JP2016076756A - Imaging device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an imaging device that enables long-time recording of moving pictures by preventing recording of unnecessary moving pictures without any troublesome operation.SOLUTION: An imaging device for imaging while a vehicle is running has a camera head 200 for imaging a subject, a recording control block 321 for recording image data generated by imaging into a recording medium, and a vehicle state detection block 322 for detecting the state of the vehicle. When the vehicle state detection block 322 detects that the vehicle is in a stop state, the recording control block 321 stops recording of image data, and when the vehicle state detection block 322 detects that the vehicle starts to run, the recording control block 321 starts recording of image data.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present disclosure relates to an imaging apparatus.

  Patent Document 1 discloses an in-vehicle camera system that can effectively use a camera mounted on a vehicle. In the normal shooting mode, the user can take an image by operating the operation device so that the shooting direction of the camera mounted on the vehicle is an arbitrary shooting direction inside or outside the vehicle. On the other hand, when the vehicle signal monitoring means for monitoring the vehicle signals of various control units mounted on the vehicle detects the specific signal, the mode change means takes a picture of the outside of the vehicle with the camera and stores the image data. The mode is forcibly switched to mode.

JP 2012-94972 A

  By the way, when shooting a landscape etc. with a camera attached to a motorcycle during touring with a motorcycle, etc., if the camera is operated in the shooting mode, a recording stop instruction (recording of the recorded video to the recording medium is usually performed If there is no instruction for stopping, the moving image recording (recording of the captured moving image on the recording medium) is continued. For example, when a motorcycle is stopped due to a red light, video recording will continue unless a recording stop instruction is given, and a similar landscape will be recorded while the motorcycle is stopped, and the remaining amount of recording media will remain. And the remaining battery power is also reduced. In order to stop video recording while stopped, it is necessary to instruct the camera to stop recording when the motorcycle is stopped, and to instruct the camera to start recording when leaving the vehicle. For example, the operation is performed by pressing an operation button. However, this operation is troublesome because it is performed every time the vehicle stops, and the instruction to stop or start recording may be forgotten.

  An object of the present disclosure is to provide an imaging apparatus that can record a moving image for a long time by preventing unnecessary moving images from being recorded without performing a troublesome operation.

  An imaging apparatus according to the present disclosure is an imaging apparatus that captures an image while traveling in a vehicle, and includes an imaging unit that captures a subject, a recording control unit that records image data generated by imaging on a recording medium, and a state of the vehicle A vehicle state detection unit. The recording control unit stops the recording of the image data when the vehicle state detection unit detects that the vehicle is in a stopped state, and the image data is detected when the vehicle state detection unit detects that the vehicle has started running. Start recording.

  According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide an imaging apparatus capable of recording a moving image for a long time by preventing an unnecessary moving image from being recorded without performing a troublesome operation.

Outer view of wearable camera Block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the wearable camera Flow chart of video recording operation of wearable camera Image diagram of display operation that accompanies video recording operation of wearable camera

  Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings as appropriate. However, more detailed description than necessary may be omitted. For example, detailed descriptions of already well-known matters and repeated descriptions for substantially the same configuration may be omitted. This is to avoid the following description from becoming unnecessarily redundant and to facilitate understanding by those skilled in the art.

  In addition, the inventor (s) provides the accompanying drawings and the following description in order for those skilled in the art to fully understand the present disclosure, and these are intended to limit the claimed subject matter. It is not a thing.

(Embodiment 1)
A wearable camera 100 will be described as a first embodiment according to the present disclosure. FIG. 1 is an external view of the wearable camera 100.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the wearable camera 100 includes a camera cable 120, a camera head 200, and a camera body 300. Imaging data generated by the camera head 200 is transmitted to the camera body 300 via the camera cable 120.

  The camera body 300 includes a display monitor 340 and an operation member 350. The camera body 300 may record moving image data based on imaging data transmitted via the camera cable 120 on a recording medium such as a memory card 400 (see FIG. 2) or display it on the display monitor 340. it can.

  When the wearable camera 100 is used while attached to a motorcycle, for example, the camera head 200 can be attached at a predetermined height near the center of the handle, and the camera body 300 can be attached to a fuel tank. Further, the camera head 200 can be attached to the vicinity of the center of the front surface of the helmet and the camera body 300 can be attached to the side surface of the helmet.

