JP2007259390A - Camera capable of taking image of moving picture - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a camera capable of taking an image of a moving picture which can easily take out a part which is desired for appreciation from moving image information recorded and reproduce the moving image. <P>SOLUTION: A camera is provided with an imaging portion 4 taking an image of a subject, a moving image operation portion 9 determining a start and an end of moving image taking based on image information from the imaging portion 4, a still picture imaging operation portion 12, and a controller 1 recording moving image information in response to an operation of the moving image operation portion 9, and recording a still picture timing signal in response to an operation of the still picture imaging operation portion 12 during the recording of the moving image information. The controller 1 selectively reads the part of the moving picture information recorded based on the still picture timing signal upon the reproduction of the moving image information, and combines the read moving image information to be reproduced. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a camera capable of shooting a moving image and capable of shooting a moving image.

  Conventionally, digital cameras that can shoot not only still images but also moving images have been widely known. As such a camera, a camera capable of shooting a still image and a moving image independently, and a camera capable of shooting a still image during moving image shooting have been proposed (for example, see Patent Document 1).

In the camera described in Patent Document 1, when a still image shooting switch is operated during moving image shooting, an identification signal indicating the timing of switch operation is recorded together with moving image information, and still image reproduction is desired. Is configured to extract and reproduce an image when the switch is operated from the moving image information based on the identification signal. According to such a camera, for example, it is possible to record a moving image by continuously shooting a subject, and simultaneously record a still image of the subject being shot with a moving image, thereby increasing the degree of freedom of shooting. Become.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-312364

  When viewing a moving image, a photographer may not only appreciate the entire captured moving image, but also want to extract and view only the portion with a strong impression.

  However, with the camera described in Patent Document 1, all of the captured videos must be played back in order to view the videos even when only the images with strong impressions are to be viewed. In addition, it is impossible to meet the demand for watching a moving image only by reproducing a still image.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a camera capable of moving image shooting that can easily extract only a portion to be viewed from recorded moving image information and reproduce the moving image.

  The object of the present invention is to provide an imaging unit that images a subject, a moving image shooting operation unit that determines start and end of moving image shooting based on image information from the imaging unit, a timing signal generation unit, and the moving image shooting operation unit. Recording the moving image information in response to the operation of the recording control unit for recording the timing signal in response to the timing signal generating unit during the recording of the moving image information, and the recording between the start and end of the moving image shooting It is achieved by a camera capable of shooting a moving image, characterized by having a reproduction control unit that reproduces a continuous moving image while omitting part of the moving image information recorded by the control unit based on the timing signal.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to easily extract only a portion to be viewed from recorded moving image information and reproduce the moving image.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a camera capable of shooting a moving image according to the present invention, and the control unit 1 controls the entire function. The power / recording / re-operation unit 2 is a manual operation unit for turning on / off the power and switching between the recording mode and the reproduction mode. An example of the detailed structure is shown in FIG. The mode selection operation unit 3 is a manual operation unit that performs an operation for switching the operation mode of the camera to various modes shown in FIG.

  When the power is turned on in the recording mode by the power / recording / re-operation unit 2, imaging by the imaging unit 4 is started, and the captured moving image is displayed on the image display unit 6 of the output unit 5. The moving image data imaged by the imaging unit 4 is taken into the buffer unit 7 at the same time. The buffer unit 7 can hold moving image data for a predetermined time, for example, 10 seconds, and the data held in the buffer unit 7 is successively replaced with new data each time 10 seconds elapse. For this reason, the buffer unit 7 always holds the latest 10-second moving image data. In addition, when the power is turned on in the recording mode, acquisition of audio data by the microphone 8 is started in parallel, and the audio data is associated with the moving image data and is taken into the buffer unit 7. Similarly to the moving image data, the latest 10 seconds of audio data is always held in the buffer unit 7.

  When the moving image shooting operation unit 9 is operated, moving image shooting is started, and the moving image data held in the buffer unit 7 is compressed by the compression unit 10 and recorded in the recording unit 11. At this time, the audio data in the buffer unit 7 is also compressed and recorded in the recording unit 11. How to adopt the moving image data and audio data held in the buffer unit 7 to compress the moving image differs depending on the shooting mode, and the details will be described later.

  On the other hand, when the still image shooting operation unit 12 is operated, still image data taken into the buffer unit 7 from the imaging unit 4 at that timing is compressed by the compression unit 10 and recorded in the recording unit 11. The functions when the still image shooting operation unit 12 is operated include not only such normal still image recording but also various shooting modes described later. For example, a function of recording a short movie for a predetermined time, for example, 15 seconds by operating the still image shooting operation unit 12, or a still image timing signal in moving image data when the still image shooting operation unit 12 is operated during moving image shooting. There is a function to record additional information.

  The still image timing signal additionally recorded in the moving image data during moving image shooting is based on the image data from the imaging unit 4 in addition to the case where it is generated in response to the manual operation by the still image shooting operation unit 12 as described above. Can be automatically generated in response to changes in video shooting conditions, such as changes in the brightness of the scene, changes in the scene due to image data analysis, or changes in the sound of the scene due to signals from the microphone 8 It is. The camera according to the present embodiment is provided with a shooting state detection unit 13 for automatically generating a still image timing signal in accordance with a change in the shooting state of a moving image. The shooting state detection unit 13 includes a photographer. Includes multiple detectors that detect changes in gaze of the camera, changes in the sweat of the photographer's hand with the camera, changes in biological signals such as the camera's brain waves, changes in the camera posture, changes in the acceleration and angular velocity applied to the camera, etc. It is.

  When the power / record / re-operation unit 2 switches to the reproduction mode and the reproduction operation unit 14 issues a reproduction instruction, the thumbnail data from the recording unit 11 is displayed on the image display unit 6. Thereafter, when one of them is selected by the reproduction operation unit 14, the image data from the recording unit 11 is decompressed by the decompression unit 15, and the image is output to the image display unit 6, and if there is audio data, it is output to the speaker 16. Is done. There are various playback modes that can be switched by the mode selection operation unit 3.

