JP2011029852A - Image recording apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To facilitate discriminating an outward shot image from a homeward shot image on a list screen. <P>SOLUTION: A record/reproduction processing circuit 28 records a shot image, thumbnail and sound thereof in a memory card 24. The record/reproduction processing circuit 28 further writes positional information by a GPS antenna 18 and a GPS receiving circuit 20, and time information from a timepiece circuit 22 in a metadata file of the memory card 24. An index screen generation circuit 34 converts the positional information of the metadata file to a distance, and generates a list screen for arranging figures representing respective shot images on a distance axis. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus.

JP 2006-148514 A

  Conventionally, a thumbnail image (a thumbnail image of a representative scene in the case of a moving image) is displayed as a method for confirming an image shot and recorded by an imaging device such as a video camera. Usually, a display mode for displaying a list of a predetermined number of thumbnail images such as six or nine is also provided.

  Patent Document 1 describes that shooting position information obtained by a position detection unit (GPS receiver) is recorded in association with a shot image, and a shot image is searched by specifying a shooting position range and displayed on a map. .

  In the method of displaying a thumbnail image of a photographed image at a photographing position on a map, images at the same photographing position are displayed in an overlapping manner, making it difficult to distinguish. For example, when traveling on the same route during a trip or the like, if the shooting on the forward path and the shooting on the return path are performed at the same position, the thumbnail images are displayed in an overlapping manner.

  It is an object of the present invention to provide an image recording apparatus that eliminates such inconveniences.

  An image recording apparatus according to the present invention includes an imaging unit, a position detection unit that detects a position of the imaging unit and outputs position information, image information captured by the imaging unit, and detection by the position detection unit. Recording means for recording the positional information to be recorded on a recording medium in association with each other, and means for generating a list screen of image information recorded on the recording means, in accordance with a moving distance calculated from the positional information And a list screen generating means for arranging a graphic showing each image information on the list screen.

  According to the present invention, since a figure showing a photographed image is displayed in a list on the distance axis, it is obvious at a glance where the photograph was taken.

It is a schematic block diagram of one Example of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the file stored in a memory card. It is an example of the content of the metadata file stored in a memory card. It is explanatory drawing of the example of an index screen. It is explanatory drawing of the example of an index screen. It is explanatory drawing of the example of an index screen. It is explanatory drawing of the example of a timeline screen.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows a schematic block diagram of a video camera which is an embodiment of an image recording apparatus according to the present invention.

  The configuration and basic operation of this embodiment will be described. The image sensor 10 converts an optical image of a subject by an optical system (not shown) into an image signal. The video signal processing circuit 12 encodes an image signal from the image sensor 10 and generates encoded image data and thumbnail data indicating a representative image. The microphone 14 converts sounds and voices around the image pickup apparatus body into audio signals. The audio signal processing circuit 16 encodes the audio signal from the microphone 14 and outputs encoded audio data.

  The GPS antenna 18 receives radio waves from a plurality of GPS (Global Positioning System) satellites. The GPS receiving circuit 20 outputs current position information from the radio wave received by the GPS antenna 18. The GPS antenna 18 and the GPS receiving circuit 20 function as a position detection unit that detects a shooting position. The clock circuit 22 outputs current time information.

  The memory card 24 as a recording medium is composed of a non-volatile memory element and is detachable from the memory card slot 26. The recording / reproducing processing circuit 28 can write data to the memory card 24 via the memory card slot 26 and can read data from the memory card 24. Specifically, the output data of the video signal processing circuit 12, the audio signal processing circuit 16, the GPS receiving circuit 20, and the clock circuit 22 are written in the memory card 24 in a predetermined file format and file arrangement. The recording / reproduction processing circuit 28 can also read and update data recorded on the memory card 24.

