JP2011166371A - Imaging apparatus and imaging method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow a user to easily view a desired video in reproduction. <P>SOLUTION: An imaging apparatus 100 includes: an imaging portion 120 for imaging an imaging object; an inclination angle acquiring portion 172 for acquiring an inclination angle being the angle for the rotation of the imaging apparatus around the optical axis of the imaging portion; and a storage control portion 174 for controlling the storage portion, on the basis of the inclination angle, to start the storage of an image being the imaging object when the imaging apparatus is rotated around the optical axis of the imaging portion so as to be in a first state where rotation is performed by a first angle or more around the optical axis from a prescribed state. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus and an imaging method for imaging based on an inclination angle.

  Imaging devices such as digital still cameras and digital video cameras have been improved in functionality for assisting imaging such as camera shake correction and face recognition as well as improving resolution and storage capacity. For example, there is a technique for controlling the imaging state by recognizing the attitude of the imaging device itself.

  As an example, based on the tilt angle (pitch angle) detection switch of the optical axis of the imaging unit, it is determined whether the imaging direction is up or down, and automatically when the imaging direction is on the ground (down) A technique has been proposed in which imaging is stopped and the ground is not imaged meaninglessly (for example, Patent Document 1).

JP-A-3-40670

  By the way, in the practice of motorbike driving and motorbike racing, an imaging device is installed at the rear of the motorbike (motorcycle), and the rider (operator) cornering posture and the motorbike that resists centrifugal force The tilt state may be imaged. Watching the captured images later can give you a sense of unity as if you were driving, or use it to improve your driving skills by confirming your own piloting attitude Is possible.

  When shooting as described above, when going straight ahead compared to cornering, the maneuvering itself is less likely to change, and the difference in rider's maneuvering skills is less likely to appear, making the image monotonous and less interesting. For this reason, if uniform imaging is performed from the start of maneuvering until the vehicle stops, most of the video will be monotonous that is not desired by the user, depending on the course shape.

  In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide an imaging apparatus and an imaging method capable of easily viewing a desired video during reproduction.

  In order to solve the above problems, an imaging device of the present invention includes an imaging unit that captures an imaging target, an inclination angle acquisition unit that acquires an inclination angle that is an angle at which the imaging device rotates about the optical axis of the imaging unit, Based on the tilt angle, the imaging device rotates around the optical axis of the imaging unit and starts storing the image to be imaged when the imaging state is changed from the predetermined state to the first state rotated by the first angle or more around the optical axis. And a storage control unit that controls the storage unit.

  The imaging device further includes a temporary holding unit that temporarily holds an image captured by the imaging unit, and the storage control unit is configured to be a time when the imaging device is in the first state when the imaging device is in the first state. Alternatively, the storage unit may be controlled so as to start storing images after a time before a predetermined time.

  The storage control unit is configured such that, after the imaging device is in the first state, the imaging device is rotated about the optical axis of the imaging unit, and is rotated from the predetermined state to an angle less than or equal to a second angle around the optical axis. When the imaging apparatus is in the second state where the imaging apparatus is located, the storage unit may be controlled to stop storing the image to be captured.

  The second angle may be smaller than the first angle.

  The imaging apparatus may further include an inclination angle deriving unit that derives an inclination angle.

  The tilt angle deriving unit may include an angular velocity sensor, an integration circuit that integrates the output of the angular velocity sensor, and an offset component suppression unit that suppresses an offset component of the output of the integration circuit.

  The imaging apparatus may further include a superimposing unit that superimposes an index image indicating one or both of the horizontal axis and the vertical axis on an image captured by the imaging unit.

  The superimposing unit may superimpose an index image having a different display form according to the tilt angle on an image captured by the imaging unit.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, an imaging method of the present invention is an imaging method using an imaging device including an imaging unit. The imaging method captures an imaging target, and the imaging device rotates at an angle around the optical axis of the imaging unit. When a certain tilt angle is acquired, the imaging device rotates around the optical axis of the imaging unit, and when the first state is reached from the predetermined state by the first angle or more around the optical axis, storage of the image to be imaged is started. As described above, the storage unit is controlled based on the inclination angle.

  In order to solve the above problems, another imaging device of the present invention acquires an imaging unit that images an imaging target and an inclination angle that is an angle at which the imaging target is rotated about the traveling direction axis of the imaging target. When the imaging target rotates about the traveling direction axis of the imaging target and changes from the predetermined state to the first state rotated by the first angle or more around the traveling direction axis, the image of the imaging target is stored. And a storage control unit that controls the storage unit based on the tilt angle so as to start.

  The storage control unit is configured such that, after the imaging device is in the first state, the imaging device is rotated about the optical axis of the imaging unit, and is rotated from the predetermined state to an angle less than or equal to a second angle around the optical axis. When the imaging apparatus is in the second state where the imaging apparatus is located, the storage unit may be controlled to stop storing the image to be captured.

  The imaging device further includes a temporary holding unit that temporarily holds an image captured by the imaging unit, and the storage control unit is configured to be a time when the imaging device is in the first state when the imaging device is in the first state. Alternatively, the storage unit may be controlled so as to start storing images after a time before a predetermined time.