  The user operates the operation member 350 provided in the camera body 300 to set the moving image recording mode. The wearable camera 100 is set in a state in which moving image recording can be performed by setting the moving image recording mode. The wearable camera 100 stops moving image recording when the motorcycle is stopped, and the wearable camera 100 starts moving image recording when the motorcycle starts running. Thereby, it is possible to record a moving image for a long time without performing a troublesome operation such as an instruction to start or stop moving image recording.

  Hereinafter, the configuration and operation of the wearable camera 100 according to the first embodiment will be described.

[1. Electrical configuration of wearable camera 100]
The electrical configuration of the wearable camera 100 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of wearable camera 100.

The camera head 200 includes an optical system 210, a CMOS image sensor 220, and an analog.
A digital converter (hereinafter referred to as ADC) 230 is included. The camera body 300 includes an image processing unit 310, a controller 320, a buffer 330, a display monitor 340, an operation member 350, a card slot 360, an internal memory 370, a WiFi module 380, a GPS (global positioning system, global positioning network). ) 390.

  The optical system 210 is configured by appropriately selecting and combining a zoom lens, a camera shake correction lens, a focus lens, a diaphragm, and the like according to the concept of optical design. In the case of an optical design for driving the lens, an actuator for driving the lens to be driven may be provided.

  The CMOS image sensor 220 captures the subject image formed by the optical system 210 and generates imaging data. The CMOS image sensor 220 performs various operations such as exposure, transfer, and electronic shutter.

  The ADC 230 converts the imaging data in the analog format generated by the CMOS image sensor 220 into a digital format. The imaging data converted into the digital format is input to the image processing unit 310 in the camera body 300 via the camera cable 120.

  The image processing unit 310 performs various processes on the imaging data generated by the CMOS image sensor 220 to generate image data to be displayed on the display monitor 340 or to store image data to be stored in the memory card 400. Or generate. For example, the image processing unit 310 performs various processes such as gamma correction, white balance correction, and flaw correction on the imaging data generated by the CMOS image sensor 220. Further, the image processing unit 310 converts the image data generated by the CMOS image sensor 220 into H.264. It compresses by the compression format etc. based on H.264 standard or MPEG2 standard. The image processing unit 310 can be realized by a DSP or a microcomputer.

  The controller 320 is a control unit that controls the entire wearable camera 100. The control signal can be notified to the members provided in the camera head 200 via the camera cable 120. The controller 320 can be realized by a semiconductor element or the like. The controller 320 may be configured only by hardware, or may be realized by combining hardware and software. The controller 320 can be realized by a microcomputer or the like.

  For example, the controller 320 includes a recording control block 321, a vehicle state detection block 322, and a communication block 323. The recording control block 321 controls whether data such as image data generated by the image processing unit 310 is recorded in the memory card 400 or not. That is, the recording control block 321 performs control for recording data such as image data on the memory card 400. The vehicle state detection block 322 detects the state of the vehicle. Here, whether the vehicle is stopped or the vehicle is running (whether the vehicle has started running) is set as the vehicle state, and the vehicle state detection block 322 determines the state of these vehicles. To detect. The communication block 323 controls communication with an in-vehicle network such as a CAN (Controller Area Network) provided in the vehicle.

  The buffer 330 functions as a work memory for the image processing unit 310 and the controller 320. The buffer 330 can be realized by, for example, a DRAM or a ferroelectric memory.

  The display monitor 340 can display an image indicated by the imaging data generated by the CMOS image sensor 220 or an image indicated by the image data read from the memory card 200. The display monitor 340 can also display various menu screens for performing various settings of the wearable camera 100.

  The operation member 350 is a generic name for a user interface that receives an operation from a user. The operation member 350 is, for example, a cross key or a determination button that receives an operation from the user, a mode selection button for selecting one of the moving image recording mode and the moving image reproduction mode, and a moving image recording start / stop instruction automatically. A recording control selection button for selecting whether to perform or manual operation, a moving image recording button for instructing start / stop of moving image recording, and the like are included. The moving image recording button may be a button that serves both as a moving image recording start instruction when moving images are not recorded and a moving image recording stop instruction when recording moving images. Further, a moving image recording stop button may be provided separately from the moving image recording start button. The operation member 350 is a hard key provided on the exterior of the wearable camera 100, but may be a soft key for operating the button icon displayed on the display monitor 340 via the touch panel.