  FIG. 2 is a front view showing an example of a detailed structure of the power / recording / re-operation unit 2. The power / recording / re-operation unit 2 has a slidable operation button 2a. In FIG. 2, the operation button 2a is in a power-off position. When the operation button 2a is slid to a position 2b indicated by a broken line, the power is turned on and the camera starts up in the shooting mode. On the other hand, when the operation button 2a is slid to the position 2c indicated by the broken line, the power is turned on and the camera starts up in the reproduction mode. Note that the power / recording / re-operation unit 2 is not limited to the structure shown in FIG. 2, and may be divided into a power on / off button and a mode switching button for switching between the shooting mode and the playback mode. .

  FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing details of the shooting mode and the playback mode. In FIG. 3, the modes are roughly divided into a “shooting” mode and a “playback” mode, and the “shooting” mode is subdivided into five modes below the “simple still image” mode. For convenience of explanation, in this specification, for example, the “simple still image” mode in the “shooting” mode is referred to as the “simple still image shooting mode”. The table will be explained in the same way of reading.

  The “simple still image shooting mode” is a mode for shooting a still image at the timing when the still image shooting operation unit 12 is operated, and the image recording method in the compression unit 10 is a “still image compression” mode. At this time, it is also possible to simultaneously record audio data from a few seconds before the still image shooting timing to a few seconds after the still image shooting timing to obtain still image data with audio.

  It is also possible to shoot a still image by switching the camera operation mode to the “simple still image shooting mode” during shooting of a moving image. In this case, in addition to recording still image compression data, a still image timing signal indicating an operation timing when the operation of the still image shooting operation unit 12 is performed is recorded in the moving image compression data by moving image shooting.

  The “short movie shooting mode” is a mode in which a short movie is recorded by operating the still image shooting operation unit 12 for a predetermined time before and after that, for example, 7 seconds before the operation and 8 seconds after the operation. The length of the total time and how to distribute this before and after the operation can be selected and set in advance. The set time before the operation can be up to the capacity limit of the buffer unit 7, for example, 10 seconds. Also, the setting is made so that the total time of the short movie is all after the operation of the still image shooting operation unit 12, in other words, the creation of a short movie for a predetermined time is started from the operation point of the still image shooting operation unit 12. Is also possible. The image recording method in the compression unit 10 is a “moving image compression” mode, and a moving image with sound is recorded. In addition to this, a still image timing signal is added to the moving image compressed data and recorded.

  The “simple moving image shooting mode” is a mode for recording a moving image by operating the moving image shooting operation unit 9. In this mode, the moving image shooting operation unit 9 is taken into the buffer unit 7 from the timing when the moving image shooting operation unit 9 is operated. Movie shooting starts from the recorded movie data. In the “simple moving image shooting mode”, a shooting operation timing signal indicating the timing at which the moving image shooting operation unit 9 is operated is added and recorded in the moving image data. The image recording method in the compression unit 10 in the “simple moving image shooting mode” is the “moving image compression” mode, and a moving image with sound is recorded.

  If the shooting mode is switched to the “simple still image shooting mode” while shooting a movie with the “simple movie shooting mode” set, the “simple movie shooting mode” A still image can be shot in the “still image shooting mode”.

  The “moving image / manual still image shooting mode” is a mode for shooting a moving image and shooting a still image by manual operation during the moving image shooting. In the “moving image / manual still image shooting mode”, unlike the “simple moving image shooting mode”, it is possible to take a still image during shooting of a moving image without switching the shooting mode.

  When shooting a moving image, the moving image data with sound from the operation timing point of the moving image shooting operation unit 9 is connected to all the moving image data with sound held in the buffer unit 7 at the timing when the moving image shooting operation unit 9 is operated. The video data in the form is recorded. For example, assuming that the buffer unit 7 holds moving image data with the full capacity, moving image data starting 10 seconds before the operation timing of the moving image shooting operation unit 9 is recorded. The image recording method in the compression unit 10 is the “moving image compression” mode. In the “moving image / manual still image shooting mode”, as in the “simple moving image shooting mode”, a shooting operation timing signal indicating the timing at which the moving image shooting operation unit 9 is operated is added to the moving image data and recorded. Is done.

  On the other hand, when shooting a still image, unlike the “simple still image shooting mode”, compressed still image data is not generated, only a still image timing signal is generated and added to the moving image data with audio. To be recorded.

  Also, in the “video / manual still image shooting mode”, when shooting a video, the video compression data for a predetermined time from a few seconds before the occurrence of the still image timing signal to a few seconds after the occurrence of the still image timing signal and other times It is generated separately from the compressed video data of the band. Although these video compression data are continuous video data in time, each video data becomes independent data, so one video compression data is recorded between the start and end of video recording. Rather than being generated, a plurality of moving image compressed data is generated.

  The “moving image / automatic still image shooting mode” is obtained by adding an automatic still image shooting function to the same function as the “moving image / manual still image shooting mode” as described above. That is, not only when a still image timing signal is generated by the operation of the still image shooting operation unit 12 during moving image shooting, but also when a still image timing signal is automatically generated according to a change in the moving image shooting situation. Recorded by adding to the compressed video data with audio. The image recording method in the compression unit 10 is the “moving image compression” mode.

  These shooting modes can be switched not only by operating the mode selection operation unit 3 but also by operating the moving image shooting operation unit 9. Therefore, for example, when the moving image shooting operation unit 12 is operated when the “simple still image shooting mode” is set, the operation mode of the camera is “simple moving image shooting mode”, “moving image / manual still image”. “Shooting mode” or “Movie / automatic still image shooting mode”. Note that it is possible to set in advance which moving image shooting mode is switched when the moving image shooting operation unit 12 is operated.

  This is the end of the general description of the “shooting mode”. Next, the “playback mode” will be described.

  The “still image reproduction mode” is a mode for reproducing a still image by the operation of the reproduction operation unit 14. In this mode, not only the still image compressed data recorded in the “simple still image shooting mode” but also the still image at that timing based on the compressed video data based on the still image timing signal added to the compressed video data. It is also possible to reproduce.

