JP2006229329A - Imaging device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an imaging device capable of sufficiently developing the performance of an external microphone and an internal microphone. <P>SOLUTION: A changeover switch 4 selects a sound signal from a built-in microphone 2 or a sound signal from an external microphone 1 connected via an external microphone connection shoe 3 and provides an output of the selected sound signal. An A/D converter 5 applies A/D conversion to the sound signal outputted from the changeover switch 4 to provide an output of a digital sound signal. A control unit 8 reads external microphone information from the external microphone 1 connected to the external microphone connection shoe 3, judges the performance of the external microphone 1 on the basis of the read external microphone information, and controls the number of quantization bits and/or the sampling rate of the A/D converter 5. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus, and more particularly to a recording technique in an imaging apparatus such as a digital camera or a digital video camera.

A configuration example of a recording function in a conventional imaging apparatus is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 4, conventionally, when the external microphone 101 is not connected to the external microphone connection shoe 103, the built-in microphone 102 is selected by the changeover switch 104, and the external microphone 101 is connected to the external microphone connection shoe 103. If the external microphone 101 is selected by the changeover switch 104, the audio signal is input to the A / D converter 105. The A / D converter 105 converts the input audio signal into digital data at a constant number of quantization bits and a sampling rate. The DSP 106 performs a certain audio signal compression on the converted digital data, and outputs the compressed data. The output compressed data is recorded on the recording medium together with the video signal by the recording device 107.

  For example, a technique is disclosed in which an external microphone is connected to a video camera having a built-in microphone, and switching between the built-in microphone and the external microphone is performed using a switch provided on the external microphone (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2004-222131 A

However, in the conventional imaging apparatus, recording is performed under exactly the same conditions as when the built-in microphone 102 is used, regardless of the performance of the external microphone 101 connected to the external microphone connection shoe 103. There is a problem that may not be able to fully demonstrate.
In addition, when using an external microphone with remarkable directivity, the built-in microphone may exhibit better recording performance when performing short-distance shooting, and there is a problem that it cannot cope with this.

  The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-described circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an imaging apparatus that can sufficiently exhibit the performance of an external microphone and an internal microphone.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems. In the imaging apparatus according to the present invention, an external microphone having a recording medium on which external microphone information including at least performance information, identification information, or both is recorded; A switching means for switching and outputting a sound signal from any one of a connection means capable of connecting a microphone, a built-in microphone, and an external microphone connected via the built-in microphone and the connection means, and the external microphone is a connection means A reading means for reading external microphone information from a recording medium of an external microphone connected to the recording means, a conversion means for converting the audio signal output by the switching means from analog to digital and outputting a digital audio signal; A data format converter for converting a digital audio signal output by the conversion means into a predetermined data format and outputting audio data of a predetermined format A recording unit that outputs the captured video data, a recording unit that records the predetermined format audio data output from the data format conversion unit and the video data output from the shooting unit on a recording medium, and external microphone information read out by the reading unit And a control means for determining the performance of the external microphone from the control means and controlling the number of quantization bits and / or the sampling rate in the conversion means.
As a result, analog / digital conversion can be performed with an optimum number of quantization bits and / or sampling rate according to the performance of the external microphone.

  Further, in one aspect of the imaging apparatus according to the present invention, in the imaging apparatus for recording an image signal and an audio signal, an external microphone connecting means capable of connecting an external microphone and an external microphone connected to the external microphone connecting means Microphone information acquisition means for acquiring microphone information possessed by the camera, shooting information acquisition means for acquiring shooting information of the shooting optical system, conversion means for analog / digital conversion of the audio signal, and microphone of the external microphone acquired by the information acquisition means And changing means for changing a quantization bit or a sampling rate set by the conversion means based on the information and the photographing information of the photographing optical system acquired by the photographing information acquisition means.

  In one aspect of the imaging device according to the present invention, in the imaging device that records the image signal and the audio signal, an internal microphone built in the imaging device and an external microphone connection unit that can connect an external microphone; Microphone information acquisition means for acquiring microphone information of an external microphone connected to the external microphone connection means, shooting information acquisition means for acquiring shooting information of the shooting optical system, microphone information of the external microphone acquired by the information acquisition means, and And switching means for switching between outputting an audio signal from the built-in microphone or outputting an audio signal from an external microphone based on the shooting information of the shooting optical system acquired by the shooting information acquisition means.