  FIG. 2 shows data recorded on the memory card and an arrangement example thereof. File MOVIE. LST is a play list of recorded moving image data. A moving image data file is arranged under the directory MOVIE. The moving image data file includes data obtained by compression-encoding and multiplexing the captured image information from the image sensor 10 and the audio signal from the microphone 14 in a predetermined format. Under the directory THUMB, thumbnail files corresponding to each moving image data file are stored. The thumbnail file is composed of thumbnail image data of a corresponding moving image data file. Under the directory META, metadata files of corresponding moving image data are stored. The moving image data file, the thumbnail file, and the metadata file correspond to each other by making the portions other than the file name extension the same.

  FIG. 3 shows an example of the contents of the metadata file. The metadata file stores time and shooting position information in association with each other at regular intervals. In the example shown in FIG. 3, the position information is recorded at intervals of 15 seconds, and the position information includes information on latitude, longitude, altitude, and accuracy. In each frame of the moving image data recorded on the memory card 24, time information output from the clock circuit 22 is embedded as a photographing time. By mediating the shooting time information, the shooting position and each frame image of the recorded moving image data are associated with each other.

  The reproduction image processing circuit 30 decodes the encoded image data read from the memory card 24 by the recording / reproduction processing circuit 28 and generates a video signal (reproduction video signal) in a predetermined format. The shooting information image generation circuit 32 generates a shooting information image based on the metadata read from the memory card 24 by the recording / playback processing circuit 28. The index screen generation circuit 34 generates an index screen according to the thumbnail data read from the memory card 24 by the recording / playback processing circuit 28 and the display control signal from the system control circuit 36. The index screen is a so-called list screen, and the index screen generation circuit 34 is a list screen generation means.

  The video output circuit 38 selects or synthesizes the playback video signal from the playback image processing circuit 30, the shooting information image from the shooting information image generation circuit 32, and the index screen from the index screen generation circuit 34. Output to the output terminal 42.

  The liquid crystal panel 40 displays an image of the subject being shot in the recording mode, and displays a playback image of the recorded video signal in the playback mode. The video output terminal 42 outputs a video signal during shooting (including standby for shooting) in the recording mode, and outputs a playback video signal in the playback mode.

  The reproduction audio processing circuit 44 decodes the encoded audio data read from the memory card 24 by the recording / reproduction processing circuit 28 and reproduces an audio signal. The audio output circuit 46 outputs the reproduction audio signal from the reproduction audio processing circuit 44 to the speaker 48 and the audio output terminal 50.

  The speaker 48 outputs playback sound in the playback mode. In the recording mode, the speaker 48 is controlled not to output sound in order to prevent howling. The audio output terminal 50 outputs a recorded audio signal in the recording mode, and outputs a reproduced audio signal in the reproduction mode.

  The operation unit 52 includes buttons that are operated by the user, and supplies an operation signal corresponding to the button operated by the user to the system control circuit 36. The system control circuit 36 controls the operation of the entire apparatus according to an operation signal from the operation unit 52 and the like.

  The operation in the recording mode of this embodiment will be described. The user can use the operation unit 52 to instruct the system control circuit 36 to change to the recording mode and to start and end the recording operation in the recording mode. The system control circuit 36 instructs the recording / playback processing circuit 28 to record the captured image and sound on the memory card 24 in accordance with the recording start instruction.

  Specifically, the recording / playback processing circuit 28 writes the moving image data obtained by multiplexing the compressed image data from the video signal processing circuit 12 and the compressed audio data from the audio signal processing circuit 16 to the memory card 24. The moving image data is written under the directory MOVIE of the memory card 24, and the playlist file MOVIE. The moving image data file name is registered in the LST. The recording / playback processing circuit 28 also writes the thumbnail data generated by the video signal processing circuit 12 in the directory THUMB of the memory card 24. The file name is the same as the file name of the corresponding moving image data file except for the extension. Thereby, the correspondence with the moving image data file can be understood.