  The “still image playback mode with sound” is a mode for playing back still images with sound by operating the playback operation unit 14. In this mode, playback based on moving image data with sound recorded in the “short movie shooting mode” is used. Is done. Specifically, a still image based on the recorded still image timing signal is reproduced together with the audio of the short movie period based on the moving image compressed data. Similar playback can also be performed using individual still image timing signals based on compressed video data with audio recorded in “video / manual still image capture mode” or “video / automatic still image capture mode”. it can. In the “still image playback mode with sound”, instead of creating a still image based on the compressed video data every time the playback operation unit 14 is operated, the still image is determined by an editing operation described later. For example, this can be re-recorded as the still image compressed data with sound together with the related sound data, and the still image compressed data with sound can be directly reproduced by the operation of the reproduction operation unit 14 thereafter. Also, according to the editing operation, such compressed still image data with audio is not only from the compressed video data with audio recorded in the “short movie shooting mode”, but also with the “simple movie shooting mode”, “video / manual still image”. It can also be created from compressed moving image data with audio recorded in “image shooting mode” and “moving image / automatic still image shooting mode”. Furthermore, in the “still image playback mode with audio”, naturally, the compressed still image with audio recorded in the “simple still image shooting mode” can also be played by operating the playback operation unit 14.

  The “short movie playback mode” is a mode for performing playback based on moving image data with audio recorded in the “short movie shooting mode” by operating the playback operation unit 14.

  The “highlight moving image reproduction mode” is a mode for reproducing the moving image compressed data with sound recorded in the “moving image / manual still image capturing mode” or the “moving image / automatic still image capturing mode”. In the “highlight movie playback mode”, when the movie is played back, the recorded movie data is not played back in its entirety, but from the recorded movie data, the operation timing of the movie shooting operation unit 9 is used as a reference. Only moving image data for a predetermined time and moving image data for a predetermined time based on a still image timing signal, for example, 10 seconds before the still image timing signal and 10 seconds after the still image timing signal are read out. These are connected and continuously reproduced.

  “Simple video playback mode” is a mode in which the compressed video data with audio recorded in “simple video shooting mode”, “video / manual still image shooting mode” or “video / automatic still image shooting mode” is reproduced in full-length. .

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the control unit 1 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, and shows the operation when the power supply is turned off. Although the power is turned on / off by the power / recording / re-operation unit 2, even if the operation button 2a is slid to the on position 2b or 2c in FIG. 2, the camera is not operated for a predetermined time. Then, the power is turned off in terms of circuit due to the power-saving design. In order to turn on the power from this state, in addition to returning the power / recording / re-operation unit 2 to the off position and turning it on again, the mode selection operation unit 3, the moving image shooting operation unit 9, and the still image shooting operation unit 12 are used. Also, the power-on state is restored by the operation of another operation unit such as the reproduction operation unit 14.

  When the flow starts, it waits for the power to be turned on by any of the above in step S1. When the on state is detected, the process proceeds to step S2 to reset the no-operation timer. Note that this non-operation timer is reset again at that point if any operation is performed by the user in a later step, and counting is started from there. Next, in step S3, it is checked whether the camera operation mode is the shooting mode, that is, the position of the operation button in FIG. 2 is 2b.

  If the shooting mode is set in step 3, the process proceeds to step S4 to set the shooting mode initial value. The shooting mode setting can be stored even when the power is turned off. If there is a previously set mode, it is called and set as an initial value. If no setting is stored, in step S4, the "movie / automatic still image shooting mode" is set as a default. In step S5, the shooting mode selection operation is enabled, and the mode selection operation unit 3 can change to a shooting mode other than the initial value.

  In step S <b> 6, an image capture start process to be described later is performed, and imaging by the imaging unit 4, display of the image on the image display unit 6, and accumulation of moving image data in the buffer unit 7 are started. Next, in step S7, it is possible to accept an operation for capturing a moving image, and in step S8, it is possible to accept an operation for capturing a still image. As a result, shooting is possible when the moving image shooting operation unit 9 or the still image shooting operation unit 12 is operated.

  In step S9, the power-off operation can be accepted, and the camera can be turned off by operating the operation button 2 of the power / recording / re-operation unit 2. Next, in step S10, it is checked whether the no-operation state of the camera has continued for a predetermined time or longer after the no-operation timer is started. If the time is up after a lapse of a predetermined time, the process proceeds to step S11 to turn off the power supply in a circuit and the process returns to step S1.

  On the other hand, in step S3, when the shooting mode is not set, the playback mode is selected, so that playback mode initial display processing is performed and an initial screen is displayed on the image display unit 6. As the initial screen, for example, a user interface screen associated with the operation of the mode selection operation unit 3 or the reproduction operation unit 14 is displayed. Next, in step S13, the reproduction mode selection operation can be accepted, and the mode selection operation in the reproduction mode by the mode selection operation unit 3 can be performed. Further, in step S14, the reproduction operation can be accepted, the reproduction operation unit 14 can perform the reproduction operation, and the process proceeds to step S9.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing details of the image capture start process in step S6 of FIG. When the flow starts, imaging by the imaging unit 4 is started in step S21. In step S22, accumulation of moving image data with audio in the buffer unit 7 is started. Further, in step S23, data held in the buffer unit 7 when a predetermined time, for example, 10 seconds elapses from the start of photographing (hereinafter, “data held in the buffer unit 7” is referred to as “buffer data”). The process of overwriting the data newly input from the photographing unit 4 sequentially is started, and the process proceeds to step S7.

  FIG. 6 is a moving image shooting flow started by the operation of the moving image shooting operation unit 9 which can be accepted in step S7 of FIG. When a movie shooting operation is accepted, the camera's operation mode is set to either “simple movie shooting mode”, “movie / manual still image shooting mode” or “movie / automatic still image shooting mode”, and the flow Start. When the flow starts, first, in step S31, it is checked whether or not the operation mode of the camera is set to the “short movie shooting mode” before accepting the operation for shooting the moving image. If “short movie shooting mode” is set in step S31, the process proceeds to step S32.

  In step S32, it is checked whether or not the moving image shooting operation unit 9 has been operated within a predetermined time after the still image shooting operation unit 12 is operated in the state set to the “short movie shooting mode”. If the decision result in the step S32 is YES, the process shifts to a step S33 to prepare for processing for creating moving image data in which the short movie data is seamlessly connected to moving image data shot in the moving image shooting mode. And it transfers to step S34 and performs a moving image recording start process. Details of step S34 will be described later.