  In order to solve the above problems, another imaging device of the present invention includes an imaging unit that captures an imaging target, and an inclination angle acquisition unit that acquires an inclination angle that is an angle at which the imaging device is rotated about the optical axis of the imaging unit. When the imaging apparatus rotates around the optical axis of the imaging unit and changes from a predetermined state to a first state that rotates more than a first angle around the optical axis, the image to be imaged is in the first state. And a storage control unit for assigning index data indicating the above.

  In order to solve the above problems, another imaging device of the present invention includes an imaging unit that captures an imaging target, a storage control unit that stores an image of the imaging target in a storage unit, and an imaging device that rotates around the optical axis of the imaging unit. An inclination angle acquisition unit that acquires an inclination angle that is an angle rotated to the first position, and the imaging apparatus rotates around the optical axis of the imaging unit, and changes from a predetermined state to a first state that rotates more than a first angle around the optical axis. And a digest generation unit that generates digest data obtained by extracting an image to be imaged.

  As described above, according to the present invention, a desired video can be easily viewed during reproduction.

It is the external view which showed an example of the imaging device. It is explanatory drawing explaining installation to the motorbike of an imaging device. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the other utilization form of an imaging device. It is the functional block diagram which showed the schematic structure of the imaging device. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating an inclination angle. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating operation | movement of the motorbike in cornering. It is the functional block diagram which showed the schematic structure of the inclination-angle derivation | leading-out part. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the timing of cornering and the memory | storage of an image | video. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating memory | storage of image data. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the horizontal axis and vertical axis | shaft in image data. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a process of an imaging method.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The dimensions, materials, and other specific numerical values shown in the embodiments are merely examples for facilitating the understanding of the invention, and do not limit the present invention unless otherwise specified. In the present specification and drawings, elements having substantially the same function and configuration are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted, and elements not directly related to the present invention are not illustrated. To do.

(First embodiment: imaging apparatus 100)
FIG. 1 is an external view illustrating an example of the imaging apparatus 100. FIG. 1A illustrates a digital still camera as the imaging device 100, and FIG. 1B illustrates a digital video camera as the imaging device 100. Some imaging devices 100 have portability, and can capture still images and moving images. In the present embodiment, the imaging apparatus 100 is a digital video camera as an example. The imaging apparatus 100 includes a main body 102, an imaging lens 104, an operation unit 106, and a display unit 108.

  The main body 102 houses a central control unit 136 and a video storage unit 132 which will be described later. The display unit 108 includes a liquid crystal display, an organic EL (Electro Luminescence) display, and the like, and the user can visually recognize the stored image data through the display unit 108.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a method for installing the imaging apparatus 100 on the motorbike 110. As shown in FIG. 2A, the imaging device 100 is installed at the rear of the motorbike 110 that is an example of a vehicle so that, for example, 2/3 of the rider's upper body can be captured as a subject. The position where the imaging device 100 is installed is not limited to the rear part of the motorbike 110 but may be the front part.

  As another installation method, for example, as shown in FIG. 2 (b), which is a view seen from the rear upper part of the motorbike 110, a dedicated fixing jig 112 is fixed to the engagement portion of the rear suspension, As shown in FIG. 2 (c), which is a view seen from above the rear part of the motorbike 110, there are means for holding a tripod leg tip 116 with a touring net 118 or the like on the two-seater belt 114 of the rear seat. Is possible.

  FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram for describing another usage pattern of the imaging apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment. The imaging device 100 is not limited to imaging of traveling of the motorbike 110, but is used for imaging a snowboard as shown in FIG. 3A, or used for imaging surfing as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG.3 (c), it can use for the imaging of windsurfing and can be applied to the imaging of various vehicles.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the imaging apparatus 100. The imaging apparatus 100 includes an operation unit 106, an imaging unit 120, a data processing unit 122, a temporary holding unit 124, a display unit 108, an external output unit 126, a compression / decompression unit 128, and an external writing unit 130. A video storage unit 132 that functions as a storage unit, an inclination angle deriving unit 134, and a central control unit 136 are included.

  The operation unit 106 is an operation key including a release switch, a switch such as a cross key, a joystick, a touch panel, and the like, and accepts a user operation input.

  The imaging unit 120 has an optical axis fixed in the traveling direction of the motorbike 110, and captures an image of a subject (imaging target), in this case, a rider riding on a vehicle (motorbike 110) through the imaging lens 104, and generates an electrical signal. . Specifically, the imaging unit 120 includes a focus lens 150 used for focus adjustment, a diaphragm 152 used for exposure adjustment, an imaging element 154 that converts light incident through the imaging lens 104 into an electric signal, a focus lens 150, and a diaphragm 152. A driving circuit 156 is configured to be driven. The electrical signal generated by the imaging unit 120 is transferred to the data processing unit 122.

