JP4717539B2 - Imaging apparatus and imaging method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging technique for simultaneously capturing a moving image and a still image.

  Conventionally, a hybrid camera capable of shooting by switching between a moving image and a still image having higher pixels and higher image quality than the moving image is known.

  For example, as described in Patent Document 1, a high-pixel still image is recorded by pressing a mode button, which enables recording of a high-pixel still image while recording a moving image or the like with low pixels. There is something (Fig. 11).

  Further, as described in Patent Document 2, there is known one that switches a photographing mode from the outside to a high image quality mode by wireless communication (FIG. 12). In FIG. 11, by pressing the shutter button in S1010, recording is performed with the normal moving image frame (320 × 240 pixels in FIG. 13) in FIG. When the high image quality mode button is pressed in S1014, the frame (1280 × 960 pixels in the drawing) recorded in FIG. 13 is inserted into the moving image frame. In FIG. 12, the external controller 107 controls the recording mode control unit 104 and the imaging control unit 105 of the imaging apparatus 101 via the wireless communication unit including the reception unit 103, the antennas 106 and 111, and the transmission unit 110. Switch between shooting and high-quality shooting.

Further, as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-133867, the camera automatically determines the photo opportunity when the subject is in a desired expression or pose, as described in Patent Document 3. A method has been proposed (FIG. 14). In the example of FIG. 14, when an image is repeatedly acquired by the imaging unit 202 and the control unit 209 determines that a preset condition is satisfied, imaging is performed by controlling the focus and the aperture of the imaging unit 202. The photo opportunity is determined by extracting a shape representing a facial expression of a person from an image, calculating a degree of coincidence between the extracted shape and a predetermined shape, and selecting a subject when the degree of coincidence exceeds a predetermined value. It is determined as a photo opportunity for taking a picture.
JP 2003-125344 JP Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-069222 JP 2004-294498 A

  There is a demand to record shutter chances such as momentary facial expressions encountered during movie shooting with high image quality without affecting movie recording. On the other hand, in Patent Documents 1 and 2, since it is possible to switch to high-pixel still image shooting during moving image shooting, it is possible to shoot a desired still image while waiting for a photo opportunity while performing moving image shooting. Become.

  However, a time lag occurs when switching from the moving image shooting mode to the high image quality shooting mode, which may cause the user to miss a photo opportunity when the user presses the shutter button. As a result, advanced techniques, such as predicting changes in advance and releasing the shutter, are necessary to prevent eye-meditation images caused by a momentary blink or capture a moment with a good facial expression such as a smile. There is a high possibility that it will end. Also, in the above-mentioned Patent Document 2, moving image shooting is interrupted for high image quality shooting, and therefore moving image recording is interrupted for a long time.

  In Patent Document 3, since the camera automatically determines the photo opportunity, the user does not need to capture the photo opportunity trigger. However, since the next photo opportunity is determined from the image taken in the past and the operation is shifted to the image taking operation, there is still a time lag such as an AF or aperture operation or a time difference between frames, and there is a possibility that a momentary photo opportunity may be missed. Remain. In addition, since the image capturing unit 202 is occupied for capturing a still image, it is impossible to simultaneously capture a moving image.

  In addition, a two-lens configuration in which a moving image shooting system and a high-quality shooting system including a face detection system such as a facial expression are separate optical systems and mounted in one housing is also conceivable. However, the apparatus is large and there is a difficulty in controlling the two optical systems in synchronization. Furthermore, since the angle of view, the focus state, the aperture opening degree, and the like do not necessarily match in the two optical systems, there is a high possibility that the intended image cannot be obtained.

  The present invention aims to solve the above problems.

