JP2008147994A - Information recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information recording device which can record information, such as video the user desires to record without interruption, even while a replaceable recording medium is replaced. <P>SOLUTION: Beside the exchangeable recording medium, another recording medium is incorporated in or mounted to the information recording device; the information recording device is also equipped with a means for changing or keeping the settings, based on the conditions during shooting; thereby the information recording device is equipped with a means for recording information, such as video, even while the replaceable recording medium is being replaced. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an information recording apparatus using a disk-shaped recording medium such as an optical disk, a memory, a magnetic tape, and the control method thereof, and particularly suitable for mounting on a video camera or the like for recording video information for a long time. The present invention relates to an information recording apparatus and a control method thereof.

  Optical discs, magnetic discs, and magnetic tapes are characterized by being able to record a large amount of information and exchanging recording media. Therefore, in a video camera that needs to record a large amount of information such as a moving image, these are generally used as a recording medium. Recently, the recording capacity of a rewritable memory has been improved, and some video cameras use this memory as a recording medium.

As the recording capacity of the recording medium increases, the time required to record video that can be recorded on one optical disk or one memory has also increased. According to Hitachi DVD Video Camera using a DVD-RAM disk with a diameter of 8 cm (single-sided recording capacity of about 1.5 GB), according to (Non-Patent Document 1), the time that can be taken is about 18 minutes to 60 minutes depending on the recording image quality Minutes.
According to (Patent Document 2), the remaining capacity of the video tape is displayed on the liquid crystal monitor of the video camera in order to notify the user of the usage status of the video tape as the recording medium.
According to (Patent Document 3), there is shown a method of extending the recording time of a disk when the remaining capacity of the disk as a recording medium decreases.

Hitachi DVD Video Camera DZ-MV350 Instruction Manual Published Patent Publication No. 5-304623 Published Patent Publication No. Hei 10-143977

  In the prior art, when shooting is performed with a video camera using a replaceable recording medium such as a video tape or an optical disk, the shooting is interrupted when the remaining capacity of the recording medium is reduced or disappears. It was necessary to replace the recording medium with another recording medium having a sufficient remaining capacity.

  A large amount of video information such as a plurality of programs and shooting scenes can be recorded on an optical disk, a magnetic disk, and a magnetic tape suitable for large-capacity recording. In addition, a Blu-ray disc that has recently appeared on the market and uses a blue semiconductor laser as a recording light source has a recording capacity of about 7.7 GB in the case of a single-layer disc having a diameter of 8 cm.

  Along with the dramatic improvement in the recording capacity of such a disk medium, the image quality of the recorded video has been improved, such as high definition, and the amount of recorded information per unit time has increased. As a result, the recording time of video such as a program and a shooting scene recorded on the disk medium has not led to a significant change.

  According to Non-Patent Document 1, a moving image can be recorded for about 60 minutes on a DVD-RAM disk having a single-side recording capacity of about 1.5 GB. In addition, when an image is recorded with a high-definition image quality on the single-layer Blu-ray disc having a diameter of 8 cm, the shooting time is about 40 minutes to 1 hour. Therefore, a plurality of replaceable recording media used for the video camera are required so that the remaining capacity does not become insufficient even when shooting for several hours.

  Bring multiple videotapes and discs, especially for outdoor shooting, such as festivals and athletic events, and shooting at events that are difficult to get away from, such as weddings and entrance ceremonies. It is common.

  However, the remaining recording capacity of the videotape, disk, etc. decreases, and the timing to replace it does not always come between shootings. For example, when the remaining recording capacity of a videotape or disk is reduced during a wedding speech or while your child is appearing. In such a situation, although it was an important scene, there was a problem that it was necessary to stop shooting and replace the videotape or disk with another one.

  Or there was a problem that even if there was some remaining capacity on the videotape or disk, it was necessary to replace it with a new videotape or disk so that there was no interruption in the shooting during an important shooting scene. .

  Further, the recording time extending process as described in Patent Document 3 is possible only when there is an unnecessary scene in the disc. Therefore, when there are only necessary scenes on the currently used disc and they are full, there is a problem that the shooting must be interrupted and the disc must be replaced.