  The card slot 360 is detachable from the memory card 400. The card slot 360 can be mechanically and electrically connected to the memory card 400. The memory card 400 includes a flash memory, a ferroelectric memory, and the like, and can store data such as an image file generated by the image processing unit 310.

  The internal memory 370 is configured by a flash memory, a ferroelectric memory, or the like. The internal memory 370 stores a control program for controlling the entire wearable camera 100 and the like.

  The WiFi module 380 is a communication module that complies with the communication standard IEEE 802.11. The wearable camera 100 can communicate with other communication devices on which the WiFi module is mounted via the WiFi module 380. For example, the wearable camera 100 can transfer the image data generated by the image processing unit 310 or the image data recorded on the memory card 400 to another communication device such as a smartphone via the WiFi module 380. Wearable camera 100 may communicate directly with another communication device via WiFi module 380, or may communicate via an access point. In place of the WiFi module, another communication module such as a communication module that performs communication conforming to the communication standard 802.15.1, that is, Bluetooth (registered trademark) may be used.

  The GPS 390 is a device for receiving signals from a plurality of satellites and detecting the current position of the own device.

[2. Operation of wearable camera 100]
Subsequently, a moving image recording operation of the wearable camera 100 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the moving image recording operation of wearable camera 100. The wearable camera 100 can select whether to automatically start / stop moving image recording (automatic recording mode) or manually (manual recording mode). It is an explanation in the case of using a mode. In addition, moving image recording means that data such as image data generated by the image processing unit 310 is recorded in the memory card 400. The moving image recording operation is controlled by a recording control block 321 in the controller 320.

  When the power of the wearable camera 100 is turned on while the vehicle is stopped, the controller 320 supplies necessary power to each part constituting the wearable camera 100. In response to the supply of electric power, each lens constituting the optical system 210, the configuration of the CMOS image sensor 220, and the like complete the initial setting to an operable state.

  Wearable camera 100 has a moving image recording mode for performing moving image recording and a moving image reproduction mode for performing moving image reproduction. When the wearable camera 100 is set to the moving image recording mode, the CMOS image sensor 220 starts capturing a subject image when the wearable camera 100 is turned on. Thereby, the display monitor 340 displays a through image based on the imaging data generated by the CMOS image sensor 220. At this time, the moving image is not recorded and is in a pause state (S500), and the controller 320 displays the primary stop mark 600 on the display monitor 340 as shown in FIG. The primary stop mark 600 indicates that moving image recording is not performed.

  The vehicle state detection block 322 in the controller 320 monitors whether or not the vehicle has started running (S510). The state in which the moving image recording is temporarily stopped is continued until the vehicle starts running (No in S510). When the vehicle state detection block 322 detects that the vehicle has started running (YES in S510), moving image recording is started (S520), and the controller 320 displays on the display monitor 340 as shown in FIG. 4B. , A recording mark 610 is displayed. A recording mark 610 indicates that a moving image is being recorded.

  While the moving image is being recorded, the vehicle state detection block 322 in the controller 320 monitors whether or not the vehicle has stopped (S530). While the vehicle is traveling, the state where the moving image recording is performed continues (No in S530). When the vehicle state detection block 322 detects that the vehicle has stopped (YES in S530), the moving image recording is paused, and a pause mark 600 is displayed on the display monitor 340 (S500).

Note that the moving image recording operation in the automatic recording mode of the wearable camera 100 ends in the following cases.
(1) When the moving image playback mode is selected.
(2) When a mode for manually instructing to start / stop moving image recording is selected.
(3) When the wearable camera 100 is turned off.
(4) When the free space of the memory card 400 becomes a predetermined value or less.

  The above description is a case where the power of the wearable camera 100 is turned on while the vehicle is stopped. However, even when the power of the wearable camera 100 is turned on while the vehicle is running, the same as the above description. Operation is possible.