In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, the imaging apparatus of the present invention takes in image data of a moving image generated by the imaging element and stores it as second image data in a second buffer memory. Image capturing means for capturing image data generated by the image sensor at the same timing as a predetermined frame of the second image data, and storing the image data as first image data in a first buffer memory; Analysis means for analyzing whether or not a subject satisfies a predetermined condition using the second image data, and the first image data stored in the first buffer memory is recorded in a first recording means, the second image data stored in the second buffer memory and a recording control means for recording in the second recording means, the first image data is higher compared to the second image data Zodo and be at least one of multi-tone, the recording control means as a result of said analyzing means were analyzed using the second image data of one frame, the subject is said predetermined condition If the above condition is satisfied, the first image data captured at the same timing as the second image data of any one of the frames and stored in the first buffer memory is recorded in the first recording unit . If the subject does not satisfy the predetermined condition, the first image data captured at the same timing as the second image data of any one of the frames and stored in the first buffer memory is stored. Recording is not performed on the first recording means .
The image pickup apparatus of the present invention captures continuous image data generated by the image pickup device and stores it as second image data in a second buffer memory, and a predetermined frame of the second image data; Image capturing means that captures image data generated by the image sensor at the same timing and stores the image data as first image data in a first buffer memory, and the subject satisfies a predetermined condition using the second image data. Analyzing means for analyzing whether it is satisfied, the first image data stored in the first buffer memory is recorded in the first recording means, and the second image stored in the second buffer memory a recording control means for recording the data in the second recording means, and notifying means for said second image data of one frame notifies when the predetermined condition is satisfied, After notification by serial notifying means, wherein the first image data that has been captured and stored in the first buffer memory at the same timing as the second image data of the predetermined condition is satisfied said one frame No. and a selection means for selecting whether to record the first recording means, the first image data is a at least one high resolution and multi-tone in comparison with the second image data The recording control means is fetched at the same timing as the second image data of any one of the frames if the selection means selects to record the first image data . the first image data stored in the buffer memory is recorded to the first recording means, if it is selected for recording the first image data by said selecting means, said doctor Not recording the first image data stored in the first buffer memory to said first recording means incorporated at the same timing as the second image data of Re or of the frame.

In addition, the image pickup method of the present invention takes in image data of a moving image generated by the image pickup device and stores it as second image data in a second buffer memory, and the second image data is predetermined. An image capturing process that captures image data generated by the image sensor at the same timing as a frame and stores the image data as first image data in a first buffer memory ; An analysis step for analyzing whether the condition is satisfied, the first image data stored in the first buffer memory is recorded in a first recording means, and the second image stored in the second buffer memory and a recording control step of the image data recorded in the second recording means, the first image data is high-resolution and any grayscale least compared to the second image data A is, the recording control step, the analysis result of the analysis using the second image data of one frame in step, if the object is to meet the predetermined condition, the one The first image data captured at the same timing as the second image data of the frame and stored in the first buffer memory is recorded in the first recording means , and the subject satisfies the predetermined condition. If not , the first image data captured at the same timing as the second image data of any one of the frames and stored in the first buffer memory is not recorded in the first recording means . .
According to the imaging method of the present invention, continuous image data generated by an imaging device is captured and stored as second image data in a second buffer memory, and a predetermined frame of the second image data is stored. An image capturing process that captures image data generated by the image sensor at the same timing and stores the image data as first image data in a first buffer memory; and the subject uses the second image data to satisfy a predetermined condition. An analysis step for analyzing whether the image is satisfied, and the first image data stored in the first buffer memory is recorded in a first recording means, and the second image stored in the second buffer memory a recording control step of recording the data in the second recording means, and a notification step of the second image data of one frame notifies when the predetermined condition is satisfied, After notification by serial notification step, wherein the first image data that has been captured and stored in the first buffer memory at the same timing as the second image data of the predetermined condition is satisfied said one frame No. and a selection step of selecting whether to record the first recording means, the first image data is a at least one high resolution and multi-tone in comparison with the second image data In the recording control step, if recording the first image data is selected in the selection step, the first image data is captured at the same timing as the second image data in any one of the frames. the first image data stored in the buffer memory is recorded to the first recording means, if it is selected for recording the first image data by said selecting step, said The first image data stored in the first buffer memory is incorporated at the same timing as the second image data of a frame of Zureka not recorded to the first recording means.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to shoot a continuously shot moving image and a high-quality still image at the same time, and to shoot a high-quality still image without affecting the moving image shooting and without missing a photo opportunity. .

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The embodiment described below is an example as means for realizing the present invention, and should be appropriately modified or changed according to the configuration and various conditions of the apparatus to which the present invention is applied. It is not limited to the embodiment.
[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an imaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 shows an operation flowchart of the imaging apparatus of FIG.