  The data processing unit 122 performs predetermined processing such as white balance adjustment, noise reduction processing, level correction processing, A / D conversion processing, and color correction processing (gamma correction processing, knee processing) on the electrical signal output from the imaging unit 120. By performing processing, image data is generated and output to the temporary storage unit 124.

  The temporary storage unit 124 has a function as, for example, a ring buffer or a FIFO (shift register), and uses a RAM (Random Access Memory), a flash memory, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), and the like from the data processing unit 122. Temporarily holds input image data. When image data is input to the temporary storage unit 124 in a state where the image data is stored in the temporary storage unit 124, the image data stored in the temporary storage unit 124 is a new image input later in time. The data is overwritten.

  As described above, the display unit 108 is configured by a liquid crystal display, an organic EL display, or the like. The display unit 108 displays the image data output from the data processing unit 122 and stored in the temporary storage unit 124, or the OSD (image capturing state). On-Screen Display) etc.

  The external output unit 126 outputs the image data held in the temporary holding unit 124, for example, to the display device 200 connected to the imaging device 100.

  The compression / decompression unit 128 converts the image data output from the data processing unit 122 into M-JPEG (motion JPEG), MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) -2, H.264, or the like. The image data is encoded by a predetermined encoding method such as H.264, and the encoded image data is output to the video storage unit 132 and the external writing unit 130.

  The external writing unit 130 stores the image data encoded by the compression / decompression unit 128 in an arbitrary external storage medium 202. As an optional external storage medium 202, removable optical media such as DVD (Digital Versatile Disk) and BD (Blu-ray Disc), RAM, EEPROM, nonvolatile RAM, flash memory, portable HDD, and other storage media Can be applied.

  The video storage unit 132 is a storage medium such as a RAM, an EEPROM, a nonvolatile RAM, a flash memory, and an HDD formed integrally with the imaging device 100 and stores the image data output from the compression / decompression unit 128.

  The inclination angle deriving unit 134 includes, for example, an angular velocity sensor. The inclination angle deriving unit 134 derives an inclination angle (roll angle) from the vertical axis (roll axis), which is an angle rotated around the optical axis of the imaging unit 120 as shown in FIG. Hereinafter, the tilt angle deriving unit 134 will be described as detecting the angle around the optical axis between the central axis of the imaging unit 120 and the vertical axis as the tilt angle, but the present invention is not limited to this. Note that an axis that faces the direction of gravity is a vertical axis, orthogonal to the vertical axis, and an axis that is orthogonal to the optical axis or the traveling direction axis is a horizontal axis.

  In addition, the inclination angle deriving unit 134 may be included in the imaging device 100, or may be installed on an object to which the imaging device 100 such as an imaging target is fixed or a device that moves in conjunction with the target to which the imaging device 100 is fixed. May be. In this embodiment, the motorbike 110 may have the tilt angle deriving unit 134, or the rider who drives the motorbike 110 may have the tilt angle deriving unit 134.

  FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the inclination angle. FIG. 5A shows the inclination angle of the motorbike 110, and FIG. 5B shows the inclination angle of the imaging apparatus 100 attached to the motorbike 110 in FIG. 5A.

  As shown in FIG. 5 (a), the rider leans the motorcycle 110 in a turning direction to counter the centrifugal force (indicated by an arrow 220 in FIG. 5 (a) and FIG. 6 described later) in cornering or the like. θ tilt. As described with reference to FIG. 2, since the imaging device 100 is fixed to the rear portion of the motorcycle 110, the imaging device 100 tilts integrally with the tilt of the motorcycle 110 as shown in FIG. The inclination angle deriving unit 134 derives an inclination angle θ that is an angle between a vertical axis that is an axis that faces the direction of gravity and the central axis of the motorbike 110 or the imaging apparatus 100.

  As described above, in this embodiment, the angle between the central axis of the motorbike 110 or the imaging apparatus 100 and the vertical axis is the tilt angle θ. The tilt angle θ is based on a predetermined state. An angle obtained by rotating a predetermined axis (in this embodiment, the central axis) perpendicular to the traveling direction axis, or a predetermined axis (in the present embodiment, the central axis) orthogonal to the optical axis of the imaging apparatus 100 May be any angle rotated around the optical axis. For example, the angle between the central axis of the motorbike 110 or the imaging device 100 and the horizontal axis can be set as the inclination angle θ.

  In the present embodiment, when the motorbike 110 is traveling straight (predetermined state), the central axis and the vertical axis of the motorbike 110 are directed in substantially the same direction, so the angle between the central axis and the vertical axis is the inclination angle θ. . Further, since it is assumed that the imaging apparatus 100 is installed such that the central axis of the imaging apparatus 100 and the central axis of the motorbike 110 are oriented in substantially the same direction, the imaging apparatus 100 is perpendicular to the central axis of the imaging apparatus 100. The angle with the axis may be the inclination angle θ. The traveling direction axis is an axis that faces the same direction as the traveling direction of the vehicle. In this embodiment, it is assumed that a part of the traveling direction axis is located at the contact point between the vehicle and the ground (water surface).