  Before and after such replacement of the recording medium, there has been a problem that the imaging conditions of the video and audio being photographed change greatly, or it takes time to return to the imaging conditions before replacement of the recording medium.

  In order to solve the above problems, the information recording apparatus of the present invention includes one or a plurality of other recording media in addition to the replaceable recording medium, and changes the setting based on various conditions during photographing. Or a means for maintaining is provided.

  Further, when the capacity of the exchangeable recording medium is filled with recording information, the information recording apparatus of the present invention switches the medium for recording information from the exchangeable recording medium to the other recording medium. Information recording is continued, and during that time, the user exchanges the exchangeable recording medium with another exchangeable recording medium.

  When the exchange is completed, the information recording apparatus of the present invention can continue recording information by switching the information recording medium to the other exchangeable recording medium.

  According to the present invention, there is provided a recording state management means for managing a recording medium for recording information and changing or maintaining the setting based on various conditions during photographing, and an information recording medium other than the exchangeable recording medium. In addition, by temporarily switching the recording medium on which information is recorded, it is possible to continue shooting without interruption even while the replaceable recording medium is replaced.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an apparatus example using a general information recording apparatus.

  In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes photographing means, which comprises a photographing optical system 2, a CCD (imaging device) 3, an A / D converter 4, and the like. A subject image is formed on the CCD 3 by the photographing optical system 2, and the image is obtained by the CCD 3. A signal is obtained, digitized by the A / D converter 4 and output. Reference numeral 5 denotes an image signal processing means for converting an image signal from the photographing means 1 into image data. The image signal processing means 5 also processes an audio information signal from the microphone 14 which is an audio information signal input means. It has become.

  Further, at the time of reproduction, the image signal processing means 5 converts the image data from the recording / reproduction signal processing means 6 described later into an image information signal for display output. Further, the image signal processing means 5 The voice data from the recording / playback signal processing means 6 to be described later is converted into a voice information signal for voice output.

  In the case of a video camera, image data and audio data are continuously processed by five image signal processing means, and the image quality and sound quality are determined by the processing ability of the five image quality signal processing means. The transfer rate of data sent from the 5 image signal processing means to the 6 recording / reproducing signal processing means is determined.

  Reference numeral 6 denotes a recording / playback signal processing means for converting image data (including audio data) from the image signal processing means 5 into recording data according to a recording format for recording on the disk-shaped recording medium 9, or In order to convert the recording data reproduced from the disk-shaped recording medium 9 into image data (including audio data), processing such as encoding / decoding processing, modulation / demodulation processing, and ECC addition / error correction processing is performed. The transfer speed of recording or reproduction on the disc is determined by the processing capability of the recording / reproducing signal processing means 6, the processing capability of the recording / reproducing means 8, the rotational speed of the disc, and the like.

  Reference numeral 7 denotes a memory for temporarily storing image data (including audio data) from the image signal processing means 5. The memory is stored when the transfer speed of image data or audio data transferred from the five image signal processing means is faster than the recording speed of the disk-shaped recording medium 9. Accordingly, the recording on the disk-shaped recording medium 9 needs to be performed before the storage amount in the memory exceeds the memory capacity.

  8 is a recording / reproducing means, 9 is a disk-shaped recording medium (optical disk) rotated by a spindle motor (not shown), and 10 is an optical head comprising a laser light source (laser diode), an optical system, a photodetector, etc. The reproducing means 8 records the recording data stored in the memory 7 on the optical disk 9 by the optical head 10, and temporarily stores the recording data reproduced from the optical disk 9 on the memory 7 by the optical head 10. Remember.

  Reference numeral 11 denotes servo control necessary for optical recording, for example, focus control and tracking control for controlling an actuator (not shown) of the optical head 10, disk rotation control for controlling a spindle motor (not shown), and address position control. Execute seek control.