  The predetermined time in step S32 corresponds to the set recording time after operating the still image shooting operation unit 12 in the state set in the “short movie shooting mode” in the “simple movie shooting mode”. On the other hand, in the “moving image / manual still image shooting mode” or “moving image / automatic still image shooting mode”, the setting after operating the still image shooting operation unit 12 in the state set in the “short movie shooting mode”. This is the sum of the recording time and the time of the moving image with sound stored in the buffer unit 7. Which of these is set as the predetermined time is automatically determined by determining the shooting mode in step S32. This will be described in detail later with reference to FIG.

  On the other hand, if it is not the “short movie shooting mode” in step S31, the process proceeds directly from step S31 to step S34. In step S32, when the moving image shooting operation unit 9 is not operated within a predetermined time after the still image shooting operation unit 12 is operated, the process proceeds directly from step S32 to step S34.

  After the process of step S34, the process proceeds to step S35, and it is checked whether or not the “moving image / automatic still image shooting mode” is set. If applicable, the process proceeds to step S36, and after performing the automatic generation instruction processing of the still image timing signal, the process proceeds to step S37. On the other hand, if not applicable, the process proceeds directly from step S35 to step S37.

  In step S37, it is checked whether or not the operation of the still image shooting operation unit 12 has been accepted. If not received, the process proceeds to step S38, and it is checked whether or not the still image timing signal is automatically generated. If there is an automatic occurrence, the process proceeds to step S39 to perform still image timing recording processing. Details of step S39 will be described later.

  On the other hand, if the operation of the still image capturing operation unit 12 is accepted in step S37, the still image timing signal is generated based on this, so the process proceeds directly to step S39 to perform still image timing recording processing.

  If processing is completed in any case, the process proceeds to step S40. If no still image timing signal is generated even after reaching step S38, the still image timing recording process is unnecessary, and the process directly proceeds to step S40.

  In step S40, the image display unit 6 performs processing for display to be executed during moving image shooting. In the subsequent step S41, display processing of the remaining capacity of the recording unit 11 during moving image shooting is performed.

  When the process of step S41 is completed, the process proceeds to step S42, where it is checked whether or not an operation for ending moving image shooting has been performed by the moving image shooting operation unit 9. If the operation has been performed, the process proceeds to step S43. Then, display processing after the end of moving image shooting is performed. When this process ends, the moving image shooting process ends.

  On the other hand, if the moving image shooting end operation has not been performed in step S42, the process returns to step S37 to continue moving image shooting.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the contents of the moving image recording start process in step S34 of FIG. When the process starts, it is checked in step S51 whether the "simple moving image shooting mode" is set. If not applicable, it is “moving image / manual still image shooting mode” or “moving image / automatic still image shooting mode”. In this case, the process proceeds to step S52, and still image timing signals can be received.

  Next, the process proceeds to step S53, and a process of holding the buffer data compression process is started until a predetermined time (for example, 10 seconds) has elapsed from the start of photographing or until a still image timing signal is input. The significance of step S53 is that in the “moving image / manual still image shooting mode” or “moving image / automatic still image shooting mode”, the audio-attached image data held in the buffer unit 7 at the time of starting the imaging is recorded from the shooting disclosure time point. Since it is necessary to record moving image data linked to image data with audio, the buffer data compression process is suspended in this way.

  When the buffer data compression processing hold time elapses, the process proceeds to step S54, and the moving image data for a predetermined time based on the shooting timing of the moving image shooting operation unit 9 is compressed and created as independent moving image compression data. The process of adding the shooting operation timing signal is performed to end the moving image recording start process, and the process proceeds to step S35 in FIG. In step S54, the compressed video data for a predetermined time based on the moving image shooting timing is generated because the image before and after the start of moving image shooting is a portion of high interest of the photographer. This is because the portion is also a reproduction target. In addition, by adding the information of the shooting operation timing signal of the moving image shooting operation unit 9 to the moving image file, the moving image portion before and after the moving image can be handled in the same manner as the short movie recording.

  On the other hand, if the “simple moving image shooting mode” is set in step S 51, the process proceeds to step S 55, and after the operation of the moving image shooting operation unit 9, the buffer data compression process is immediately started to end the moving image recording start process. Then, the process proceeds to step S35 in FIG.

  FIG. 8 is a timing chart for explaining the functions of steps S32 to S34 and FIG. 7 in the flow of FIG. 6, and a time axis is provided so that time elapses from left to right. In the figure, the operation timing of the still image shooting operation unit 12 is indicated by an arrow s, and the operation timing of the moving image shooting operation unit 9 is indicated by an arrow m. In the following description, the time from when the still image shooting operation unit 12 is operated in the state set to the “short movie shooting mode” until the shooting of the short movie ends is referred to as “second half time”.

  FIGS. 8A and 8B show a case where the moving image shooting operation unit 9 is operated in the “simple moving image shooting mode” after the still image shooting operation unit 12 is operated in the “short movie shooting mode”. FIG. 8A corresponds to a case where the process directly proceeds from step S32 in FIG. 6 to step S34, and in FIG. 7, the process proceeds from step S51 to step S55. In other words, after the second half of the time has elapsed since the still image shooting operation timing s, that is, after the short movie shooting time period has elapsed, the movie shooting has started in the “simple movie shooting mode”, so the short movie and the movie are not connected. Each is recorded as an independent moving image file as it is.

  On the other hand, FIG. 8B corresponds to the case where the process proceeds from step S32 in FIG. 6 to step S34 via step S33, and in FIG. 7 showing the contents of step S34, the process proceeds from step S51 to step S55. That is, after the still image shooting operation timing s, before the end of the second half time period, that is, before the end of the short movie shooting time period, moving image shooting is started at time m in the “simple moving image shooting mode”. In this case, a moving image file 23 in which short movie moving images are seamlessly connected is created. The moving image file 23 is added with a still image timing signal 21s indicating a timing when the still image shooting operation unit 12 is operated and a shooting operation timing signal 22m indicating a timing when the moving image shooting operation unit 9 is operated. These timing signals 21s and 22m are information indicating whether or not the moving image shooting operation unit 9 is operated within a predetermined time after the still image shooting operation unit 12 is operated. The short movie 21 according to the original time zone is also created independently.