  During the recording operation, the recording / reproducing processing circuit 28 periodically generates metadata including positioning information from the GPS receiving circuit 20 and time information from the clock circuit 22 and writes it to the memory card 24 under the directory META. . The file name of the metadata is the same as the file name of the corresponding moving image data file except for the extension. Thus, the correspondence between the moving image data file and the thumbnail data file can be understood.

  During the recording mode, the recording / reproduction processing circuit 28 supplies the compressed image data from the video signal processing circuit 12 to the reproduction image processing circuit 30 and supplies the compressed audio data from the audio signal processing circuit 16 to the reproduction audio processing circuit 44. . The reproduction image processing circuit 30 decodes the compressed image data from the recording / reproduction processing circuit 28 and generates a video signal in a predetermined format. The reproduction audio processing circuit 44 decodes the compressed audio data from the recording / reproduction processing circuit 28. The recording / playback processing circuit 28 also supplies the metadata being recorded to the shooting information image generation circuit 32, and the shooting information image generation circuit 32 generates an information display image based on the metadata.

  The system control circuit 36 instructs the video output circuit 38 to output a video signal obtained by synthesizing the video signal from the reproduction image processing circuit 30 and the information display image from the shooting information image generation circuit 32 to the liquid crystal panel 40 and the video output terminal 42. Output. As a result, the photographer or user can confirm the image being photographed and the photographing conditions on the screen of the liquid crystal panel 40, and can display or record an image on an external device connected to the video output terminal 42.

  The system control circuit 36 instructs the audio output circuit 46 to output the audio signal from the reproduction audio processing circuit 44 to the audio output terminal 50. As a result, audio output or recording can be performed with an external device connected to the audio output terminal 50.

  When the user operates the operation unit 52 to instruct the system control circuit 36 to end the recording operation, the system control circuit 36 shifts to the stop mode and sets the recording / playback processing circuit 28 to the stop mode.

  The operation in the playback mode of this embodiment will be described. The user can use the operation unit 52 to instruct the system control circuit 36 to transition to the playback mode, select a playback target in the playback mode, and start / end playback. The system control circuit 36 sets the recording / playback processing circuit 28 to the playback mode in response to an instruction for transition to the playback mode.

  The recording / playback processing circuit 28 reads the file MOVIE. With reference to LST, the order of moving image data files to be reproduced is determined. The recording / playback processing circuit 28 reads out the moving image data file according to the determined order from the memory card 24 and separates it into compressed image data and compressed audio data. The separated compressed image data is supplied to the reproduction image processing circuit 30, and the separated compressed audio data is supplied to the reproduction audio processing circuit 44. The recording / playback processing circuit 28 also reads a metadata file having the same file name as the moving image data file, excluding the extension, from the directory META.

  The reproduction image processing circuit 30 decodes the compressed image data from the recording / reproduction processing circuit 28 and generates a video signal (reproduction video signal) in a predetermined format. The reproduction audio processing circuit 44 decodes the compressed audio data from the recording / reproduction processing circuit 28. The recording / playback processing circuit 28 also supplies the metadata read from the memory card 24 to the shooting information image generation circuit 32, and the shooting information image generation circuit 32 generates an information display image based on the metadata.

  The system control circuit 36 instructs the video output circuit 38 to output a video signal obtained by synthesizing the video signal from the reproduction image processing circuit 30 and the information display image from the shooting information image generation circuit 32 to the liquid crystal panel 40 and the video output terminal 42. Output. As a result, the photographer or user can confirm the reproduced image and the photographing conditions on the screen of the liquid crystal panel 40, and can display or record an image on an external device connected to the video output terminal 42.

  The system control circuit 36 instructs the audio output circuit 46 to output the audio signal from the reproduction audio processing circuit 44 to the speaker 48 and the audio output terminal 50. The recorded sound can be confirmed by the output sound of the speaker 48. In addition, audio output or recording can be performed with an external device connected to the audio output terminal 50.

