JP2011044898A - Imaging apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a photographer from missing a scene to be recorded, in snap-movie (video image captured for a predetermined time) shooting. <P>SOLUTION: The imaging apparatus has a mode for recording past images captured for a predetermined time prior to operating a recording start/stop key 109 in addition to a mode for recording images captured for a predetermined time after operating the recording start/stop key 109, in a snap-movie recording mode for recording images captured for a predetermined time. Preferably, the mode is switched in accordance with a shooting-scene mode or can be selected by a photographer for each shooting-scene mode. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus that captures a moving image of a predetermined shooting time.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 7-15893

  In recent years, as a moving image recording medium, in addition to a conventionally known magnetic tape, a randomly accessible recording medium such as an optical disk, a hard disk drive, or a flash memory has become widespread. Digital video cameras mainly intended for moving image shooting have a still image shooting function, while digital still cameras have a moving image shooting function.

  With these digital cameras, it is easy to create a short-time moving image file (hereinafter referred to as a snap movie) and send it attached to an e-mail or the like, or upload it to a Web page and publish it.

  In normal moving image shooting, as long as the capacity of the recording medium allows, moving images are continuously recorded on the recording medium until the user instructs to stop recording. On the other hand, for the purpose of creating a snap movie, an imaging apparatus is known that can select a snap movie recording mode in which recording is automatically stopped after recording for a predetermined time (for example, 5 seconds) from the start of recording (patent). Reference 1).

  In the snap movie recording mode, the following problems have conventionally occurred. For example, when shooting a fireworks display, the photographer usually wants to take a picture until the fireworks spread the most, but the recording for a predetermined time may end before that and the scene that he / she wants to shoot the most may be missed. In addition, it is difficult to predict the future behavior of the athlete in sports shooting, and the scene (for example, a soccer shoot scene) that is most desired to be shot may be missed.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an imaging apparatus that solves such a problem.

  An imaging apparatus according to the present invention includes an imaging unit that captures an image of a subject and converts the image signal into an image signal, a signal processing unit that processes the image signal and converts the image signal into a video signal, and a recording unit that records the video signal on a recording medium. An image pickup apparatus for recording the video signal for a predetermined recording time on the recording medium, comprising: an instruction means for instructing recording; and a control means for controlling the recording operation of the pre-recording means. Is a pre-instruction recording operation for recording the video signal before the operation by the instruction means and a post-instruction recording operation for recording the video signal after the operation by the instruction means as the recording operation of the recording means. It can be selected.

  In the present invention, in a snap movie recording mode for recording a photographed image for a predetermined time, a photographed image for a predetermined time after the photographer's operation is recorded, or a past photographed image for a predetermined time including an operation time point is recorded. Now you can choose what to do. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent a predetermined time from elapses before the scene that the photographer wants to photograph and miss the scene that the photographer wants to photograph.

It is a schematic block diagram of one Example of this invention. The characteristic operation | movement flowchart of a present Example is shown. It is another characteristic operation | movement flowchart of a present Example. It is an example of a warning display screen. It is an example of a display screen of another warning. It is another characteristic operation | movement flowchart of a present Example. It is an example of a recording method selection 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 first embodiment of an imaging apparatus according to the present invention.

  The configuration and basic operation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 will be described. The imaging optical system 101 makes an optical image incident on the imaging surface of the imaging element 102. The imaging element 102 photoelectrically converts an optical image on the imaging surface by the imaging optical system 101 and outputs an image signal. The camera signal processing unit 103 performs signal processing on the imaging signal output from the imaging element 102 and converts it into a video signal such as NTSC.

  The recorder signal processing unit 104 outputs the video signal from the camera signal processing unit 103 to the video output circuit 105, and at the same time controls the display circuit 113 to display an image of the video signal on the display device 114. In the recording mode, the recorder signal processing unit 104 controls the recording circuit 106 to record the video signal on the recording medium 107. The recording medium 107 is an information recording medium such as a hard disk or a semiconductor memory. In the playback mode, the recorder signal processing unit 104 controls the recording circuit 106 to read a video signal recorded from the recording medium 107. The recorder signal processing unit 104 outputs the video signal reproduced from the recording medium 107 in this way to the video output circuit 105, and controls the display circuit 113 to display the reproduced image on the display device 114.