  In FIG. 1, 1 is a user interface. 1, an adjustment instruction for the optical system 3 and zoom 4 such as the camera angle of view and autofocus, an adjustment instruction for the aperture 5, a recording (continuous image capturing) start / end instruction, a shooting condition and an image condition specification (for example, smile, Etc.). Reference numeral 2 denotes a camera control circuit. Zoom control and autofocus control including the optical system 3 and zoom 4, driving of the diaphragm 5, transfer of charge signals from the image sensor 6 such as a CCD to the buffer memories 7 and 8, and continuous image recording Control of the control circuits 10 and 11 is performed.

  Reference numerals 7 and 8 denote buffer memories. The buffer memory 8 is a buffer memory that captures images at a predetermined resolution that continuously captures images at a predetermined rate (for example, 30 msec per frame) in response to a recording start command from the camera control circuit 2. The buffer memory 7 is a high-quality buffer memory having higher resolution and / or multiple gradations than the buffer memory 8, and takes in one frame by a predetermined trigger signal output from the camera control circuit 2.

  The image analysis circuit 9 analyzes the contents of the buffer memory 8 and outputs a recording signal to the recording control circuit 10 when a predetermined photographing condition or image condition (for example, prevention of smiles or eye meditation) is met. Reference numerals 10 and 11 denote recording control circuits. The recording control circuit 11 records the image data stored in the buffer memory 8 on the recording medium 13 at a predetermined rate (for example, one frame 30 msec) in response to a recording start command from the camera control circuit 2.

  The recording control circuit 10 records one frame of image data stored in the buffer memory 7 on the recording medium 12 only when a recording signal is input from the image analysis circuit 9. The recording media 12 and 13 are storage media for storing image data for a long period of time, and correspond to magnetic tapes, optical disks, and semiconductor memories (flash ROM, etc.). In FIG. 1, the number of recording media is two. However, in the case of a memory that can be randomly accessed and can separately write different data at two locations, only one recording medium is sufficient. Also, if random access is possible and the speed is sufficiently high, one is sufficient if time division writing is performed.

  Next, the operation of the imaging apparatus of FIG. 1 will be described using the flowchart of FIG.

  When the power supply of the imaging apparatus is turned on, desired conditions (such as smiles and prevention of eye meditation) are set by a user operation or the like (S101). At this time, the desired number of acquired images is also set. Note that when the desired condition is set and the number of images is not set, or when the number of images that can be stored in the recording medium 12 is set larger, the number of sheets that can be stored in the recording medium 12 may be designated. At this time, a warning prompting confirmation can be output to the user interface 1.

  Thereafter, it is determined whether to record a video (S102). Here, it is usually determined whether the recording button is pressed by the user or a recording signal is input from an external device. When the start of video recording is detected, the camera control circuit 2 captures image data captured by the image sensor 6 into the buffer memory 8 at a predetermined resolution and update rate (S103), and sequentially records on the recording medium 13 (S107). .

  In addition, at the same time as capturing the frame in S103, image data with high image quality (high pixels, multiple gradations, or both) is captured and held in the buffer memory 7 (S104). Once held, even if the buffer memory 8 is updated until a recording signal or a discard signal is input, the contents of the buffer memory 7 are held. The contents of the buffer memory 8 at the same time as the time taken into the buffer memory 7 are transferred to the image analysis circuit 9, and a condition analysis detection process is performed in accordance with conditions (smile etc.) designated by the user (S105). Further, it is determined whether the detection result in S105 matches the specified condition (S106). Here, based on the number of sheets recorded in the counter 14, it is determined whether the number of recorded sheets is equal to or less than the specified number. When these are satisfied, a recording signal is output to the recording control circuit 10, and the contents of the buffer memory 7 are stored in the recording medium 12. And the counter 14 is incremented. If the detection result in S105 does not match, a discard signal is output to the camera control circuit 2, and the buffer memory 7 is also updated at the next capture timing of the buffer memory 8.

  FIG. 3 shows the above operation in a time chart. Here, Vrate is a video rate, and continuous images are updated at this frequency. In FIG. 3, continuous image data and high-quality image data are simultaneously fetched into the buffer memories 7 and 8 at t0, t1, and t2, and analysis is performed using the continuous image data. In general, a high-quality image requires more processing time because it has a larger amount of data. In this example, two frames of continuous image data are used before recording high-quality image data on a recording medium.