  Note that, as described above, the inclination angle deriving unit 134 is not limited to being incorporated in the imaging apparatus 100, and is attached to, for example, the inclination angle deriving apparatus incorporated in the motorbike 110 or the motorbike 110. A configuration in which the tilt angle is referred from another tilt angle deriving device may be used. With this configuration, it is possible to reduce the calculation load spent on the tilt angle deriving unit 134 by effectively using existing information.

  On the other hand, when the tilt angle derivation unit 134 is formed integrally with the imaging device 100 as described in the present embodiment, the attachment becomes easy, and the storage when not in use does not take up space. Further, disconnection of the transmission path of the inclination angle, which may occur when the inclination angle is transmitted from an external device, can be acquired stably.

  Note that an acceleration sensor or an angular velocity sensor can be used for the tilt angle deriving unit 134. When an acceleration sensor is used, the inclination angle can be derived according to how much gravitational acceleration G is included in the detection axis. When an angular velocity sensor is used, the angle is derived by time-integrating the angular velocity around the detection axis.

  FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the operation of the motorbike 110 during cornering. When the motorbike 110 reaches the curve through the path 230 indicated by the dashed arrow in the road 230, the motorbike 110 and the imaging device 100 are centrifuged in a direction away from the rotation center 234 of the curve during cornering of the motorbike 110. A force (indicated by arrow 220 in FIG. 6) is generated. When only the acceleration sensor is used for the inclination angle deriving unit 134, the influence of the acceleration due to the centrifugal force is also received. Therefore, it is possible that only the gravitational acceleration G cannot be extracted and the inclination angle cannot be accurately derived. It is possible to detect corners. Besides, two acceleration sensors are arranged in the horizontal direction of the motorbike 110, and the inclination angle can be derived by using the difference between the detected values, but the interval between the two acceleration sensors can be temporarily separated by 5 cm. However, only a difference of about 2% with respect to the gravitational acceleration G can be detected, and there is a possibility that the inclination angle cannot be accurately derived, but it is possible to detect an approximate inclination angle.

  On the other hand, if an angular velocity sensor is used, it is not affected by linear acceleration such as gravitational acceleration G or acceleration due to centrifugal force. Further, the rotation around the vertical axis due to the curve of the motorbike 110 is not affected because the optical axis and the vertical axis are orthogonal to each other, and the inclination angle deriving unit 134 is based on the measured value of the angular velocity sensor. The inclination angle of 110 can be derived with higher accuracy.

  When such an angular velocity sensor is used as the tilt angle deriving unit 134, the tilt angle deriving unit 134 sets the tilt angle at that time to 0 degrees (when the power is turned on or in response to a reset input through the operation unit 106 of the photographer. Reset to the default value. Then, for example, the angular velocity around the optical axis is detected at a sampling period of about 300 Hz or more, and the detected value is integrated to derive the tilt angle.

  FIG. 7 is a functional block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the inclination angle deriving unit 134. FIG. 7A shows a case where only the angular velocity sensor 250 is used, and FIG. 7B shows a case where both the angular velocity sensor 250 and the acceleration sensor 252 are used.

  The integration circuit 254 integrates the output of the angular velocity sensor 250 to derive the tilt angle. However, noise may be output from the angular velocity sensor 250, and the integration circuit 254 also accumulates the noise, and an offset component is added to the detection value of the angular velocity sensor 250, so that the detection value of the angular velocity sensor 250 becomes the actual inclination angle. There is a risk of showing different values. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 7A, the first subtraction unit 258 smoothes the detection value of the angular velocity sensor 250 by the filter 256 and subtracts the smoothed detection value from the detection value of the angular velocity sensor 250. With this configuration, the offset component can be eliminated. As described above, the filter 256 and the first subtraction unit 258 in FIG. 7A function as an offset component suppression unit that suppresses the offset component of the output of the integration circuit.

  When the filter 256 is not used, the tilt angle deriving unit 134 may perform a process of bringing the tilt angle closer to 0 degrees and, for example, approximately 0.1 degrees per second. By doing so, the inclination angle of the motorbike 110 when the vehicle is not inclined can be maintained at 0 degrees when traveling straight ahead. Further, even if the arithmetic processing for bringing the inclination angle close to 0 degrees is continued when the motorbike 110 is inclined due to cornering or the like, the inclination time (falling time) is about 5 seconds at the longest. This is only a correction of the degree, and has no substantial effect on the tilt angle. As described above, the means for performing the process of bringing the tilt angle close to 0 degrees in one second of the tilt angle deriving unit 134 functions as an offset component suppressing unit.

  Furthermore, an acceleration sensor 252 may be used in combination as shown in FIG. In this case, the second subtraction unit 260 subtracts the detection value of the acceleration sensor 252 from the output value of the integration circuit 254, smoothes the subtracted value with the filter 254, and then the first subtraction unit 258 causes the angular velocity sensor 250 to subtract. Subtract from the detected value. Thus, offset components can be suppressed by performing correction as needed using the acceleration sensor 252. As described above, the filter 254, the first subtraction unit 258, the second subtraction unit 260, and the acceleration sensor 252 in FIG. 7B function as an offset component suppression unit.