  The video output circuit 105 outputs a video signal to an external display device such as a television. The display circuit 113 drives the display device 114. The display device 114 is a device that displays characters and images, such as a liquid crystal display element (LCD). The display circuit 113 displays a menu for various settings on the display device 114 in addition to the image to be recorded and the reproduced image.

  The system controller 108 controls the entire imaging apparatus. A recording start / stop key 109 is an operation member that instructs the system controller 108 to start and stop recording of a captured image. The normal / snap switching key 110 is an operation member that instructs the system controller 108 to switch between the normal mode and the snap movie recording mode in the recording mode. As a more general term, a recording mode in which recording is stopped by a user operation is called a manual recording stop mode or manual stop mode. This is called stop mode. The snap movie recording mode of this embodiment corresponds to the automatic stop mode, and the normal mode corresponds to the manual stop mode.

  A menu key 111 is an operation member that instructs the system controller 108 to display a menu for performing various settings of the imaging apparatus. The operation key 112 includes a cross key and a determination key, and is used to select and determine various setting items on a menu screen displayed by operating the menu key 111. For example, there are shooting scene mode settings such as portrait, sport, and fireworks, AF (autofocus) / MF (manual focus) settings, white balance settings, and the like. The menu key 111 corresponds to the shooting scene setting means in the claims. The system controller 108 detects the operation of the keys 109 to 112 and controls each unit according to the detected key operation.

  In the recording mode, the image sensor 102 photoelectrically converts a subject image by the imaging optical system 101 and supplies an image signal to the camera signal processing unit 103. The camera signal processing unit 103 processes the image signal from the image sensor 102 and supplies the video signal to the recorder signal processing unit 104. The recorder signal processing unit 104 supplies the video signal from the camera signal processing unit 103 to the video output circuit 105 and the display circuit 113. The display circuit 113 drives the display device 114 according to the video signal from the recorder signal processing unit 104 and displays an image corresponding to the image signal from the image sensor 102. As a result, the photographer can check the composition of the subject on the image displayed on the screen of the display device 114.

  When the normal mode is set with the normal / snap switching key 110, the system controller 108 performs a recording operation on the recorder signal processing unit 104 and the recording circuit 106 in response to an operation (recording start operation) of the recording start / stop key 109. To start. In response to this instruction, the recorder signal processing unit 104 supplies the video signal from the camera signal processing unit 103 to the recording circuit 106, and the recording circuit 106 processes for recording and records it on the recording medium 107. When the operation of the recording start / stop key 109 (recording stop operation) is detected, the system controller 108 causes the recorder signal processing unit 104 and the recording circuit 106 to stop the recording operation.

  In the present embodiment, when the snap movie recording mode is set, in this embodiment, a mode for recording a captured image for a certain period of time before the operation of the recording start / stop key 109 and a certain period of time from the operation of the recording start / stop key 109 It is possible to select a mode for recording captured images of the minute. In the present specification, the former is referred to as pre-instruction recording or pre-instruction recording operation because a past captured image before the operation of the recording start / stop key 109 is retroactively recorded. On the other hand, the latter is referred to as post-instruction recording or post-instruction recording operation because a captured image after this operation is recorded in accordance with the operation of the recording start / stop key 109. In the case of pre-instruction recording, the recorder signal processing unit 104 always stores and updates the video signal (captured image) from the camera signal processing unit 103 in the internal memory for the recording time. Then, in response to the operation of the recording start / stop key 109, the video signal stored in the internal memory is read to the recording circuit 106 and recorded on the recording medium 107. In the post-instruction recording, the recorder signal processing unit 104 supplies the video signal (captured image) from the camera signal processing unit 103 to the recording circuit 106 for a predetermined recording time in response to the operation of the recording start / stop key 109. Then, it is recorded on the recording medium 107.