  Note that the high-quality image data captured in the buffer memory 7 is not always recorded on the recording medium. For this reason, a writing buffer memory is prepared and image data is temporarily stored, and when the image data is not stored, writing for the buffer memory can be performed to increase the writing frequency per time. . It is also possible to prepare a plurality of buffer memories for capturing high-quality image data and to prepare the same number of condition analysis detection buffer memories. In this case, even when there is image data that satisfies the specified condition continuously on the continuous image, it can be continuously recorded on the recording medium as long as the number of frames of the buffer memory is not exceeded.

  For example, in the example of FIG. 4, two frames of buffer memory are prepared, and high-quality image data is alternately taken into two buffers at times t0, t1, t2, t3,. . Further, by temporarily saving the analysis data in the analysis buffer 2, it is possible to determine whether or not to record after analyzing all the frames and to record it on the recording medium.

  Note that, as means for analyzing the state of the subject, person detection, personal identification, facial expression recognition, shape identification, and the like are possible. For example, an example in the case of performing person detection will be described. In order to detect a person, it is a good method to use a face in which a person's feature appears most. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a series of processes for specifying a face area from the captured image data described in Patent Document 3.

  Primary feature values 21 to 24, which are simple line-segment figures, are extracted from the image (the wavelet transform method, the neural network method, and the like are known). The secondary feature amounts 25 to 28 are extracted by the combination thereof, and the tertiary feature amounts 29 and 30 are extracted by the combination of the secondary feature amounts 25 to 28. Here, the feature amount 29 is a feature amount representing an eye, and the feature amount 30 is a feature amount representing a mouth. Further, a quaternary feature value 31 (face feature value) is extracted by combining the tertiary feature values 29 and 30. As a result, it is possible to determine whether or not there is a face on the screen, and human detection can be performed. In addition, the extraction of the third feature value determines the position and edge of the facial parts (eyes, mouth, etc.) on the image. It is also possible to detect eye meditation. FIG. 5 shows an example of person detection from an image. There are other methods such as using color information or template matching for person detection, personal identification, facial expression recognition, and shape identification.

  In this way, according to the present embodiment, continuous images and high-quality images are acquired and temporarily stored at the same time with the same optical system (the same angle of view, focus, and aperture conditions), and the data capacity is smaller. A high-quality image is selected using the same time frame of consecutive images. For this reason, even if a huge and high-speed recording medium for high-quality images is not prepared, the chance of failed shooting is eliminated because post-analysis can capture a photo opportunity for high-quality images. In addition, since the specified number is automatically acquired by specifying the number of recordings, the photographer can concentrate on video shooting, and the shutter chances such as momentary facial expressions encountered during video recording can be increased without affecting video recording. It can be recorded with image quality.

[Second Embodiment]
FIG. 6 shows a flowchart of the second embodiment according to the present invention.

  In the second embodiment, unlike the first embodiment, only desired conditions (such as prevention of smiles and eye meditation) are set by the user or the like (S201). Since S202 to S205 are the same as those in the first embodiment, the description thereof is omitted. If it is determined in S205 that one frame of the moving image acquired at the same time as the high-quality image of the storage candidate matches the condition, the camera control circuit 2 obtains the candidate image via the user interface 1. The user is notified of this (S206). In S206, the user can know that the best shot candidate is acquired in the buffer memory 7. For this reason, whether or not to save the image data is selected (S207), and based on this, writing to the recording medium (S209) or discarding (S210) is actually permitted.

  There are various methods for executing the notification in S206.

  FIG. 7 shows an example of the notification operation in S206 when the user interface 1 is realized by the image display unit 32 such as a liquid crystal display. When an image matching the condition (smile in this case) is not detected (a) and (b), a continuous image, that is, a moving image is displayed on the image display unit 32 at a constant frame rate. When a smile is captured in (c) and detected by the image analysis circuit 9, the image 34 used for analysis in the subsequent (d) is displayed superimposed on the video at that time, and the target image is displayed. The obtained information is notified to the user by the character information 33 or the like. At this time, blinking the image 34 at regular intervals or enclosing the image 34 with a thick frame or a colored frame is useful because it can alert the user. For the same reason, voice notification (language notification, music song, alarm sound, animal call, etc.) can be performed simultaneously. In FIG. 7, the character information 33 is displayed only by text, but icon display and combination of icon and text are also possible. Note that the overlapping of the moving image and the detected image is continued until designated by the user or the like (S207). Further, instead of an explicit discard instruction, it is possible to interpret that the instruction is discarded when there is no instruction for a certain period after the notification in S206 is executed. This method is effective when the video is more important because the video is displayed in a large size.