  Returning to the description of FIG. 4, a semiconductor integrated circuit such as a central processing unit (CPU) or a signal processing unit (DSP: Digital Signal Processor) can be used for the central control unit 136. Manage and control the entire device 100.

  The central control unit 136 also functions as an imaging control unit 170, an inclination angle acquisition unit 172, a storage control unit 174, a superimposition unit 176, an index image generation unit 178, a digest generation unit 180, and a corner addition unit 182.

  The imaging control unit 170 performs control for imaging including focus adjustment and exposure adjustment during an imaging operation. Specifically, the imaging control unit 170 transmits a control command to the drive circuit 156 of the imaging unit 120 in order to execute the imaging control, and the drive circuit 156 performs the focus lens 150 and the control instruction according to the control command from the imaging control unit 170. The diaphragm 152 is adjusted.

  The tilt angle acquisition unit 172 acquires the tilt angle derived by the tilt angle deriving unit 134 at a predetermined period.

  The storage control unit 174 rotates the image capturing apparatus 100 around the optical axis of the image capturing unit 120, and changes from a predetermined state to a first state rotated about the optical axis by a first angle or more to obtain image data (image) to be imaged. The video storage unit 132 is controlled based on the tilt angle so as to start the storage. Specifically, the storage control unit 174 causes the video storage unit 132 to start storing image data when the absolute value of the tilt angle acquired by the tilt angle acquisition unit 172 is equal to or greater than a first angle (for example, 8 degrees). .

  In addition, after the imaging apparatus 100 is in the first state, the storage control unit 174, for example, ends cornering, the imaging apparatus 100 rotates around the optical axis of the imaging unit 120, and the optical axis is changed from a predetermined state. When the imaging apparatus 100 is in a second state in which the imaging apparatus 100 is positioned at a position rotated about an angle equal to or less than the second angle, the imaging storage unit 132 is controlled to stop storing the image data of the imaging target.

  FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the timing of cornering and video storage. When the absolute value of the tilt angle becomes equal to or greater than the first angle, the storage control unit 174 causes the video storage unit 132 to start storing image data. For example, the motorbike 110 travels along the path 264 shown in FIG. In this case, a video in which the straight traveling portion 266 is excluded and only the corner traveling portion 268 is selected is stored in the video storage unit 132. In the imaging apparatus 100 of the present embodiment, the central axis of the motorbike 110 is inclined with respect to the vertical axis, and the absolute value of the inclination angle that is the angle between the central axis of the motorbike 110 or the imaging apparatus 100 and the vertical axis is. The video recording is started when the angle is equal to or greater than the first angle, and then the video image storage is stopped when the absolute value of the tilt angle is equal to or smaller than the second angle. .

  Thus, the imaging apparatus 100 determines the posture (state) for which imaging is desired, such as when the motorcycle 110 is banking during cornering travel, based on the inclination angle from the vertical axis around the optical axis, The video when it is in that posture is stored. In the present embodiment, the start point of the video can be recognized by the fact that the absolute value of the tilt angle is equal to or greater than the first angle. Similarly, the end point of the video can be recognized by the fact that the absolute value of the tilt angle is equal to or smaller than the second angle. Therefore, the rider can concentrate on the maneuvering during the maneuvering (during imaging) without performing a troublesome manual operation. Further, at the time of reproduction, a target scene can be selectively reproduced, and the operability is greatly improved.

  As described above, only the scene where imaging is desired, that is, only when the motorbike 110 is in a predetermined posture can be stored in the video storage unit 132, and the storage area can be used efficiently.

  Furthermore, the second angle described above is an angle smaller than the first angle, and the storage control unit 174 determines that the absolute value of the tilt angle is equal to or smaller than a second angle (for example, 4 degrees) smaller than the first angle. , It has a so-called hysteresis characteristic that stops storing image data in the video storage unit 132.

  In this way, by providing a hysteresis characteristic that stops memory when the absolute value of the tilt angle is equal to or smaller than the second angle smaller than the first angle, the absolute value of the tilt angle varies before and after the first angle. Thus, chattering (hunting) in which the start and stop of image data storage are frequently switched can be prevented, and the video storage unit 132 can be reliably stored from the start to the end of a scene where imaging is desired.

  By the way, in the case of cornering, before entering the cornering, it is easy to make a difference in the video depending on the steering technique such as course line selection, deceleration, posture change, etc., so a predetermined time (for example, 3 to 5 seconds) before entering the cornering is also an image. Data storage is desired.

  Therefore, when the image pickup apparatus is in the first state, the storage control unit 174 causes the compression / expansion unit 128 to output the image data held in the earliest order sequentially from the image data held in the temporary holding unit 124. The video storage unit 132 is controlled so as to start storing image data after a predetermined time before the time when the first state is reached. When the absolute value of the inclination angle becomes equal to or smaller than the second angle, the storage control unit 174 stores image data for a predetermined time in the video storage unit 132 from that time, and stores the image data in the video storage unit 132 after the predetermined time has elapsed. Stop.

  FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram for explaining storage of image data. Here, it is assumed that the imaging unit 120 is generating image data, and the absolute value of the tilt angle is greater than or equal to the first angle at time 274 and is less than or equal to the second angle at time 276.

  Then, in addition to the image data 272a shown by hatching in FIG. 9 generated from the time point 274 to the time point 276, the storage control unit 174 stores the cross data in FIG. Up to image data 272b shown by hatching is stored in the video storage unit 132. As a result, in addition to the corner traveling portion 268 indicated by hatching in FIG. 8, an image traveling in the portion 270 indicated by cross hatching in FIG. 8 is also stored.

  With the configuration in which image data is temporarily stored in the temporary storage unit 124, image data from a predetermined time before the absolute value of the tilt angle becomes the first angle can be stored in the video storage unit 132, and imaging is desired. It is possible to store a sufficient range of video.

  In addition, the storage control unit 174 always stores the image data in the video storage unit 132 during imaging, instead of starting and stopping the storage of the image data according to the tilt angle, and the imaging device 100 includes the imaging unit 120. When rotating from the predetermined state to the first state rotated by the first angle or more around the optical axis, index data indicating that the image is the first state or more is added to the image to be imaged. May be. Also, index data indicating that the angle is equal to or smaller than the second angle can be given. Here, since the image data is directly stored in the video storage unit 132, the temporary holding unit 124 is not required.

  The index data is, for example, a flag. When the viewer selects a chapter (scene) in the imaging device 100 or the playback device, the index data attached to the image data is referred to and image data corresponding to the selected chapter is displayed. Playback starts from.

  With this configuration of adding index data, when playing back image data later, it is possible to easily cue up and play back scenes that were desired to be captured based on the index data, improving user operability. It becomes possible to do.

  Further, when the absolute value of the tilt angle becomes equal to or larger than the first angle, the storage control unit 174 gives the index data to the image data a predetermined time before the absolute value of the tilt angle becomes equal to or larger than the first angle. May be.

  For example, in the case of cornering, as described above, a difference in the video is likely to appear due to the maneuvering technique before entering the cornering. With the configuration that is applied to the image data of a predetermined time before the time when the angle becomes equal to or greater than the first angle, during playback, the image at the time when the angle becomes equal to or greater than the first angle is rewound to search for the image before the predetermined time. In any case, it is possible to directly access and play back a video of a predetermined time before the absolute value of the tilt angle becomes the first angle, and it is possible to improve user operability.

In addition, the storage control unit 174 may generate the image based on the horizontal axis by rotating the image data itself by the inclination angle. Specifically, the storage control unit 174 may cut out the horizontal reference video of the image data and perform, for example, affine transformation on the coordinates of the cutout range. In the image pickup device 154, the coordinates of the pixel before the affine transformation (Xi, Yi), if the inclination angle is phi _1, the coordinates of the pixel after the affine transformation (Xo, Yo) is the following (Equation 1), calculates Is done.
... (Formula 1)

  With the configuration in which the storage control unit 174 rotates the image data by the inclination angle, when the image data is reproduced, the horizontal axis coincides with the horizontal direction of the display screen, and the subject can be viewed in the same manner as when the user directly recognizes the subject. The image can be tilted by the tilt angle.

  In addition, there is also a demand for visually recognizing the inclination angle of a motorcycle in cornering. Therefore, the visibility of the tilt angle can be enhanced by the superimposing unit 176 described below.

  The superimposing unit 176 is configured by, for example, a graphic generator, and superimposes an index image indicating one or both of the horizontal axis and the vertical axis generated by the index image generating unit 178 on the image captured by the imaging unit 120. The index image generation unit 178 derives an angle obtained by inverting the sign of the inclination angle acquired by the inclination angle acquisition unit 172, and rotates the image data by the angle obtained by inverting the sign of the inclination angle from the horizontal axis. Index data indicating the straight line is generated.

  FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a horizontal axis and a vertical axis in an image captured by the imaging unit 120. When the vertical axis and the horizontal axis are located as shown in FIG. 10A with respect to the imaging apparatus 100 and the inclination angle is α counterclockwise, the vertical axis and the horizontal axis are inclined on the video. The angle α is tilted by α in the reverse rotation direction.

  Therefore, for example, when the tilt angle is tilted α counterclockwise, the index image generation unit 178 centers the horizontal direction 284 of the display screen 282 of the display device 200 shown in FIG. A straight line 286 tilted α to the right is generated as an index image indicating the horizontal axis, and the superimposing unit 176 superimposes the index image on the image data (on-screen MIX). Similarly, the superimposing unit 176 superimposes a straight line 290 in which the vertical direction 288 of the display screen 282 is inclined clockwise about the center of the screen on the image captured by the imaging unit 120 as an index image indicating the vertical axis.

  As described above, the structure in which the superimposing unit 176 superimposes the index image on the image captured by the imaging unit 120 allows the viewer to use the horizontal axis (straight line 286) or the vertical axis (straight line 290) indicated by the index image as a reference during playback. The degree of tilt of the subject such as the rider or motorbike 110 can be confirmed, and if it is a video of a professional rider, it can be an index for skill evaluation when appreciating its maneuvering skills, or if it is a personal own video It is possible to objectively evaluate the maneuvering skill and use it to improve the skill.