  Reference numeral 15 denotes an image display means composed of an LCD (liquid crystal display) or the like. At the time of reproduction, the data on the optical disk 9 read by the optical head 10 (data obtained by reading the reflected light from the optical disk irradiated with the laser light as a reflected light amount difference with the photodetector of the optical head 10) is recorded and reproduced. 8 is temporarily stored in the memory 7 as reproduced recording data, and then converted into the original image data by the recording / reproducing signal processing means 6 and displayed on the image display means 15 via the image signal processing means 5. The

  When the present apparatus is a video camera, things captured by the photographing means 1 are displayed on 15 at the time of photographing. The contents displayed on 15 can be changed by a function switch (not shown) or the like, and a plurality of thumbnails indicating what kind of contents are already included in the information such as video already recorded on the optical disc 9 can be presented simultaneously. A thumbnail multiple display screen can be displayed on the screen 15.

  At this time, a plurality of thumbnails such as 6 or 12 are displayed in a matrix. The number of thumbnails displayed at a time on the multiple thumbnail display screen depends on the size of the image display means 15 and the number of thumbnails. It is set to a number that is easy for the user to see from the image quality of the LCD used.

  Reference numeral 17 denotes a DC power source as an external power source. For example, when used indoors, power is generally taken from an AC outlet using a power cord with an AC / DC adapter. Reference numeral 18 denotes a rechargeable storage battery (also referred to as a battery). When 18 is used, it is used in a form attached to the information recording apparatus, but it is generally removable from the information recording apparatus. Reference numeral 16 denotes a power source and charging control means for performing processing such as detecting connection of the DC power source 17 or the storage battery 18 to the information recording device and detecting the remaining amount of the storage battery 18.

  The storage battery 18 can be charged by removing 18 from the information recording device and charging with another charging adapter or the like, but there is also a method of charging with the 18 attached to the information recording device. In that case, 16 determines when to charge the storage battery 18, and when it is determined to charge the battery, power is supplied to the storage battery 18 via the DC power sources 17 to 16 to perform charging.

  Generally, the image display means 15 also displays a warning when the remaining amount of the storage battery 18 or the recording capacity of the disk-shaped recording medium 9 is reduced. This is to prompt the user to replace the storage battery 18 or the disk-shaped recording medium 9.

  A system control unit 12 includes a control microcomputer that controls overall control of the entire device and an application. The system control unit 12 controls each part of the above-described device and performs overall control.

  In a video camera using an information recording apparatus, when a user intends to record information such as video, it is performed by attaching a video tape, an optical disk or the like as an exchangeable recording medium to the information recording apparatus. However, there is an upper limit on the recording capacity of the recording medium to be attached. For long-time outdoor shooting, a plurality of recording media are prepared, and the recording medium is replaced whenever the remaining recording capacity of the recording medium runs out. As a result, there is a problem in that continuous shooting cannot be performed because it is necessary to interrupt shooting in order to replace the recording medium.

  The information recording apparatus of the present invention solves the above problems. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an embodiment using the information recording apparatus of the present invention. Those denoted by the same reference numerals as in FIG. 1 perform the same functions. In FIG. 2, the medium for recording information is the disk-shaped recording medium 9, but a magnetic tape, an information rewritable memory or the like may be used instead of 9, and it is not necessary to be limited thereto. When the information recording medium is a magnetic tape, an information rewritable memory, etc., the numbers 8, 10, and 11 change accordingly, but they are used in conventional video recorders and memory video cameras. Anything is acceptable.

  The recording / reproducing signal processing means 6 also needs to perform processing corresponding to the recording medium if it changes. 2 may be the image display means 15 shown in FIG. 1 if the information recording apparatus is used in a video camera, for example. Alternatively, it may be a television connected to the video camera with a cable.

  30 controls the exchange of recording information between a plurality of recording media and other means of the information recording apparatus when a plurality of recording media are attached to the information recording apparatus, and This is a recording state management means for changing or maintaining the setting based on various conditions. In FIG. 2, the recording state management unit 30 is shown separately from the system control unit 12, but is not limited thereto, and may be included as one of the components of the system control unit 12.