  FIGS. 8C and 8D are common to FIGS. 8A and 8B in both mode and flow, but the time zone before the still image timing is zero in the “short movie shooting mode”. The case where it is set to is shown. FIG. 8C shows that the short movie 24 and the moving image 22 are connected since the moving image shooting is started at the time “m” in the “simple moving image shooting mode” after the lapse of the second half time after the still image shooting operation timing s. Instead, each is recorded as an independent moving image file as it is. On the other hand, (d) of FIG. 8 shows that the moving image shooting is performed at the time m in the “simple moving image shooting mode” before the second half time after the still image shooting operation timing s, that is, before the end of the short movie shooting time period. Since it has started, a moving image file 25 in which the short movie 24 and the moving image 22 are seamlessly connected is created. In the moving image file 25, as in the moving image file 23, a still image timing signal 24s and a shooting operation timing signal 22m are added.

  Whether the short movies 21 and 24 and the moving image 22 are seamlessly connected in any of the cases (a), (b) of FIG. 8 and (c) and (d) of FIG. This is determined by checking, that is, whether or not moving image shooting is started within a predetermined time after the still image shooting operation timing s.

  FIGS. 8E and 8F show the “moving image / manual still image shooting mode” or “moving image / automatic still image shooting mode” after operating the still image shooting operation unit 12 in the “short movie shooting mode”. This is a case where the moving image shooting operation unit 9 is operated. In the case of FIGS. 8E and 8F, the “predetermined time” in step S32 in FIG. 6 is the time zone 21b (second half time) after the operation timing s of the still image shooting operation unit 12 in the short movie. This is the sum of the time zone 26a before the operation timing m of the moving image shooting operation unit 9. The time zone 26a corresponds to the time of the moving image with audio that is stored in the buffer unit 7 and the compression processing is suspended, and in the “moving image / manual still image shooting mode” or “moving image / automatic still image shooting mode”. This is because the moving image data in this time zone before the operation timing m of the moving image shooting operation unit 9 is also captured in the moving image file 26.

  FIG. 8E corresponds to a case where the process directly proceeds from step S32 in FIG. 6 to step S34, and in FIG. 7, the process proceeds from step S51 to step S53 via step S52. In the case of FIG. 8E, after the operation timing s of the still image shooting operation unit 12, the moving image shooting operation unit 9 operates at time m after a time longer than the sum of the time zone 21b and the time zone 26a has elapsed. Therefore, the short movie 21 and the moving image 26 are not connected. Therefore, each is recorded as an independent moving image file as it is.

  On the other hand, (f) of FIG. 8 corresponds to the case where the process proceeds from step S32 of FIG. 6 to step S34 via step S33, and FIG. 7 corresponds to the case where the process proceeds from step S51 to step S52 via step S52. That is, the moving image shooting operation unit 9 is operated at time m within the sum of the time zone 21b and the time zone 24a. In this case, a moving image file 27 in which the short movie 21 and the moving image 26 are seamlessly connected is created except for the overlapping portion of the time zone 21b and the time zone 24. The short movie 21 according to the original time zone is also created independently.

  The significance of the functions described above with reference to FIG. 8 includes the data at the time of taking a still image that was of great interest when shooting was originally started with the intention of taking a still image, and when shooting of a movie was desired from the middle. It is possible to create a moving image file, and to make it possible to seamlessly shift from the still image shooting mode to the moving image shooting mode.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the contents of the still image timing recording process in step S39 of FIG. 6, and FIG. 10 is a timing chart showing the moving image file creation state during the still image timing recording process.

  Prior to the description of the flow, first, an outline of the still image timing recording process will be described. This processing is performed for the highlight video playback mode, and the main purpose is to create a video for a predetermined time based on the still image timing signal as an independent video file during video recording. . In this way, it is possible to easily extract only a predetermined amount of moving images with reference to the still image timing signal during highlight moving image reproduction, and connect them together for reproduction. Usually, the recording time before and after the still image timing is set equal to the recording time before and after the still image timing in the short movie shooting mode, but can be set differently.

Now, when the still image timing recording process starts in FIG. 9, the current still image timing signal s within a predetermined time (b _n-1 + a _n ) from the generation of the previous still image timing signal s _n−1 in step S61. Check if _n has occurred. Here, time a is a predetermined time before the still image timing, and time b is a predetermined time after the still image timing. That is, step S61 is over time b _n-1 from the previous still image timing signal s _n-1 of the generator, then further current still picture timing signal s _n is generated after the elapse of time a _n In other words, the still image timing signal is generated in close proximity in time, and a predetermined time with reference to the previous still image timing signal and the current still image timing signal as a reference. It ’s checking whether the minute ’s video does not overlap in time.

In step S61, if the current still image timing signal s _n is not generated within a predetermined time (b _n−1 + a _n ) from the generation of the previous still image timing signal s _n−1 , the process proceeds to step S62. as shown in 10 (a), to obtain the buffer data from the previous only this still picture timing signal s _n times than the generation timing of a _n. In step S63, the current moving image compression process is started based on the acquired data. In step S64, a still image timing signal is recorded in the moving image compressed data.

In step S65, it is checked whether or not the time b _n has elapsed since the generation of the current still image timing signal s _n . If not, it is checked in step S66 whether or not the video shooting has been forcibly terminated. . As long as there is no forced termination, the process returns from step S66 to step S65 and waits for the elapse of time b _n while repeating steps S65 and S66. Then, when the time b _n elapses, the process proceeds from step S65 to step S67, the creation of the current moving image file is completed, and the process proceeds to step S40 in FIG.

Here, step S66 is for giving priority to the start of the creation of the next moving image file by exiting from the loop waiting for the elapse of time b _n when the next still image timing signal s _{n + 1} comes in close proximity. . If detecting the forced abort at step S66, the immediately proceeds to step S67 even before the elapse of time b _n.