  FIG. 2 shows a flowchart of the characteristic operation of this embodiment in the snap movie recording mode. The process shown in FIG. 2 is repeatedly executed at a predetermined timing. In FIG. 2, when the fireworks display mode or the sport mode is set as the shooting scene mode in the snap movie recording mode, the pre-instruction recording is forced.

  The system controller 108 determines the setting of the sport mode or the fireworks display mode as the shooting scene mode (S11). Here, the shooting scene mode is a shooting mode in which shooting conditions (for example, shutter speed, imaging sensitivity, aperture value, white balance, etc.) are programmed or set in advance according to a set scene. Information on the shooting scene mode is transmitted from the system controller 108 to the recorder signal processing unit 104.

  When the sport mode or the fireworks display mode is set (S11), the recorder signal processing unit 104 records the video signal output from the camera signal processing unit 103 in an internal memory (not shown) of the recorder signal processing unit 104 ( S12). Thereafter, while the sport mode or the fireworks display mode is set as the shooting scene mode, the video signal is continuously recorded in the internal memory until the recording start / stop key 109 is operated (S13). However, the video signal recorded in the internal memory is limited to a predetermined time, and past video signals are erased beyond this. That is, video signals for a certain period of time from the current time are held in the internal memory.

  When the operation of the recording start / stop key 109 is not detected (S13), the flow shown in FIG. When the operation of the recording start / stop key 109 is detected (S13), the system controller 108 instructs the recorder signal processing unit 104 to stop recording the video signal in the internal memory (S14). Further, the recorder signal processing unit 104 outputs the video signal data recorded in the internal memory to the recording circuit 106, and the recording circuit 106 records it on the recording medium 107 (S15). After performing the process of step S15, the process shown in FIG.

  When the sport mode or the fireworks display mode is not set (S11), the system controller 108 checks whether or not the recording start / stop key 109 is operated (S16). If the operation of the recording start / stop key 109 is not performed (S16), the processing shown in FIG. When the operation of the recording start / stop key 109 is performed (S16), the video signal from the camera signal processing unit 103 is recorded on the recording medium 107 during a predetermined time from the operation of the recording start / stop key 109 ( S17). That is, the system controller 108 controls the recorder signal processing unit 104 to supply the recording circuit 106 with video signal data from the camera signal processing unit 103 for a predetermined time after the operation of the recording start / stop key 109. The recording circuit 106 records video signal data for a predetermined time from the recorder signal processing unit 104 on the recording medium 107. After step S17, the process shown in FIG. 2 ends.

  In the fireworks display mode, the pre-instruction recording is performed. Therefore, the photographer only needs to operate the recording start / stop key 109 after waiting for a state in which the fireworks are most desired to be photographed (for example, a state in which the fireworks are most widened). Even in the sport mode, the recording start / stop key 109 may be operated immediately after the scene most desired to be photographed (for example, a soccer shoot scene) is over. By pre-instruction recording, it is possible to prevent missing a scene to be actually recorded.

  As described above, in this embodiment, whether or not a shooting moving image for a predetermined time after the operation of the recording start / stop key 109 is recorded, or a shooting moving image for a predetermined time before the operation of the recording start / stop key 109 is recorded. You can choose whether to record.

  Although the shooting fireworks mode and the sport mode have been described as examples of the shooting scene mode forcing the pre-instruction recording, it is obvious that the present invention is not limited to such a shooting target. Further, custom recording may be set for each shooting scene mode for pre-instruction recording or post-instruction recording.

  FIG. 3 shows another operation flowchart in the snap movie recording mode of the embodiment shown in FIG. The process shown in FIG. 3 is repeatedly performed at a predetermined timing. Here, the photographer is warned of a change between the pre-instruction recording and the post-instruction recording so as to prevent a photographing failure due to misunderstanding.