  FIG. 8 shows another example for executing the notification in S206. Since (a) to (c) are the same as those in FIG. When a smile is captured in (c) and detected by the image analysis circuit 9, the smile image is redisplayed in the main part in (d) thereafter, and the moving picture at that time is part of the image 35 (FIG. 8 is overwritten and displayed as a dot. For convenience of explanation, no dot is actually displayed. At this time, the area 36 (displayed with diagonal lines in FIG. 8 is not displayed for convenience of explanation) and the area 35 where the moving image is overwritten at that time overlaps as much as possible. It is arranged at a position where it becomes smaller. At this time, the user is notified of the fact that the target image has been obtained by using character information 33 or the like. As in the case of FIG. 7, the user's attention can be alerted by blinking the image at regular intervals, surrounding the image with a thick frame or a colored frame, giving a voice notification, or displaying an icon. This method is effective when a high-quality image is more important because the detected image is displayed larger when detecting the image.

  In the second embodiment, there is an advantage that the user can select the detected image as desired. For this reason, it is possible to prevent a mistake that a useless image is taken in when the capacity of a recording medium for storing a high-quality image is small, and that there is no storage location in an emergency.

[Third Embodiment]
FIG. 9 shows a flowchart of the third embodiment according to the present invention.

  S301 to S303 and S308 are the same as those in the first embodiment. When video recording is selected in S302, images are captured at regular intervals (S303) and recorded on a recording medium (S308). In such a continuous image recording state, when the user issues a detection start command in S304, the same processing as in the first embodiment is performed. That is, after S304, the high-quality image is stored in the buffer memory (S305), the condition analysis detection process for the same time frame of the continuous image (S306), the storability determination (S307), and the recording to the recording medium (S309) Alternatively, the high-quality image data is discarded (S310).

  The detection start command input means in S304 is provided in the user interface 1 of FIG. 1, and input by a push switch, joystick, line of sight, brain waves, or the like is conceivable. In this embodiment, for example, when shooting a goal moment while recording the appearance of a child running at an athletic meet, etc., or when shooting a bird's flapping and shooting a moment when it stays on a tree, etc. it can. In these scenes, the target object is small at the start of recording and it is difficult to determine automatically, or if other children or birds other than the target to be photographed are nearby, unnecessary images can be captured There is sex.

  For example, the case shown in FIG. 10 corresponds to this. (A), (b) shows the goal scene of the recording start time and the child (person A in the figure). In the scene (a), the unnecessary object (person B) is larger than the target object (person A), and it is highly likely that the person B makes a match determination in S307 and takes in useless images. As a result, the capacity of the storage medium is used, and there is a possibility that a high-quality image cannot be recorded in the scene (b) that is really necessary. In such a case, it is possible for the user to acquire a useless image by determining the state of the target object and designating the detection start time (in the case of FIG. 10, the person A approaches the goal). Sex can be greatly reduced. At this time, there is no worry that the moving image drops like a conventional hybrid camera or that a decisive chance is missed like when a human releases the shutter.

  In addition, when the detection start command is not issued in S304, the load on the camera control circuit 2 is reduced. For this reason, compared to the first embodiment in which high-quality images are always buffered during recording and analysis processing is performed, the power consumption is reduced and the frequency of other controls (autofocus, aperture adjustment, etc.) is reduced. There is a merit that it can be raised.

[Other Embodiments]
The embodiment according to the present invention has been described in detail using specific examples. However, the present invention can take an embodiment as a system, apparatus, method, program, storage medium (recording medium), or the like. is there. Specifically, the present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices, or may be applied to an apparatus composed of a single device.

  It goes without saying that the object of the present invention can be achieved even if any part of the illustrated functional blocks and operations is realized by a hardware circuit or by software processing using a computer.