  That is, an information recording system including a recording medium, including control in which the system control means 12 including an application selects and switches a recording medium on which information is to be recorded from a plurality of recording media attached to the information recording apparatus. It is only necessary to control the exchange of recorded information between the information recording apparatus and other means of the information recording apparatus.

  Reference numeral 31 denotes one of a plurality of recording media attached to the information recording apparatus other than the optical disk 9. As an example, a case where 31 is an information rewritable memory incorporated in the information recording apparatus will be described. The recording capacity of the information rewritable memory 31 does not have to be large. If the user bit rate at the time of high-definition shooting of the video camera is 24 [Mbps], for example, it takes 10 seconds to replace the optical disc 9, and information rewriting with a capacity of about 30 [MB] corresponding to the information amount for 10 seconds. A type memory may be prepared.

  Of course, it is not necessary to limit 31 to the information rewritable memory, and it may be a micro HDD such as a micro drive that has recently appeared. Further, 31 may be built in the information recording apparatus or may be replaceable.

  Next, according to the present invention, the remaining recording capacity of the optical disc 9 is almost exhausted during the photographing or recording of information such as video, and the rough flow of processing when the 9 is replaced with another optical disc 9 having a sufficient remaining recording capacity. An example is shown in FIG.

  First, when a user of a video camera using the information recording apparatus shoots and records information such as video on a disk stored in the information recording apparatus, it is usually sufficient when shooting outside the home. Since a plurality of optical disks 9 having a recording capacity are prepared, description will be made assuming that state. Although the recording medium is described as the optical disk 9 here, the present invention is not limited to this, and any recording medium capable of recording video information such as a magnetic tape, a magnetic disk, and a rewritable memory may be used.

  The user attaches the optical disk 9 to a video camera using the information recording apparatus and starts photographing (step 30). When shooting is started, the information recording apparatus starts recording information such as video on the optical disc 9 (step 31). When shooting continues and the recording process does not end (step 32), the recording state management means 30 and the system control means 12 check the remaining recording capacity of the optical disc 9, and a threshold A having the remaining capacity, for example, remaining recording If the remaining capacity corresponding to 2 minutes before the capacity becomes zero (step 33), a warning is displayed on the image display means 15 to inform the user that there is almost no remaining recording capacity of the optical disk 9 (step 34). Encourage 9 exchanges.

  A specific monitoring method such as a method for detecting attachment / detachment of a recording medium such as an optical disk or an information rewritable memory to the camera body by the recording state management means 30 and the system control means 12, and a remaining recording capacity of the recording medium, A method performed by a commercially available video camera or the like may be used.

  If a warning prompting the user to replace the optical disk 9 is displayed during shooting, a switch for taking out the optical disk 9 from the information recording apparatus is turned on. When the system control means 12 detects that the user has switched on the optical disk 9 to be removed from the information recording apparatus (step 35), the system control means 12 has recorded information such as video until now via the recording state management means 30. The recording medium is switched from the optical disk 9 to the information rewritable memory 31, and information is continuously recorded there (step 36). While recording information such as video in the information rewritable memory 31, the user prepares another optical disk 9 'having a remaining recording capacity and attaches it to the information recording apparatus.

  When the system control means 12 detects that the optical disk 9 'is attached to the information recording apparatus (step 37) and finds that information such as video can be recorded on the optical disk 9' again, the system control means 12 passes the recording state management means 30. Then, the recording medium is switched from the information rewritable memory 31 which has recorded information such as video until then to the optical disk 9 ', and information is continuously recorded there (step 38). In this way, the user can replace the optical disk 9 attached to the information recording apparatus with another optical disk 9 'without interrupting the photographing even during the photographing, and the video and the like can be exchanged during the optical disk replacement. Can continue to record information.

  As described above, the user turns on the switch for taking out the optical disk 9 from the information recording apparatus based on the warning display from step 35 to step 36. However, the present invention is not limited to this. When it is detected that the recording capacity is almost zero, the recording medium is switched from the optical disk 9 which has recorded information such as video until now to the information rewritable memory 31 via the recording state management means 30 and the information is rewritten. The optical disk 9 may be automatically ejected from the information recording apparatus.