  The system controller 108 determines the setting of the sport mode or the fireworks display mode as the shooting scene mode (S21). Here, the shooting scene mode is a shooting mode in which shooting conditions (for example, shutter speed, imaging sensitivity, aperture value, white balance, etc.) are programmed or set in advance according to a set scene. Information on the shooting scene mode is transmitted from the system controller 108 to the recorder signal processing unit 104.

  When the sport mode or the fireworks display mode is set (S21), the system controller 108 determines whether or not the flag PreRecFlag is reset to 0 (S22). When the flag PreRecFlag is 1, it indicates pre-instruction recording, and when it is 0, it indicates post-instruction recording. The flag PreRecFlag is stored in a register or the like in the system controller 108, and the initial value is reset to 0. When the normal recording mode is set instead of the snap movie recording mode, the flag PreRecFlag is reset to 0.

  When the flag PreRecFlag is reset to 0 (S22), the system controller 108 sets the flag PreRecFlag to 1 (S23). Then, the system controller 108 displays warning # 1 on the recorder signal processing unit 104 (S24). When the flag PreRecFlag is not reset to 0, that is, when it is set to 1 (S22), steps S23 and S24 are bypassed, and the process proceeds to step S25.

  The recorder signal processing unit 104 records the video signal output from the camera signal processing unit 103 in an internal memory (not shown) of the recorder signal processing unit 104 (S25). Thereafter, while the sports mode or the fireworks display mode is set as the shooting scene mode, the video signal is continuously recorded in the internal memory until the recording start / stop key 109 is operated (S26). However, the video signal recorded in the internal memory is limited to a predetermined time, and past video signals are erased beyond this. That is, video signals for a certain period in the past from the present time are cached in the internal memory.

  If the operation of the recording start / stop key 109 is not detected (S26), the flow shown in FIG. 3 ends. When the operation of the recording start / stop key 109 is detected (S26), the system controller 108 instructs the recorder signal processing unit 104 to stop recording the video signal in the internal memory (S27). The recorder signal processing unit 104 outputs the video signal data recorded in the internal memory to the recording circuit 106, and the recording circuit 106 records it on the recording medium 107 (S28). After performing the process of step S28, the process shown in FIG. 3 is complete | finished.

  When the sport mode or the fireworks display mode is not set (S21), the system controller 108 determines whether or not the flag PreRecFlag is set to 1 (S29). When the flag PreRecFlag is set to 1 (S29), the system controller 108 resets the flag PreRecFlag to 0 (S30). Then, the system controller 108 displays warning # 2 on the recorder signal processing unit 104 (S31). When the flag PreRecFlag is not set to 1, that is, when it is set to 0 (S29), steps S30 and S31 are bypassed, and the process proceeds to step S32.

  The system controller 108 checks whether or not the recording start / stop key 109 has been operated (S32). When the operation of the recording start / stop key 109 is not performed (S32), the processing shown in FIG. When the operation of the recording start / stop key 109 is performed (S32), the video signal from the camera signal processing unit 103 is recorded on the recording medium 107 during a predetermined time from the operation of the recording start / stop key 109 ( S33). That is, the system controller 108 controls the recorder signal processing unit 104 to supply the recording circuit 106 with video signal data from the camera signal processing unit 103 for a predetermined time after the operation of the recording start / stop key 109. The recording circuit 106 records video signal data for a predetermined time from the recorder signal processing unit 104 on the recording medium 107. After step S33, the process shown in FIG. 3 ends.

  Here, the action of the flag PreRecFlag and steps S22 to S24 and S29 to S31 will be described. When the snap movie recording mode is set and the sport mode or the fireworks display mode is set as the shooting scene mode (S21), the flag PreRecFlag is set to 1 (S23), otherwise it is reset to 0 (S30). .

  Therefore, the flag PreRecFlag being 0 in step S22 means that the recording after the instruction is switched to the recording before the instruction. Since such switching is likely to cause confusion for the photographer, in this embodiment, a warning for notifying the photographer of this switching is displayed on the display device 114 (S24). FIG. 4 shows an example of a warning display in step S24. A list 201 of shooting scene modes is displayed on the display device 114 by operating the menu key 111 and the operation key 112. A selection frame 202 for selecting a shooting scene mode can be moved by an operation key 112. A warning sentence 203 is displayed in step S24. The warning sentence 203 indicates to the photographer that video signal data for 5 seconds before the operation of the recording start / stop key 109 is recorded. “5 seconds” is an example of a recording time in the snap movie recording mode.