On the other hand, when the current still image timing signal s _n is generated within a predetermined time (b _n−1 + a _n ) from the generation of the previous still image timing signal s _n−1 in step S61, the previous still image timing is determined. The moving image for a predetermined time based on the signal and the moving image for a predetermined time based on the current still image timing signal overlap in time. Therefore, the process proceeds to step S68, as shown in FIG. 10 (b), priority to the creation of this moving image file, aborting the creation of the previous video file at the start of the time a _n. As a result, the moving image length after the still image timing of the previous moving image file becomes shorter than the time b _n−1 and becomes zero at the shortest. However, the time of the current video file does not cut into the time of the previous video file beyond the previous still image timing.

Then it checks whether the current still picture timing signal s _n within time a _n from the previous still picture timing signal s _n-1 of the generator generated in step S69. Case shown in FIG. 10 (b), after the elapse of the time a _n from the previous still picture timing signal s _n-1 of the generator, because the current still picture timing signal s _n is generated, in step S62 migrated, as usual, into the creation of the video file from the previous only this time of the still image timing signal s _n time than the generation timing of a _n.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 10 (c), when the current still picture timing signal s _n is generated in time a _n from the previous still picture timing signal s _n-1 of the generator, the process proceeds to step S70 at the generation timing of the last still picture timing signal s _n-1, with abort the creation of the previous video file, from the previous still picture timing signal s _n-1 of the generation timing, a buffer for the current moving image file creation Get the data. As a result, video length after the still image timing in the previous video file is zero, also the still image timing before the video length in the current video file is shorter than the time a _n.

  FIG. 11 is a timing chart for explaining the function in the flow of FIG. 9 as described above, and a time axis is provided so that time elapses from left to right. Each band in FIGS. 11A, 11B, and 11C indicates a moving image shot by operating the moving image shooting operation unit 9 at the timing indicated by an arrow m, and a bold line indicates an independent moving image file. Indicates the delimited part. A broken line in the figure indicates an operation timing of the moving image shooting operation unit 9 or a timing at which a still image timing signal is input.

  The above function will be specifically described with reference to FIG. 11A. The moving image file 31 is added with a shooting operation timing signal of the moving image shooting operation unit 9 at time m. Since the moving image file 31 is handled in the same manner as the short movie recording, the moving image file 31 is divided into a single moving image file when a predetermined time elapses from the time m. In FIG. 11, a moving image file 32 is created temporally following the moving image file 31, but since the still image timing signal is not added to this moving image file, the moving image file 32 is the same as the moving image file 31. Is created as a separate video file. Thereafter, a still image timing signal is input at time s1, and a moving image file 33 to which the still image timing signal is added is created. The portion 33b in the moving image file 33 corresponds to the time point when the predetermined time b has elapsed from the still image timing s1. The still image timing signal is not added to the moving image file 34 that follows. Next, a moving image file 35 to which the still image timing signal is added is created based on the still image timing signal generated at time s2. When the creation of the moving image file 35 is finished, a moving image file 36 is created, but no still image timing signal is added to the moving image file 36. Incidentally, in the “highlight movie playback mode”, the movie file 31 to which the shooting operation timing signal of the movie shooting operation unit 9 is added and the movie files 33 and 35 to which the still image timing signal is added are extracted and connected. Played together. On the other hand, the moving image files 32, 34, 36, etc., to which the still image timing signal is not added, are excluded from the reproduction processing targets in the “highlight moving image reproduction mode”.

  FIG. 11A corresponds to the operation in the flow of FIG. 9 from step S61 to step S63 via step S62, and directly from step S65 to step S67.

Next, FIG. 11B shows the current still image timing within a predetermined time (b _n−1 + a _n ) from the previous generation of the still image timing signal s1 when attention is paid to the moving image file 35 in the flow of FIG. This corresponds to the case where the process proceeds from step S61 to step S68 as a result of the generation of the signal s2. Also, the previous predetermined time from the generation of the still image timing signal s1 (a _n) or more to elapse before a result of this still picture timing signal s2 is generated, steps S69 are true when the process proceeds to step S62. In FIG. 11B, the current video file 35 is duplicated in the time zone of the previous video file 33, but the current video file 35 is prioritized and the previous video file 33 is created. Forced censoring. As a result, the time of the portion 33b after the still image timing of the moving image file 33 is shortened. This function corresponds to step S68 in FIG.

  Next, FIG. 11C shows a case where still image timing signals are generated closer to each other. In the flow of FIG. 9, the process proceeds from step S61 to step S68, and then proceeds from step S69 to step S70. This is the case. In other words, the current time zone of the moving image file 35 of this time is in a situation where the original time zone bites into an area before the previous still image timing. The flow in FIG. 9 corresponds to the case where the determination result in step S69 is YES. Even in this case, if the current video file is prioritized, there will be no video file based on the previous still image timing signal. Therefore, in step S70, the current moving image file is created from the previous still image timing. As a result, the moving image file 33 in FIG. 11C is created so that the still image timing s1 comes at the end portion, and the portion 35a of the moving image file 35 before the still image timing is shorter than the original.

  FIG. 12 is a still image shooting flow started by the operation of the still image shooting operation unit 12 that can be accepted in step S8 of FIG. When a still image operation is accepted, the flow starts. In step S81, it is checked whether or not the camera operation mode is “simple still image shooting mode”. If it is a mode other than the “simple still image shooting mode”, it is checked in step S82 whether a moving image is being shot. If the moving image is not being shot in step S82, it is determined that the “short movie shooting mode” is set, and the process proceeds to step S83.

  In step S83, moving image data for a predetermined time based on the operation timing of the still image shooting operation unit 12 is fetched from the buffer unit 7, and the process proceeds to step S84. In step S84, it is checked whether or not a predetermined time corresponding to the time set in step S32 of FIG. 6 has elapsed after the operation of the still image shooting operation unit 12. If it has not elapsed, the process proceeds to step S85, where it is checked whether or not there is an operation of the moving image shooting operation unit 9, and if there is no operation, the process returns to step S84. Thereafter, this loop is repeated until a predetermined time elapses.

  If there is an operation of the moving image shooting operation unit 9 before the elapse of a predetermined time in step S85, the process proceeds to step S86, and the moving image data captured in step S83 is seamlessly converted into moving image data acquired in accordance with the operation of the moving image shooting operation unit 9. Therefore, it is recorded in the recording unit 11 as moving image data of the first part. Then, the process proceeds to the short movie recording start in step S87. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S84 that the predetermined time has elapsed without operating the moving image shooting operation unit 9, the process proceeds to step S87.