  Further, in one aspect of the imaging apparatus according to the present invention, in the imaging apparatus for recording an image signal and an audio signal, an external microphone connecting means capable of connecting an external microphone and an external microphone connected to the external microphone connecting means Microphone information acquisition means for acquiring the microphone information of the camera, shooting information acquisition means for acquiring shooting information of the shooting optical system, compression processing means for compressing the audio signal, and microphone information of the external microphone acquired by the information acquisition means And changing means for changing the compression rate set by the compression processing means based on the shooting information of the shooting optical system acquired by the shooting information acquisition means.

  The imaging apparatus according to the present invention can sufficiently exhibit the performance of the external microphone and the internal microphone.

The preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
[First Embodiment]
First, a schematic configuration of the imaging apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an imaging apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Since the part that characterizes the present invention is a part related to the recording function of the imaging apparatus, FIG. 1 mainly shows the schematic configuration of the part related to the recording function of the imaging apparatus.

  In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 denotes an image pickup apparatus, which has a function of recording sound by switching between an internal microphone apparatus 2 and an external microphone apparatus 1 described later. Reference numeral 1 denotes an external microphone device, which has a recording medium for storing its own performance information (hereinafter referred to as external microphone information) in addition to a microphone function for converting sound into an audio signal and outputting it. The external microphone device 1 is configured to be connectable to an external microphone connection shoe 3 described later, and supplies an audio signal to the imaging device 10 via the external microphone connection shoe 3.

  Further, the performance information of the external microphone device 1 described above is information related to sound collection performance such as directivity characteristics and noise characteristics of the external microphone device 1. Note that the external microphone information supplied from the external microphone device 1 to the imaging device 10 is not limited to the performance information of the external microphone device 1 itself described above, but instead of the identification information or manufacturer information of the external microphone device 1 itself. Or may be used together. In addition, when using the identification information of the external microphone device 1 itself, an information table that can specify information related to the performance of the external microphone device 1 based on the identification information is prepared in the control device 8 described later. To do.

  The built-in microphone device 2 is a built-in microphone that is installed in the imaging device 10 from the beginning. The external microphone connection shoe 3 is for making it possible to use an external microphone in the imaging apparatus 10. For example, when the external microphone device 1 is connected, the external microphone connection shoe 3 outputs an audio signal from the external microphone device 1 to the changeover switch 4. Also, external microphone information from the external microphone device 1 is output in response to a request from the control device 8 to be described later.

  The changeover switch 4 switches the audio signal from the external microphone device 1 or the internal microphone device 2 and outputs it to the A / D converter 5 described later. Specifically, when the external microphone device 1 is connected to the external microphone connection shoe 3, the audio signal from the external microphone device 1 is selected to be output to the A / D converter 5. The changeover switch 4 selects the audio signal from the internal microphone device 2 to be output to the A / D converter 5 when the external microphone device 1 is not connected to the external microphone connection shoe 3.

  The A / D converter 5 performs analog / digital conversion processing on the audio signal input from the changeover switch 4 according to the number of quantization bits and the sampling rate according to the control by the control device 8 to be described later, and digital data (digital audio signal) ) Is output.

  A DSP (Digital Signal Processor) 6 performs an audio compression process on the digital data output by the A / D converter 5 and outputs compressed data. The recording device 7 performs a process of recording the compressed data output by the DSP 6 on a recording medium.

  The control device 8 has a function of acquiring external microphone information from the recording medium of the external microphone device 1 via the external microphone connection shoe 3 when the external microphone device 1 is connected to the external microphone connection shoe 3, and photographing described later. And a function of acquiring photographing information of the photographing optical system from the device 9. Furthermore, the control device 8 controls the number of quantization bits or the sampling rate of the A / D converter 5 based on the acquired external microphone information and shooting information. As a result, the output of the external microphone device 1 can be A / D converted at the optimum number of quantization bits and sampling rate according to the shooting situation.

  The photographing device 9 includes an optical system such as a lens and a diaphragm, an image sensor such as a CCD, and a video signal processing device that generates a video signal based on an output signal of the image sensor, and outputs a digital video signal to the recording device 7. Output. As a result, the recording device 7 also records the digital video signal output from the photographing device 9 together with the (audio) compressed data output from the DSP 6 on the recording medium. In addition, the photographing device 9 outputs photographing information of the photographing optical system to the control device 8 as information such as lens focal length information, focusing distance information, and depth of field information. In the case of an imaging apparatus in which a plurality of shooting scene modes are set in advance and one shooting scene mode is selected from the preset shooting scene modes, the selected shooting scene mode is output to the control apparatus 8 as shooting information.