  When the user operates the operation unit 52 to instruct the system control circuit 36 to end the reproduction operation, the system control circuit 36 shifts to the stop mode and sets the recording / reproduction processing circuit 28 to the stop mode.

  In the stop mode, the system control circuit 36 puts the recording / playback processing circuit 28 into the index display mode. The recording / playback processing circuit 28 in the index display mode reads out the thumbnail data requested from the system control circuit 36 from the memory card 24. The index screen generation circuit 34 generates an index screen in which a plurality of read thumbnail data are arranged. In the index display mode, the video output circuit 38 outputs a video signal indicating the index screen from the index screen generation circuit 34 to the liquid crystal panel 40 and the video output terminal 42.

  4 to 6 show examples of index screens according to the present embodiment.

  An example of the index screen shown in FIG. 4 will be described. A thumbnail display area 410 and a positional relationship display area 420 are set side by side on the index screen 400, and a moving distance graphic 430 is displayed below them.

  In the thumbnail display area 410, a thumbnail image of the selected moving image is displayed.

  In the positional relationship display area 420, the shooting positions are schematically displayed as circle symbols (◯, 水) 421, 422 as relative positional relationships in the horizontal plane. Lines connecting the circle symbols (◯,）) 421 and 422 indicate the photographing order. In the example illustrated in FIG. 4, the circle symbol 421 indicates the first shooting position. A double circle symbol (◎) 422 indicates the shooting position of the currently selected image, that is, the shooting position of the thumbnail displayed in the thumbnail display area 410.

  The movement distance graphic 430 is a graphic showing the photographing position converted into a movement distance. A circle symbol (◯) 431 at the left end is a figure indicating the first shooting position, and a circle symbol at the right end is a figure indicating the last shooting position at present. A double circle symbol (◎) 432 indicates the shooting position of the currently selected image, that is, the shooting position of the thumbnail displayed in the thumbnail display area 410. Below the movement distance graphic 430, the distance from the first shooting position is displayed as a numerical value. This distance is calculated by the index screen generation circuit 34 from the position information of the metadata file. In this way, on the list screen, a graphic in which a graphic indicating each piece of image information is arranged according to or in proportion to the movement distance is displayed.

  An example of the index screen shown in FIG. 5 will be described. A thumbnail display area 510 and a positional relationship display area 520 are set side by side on the index screen 500, and a moving distance graphic 530 is displayed below them.

  In the thumbnail display area 510, a thumbnail image of the selected moving image is displayed.

  In the positional relationship display area 520, the shooting positions are schematically displayed as ellipse symbols 521 and 522 as relative positional relationships in the horizontal plane. The ellipses of the ellipse symbols 521 and 522 indicate movement while performing shooting (recording). Lines connecting the ellipse symbols 521 and 522 indicate the photographing order. In the example shown in FIG. 5, the ellipse symbol 521 indicates the first shooting position. A double oval symbol 522 indicates the shooting position of the currently selected image, that is, the shooting position of the thumbnail displayed in the thumbnail display area 510.

  The movement distance graphic 530 shows the photographing position in terms of movement distance, and also shows the altitude. Again, the leftmost ellipse symbol 531 indicates the first imaging position, and the rightmost ellipse symbol indicates the last imaging position at present. A double oval symbol 532 indicates the shooting position of the currently selected image, that is, the shooting position of the thumbnail displayed in the thumbnail display area 510. In the ellipse symbols 531 and 532, the moving distance of each photographing (recording) is added numerically. Below the movement distance graphic 530, the distance from the first shooting position is displayed as a numerical value. The vertical shift of the movement distance graphic 530 reflects the difference in altitude, and altitude values are added on the right side as indicated by reference numerals 551 and 552.

  An example of the index screen shown in FIG. 6 will be described. A thumbnail display area 610 and a positional relationship display area 620 are set side by side on the index screen 600, and a moving distance graphic 630 is displayed below them.