  In step S87, short movie recording is started based on the moving image data captured in step S83, and the process proceeds to step S88. Step S88 corresponds to the still image timing recording process in the moving image shooting shown in FIG. After creating the short movie file in this way, the process proceeds to step S89, where the remaining capacity display process during still image shooting is performed, and the still image shooting process ends.

  On the other hand, if the “simple still image shooting mode” is set in step S81, the process proceeds to step S90, and a still image file is created by still image compression. In step S91, it is checked whether or not a moving image is being shot. If the moving image is being shot, a still image timing signal based on the operation of the still image shooting unit 12 is also recorded in the moving image file together with the still image compression recording. Therefore, the process proceeds to step S88. On the other hand, if moving image shooting is not being performed in step S91, the process directly proceeds to step S89, where the remaining capacity display processing during still image shooting is performed, and the still image shooting processing ends.

  FIG. 13 is a reproduction flow started by the operation of the reproduction operation unit 14 that can be accepted in step S14 of FIG. When the reproduction operation is accepted, the flow starts. In step S101, the editing operation can be accepted, and then a thumbnail display process is performed in step S102. In step S102, for the moving image file in which the still image timing signal is recorded, the image at the time when the still image timing signal is generated is displayed as a still image thumbnail. Also, when a movie is shot in “Movie / Manual Still Image Shooting Mode” or “Movie / Auto Still Image Shooting Mode”, and multiple movie files are generated between the start of movie shooting and the end of shooting. Can mix and display thumbnails of these video files. For example, there are a moving image A and a moving image B shot at different time zones, and moving image files a1, a2, a3, a4 in which still image timing signals are recorded are generated as the moving image A is captured, while moving image B Suppose that moving image files b1, b2, and b3 in which still image timing signals are recorded are generated in accordance with the shooting. At this time, the thumbnails of the moving image files a1, a2, a3, a4, b1, b2, and b3 can be mixed and displayed in a list regardless of the origin of the moving image. It is also possible to extract a specific moving image file from these moving image files under a predetermined search condition and display only the thumbnails of the moving image files that match the search condition.

  When the thumbnail is displayed by the thumbnail display processing in step S102, it is checked in step S103 whether the still image playback mode is set. If the mode is not the still image playback mode, the mode is the video playback mode. Therefore, the process proceeds to step S104, and thumbnails of still image compressed data (still image dedicated thumbnails) are displayed from among the thumbnails displayed on the image display unit 6. To stop. This is because thumbnails of compressed still image data are only compatible with still image information, and image data cannot be reproduced even if such thumbnail is selected in the video playback mode. Because.

  When the display of the still image dedicated thumbnail is stopped, the process proceeds to step S105, and it is checked whether or not the “simple moving image reproduction mode” is set. If it is determined that the “simple video playback mode” setting is established, the process proceeds to step S106, and an operation for selecting a thumbnail is waited. If there is an operation, the process proceeds to step S107, and the video data starting from the selected thumbnail is displayed. Read continuously until the end, and start the playback process. In this case, when the video data to be played back is data composed of a plurality of independent video files generated in the “video / manual still image shooting mode” or “video / automatic still image shooting mode” The plurality of independent moving image files are reproduced in order from the earliest generation order, and are reproduced so as to be a continuous moving image without a break.

  In step S108, the process waits for the end of the moving image reproduction, and if completed, the process proceeds to step S109 to check whether the reproduction operation unit 14 has performed an operation for ending reproduction. If a playback end operation is detected in step S109, the playback process ends. If not detected, the process returns to step S102.

  If it is not “simple video playback mode” in step S105, the process proceeds to step S110 to wait for an operation for selecting a thumbnail. If there is an operation, the process proceeds to step S107 to read a video file corresponding to the selected thumbnail. Perform processing. When it is other than “simple video playback mode”, since it is set to either “short movie playback mode” or “highlight video playback mode”, in step S111, a shooting operation timing signal or a still image timing signal is set. A moving image file in which moving image data for a predetermined period of time is recorded as a reading target.

  In step S112, the process waits for the end of reading. If the reading ends, it is checked in step S113 whether the “short movie playback mode” is set. If the determination result is NO, it is determined that the “highlight movie playback mode” is set, and the process proceeds to step S114. In step S114, it is checked whether or not there is a moving image file including the next timing signal in the series of moving images in which the moving image shooting start and the shooting end are designated by the operation of the moving image shooting operation unit 9. If there is a corresponding moving image file, the process returns to step S111, and thereafter, the loop from step S111 to step S114 is repeated until the last moving image file including the still image timing signal in the series of moving images is read. As a result, all the moving image files in which still image timing signals existing in a series of moving images are recorded are extracted. If it is determined in step S114 that there are no more moving image files recorded with still image timing signals, processing for connecting and reproducing the moving image files extracted so far is started, and the process proceeds to step S108.

  If it is determined in step S113 that the “short movie playback mode” setting has been set, after the reading of the moving image file corresponding to the selected thumbnail is completed, the processing for reproducing the moving image file is started, and the process proceeds to step S108. To do.

  On the other hand, when the still image playback mode setting is detected in step S103, the process proceeds to step S115, and the shooting operation timing signal or the still image timing signal is recorded from the thumbnails displayed on the image display unit 6. Stop displaying thumbnails of unmoved video files (video thumbnails). In step S115, the thumbnail of the moving image file in which the shooting operation timing signal or the still image timing signal is recorded is displayed. The still image is also displayed from the moving image file in which the shooting operation timing signal or the still image timing signal is recorded. Because it is possible to do.

  When the display of the moving image dedicated thumbnail is stopped, the process proceeds to step S116 to wait for an operation for selecting a thumbnail, and if there is an operation, the process proceeds to step S117 to read and display a still image corresponding to the selected thumbnail. I do. In step S117, not only the selected thumbnail is a compressed still image, but also a still image corresponding to the selected thumbnail is cut out from the moving image file and processed to be displayed. .