  On the other hand, if the flag PreRecFlag is 1 in step S29, it means that the pre-instruction recording is switched to the post-instruction recording. Since such switching is likely to cause confusion for the photographer, a warning notifying the photographer of this switching is displayed on the display device 114 (S31). FIG. 5 shows an example of a warning display in step S31. The warning message 204 indicates to the photographer that video signal data for 5 seconds after the operation of the recording start / stop key 109 is recorded. “5 seconds” is an example of a recording time in the snap movie recording mode.

  In this embodiment, in the snap movie recording mode, a captured image of a predetermined time after the operation of the recording start / stop key 109 is recorded, or a past captured image of a predetermined time before the operation of the recording start / stop key 109 is recorded. To switch according to the shooting scene mode. Since a warning is displayed at the time of this switching, it is possible to prevent the photographer from being confused by the switching of the recording method.

  FIG. 6 shows another operation flowchart in the snap movie recording mode of the embodiment shown in FIG. The process shown in FIG. 6 is repeatedly performed at a predetermined timing. It is now possible to select pre-instruction recording or post-instruction recording according to the shooting scene mode selected.

  The system controller 108 determines the setting of the sport mode or the fireworks display mode as the shooting scene mode (S41). Here, the shooting scene mode is a shooting mode in which shooting conditions (for example, shutter speed, imaging sensitivity, aperture value, white balance, etc.) are programmed or set in advance according to a set scene. Information on the shooting scene mode is transmitted from the system controller 108 to the recorder signal processing unit 104.

  When the sport mode or the fireworks display mode is set (S41), the system controller 108 determines whether or not the shooting scene mode has been switched (S42). In the determination in step S42 immediately after the photographer switches the shooting scene mode from the portrait mode to the fireworks display mode, the shooting scene mode is switched. Similarly, immediately after the shooting scene mode is switched between the launch fireworks mode and the sport mode, it is determined that the shooting scene mode has been switched. After it is determined in step S42 that the shooting scene mode has been switched, it is not determined in step S42 that the shooting scene mode has been switched until the shooting scene mode is switched again.

  When it is determined that the shooting scene mode has been switched (S42), the system controller 108 instructs the recorder signal processing unit 104 to display a warning, and the recorder signal processing unit 104 displays a selection screen illustrated in FIG. 114 is displayed (S43).

  FIG. 7 is a display example of the display device 114 in step S43. In the example illustrated in FIG. 7, “fireworks” is selected as the shooting scene mode. In response to this selection, a screen 205 pops up showing two options: “Record video before pressing the button” (option 1) and “Record video after pressing the button” (option 2). To do. The selection frame 206 is arranged by default so as to select one of the options, and can be changed to the other option by operating the operation key 112. Option 1 is an option for setting pre-instruction recording in the snap movie recording mode. Option 2 is an option for setting post-instruction recording in the snap movie recording mode. The system controller 108 waits for the end of the selection operation on the screen as shown in FIG. 7 (S44).

  When it is determined that the shooting scene mode has not been switched (S42), steps S43 and S44 are not executed, and the process proceeds to step S45.

  The system controller 108 determines the selection in step S44 (S45). If pre-instruction recording has been selected (S45), the recorder signal processing unit 104 records the video signal output from the camera signal processing unit 103 in an internal memory (not shown) of the recorder signal processing unit 104 (S46). ). Thereafter, while the sports mode or the fireworks display mode is set as the shooting scene mode, the video signal is continuously recorded in the internal memory until the recording start / stop key 109 is operated (S46). However, the video signal recorded in the internal memory is limited to a predetermined time, and past video signals are erased beyond this. That is, video signals for a certain period of time from the present time are cached in the internal memory.