A specific example of the shooting information will be described, and a control example of the sampling rate and the number of quantization bits of the A / D converter 5 will be described below.
For example, when distance information is acquired from a focus position with an object of shooting information and it is determined that shooting is performed on a subject at a short distance, the connected external microphone device 1 is used for a long distance with high directivity. If it is a microphone, the internal microphone device 2 is selected, and control is performed so that the sampling rate and the number of quantization bits of the A / D converter 5 correspond to the performance of the internal microphone device 2. On the contrary, when it is determined that the subject is taken at a long distance, the external microphone device 1 is selected, and the sampling rate and the number of quantization bits of the A / D converter 5 are controlled to the optimum values for the external microphone device 1. .

  As in the above example, the range in which the subject exists is known from the shooting information, and the sound collection characteristics of the external microphone device 1 are known from the microphone information. Therefore, if the subject exists in the range with good sound collection characteristics, A / D If the quantization bit number of the converter 5 is increased, the sampling rate is increased, and there is no subject in the range where the sound collection characteristics are good, the quantization bit number of the A / D converter 5 is decreased, or the sampling rate Lower.

  With the above configuration, when the external microphone device 1 is connected to the external microphone connection shoe 3, the imaging device 10 according to the first embodiment can perform A / D according to the performance of the external microphone device 1 and the shooting situation. By controlling the converter 5, the audio signal from the external microphone device 1 can be converted into a digital signal with an appropriate number of quantization bits and sampling rate.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, a schematic configuration of the imaging apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an imaging apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 2, reference numerals 21 to 23, 25 to 27, and 29 have the same configurations as 1 to 3, 5 to 7, and 9 in FIG.

  In FIG. 2, 20 is an imaging device. The changeover switch 24 switches the audio signal from the external microphone device 21 or the internal microphone device 22 in accordance with the control from the control device 28 and outputs it to the A / D converter 25 described later. The control device 28 controls the quantization bit number and sampling rate of the A / D converter 25 based on the external microphone information acquired from the external microphone device 21 and the shooting information acquired from the shooting device 29, and the changeover switch 24. To control.

  With the configuration described above, when the external microphone device 21 is connected to the external microphone connection shoe 23, the imaging device 20 according to the second embodiment can be configured according to the performance of the external microphone device 21 and the shooting situation. By controlling the / D converter 25, the audio signal from the external microphone device 21 can be converted into a digital signal with an appropriate number of quantization bits and sampling rate, and according to the performance of the external microphone device 21 and the shooting situation. Thus, the audio signal from the external microphone device 21 or the internal microphone device 22 can be appropriately switched.

  For example, the control device 28 determines that the performance of the external microphone device 21 is more directional than the external microphone information from the external microphone device 21, and the lens focus control information in the shooting device 29 is used as shooting information. When it is determined from the focus control information that the short-distance shooting is performed, the control device 28 controls the changeover switch 24 to be switched to the built-in microphone device 24. Thus, it is possible to cope with the case where the built-in microphone exhibits better recording performance when performing short-distance shooting with an external microphone having remarkable directivity. That is, the imaging device 20 can sufficiently exhibit the performance of the external microphone device 21 and the internal microphone device 22.

[Third Embodiment]
Next, a schematic configuration of the imaging apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an imaging apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 3, reference numerals 31 to 35, 37, and 39 have the same configurations as those of 21 to 25, 27, and 29 in FIG.

  In FIG. 3, reference numeral 30 denotes an imaging device. The DSP 36 performs audio compression processing on the digital data output by the A / D converter 35 and outputs compressed data. At this time, the DSP 36 variably performs audio compression processing at an optimal compression rate in accordance with control from the control device 38. The control device 38, like the control device 28 in FIG. 2, uses the number of quantization bits and sampling of the A / D converter 35 based on the external microphone information acquired from the external microphone device 31 and the imaging information acquired from the imaging device 39. In addition to controlling the rate, it has a function of controlling the changeover switch 24. Further, the control device 38 controls the compression rate of the audio compression processing in the DSP 36 based on the external microphone information acquired from the external microphone device 31 and the shooting information acquired from the shooting device 39.

  With the configuration described above, the imaging device 30 in the third embodiment obtains the same effects as the effects in the imaging device 20 in the second embodiment described above, in addition to the performance of the external microphone device 31 and By controlling the compression rate of the DSP 36 according to the shooting situation, the audio signal can be compressed at an appropriate compression rate.