  Note that the present invention includes a case where the present invention is achieved by supplying a software program for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments directly or remotely to a system or apparatus. In that case, a computer such as a system reads and executes the program code.

  Accordingly, since the functions of the present invention are implemented by computer, the program code installed in the computer also implements the present invention. In other words, the present invention includes a computer program itself for realizing the functional processing of the present invention.

  In that case, as long as it has the function of a program, it may be in the form of object code, a program executed by an interpreter, script data supplied to the OS, or the like.

  Examples of the recording medium (storage medium) for supplying the program include a flexible disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, and a magneto-optical disk. In addition, there are MO, CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM, DVD (DVD-ROM, DVD-R) and the like.

  As another program supply method, a client computer browser can be used to connect to a homepage on the Internet, and the computer program itself of the present invention can be downloaded from the homepage. It can also be supplied by downloading a compressed file including an automatic installation function to a recording medium such as a hard disk. It can also be realized by dividing the program code constituting the program of the present invention into a plurality of files and downloading each file from a different homepage. That is, a WWW server that allows a plurality of users to download a program file for realizing the functional processing of the present invention on a computer is also included in the present invention.

  In addition, the program of the present invention is encrypted, stored in a storage medium such as a CD-ROM, distributed to users, and a user who satisfies predetermined conditions downloads key information for decryption from a homepage via the Internet. You can also. In this case, using the downloaded key information, the encrypted program is executed and installed in the computer.

  In addition to the functions of the above-described embodiments being realized by the computer executing the read program, the OS running on the computer based on the instructions of the program may be part of the actual processing. Alternatively, it can be realized by performing all of them.

  Further, after the program read from the recording medium is written in the memory of a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the CPU of the board or the like performs a part of the actual processing. Alternatively, it can be realized by performing all of them.

It is a block diagram which illustrates the composition of the imaging device of the embodiment concerning the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement of 1st Embodiment based on this invention. It is a time chart which shows operation | movement of 1st Embodiment which concerns on this invention. It is a time chart which shows another example of operation | movement of 1st Embodiment which concerns on this invention. It is a figure explaining a face detection method. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement of 2nd Embodiment which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows the notification method to the user of 2nd Embodiment which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows another example of the notification method to the user of 2nd Embodiment which concerns on this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement of 3rd Embodiment based on this invention. It is a figure explaining the effect of 3rd Embodiment concerning this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the moving image and high pixel recording operation | movement by the conventional imaging device. It is a block diagram which shows another example of the conventional moving image and high pixel recording operation. It is a figure explaining the conventional moving image and high pixel recording operation. It is a block diagram which shows the conventional imaging device which image | photographs an image by automatically discriminating the state of a subject.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 User interface 2 Camera control circuit 3 Optical system 4 Zoom 5 Aperture 6 Image sensor 7 Buffer memory (1st data holding means)
8 Buffer memory (second data holding means)
9 Image analysis circuit 10, 11 Recording control circuit 12, 13 Recording medium 21-24 Primary feature amount for face detection 25-28 Secondary feature amount for face detection 29 Tertiary feature amount for face detection (eye feature amount)
30 Face detection tertiary feature (mouth feature)
31 quaternary feature value for face detection (face feature value)
32 Image display section 33 Character information 34 Analysis match image 35 Moving image 36 Analysis match area

Claims (9)