  When the operation of the recording start / stop key 109 is not detected (S47), the flow shown in FIG. 6 ends. When the operation of the recording start / stop key 109 is detected (S47), the system controller 108 instructs the recorder signal processing unit 104 to stop recording the video signal in the internal memory (S48). The recorder signal processing unit 104 outputs the video signal data recorded in the internal memory to the recording circuit 106, and the recording circuit 106 records it on the recording medium 107 (S49). After performing the process of step S49, the process shown in FIG.

  When the sport mode or the fireworks display mode is not set (S41), or when the pre-instruction recording is not performed (S45), the system controller 108 checks whether or not the recording start / stop key 109 is operated (S50). If the operation of the recording start / stop key 109 is not performed (S50), the process shown in FIG. When the operation of the recording start / stop key 109 is performed (S50), the video signal from the camera signal processing unit 103 is recorded on the recording medium 107 during a predetermined time from the operation of the recording start / stop key 109 ( S51). That is, the system controller 108 controls the recorder signal processing unit 104 to supply the recording circuit 106 with video signal data from the camera signal processing unit 103 for a predetermined time after the operation of the recording start / stop key 109. The recording circuit 106 records video signal data for a predetermined time from the recorder signal processing unit 104 on the recording medium 107. After step S51, the process shown in FIG. 6 ends.

  Whether to perform pre-instruction recording or post-instruction recording in the snap movie recording mode can be selected at the time of setting for a specific shooting scene mode. This improves the convenience for the photographer.

  The processes in steps S12 and S14, steps S25 and S27, and steps S46 and 48 may be changed as shown below. That is, in steps S12, S25, and S27, the video signal is cyclically recorded in the internal memory with the video signal data for time T1 as the upper limit. In steps S14, S27, and S48, the video data for time T2 is recorded in the internal memory following the video signal data for time T1. It is assumed that the sum of time T1 and time T2 is equal to the recording time of the snap movie. In this case, it is possible to record a past captured image for the time T1 before the operation of the recording start / stop key 109 and a captured image for a time T2 after the operation of the recording start / stop key 109. In other words, captured images for a predetermined period including before and after the recording instruction are recorded. This method can also prevent a scene to be recorded from being missed, as in the above-described embodiment. The distribution of the times T1 and T2 can be set by the photographer by operating the menu key 111 and the operation key 112, for example.

102: Image sensor 103: Camera signal processing unit 104: Recorder signal processing unit 106: Recording circuit 107: Recording medium

Claims (5)

Imaging means for photographing a subject and converting it into an image signal;
Signal processing means for processing the image signal and converting it into a video signal;
Recording means for recording the video signal on a recording medium;
An instruction means for instructing recording;
Control means for controlling the recording operation of the pre-recording means, and an imaging device for recording the video signal for a predetermined recording time on the recording medium,
The control means includes, as the recording operation of the recording means, a pre-instruction recording operation for recording the video signal before the operation by the instruction means, and an instruction for recording the video signal after the operation by the instruction means. An image pickup apparatus capable of selecting a recording operation.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pre-instruction recording operation is a recording operation for recording the video signal of the predetermined recording time before the operation by the instruction unit.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pre-instruction recording operation is a recording operation for recording the video signal of the predetermined recording time including before and after an operation by the instruction unit. Furthermore, it has a shooting scene setting means for setting a shooting scene,
The control unit sets the recording operation of the recording unit as the pre-instruction recording operation for a specific shooting scene, and the recording operation of the recording unit for the shooting scene excluding the specific shooting scene after the instruction. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a recording operation is performed. Furthermore,
Shooting scene setting means for setting a shooting scene;
Means for instructing the control means to perform one of the pre-instruction recording operation and the post-instruction recording operation for a specific shooting scene;
The control means sets a recording operation of the recording means for a specific shooting scene as a commanded one of the pre-instruction recording operation and the post-instruction recording operation, and for a shooting scene excluding the specific shooting scene. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording operation of the recording unit is the post-instruction recording operation.

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