  The imaging device 100 cannot be viewed because it is fixed to the motorbike 110 at the time of imaging. However, at the time of playback, the viewer can use the superimposed index data from the horizontal and vertical axes of the rider and the motorbike 110. Can be easily visually recognized.

  In addition, the index image generation unit 178 generates an index image of a different form according to the tilt angle, and the superimposition unit 176 captures an index image of a different display form according to the tilt angle. Superimpose on.

  In the present embodiment, for example, the color of the drawing line is changed according to the inclination angle of the index image generation unit 178 motorbike 110. Specifically, the index image generation unit 178 is blue when the absolute value of the inclination angle is less than 30 degrees, yellow when the absolute value of the inclination angle is 30 degrees or more and less than 40 degrees, and the absolute value of the inclination angle is 40. If it is greater than or equal to the degree, red index data is generated.

  In this way, the display mode of the index data, for example, the configuration in which the shape, pattern, color or combination of the index data is changed according to the inclination angle, the viewer can visually recognize the display mode during playback. The degree of inclination of the subject can be intuitively recognized without referring to a specific value of inclination.

  Further, the superimposing unit 176 does not superimpose the index data when the absolute value of the tilt angle is equal to or smaller than a predetermined angle. For example, when the absolute value of the tilt angle is less than 5 degrees, the index data is not superimposed. With this configuration, for example, it is possible to set a tilt angle range in which index data is not superimposed even if image data is stored. For this reason, the viewer can visually recognize the posture while the absolute value of the tilt angle is small and visually recognize the posture on the video on which the index data is not superimposed, and when the absolute value of the tilt angle increases, You can watch the video more concentrated on the part you want. Although the index image generation unit 178 generates the index image, the index image generation unit 178 selects an index image corresponding to the inclination angle from a plurality of index images stored in a storage unit (not shown). It may be configured to function as an index image selection unit. In that case, the superimposing unit 176 superimposes the index image selected by the index image selecting unit on the image captured by the imaging unit 120.

  In addition, the imaging apparatus 100 may have a function of generating video data that can grasp the outline of the video. In that case, for example, the imaging device 132 may store an image when the tilt angle is equal to or greater than the first angle or equal to or less than the second angle.

  Specifically, the digest generation unit 180 is in a first state in which the imaging device 100 rotates around the optical axis of the imaging unit 120 and rotates from the predetermined state around the optical axis by a first angle or more. Alternatively, digest data obtained by extracting image data to be imaged from the first state to the second state is generated. For example, the digest generating unit 180 acquires the image data held in the temporary holding unit 124 during imaging, and generates digest data.

  Thus, with the configuration including the digest generation unit 180, at the time of playback, for example, the viewer can view the video of the digest data in which the video before and after cornering is collected without searching for the video of cornering. It is possible to improve the convenience of the viewer.

  In addition, the imaging apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment is not limited to the configuration in which the horizontal axis and the vertical axis are stored as the index data in advance by being superimposed on the image data.

  For example, the corner adding unit 182 adds a tilt angle to the image data. The angle addition unit 182 writes the inclination angle as angle information, for example, as additional information in a user data area of a GOP (Group Of Pictures) header when the format of the image data is MPEG. In this case, at the time of reproduction, the reproduction apparatus generates index data indicating the horizontal axis and the vertical axis based on the inclination angle added to the image data, and superimposes the index data on the image data and causes the display apparatus 200 to display the index data. With this configuration, the viewer can display or hide the horizontal axis and the vertical axis in an arbitrary scene.

  As described above, according to the imaging apparatus 100 of the present embodiment, a desired video can be stored in a state where cueing is easy, and a viewer can easily find a desired video during playback. It becomes.

(Imaging method)
Furthermore, an imaging method using the above-described imaging device 100 is also provided. FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing of the imaging method.

  When an operation input for starting imaging is performed by the imaging person, the imaging unit 120 starts imaging of the imaging target (S300). Data of the image captured by the imaging unit 120 is temporarily stored in the temporary storage unit 124 (S302), and the tilt angle deriving unit 134 derives the tilt angle from the vertical axis around the optical axis (S304). Then, the tilt angle acquisition unit 172 acquires the tilt angle derived from the tilt angle deriving unit 134 (S306).

  Subsequently, the storage control unit 174 determines whether or not the video storage unit 132 is currently performing an operation of storing image data captured by the imaging unit 120 (S308), and if not (S308). NO), it is determined whether or not the absolute value of the tilt angle is equal to or greater than the first angle (first state) (S310). If the absolute value of the tilt angle is not equal to or greater than the first angle (NO in S310), the process returns to the image data generation step (S300).