Moving image data generated by the image sensor is captured and stored as second image data in the second buffer memory, and is stored in the image sensor at the same timing as a predetermined frame of the second image data. Image capturing means for capturing the image data generated in the first buffer memory and storing the image data in the first buffer memory as first image data ;
Analyzing means for analyzing whether the subject satisfies a predetermined condition using the second image data;
Recording the first the first image data stored in the buffer memory is recorded on the first recording means, said second image data stored in said second buffer memory to the second recording means Recording control means for
The first image data is at least one of high resolution and multi-gradation as compared with the second image data,
The recording control means as a result of said analyzing means were analyzed using the second image data of one frame, if they meet the subject is said predetermined condition, said first of said one of the frame The first image data captured at the same timing as the second image data and stored in the first buffer memory is recorded in the first recording means , and the subject does not satisfy the predetermined condition , The first image data fetched at the same timing as the second image data of any one of the frames and stored in the first buffer memory is not recorded in the first recording means . Imaging device. The recording control means as a result of said analyzing means were analyzed using the second image data of one frame, does not satisfy the subject is said predetermined condition, said first of said one of the frame 2. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first image data captured at the same timing as the second image data and stored in the first buffer memory is discarded.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the analysis unit performs at least one of human detection, personal identification, facial expression recognition, and shape identification on the second image data. The continuous image data generated by the image sensor is captured and stored as second image data in the second buffer memory, and the image sensor has the same timing as a predetermined frame of the second image data. Image capturing means for capturing the image data generated in the first buffer memory and storing the image data in the first buffer memory as first image data ;
Analyzing means for analyzing whether the subject satisfies a predetermined condition using the second image data;
Recording the first the first image data stored in the buffer memory is recorded on the first recording means, said second image data stored in said second buffer memory to the second recording means Recording control means for
Notifying means for notifying that when the second image data of any frame satisfies the predetermined condition;
After the notification by the notification means , the first image data fetched at the same timing as the second image data of any one of the frames satisfying the predetermined condition and stored in the first buffer memory is stored in the first buffer memory . and a selection means for selecting whether to record the first recording means,
The first image data is at least one of high resolution and multi-gradation as compared with the second image data,
If the recording means selects the first image data to be recorded by the selection means , the recording control means fetches the first buffer at the same timing as the second image data of any one of the frames. The first image data stored in the memory is recorded in the first recording unit , and if the selection unit does not select recording the first image data, the first image data of any one of the frames is recorded . An image pickup apparatus that does not record the first image data captured at the same timing as the second image data and stored in the first buffer memory in the first recording unit . If recording of the first image data is not selected by the selection means, the first image data fetched at the same timing as the second image data of any one of the frames and stored in the first buffer memory The imaging apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the first image data is discarded. Moving image data generated by the image sensor is captured and stored as second image data in the second buffer memory, and is stored in the image sensor at the same timing as a predetermined frame of the second image data. An image capturing step of capturing the image data generated in the first buffer memory and storing the image data as first image data in a first buffer memory ;
An analysis step of analyzing whether the subject satisfies a predetermined condition using the second image data;
Recording the first the first image data stored in the buffer memory is recorded on the first recording means, said second image data stored in said second buffer memory to the second recording means Recording control step to
The first image data is at least one of high resolution and multi-gradation as compared with the second image data,
In the recording control step, as a result of performing analysis using the second image data of any frame in the analysis step, if the subject satisfies the predetermined condition, the frame of any frame The first image data captured at the same timing as the second image data and stored in the first buffer memory is recorded in the first recording means , and the subject does not satisfy the predetermined condition. The first image data fetched at the same timing as the second image data of any one of the frames and stored in the first buffer memory is not recorded in the first recording means . Imaging method. The continuous image data generated by the image sensor is captured and stored as second image data in the second buffer memory, and the image sensor has the same timing as a predetermined frame of the second image data. An image capturing step of capturing the image data generated in the first buffer memory and storing the image data as first image data in a first buffer memory ;
An analysis step of analyzing whether the subject satisfies a predetermined condition using the second image data;
Recording the first the first image data stored in the buffer memory is recorded on the first recording means, said second image data stored in said second buffer memory to the second recording means Recording control process to
A notification step of notifying that when the second image data of any frame satisfies the predetermined condition;
After the notification in the notification step , the first image data fetched at the same timing as the second image data of any one of the frames satisfying the predetermined condition and stored in the first buffer memory is stored in the first buffer memory . And a selection step for selecting whether or not to record in one recording means ,
The first image data is at least one of high resolution and multi-gradation as compared with the second image data,
In the recording control step, if recording of the first image data is selected in the selection step, the first buffer is captured at the same timing as the second image data of any one of the frames. The first image data stored in the memory is recorded in the first recording means , and if the selection of the first image data is not selected in the selection step, the first image data of any one of the frames is selected . An image pickup method, wherein the first image data captured at the same timing as the second image data and stored in the first buffer memory is not recorded in the first recording means .   A program for causing a computer to execute the imaging method according to claim 6 or 7.   A computer-readable storage medium storing the program according to claim 8.

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