  Next, a vehicle state detection method by the vehicle state detection block 322 will be described. As a vehicle state detection method, there is a method of using information of a sensor mounted on a vehicle. Wearable camera 100 acquires vehicle information data from an in-vehicle network such as CAN provided in the vehicle. For example, when speed data is used as the vehicle information data, the communication block 323 in the controller 320 can acquire the speed of the vehicle from the CAN provided in the vehicle using communication. The vehicle state detection block 322 determines that the vehicle is in a stopped state when the acquired vehicle speed is equal to or lower than the first predetermined value. The vehicle state detection block 322 determines that “the vehicle has started traveling” when the acquired vehicle speed is greater than the second predetermined value. The first predetermined value and the second predetermined value may be set to the same value or different values. Further, the first predetermined value and the second predetermined value may be set to “0” or may be set to a value larger than “0”. The same effect can be obtained by using data that can determine the stop state / running state of the vehicle other than the speed data as the vehicle information data.

  As another vehicle state detection method, there is a method of using GPS information mounted on the wearable camera 100. When the vehicle state detection block 322 detects that the position of the wearable camera 100 does not change based on GPS information (position information of the own device), the vehicle state detection block 322 determines that the vehicle is in a stopped state. When the vehicle state detection block 322 detects that the position of the wearable camera 100 starts to change based on GPS information, the vehicle state detection block 322 determines that the vehicle has started running.

  The above is an explanation of the operation when the automatic recording mode is used. However, when the manual recording mode is selected, the moving image recording is started by manually operating the moving image recording button for instructing the start / stop of moving image recording. / Stop is done.

[3. Effect etc.)
As described above, the wearable camera 100 includes the camera head 200 (imaging unit) that images a subject, and the recording control block 321 (recording control) that records image data generated by imaging on the memory card 400 (recording medium). And a vehicle state detection block 322 (vehicle state detection unit) for detecting the state of the vehicle. The recording control block 321 stops the recording of the image data when the vehicle state detection block 322 detects that the vehicle is stopped, and the vehicle state detection block 322 detects that the vehicle has started running. Then, recording of image data is started. In this way, the vehicle running state is detected, and image data recording control is performed based on the detection result, and it is not necessary for a person to give an instruction to start / stop recording image data. There is no need for troublesome operations. Further, since the recording of the image data is stopped while the vehicle is stopped, the same scenery while the vehicle is stopped is not recorded. For this reason, it is possible to prevent the free capacity (remaining amount) of the memory card 400 from being reduced due to the moving image recording that is considered unnecessary, and the battery is consumed wastefully and the remaining amount of the battery is reduced. It is possible to suppress a reduction in operating time. Therefore, it is possible to prevent unnecessary moving image recording without performing a troublesome operation of instructing start / stop of recording of image data while riding in a vehicle, and long-time moving image recording can be performed. An imaging device capable of being provided can be provided.

  As described above, the first embodiment has been described as an example of the technique disclosed in the present application. However, the technology in the present disclosure is not limited to this, and can also be applied to an embodiment in which changes, replacements, additions, omissions, and the like are appropriately performed.

  Accordingly, among the components described in the accompanying drawings and the detailed description, not only the components essential for solving the problem, but also the components not essential for solving the problem in order to illustrate the above technique. May also be included. Therefore, it should not be immediately recognized that these non-essential components are essential as those non-essential components are described in the accompanying drawings and detailed description.

  Moreover, since the above-mentioned embodiment is for demonstrating the technique in this indication, a various change, substitution, addition, abbreviation, etc. can be performed in a claim or its equivalent range.

  The present invention can be applied to a digital video camera, a digital still camera, a mobile phone with a camera function, a smartphone with a camera function, and the like.

100 Wearable Camera 120 Camera Cable 200 Camera Head 210 Optical System 220 CMOS Image Sensor 230 ADC
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 300 Camera body 310 Image processing part 320 Controller 321 Recording control block 322 Vehicle state detection block 323 Communication block 330 Buffer 340 Display monitor 350 Operation member 360 Card slot 370 Internal memory 380 WiFi module 390 GPS
400 memory card

Claims (3)

In an imaging device that captures images while traveling in a vehicle,
An imaging unit for imaging a subject;
A recording control unit that records image data generated by imaging on a recording medium;
A vehicle state detection unit for detecting the state of the vehicle,
The recording control unit stops recording the image data when the vehicle state detection unit detects that the vehicle is in a stopped state, and the vehicle state detection unit indicates that the vehicle has started running. An imaging apparatus that starts recording the image data upon detection. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle state detection unit detects the state of the vehicle based on driving state data of the vehicle received from the vehicle. The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle state detection unit detects the state of the vehicle based on GPS information.