  When the still image display processing is completed, the process proceeds to step S118, and it is checked whether or not the “still image reproduction mode with sound” setting is set. If it is “still image playback mode with audio”, the process proceeds to step S119, where the audio data is read and reproduced together with the still image. Next, in step S120, the process waits for the audio reproduction to end, and if the audio reproduction ends, the process proceeds to step S121 to simultaneously terminate the still image reproduction display. As described above, in the still image playback mode with sound, the display of the still image is automatically ended with the end of the sound.

  On the other hand, when it is checked in step S118 that the “still image playback mode with sound” is not the “still image playback mode with sound”, the process proceeds to step S122. Next, in step S122, the process waits for a still image reproduction end operation to be performed. If there is an end operation, the process proceeds to step S121 to end the still image reproduction display.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention described in the claims, and these are also included in the scope of the present invention. Needless to say.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, when the camera operation mode is set to “video / manual still image shooting mode” or “video / automatic still image shooting mode”, only the still image timing signal is recorded. However, it may be configured to record still image compressed data together with the still image timing signal.

  In the above embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the moving image file in which the still image timing signal is recorded is created separately from the moving image file in which the timing signal is not recorded. When playing a light movie, it is configured to extract and connect multiple movie files with timing signals recorded, but even if a still image timing signal occurs during a series of movie shooting, the movie file It is also possible to record only the still image timing signal without dividing the image. In order to perform highlight moving image reproduction based on such moving image recording, a pair of time stamps before and after a still image timing signal is detected during reproduction, and moving image data between these time stamps is extracted. Then, it is only necessary to extract similar moving image data corresponding to a plurality of time stamps, and play them together.

  Further, in the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, when generating the moving image data in which the short movie and the moving image data are connected, the moving image data of the short movie is generated independently. There is no need to independently generate movie data. In this case, when playing back a short movie, video data for a predetermined time is extracted from video data obtained by connecting the short movie and video data based on a still image timing signal added to the video data. May be reproduced as the video data.

  In addition, it is not always necessary to generate moving image data in which the short movie and moving image data are connected, and the short movie and moving image data may be generated separately as in the case shown in FIGS. In such a configuration, when video recording is started within the second half of the short movie, the short movie shooting is stopped at the video recording start timing, and video data is generated from the video recording start timing. That's fine.

It is a block diagram regarding the Example of the camera which can image | photograph a moving image of this invention. It is a front view which shows an example of the detailed structure of a power supply / recording / re-operation part. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the detail of imaging | photography mode and reproduction | regeneration mode. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the control part in the Example shown in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the detail of the image capture start process in step S6 of FIG. 5 is a moving image shooting flow started by an operation of the moving image shooting operation unit that can be accepted in step S7 of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the content of the moving image recording start process in step S34 of FIG. It is a timing chart for demonstrating the function of FIG. 7 from step S32 in the flow of FIG. 6, and FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the content of the still image timing recording process in step S39 of FIG. It is a timing chart which shows the creation state of the moving image file in the still image timing recording process. 10 is a timing chart for explaining functions in the flow of FIG. 9. FIG. 5 is a still image shooting flow started by an operation of the still image shooting operation unit that can be accepted in step S8 of FIG. FIG. 5 is a reproduction flow started by an operation of the reproduction operation unit that can be accepted in step S14 of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Control part 2 Power supply / recording / re-operation part 3 Mode selection operation part 4 Imaging part 5 Output part 6 Image display part 7 Buffer part 8 Microphone 9 Movie shooting operation part 10 Compression part 11 Recording part 12 Still image shooting operation part 13 Shooting Status detection unit 14 Playback operation unit 15 Expansion unit 16 Speaker

Claims (14)

An imaging unit that images a subject, a moving image shooting operation unit that determines start and end of moving image shooting based on image information from the imaging unit, a timing signal generation unit, and a moving image in response to operations of the moving image shooting operation unit A recording control unit that records information and records a timing signal in response to the timing signal generation unit during recording of the moving image information, and a moving image recorded by the recording control unit between the start and end of moving image shooting A camera capable of shooting a moving image, comprising: a reproduction control unit that reproduces a continuous moving image while omitting a part of information based on the timing signal. The camera capable of shooting a moving image according to claim 1, further comprising a timing signal generation operation unit that generates the timing signal by manual operation. A still image shooting operation unit for instructing a recording timing of a still image based on image information from the imaging unit, and the still image shooting operation unit is the timing signal generation operation unit. 2. A camera capable of shooting moving images according to 2. The video recording camera according to claim 3, wherein the recording control unit records still image information based on an operation of the still image capturing operation unit. 5. The camera capable of shooting a moving image according to claim 4, wherein the recording control unit records still image information separately from the moving image information based on an operation of the still image shooting operation unit. The camera capable of shooting a moving image according to claim 1, further comprising a timing signal automatic generation unit that automatically generates the timing signal. It has a detector that automatically detects changes in the situation during shooting,
The camera capable of shooting a moving image according to claim 6, wherein the timing signal automatic generation unit automatically generates the timing signal based on detection by the detection unit. The camera capable of shooting a moving image according to claim 7, wherein the detection unit detects a change in image information from the imaging unit. Have a microphone,
The camera capable of shooting a moving image according to claim 7, wherein the detection unit detects a change in a sound signal from the microphone. The camera capable of shooting a moving image according to claim 1, wherein the playback control unit plays back the moving image information for a predetermined time based on the timing signal. The recording control unit records moving image information for a predetermined time based on the timing signal separately from other moving image information,
The camera capable of shooting a moving image according to claim 10, wherein the reproduction control unit extracts and connects moving image information for a predetermined time based on the timing signal. The recording control unit, when the next timing signal is generated before a predetermined time has elapsed from the generation of the timing signal, distinguishes it from the preceding moving image information and includes the next timing signal. The camera capable of shooting a moving image according to claim 11, wherein: The recording control unit records time information momentarily in the video information,
11. The camera capable of shooting a moving image according to claim 10, wherein the reproduction control unit extracts and connects moving image information between two pieces of time information having a predetermined relationship with one timing signal. The reproduction / recording control unit can reproduce a continuous moving image without omitting a part of the moving image information recorded in the recording unit between the start and end of moving image shooting. 14. A camera capable of shooting a moving image according to any one of 1 to 13.

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