the flowchart of FIG.
At the same time of (3) to (5), the recording switch 109 is pressed and the recording is restarted. At this time, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 7, “PB0” has already been stored. Therefore, the still image storage operation is not performed at each time point.

  At the time of (6), the recording switch 109 is pressed to stop recording. At this time, as in the cases (3) to (5), the controller 106 generates a still image from the moving image immediately before the recording stop position and tries to store it in the nonvolatile memory 107. However, all the areas are already used. Therefore, at this time, the oldest stored data of each of “PB1” to “PB3” is erased, the data is repacked in order, and stored in the empty “PB3” area.

  At the same time, the power switch 108 is pressed, and the power is turned off under the control of the controller 106.

  At the time of (7), the power switch 108 is pressed again, and the power is turned on under the control of the controller 106. The entire imaging apparatus enters each process for activation, and in parallel with this, the controller 106 reads out the image data stored from the nonvolatile memory and displays it on the finder monitor 105. The operation of the controller 106 at this time is shown in the flowchart of FIG.

  In the figure, “opening screen setting” is an instruction that the user of the imaging apparatus displays in advance when starting up. Among these, when “no designation” and “A” are designated, the image data of the area “A” of the nonvolatile memory 107 is displayed. Similarly, when “B”, “C”, and “User” are designated, the image data of the areas “B”, “C”, and “User” of the nonvolatile memory 107 are displayed. An example of the opening image of the area “A” at this time is as shown in FIG.

  When “PB” display is designated, the “PB” area is displayed.

  The operation at this time will be further described with reference to FIG. First, the controller 106 confirms whether image data is stored in the “PB” area of the nonvolatile memory 107. In this case, if “the tape has been inserted (removed) immediately before” or “the operation mode has been changed”, since the “PB” area has all been erased, the respective warnings are displayed. Examples of the opening image including the warning display at this time are (f) and (to) in FIG. 4, respectively, and the warning text is overwritten and displayed on the image in the region “A”.

  When image data is stored in the “PB” area of the non-volatile memory 107, each image data in the “PB” area is read out, reduced, and arranged and displayed on a single image. An example of the opening image at this time is as shown in FIG.

  Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 5, after continuing the time display sufficient to cover the initialization time, the controller 106 turns off the display of the opening image and starts displaying the image for photographing.

  (7) The recording is started and stopped at the time point (8), and the old image data in the “PB” area is erased and forwarded similarly to the time point (6), and the new image data is stored.

  At the time (9), the mode switch 111 is switched, and the controller 107 switches the apparatus from the recording mode to the reproduction mode. At this time, as shown in FIG. 9, the controller 106 erases all the stored image data in the “PB” area.

  In addition, as a display method of the “PB” area, instead of the above-mentioned “reduced and reconstructed and displayed on one screen”, as shown schematically in FIG. A method is also conceivable in which the image data in the “PB0” to “PB3” regions are displayed in succession.

  In addition to the image data, data is added to each area. For example, a method of storing the date when the image was taken and displaying the date as shown in (ni) (e) of FIG. 4 when displaying as an opening screen is also conceivable.

It is the figure which showed embodiment of this invention. It is the schematic of a non-volatile memory. It is the schematic which showed operation | movement of embodiment. It is the figure which showed the example of a display at the time of starting. It is the flowchart which showed the operation | movement at the time of power activation. It is the flowchart which showed the display process at the time of starting. It is the flowchart which showed the operation | movement at the time of a recording start. It is the flowchart which showed the operation | movement at the time of a recording stop. It is the flowchart which showed the operation | movement at the time of operation mode change. It is the flowchart which showed the operation | movement at the time of tape taking-out operation | movement.

Claims (5)

Imaging means;
Recording means for recording the moving image information photographed by the imaging means on a recording medium;
Generating means for generating representative image signals representing moving image information recorded on the recording medium;
Storage means for storing the representative image signal;
An imaging apparatus comprising: a control unit that displays an image based on a representative image signal stored in the storage unit on a display unit for a predetermined period until the moving image information can be captured and recorded in response to power-on.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the generation unit generates the representative image signal using an image signal of one frame after a predetermined period has elapsed from a recording start time of the moving image information.   A predetermined number of the representative still image signals can be stored in the storage means, and when moving image information is newly captured after storing the predetermined number of representative still image signals, the storage means is already stored in the storage means. 2. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein one of the predetermined number of representative image signals is deleted, and the representative image signal of the newly captured moving image information is stored.   2. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit displays a predetermined number of representative images stored in the storage unit in a predetermined procedure.   2. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the representative image signal stored in the storage unit is deleted in accordance with the discharge of the recording medium.

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