In the imaging devices 10, 20, and 30 in the first to third embodiments described above, the performance of the external microphone device that is determined based on the external microphone information and the shooting that is determined based on the shooting information. Various controls (controls such as a changeover switch, an A / D converter, and a DSP) were performed according to the situation. You may do.
The embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment, and includes designs and the like that do not depart from the gist of the present invention.

1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an imaging apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the imaging device in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the imaging device in the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the recording function of the conventional imaging device.

Explanation of symbols

1, 21, 31 External microphone device 2, 22, 32 Internal microphone device 3, 23, 33 External microphone connection shoe 4, 24, 34 Changeover switch 5, 25, 35 A / D converter 6, 26, 36 DSP
7, 27, 37 Recording device 8, 28, 38 Control device 9, 29, 39 Imaging device

Claims (9)

An external microphone having a recording medium that records external microphone information including at least performance information, identification information, or both;
A connection means capable of connecting the external microphone;
Built-in microphone,
Switching means for switching and outputting an audio signal from any one of the built-in microphone and the external microphone connected via the connection means;
Reading means for reading out the external microphone information from the recording medium of the external microphone connected when the external microphone is connected to the connection means;
Conversion means for analog / digital conversion of the audio signal output by the switching means to output a digital audio signal;
Data format conversion means for converting the digital audio signal output by the conversion means into a predetermined data format and outputting predetermined format audio data;
Photographing means for outputting photographed video data;
Recording means for recording the predetermined format audio data output by the data format conversion means and the video data output by the photographing means on a recording medium;
An image pickup apparatus comprising: a control unit that determines the performance of the external microphone from the external microphone information read by the reading unit and controls the number of quantization bits and / or the sampling rate in the conversion unit. . Further comprising imaging information acquisition means for acquiring imaging information including at least one of control information and setting information in the imaging means from the imaging means;
In addition to determining the performance of the external microphone, the control unit determines a shooting state based on the shooting information acquired by the shooting information acquisition unit, and determines the number of quantization bits and / or the sampling rate in the conversion unit. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the imaging apparatus is controlled.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls switching processing in the switching unit in accordance with determination of performance of the external microphone.   In addition to determining the performance of the external microphone, the control unit determines a shooting state based on the shooting information acquired by the shooting information acquisition unit, and controls switching processing in the switching unit. The imaging device according to claim 2.   When the data format conversion means outputs the predetermined format audio data by compressing the digital audio signal into a compressed data format, the control means determines the data format according to the judgment of the performance of the external microphone. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein compression processing in the conversion unit is controlled.   When the data format conversion means outputs the predetermined format audio data by compressing the digital audio signal into a compressed data format, the control means, in addition to determining the performance of the external microphone, 5. The imaging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the imaging state is determined based on the imaging information acquired by the acquisition unit, and compression processing in the data format conversion unit is controlled. In an imaging device that records image signals and audio signals,
An external microphone connection means for connecting an external microphone;
Microphone information acquisition means for acquiring microphone information of an external microphone connected to the external microphone connection means;
Shooting information acquisition means for acquiring shooting information of the shooting optical system;
Conversion means for analog / digital conversion of the audio signal;
Based on the microphone information of the external microphone acquired by the information acquisition unit and the shooting information of the shooting optical system acquired by the shooting information acquisition unit, the quantization bit or the sampling rate set by the conversion unit is changed. An image pickup apparatus comprising: a changing unit that In an imaging device that records image signals and audio signals,
A built-in microphone incorporated in the imaging device;
An external microphone connection means for connecting an external microphone;
Microphone information acquisition means for acquiring microphone information of an external microphone connected to the external microphone connection means;
Shooting information acquisition means for acquiring shooting information of the shooting optical system;
Based on microphone information of the external microphone acquired by the information acquisition unit and imaging information of the imaging optical system acquired by the imaging information acquisition unit, an audio signal is output from the built-in microphone or an audio signal is output from the external microphone. An imaging apparatus comprising switching means for switching between output and output. In an imaging device that records image signals and audio signals,
An external microphone connection means for connecting an external microphone;
Microphone information acquisition means for acquiring microphone information of an external microphone connected to the external microphone connection means;
Shooting information acquisition means for acquiring shooting information of the shooting optical system;
Compression processing means for compressing the audio signal;
Changing means for changing the compression rate set by the compression processing means based on the microphone information of the external microphone acquired by the information acquisition means and the shooting information of the shooting optical system acquired by the shooting information acquisition means An imaging apparatus comprising:

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