  At this time, if a warning notifying the user that there is no remaining recording capacity of the optical disk 9 is displayed on the image display means 15, the user can replace the optical disk 9 with another optical disk 9 'having a remaining recording capacity. In other words, when the remaining recording capacity of the optical disk 9 runs out during shooting, the system control means 30 causes the recording state management means 30 to switch the recording medium from the optical disk 9 to the information rewritable memory 31 and continue recording information such as video. 12 may be controlled.

  Further, in the process of exchanging from the optical disk 9 to another optical disk 9 'from step 35 to step 38, the camera aperture, focus position, and exposure conditions are set so as not to cause a great change in information such as a photographed image. The recording state management means 30 controls so as to store and maintain various video camera shooting conditions.

  Alternatively, when the optical disk is replaced, the video camera using this information recording device is likely to shake, so that the current video camera focal length is memorized and the video camera temporarily stored so that the image being shot is not greatly shaken. The recording state management means 30 may be controlled so that the focal length is moved to the short focal length and returned to the original focal length position stored when the optical disk replacement is completed.

  In addition, if a video camera is loaded with a vibration detector, you can see that the video camera is in a stable and low-vibration state when using a tripod. It is also possible.

  The user may select and set how the recording state management means 30 controls. As for sound, when the optical disk 9 is taken out from the information recording apparatus or when the optical disk 9 'is mounted, the operation sound of the machine may be recorded as noise unintended by the user. During a period during which it is expected to occur, the recording state management means 30 controls so as to interrupt the microphone input of the video camera.

  Alternatively, since the operation sound is usually a characteristic sound pattern, an opposite phase of the operation sound may be added when the operation sound is generated. This produces a noise canceling effect.

  After the optical disk 9 is replaced with another optical disk 9 'having a remaining recording capacity, the system control means 12 monitors the remaining recording capacity of the optical disk 9' in the same manner as the optical disk 9, and if necessary, The recording medium is switched (the flow of step 38 → step 33 → step 34 → ...).

  Information such as video recorded in the information rewritable memory 31 during the exchange from the optical disk 9 to another optical disk 9 'having a remaining recording capacity is stored in the optical disk 9' after the optical disk 9 'is attached to the information recording apparatus. What is necessary is just to record again (step 39). The trigger may be performed between processes in which information such as a video currently being taken by the user is recorded on the optical disc 9 '. This is because the recording rate at which information is recorded on the optical disc is generally larger than the information amount per unit time of photographing, that is, the user bit rate, so that the recording process can be interrupted even during photographing.

  Also, information such as video recorded on the optical disk 9 immediately before the replacement, and information such as video recorded in the information rewritable memory 31 during the replacement from the optical disk 9 to another optical disk 9 ′ having a remaining recording capacity, Immediately after the replacement, the recording state management means 30 controls to add information indicating that there is a relationship with information such as video recorded on the optical disc 9 ′ to each information such as video.

  Based on the added information, for example, it is possible to display it as a single thumbnail at a time on an information reproduction thumbnail (representative image) display screen or the like. When the information such as the video recorded in the information rewritable memory 31 has been transferred to the optical disc 9 ′ or copied, the information such as the video recorded in the information rewritable memory 31 is erased from the information rewritable memory 31. (Step 40). Of course, a video camera using this information recording apparatus may be connected to an external information recording apparatus such as a personal computer or a video recorder so that information such as video recorded in the information rewritable memory 31 can be extracted.

  During shooting, the user takes out the optical disk 9 having no or little remaining recording capacity from the information recording apparatus and attaches another optical disk 9 'having the remaining recording capacity to the information recording apparatus. As described above, information is continuously recorded in the information rewritable memory 31, but the recording capacity of the information rewritable memory 31 is often not larger than the recording capacity of the optical disk 9.