  In the storage continuation determination step (S308), when the video storage unit 132 stores the image data in the video storage unit 132 (YES in S308), the storage control unit 174 determines that the absolute value of the inclination angle is the second value. Whether the angle is equal to or smaller than the angle (second state) is determined with reference to, for example, a flag (S312). When the absolute value of the tilt angle is equal to or smaller than the second angle (YES in S312), the storage control unit 174 stops storing the image data in the video storage unit 132 (S314), and the image data generation step (S300). Return to.

  In the inclination angle determination step (S310, S312), when the absolute value of the inclination angle is equal to or larger than the first angle (YES in S310), and when the absolute value of the inclination angle is not equal to or smaller than the second angle (S312). NO), the superimposing unit 176 generates index data indicating one or both of the horizontal axis and the vertical axis based on the inclination angle (S316), and superimposes it on the image data (S318). The storage control unit 174 starts storing the image data in the video storage unit 132 (S320), and returns to the image data generation step (S300).

  As described above, according to the imaging method using the imaging apparatus 100, it is possible to easily find a desired video during reproduction.

  As mentioned above, although preferred embodiment of this invention was described referring an accompanying drawing, it cannot be overemphasized that this invention is not limited to this embodiment. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made within the scope of the claims, and these are naturally within the technical scope of the present invention. Is done.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the image capturing apparatus 100 mainly describes capturing a moving image, but the present invention is not limited to such a case, and can be used when capturing a still image. In that case, the video storage unit 132 stores still images continuously generated at predetermined time intervals by the imaging unit 120 instead of storing the video. In addition, the temporary storage unit 124 stores image data of a still image, and the video storage unit 132 stores the above-described imaging, such as storing from image data of a predetermined time before the absolute value of the tilt angle is equal to or greater than the first angle. Needless to say, the function of the apparatus 100 can be replaced with a still image.

  Note that each step in the imaging method of the present specification does not necessarily have to be processed in time series in the order described in the flowchart, and may include parallel or subroutine processing. Further, in the present embodiment, the example of controlling the storage of image data that is video data in accordance with the first state or the second state has been described, but depending on the first state or the second state. Then, storage of image data that is still image data may be controlled. For example, when the imaging apparatus 100 is in the first state, still image data captured by the imaging unit 120 may be stored in the video storage unit 132.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the storage control unit 174 has been described using an example in which the storage of image data in the video storage unit 132 is controlled. However, the storage control unit 174 stores the image data in the external storage medium 202 of the external writing unit 130. You may make it control memory | storage.

  Further, the reference (predetermined state) at which the inclination angle is 0 degree is set when the vehicle or the central axis of the imaging apparatus 100 and the vertical axis are oriented in substantially the same direction. When a predetermined operation input is made to the imaging apparatus 100, when the vehicle starts running, etc., the reference (predetermined state) at which the inclination angle is 0 degree may be used.

  The present invention can be used for an imaging apparatus and an imaging method that perform imaging based on an inclination angle.

100 ... Imaging device 110 ... Motorbike (vehicle)
120 ... Imaging unit 124 ... Temporary holding unit 132 ... Video storage unit (storage unit)
134 ... Inclination angle deriving unit 172 ... Inclination angle obtaining unit 174 ... Storage control unit 176 ... Superposition unit

Claims (9)

In the imaging device,
An imaging unit for imaging an imaging target;
An inclination angle acquisition unit that acquires an inclination angle that is an angle rotated about the optical axis of the imaging unit; and
The imaging device rotates around the optical axis of the imaging unit, and starts to store the image of the imaging target when the imaging device is in a first state that is rotated from the predetermined state by a first angle or more around the optical axis. An imaging apparatus comprising: a storage control unit that controls the storage unit based on an inclination angle. A temporary holding unit that temporarily holds the image captured by the imaging unit;
When the imaging device is in the first state, the storage control unit starts to store the image after a predetermined time before the time when the imaging device is in the first state. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit is controlled.   The storage control unit rotates the imaging device around the optical axis of the imaging unit after the imaging device is in the first state, and is less than or equal to a second angle around the optical axis from the predetermined state. 3. The storage unit according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit is controlled to stop storing the image of the imaging target when the imaging apparatus is in a second state in which the imaging apparatus is positioned at a position rotated by an angle of 3 degrees. Imaging device.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the second angle is smaller than the first angle.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an inclination angle deriving unit that derives the inclination angle. The inclination angle deriving unit is:
An angular velocity sensor;
An integrating circuit for integrating the output of the angular velocity sensor;
The imaging apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising an offset component suppression unit that suppresses an offset component of an output of the integration circuit.   The imaging according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising a superimposing unit that superimposes an index image indicating one or both of a horizontal axis and a vertical axis on an image captured by the imaging unit. apparatus.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the superimposing unit superimposes an index image having a different display form according to the tilt angle on an image captured by the imaging unit. An imaging method using an imaging device provided with an imaging unit,
Image the imaging target,
Obtaining an inclination angle that is an angle of rotation of the imaging device around the optical axis of the imaging unit;
The imaging device rotates around the optical axis of the imaging unit, and starts to store the image of the imaging target when the imaging device is in a first state that is rotated from the predetermined state by a first angle or more around the optical axis. An imaging method comprising controlling a storage unit based on an inclination angle.