  In the thumbnail display area 610, a thumbnail image of the selected moving image is displayed.

  In the positional relationship display area 620, the same information as the positional relationship display area 520 is displayed in the same manner. In other words, the ellipse symbols 621 and 622 are schematically displayed in the same manner as the ellipse symbols 521 and 522, with the photographing position as a relative positional relationship in the horizontal plane. A double ellipse symbol 622 indicates the shooting position of the currently selected image, that is, the shooting position of the thumbnail displayed in the thumbnail display area 610.

  The movement distance graphic 630 shows the photographing position in terms of the movement distance. Unlike the moving distance graphic 530, the altitude is not shown. The ellipse symbol 631 at the left end indicates the first photographing position, and the ellipse symbol at the right end indicates the last photographing position at present. The double oval symbol 632 indicates the shooting position of the currently selected image, that is, the shooting position of the thumbnail displayed in the thumbnail display area 610. The length of the ellipse symbol is adjusted to reflect the video recording time indicated by the ellipse symbol. Below the movement distance graphic 630, relative movement times 641 and 642 from the first photographing position are displayed numerically. The relative screen time is calculated by the index screen generation circuit 34 from the time information of the metadata file.

  FIG. 7 shows a display example of the timeline screen when any moving image is selected on the index screen 400, 500 or 600. On the timeline screen 700, a thumbnail display area 710 and a shooting information display area 720 and an interval interval information display area 730 are set on the right side thereof. In the shooting information display area 720, shooting information of the selected image is displayed. The interval interval information display area 730 displays a preset interval interval of the scene displayed in the timeline display area.

  A timeline display area 740 is set below the thumbnail display area 710 and the interval interval information display area 730. In the timeline display area 740, scenes (thumbnail images) of the selected moving images at predetermined intervals are displayed in time order. An arbitrary scene is selected or designated with the timeline cursor 741. A time bar 750 is displayed below each scene, and a time position with respect to the entire scene selected by the time line cursor 741 is indicated by a position of a slider 751 on the time bar 750. The time bar 750 is expressed as a time axis with the first selected video image selected on the index screen 400, 500 or 600 as the left end and the last as the right end.

  A thumbnail image of the scene selected by the timeline cursor 741 in the timeline display area 740 is displayed in the thumbnail display area 710, and shooting information is displayed in the shooting information display area 720.

  In this state, when the user operates a selection determination button (not shown), reproduction of a moving image starts from the selected scene.

  According to the present embodiment, in the list display of recorded images, thumbnails are displayed as a list according to movement according to the shooting position information. For example, even when going back and forth on the same route, the shot image on the forward pass and the shot on the return pass are displayed. Images can be displayed so that they can be clearly distinguished.

24: Memory card 20: GPS receiving circuit 22: Clock circuit 28: Recording / reproducing processing circuit 34: Index screen generating circuit 36: System control circuit

Claims (5)

Imaging means;
Position detecting means for detecting the position of the imaging means and outputting position information;
Recording means for recording image information captured by the imaging means and position information detected by the position detection means on a recording medium in association with each other;
A list screen generating means for generating a list screen of image information recorded in the recording means, wherein a graphic indicating each image information is arranged on the list screen in accordance with a moving distance calculated from the position information; An image recording apparatus comprising:   The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the list screen generation unit arranges a graphic indicating each piece of image information at a position proportional to the movement distance on the list screen.   The image recording according to claim 1, wherein the image information is a moving image, and a graphic indicating the image information is displayed in a size corresponding to a recording time of the moving image that is the corresponding image information. apparatus. The location information includes altitude;
The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the list screen generation unit arranges a graphic indicating the image information at a position corresponding to the altitude on the list screen.   The display device according to claim 1, further comprising means for generating and switching a list display in which images at different times of the selected image information are arranged when arbitrary image information is selected on the list screen. The image recording apparatus described.

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