  Therefore, the system control means 12 and the recording state management means 30 have not left the remaining recording capacity of the information rewritable memory 31 until another optical disk 9 ′ having a remaining recording capacity is attached to the information recording apparatus. Monitor (step 41). If the remaining recording capacity of the information rewritable memory 31 becomes 0 before another optical disk 9 'having a remaining recording capacity is attached to the information recording apparatus, the recording process of information such as video by photographing is terminated. If it is not 0, a warning is displayed on the image display means 15 prompting the user to quickly install an optical disc having a remaining recording capacity in the information recording apparatus (step 42).

  In FIG. 3, when the remaining recording capacity of the optical disk 9 becomes 0 during shooting without taking out the optical disk 9 whose remaining recording capacity is almost 0 from the information recording apparatus, Although the information recording process is ended (step 44), if the recording capacity of the information rewritable memory 31 is very large, the system control means 12 does not immediately end the recording process and the system control means 12 Via the management means 30, the recording medium is switched from the optical disk 9 which has recorded information such as video until now to the information rewritable memory 31, and information is continuously recorded there, and the user has a remaining recording capacity. Control may be performed so that a warning prompting the user to quickly attach the optical disc to the information recording apparatus is displayed on the image display means 15.

  Also in this case, when the optical disk 9 is not exchanged and the remaining recording capacity of the information rewritable memory 31 becomes 0, the recording process of information such as video by photographing is finished.

  As described above, even when the user runs out of the remaining recording capacity of the optical disk 9 during shooting with the video camera, it is not necessary to interrupt the shooting, and the video and audio intended by the user are greatly impaired. There is nothing. Therefore, it is possible to avoid missing a photo opportunity by exchanging the optical disk.

  In the above description, one optical disk 9 and one recording medium 31 (such as an information rewritable memory) are shown in FIG. 2 one by one. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and there may be a plurality. The optical disk 9 and the recording medium 31 (such as an information rewritable memory) may be mounted so that the user can easily attach or remove the optical disk 9 or the recording medium 31 (information rewritable memory or the like) to the apparatus of the present invention.

It is a figure which shows the system configuration | structure of a general information recording device. It is a figure which shows one Example of this invention, and is a figure which shows the system configuration | structure of an information recording device. It is a figure which shows an example of the rough flow of the process which the information recording device of this invention switches a some recording medium and records information.

Explanation of symbols

1 .... Photographing means, 2 .... Photographing optical system, 3 .... Image sensor part, 4 .... A / D converter,
5. Image signal processing means 6. Recording / reproduction signal processing means 7. Memory
8..Recording / reproducing means, 9..Recording medium, 10..Optical head,
11 .... Servo, 12 .... System control means, 13 .... Display means,
14 .. Microphone, 15 .. Image display means, 16 .. Power supply and charging control means,
17. DC power supply, 18. Storage battery (battery),
30 .. Recording status management means 31..

Claims (7)

Information provided with recording / reproducing means for optically, magnetically or electrically recording information such as images or sound on a recording medium, or reproducing recorded information from the recording medium optically, magnetically or electrically A recording device,
At least one of the plurality of recording media is equipped with a replaceable recording medium, and the information is recorded even during replacement of the first recording medium among the plurality of recording media. An information recording apparatus characterized in that condition information or settings necessary for recording information are stored. The information recording apparatus according to claim 1,
An apparatus for inputting image information is a photographing apparatus, and the condition information or setting is a focal length of an objective zoom lens of the photographing apparatus. The information recording apparatus according to claim 1,
The information recording apparatus, wherein the condition information or setting is shooting conditions when shooting information such as an image or sound. The information recording apparatus according to claim 1,
An information recording apparatus characterized in that the condition information or setting is amplitude phase conversion when inputting information such as voice. The information recording apparatus according to claim 1,
The information recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the condition information or setting is information indicating that the information such as an image being recorded or sound is related to each other even when a recording medium is switched. The information recording apparatus according to claim 1,
An information recording apparatus, wherein at least one of the plurality of recording media other than the first recording medium is built in the information recording apparatus. The information recording apparatus according to claim 2,
An information recording apparatus, wherein when the first recording medium is replaced, a zoom lens of the photographing apparatus moves to a short focal position.

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