JP4836273B2 - Video imaging device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a video imaging apparatus and a video imaging method, and more particularly to a technique suitable for use in processing recording data when an unintended video is recorded.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, video imaging devices have been provided with display devices such as an LCD panel and a color viewfinder (hereinafter referred to as CVF). At the time of shooting, one of the display devices is generally used for shooting while checking the shooting situation. Has been done. However, in many cases, there are many users who take pictures using a large and easy-to-see LCD panel, and in recent years, video imaging apparatuses that do not have a CVF function that is not frequently used are commercially available.

  In this case, if the LCD panel is closed, it is impossible to determine what kind of video is recorded when shooting outdoors. In addition, some image pickup devices perform processing to turn off the power when the LCD panel is closed, but when using as a fixed point camera, the LCD panel may be closed to shoot for power saving when the focus position is adjusted first. is there. For this reason, there is a problem that it is not possible to deal with various applications simply by performing a process of turning off the power when the LCD panel is simply closed.

  On the other hand, if the photographer thinks that the LCD panel is closed during recording and the recording process is stopped, a meaningless video may be recorded. This is generally called ground photography. In order to prevent such shooting on the ground, for example, photographing apparatuses such as those described in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 have been proposed.

  In the photographing apparatus capable of photographing a moving image described in Patent Document 1, ground photographing is detected by a ground photographing circuit, and a warning is displayed on the electronic viewfinder by a control circuit. Then, when the photographer does not operate the photographing start button (REC), photographing is temporarily stopped to prevent erroneous recording due to ground photographing.

  However, the technique described in Patent Document 1 has a problem that even if ground shooting is detected, the shooting is only temporarily stopped, so that detection of ground shooting cannot be used for editing after shooting. . Therefore, in order to solve such a problem, Patent Document 2 proposes a photographing apparatus that can be used for editing after photographing when an abnormality such as ground photographing is detected.

JP-A-8-275033 JP 2004-159083 A

  However, in the case of a conventional photographic device, if a video recording is started in a situation that the photographer does not intend or if video recording is continued, it is photographed that such recording has been performed. There was a problem that could not be warned.

In addition, when recording that is not intended by the photographer is performed, there is a problem that the photographer cannot freely select how to process the recorded video data.
In view of the above-mentioned problems, the present invention makes it possible to reliably warn a photographer that video recording has been performed in a situation unintended by the photographer and how to process video data recorded in an unintended situation. The purpose is to allow the photographer to freely select whether to do.

The video imaging apparatus of the present invention includes a video photographing unit that photographs a subject and generates a video signal, a photographing video recording unit that records the video signal generated by the video photographing unit on a recording medium, and the photographing video recording unit A captured video playback means for playing back the video signal recorded on the recording medium, a display for confirming the video signal generated by the video capture means, or a video signal played back by the captured video playback means Video display means for displaying on the display device, and control means for controlling the operation of the entire device, wherein the control means is changed from a state in which the video display device can confirm the video signal to a state in which the video signal can not be confirmed. The photographed video recording means is controlled so that the video signal generated by the video photographing means is recorded on the recording medium as a second video signal for a certain period after It is characterized in.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to reliably warn a photographer that video recording has been performed in a situation unintended by the photographer. In addition, when a video unintended by the photographer has been recorded, the recorded data can be processed with a simple operation.

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.
The video imaging apparatus of this embodiment is an apparatus generally called a digital video camera, and has video imaging means for shooting a subject and generating a video signal, and is configured as shown in FIG. .

  That is, the optical image captured from the lens 1 is converted into an electrical signal in the sensor unit 2. Then, the electric signal converted in the sensor unit 2 is subjected to various signal processing by the camera processing unit 3 and the video signal processing unit 5 to generate a video signal. The video signal generated in this way is displayed on a display unit (hereinafter referred to as an LCD panel) 6 comprising an LCD panel. The generated video signal is recorded and stored in a recording medium (for example, tape, DVD, hard disk, etc.) 7. Control for displaying the video signal on the LCD panel 6, recording the video signal on the recording medium 7, or reproducing the video signal recorded on the recording medium 7 is performed by the control unit 4. That is, in this embodiment, the control unit 4 functions as a captured video recording unit, a video display unit, a captured video reproduction unit, and a control unit for the entire apparatus.

  In the digital video camera of the present embodiment, when a key input signal is input to the control unit 4 by pressing buttons attached to the digital video camera body, the control unit 4 performs the entire operation of the digital video camera. To control. Then, processing corresponding to the KEY input signal is started. For example, ZOOM operation, menu operation, recording start, recording stop, etc. are representative examples. The video signal output unit 8 is a circuit mechanism that outputs a video signal to an external video confirmation device. The opening / closing detection unit 9 is a mechanism that detects opening / closing of the LCD panel 6.

  Next, an example of a processing procedure performed by the digital video camera of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The video camera used in the following description is an example of a video camera that includes the LCD panel 6 and does not have a color viewfinder.

  When the operation is started in the recording mode, the recording is initially paused in step S101. When a recording start / stop switch (hereinafter referred to as SW) is pressed from the recording pause state, the process proceeds to step S102 to start recording (D1 data recording (recording of the first video signal)).

  Thereafter, in step S103, it is determined whether the recording start / stop SW has been pressed. As a result of this determination, if the recording start / stop SW is pressed, the process returns to step S101 to enter the normal recording pause state.

  If the result of the determination in step S103 is that the recording start / stop SW has not been pressed, the process proceeds to step S104, and whether or not the LCD panel 6 has been closed is determined using the open / close detection signal output from the open / close detection unit 9. to decide.

  If the result of determination in step S104 is that the LCD panel 6 is not closed, the process returns to step S101 to enter a normal recording pause state. If the LCD panel 6 is closed, it is determined that the normal use state has been changed, and the process proceeds to step S105. The data to be recorded after the LCD panel 6 is closed is different from the recording data (D1 data) before the LCD panel 6 is closed (D2 data (second recording information (second video signal)). )) To continue recording. At this time, the user may be prompted to indicate that there is not all video confirmation means during recording.

  Next, in step S106, it is determined whether the LCD panel 6 is reopened or the recording start / stop SW is pressed while recording in another data (D2 data). If the result of this determination is that the LCD panel 6 is reopened or the recording start / stop SW has not been pressed, processing returns to step S105 and recording of another data (D2 data) is continued.

  If the panel is reopened as a result of the determination in step S106, it is determined that the normal use state has been restored, and the process proceeds to step S107. Then, a recording state of another data (D2 data) recorded in a state where the LCD panel 6 is closed while continuing recording is displayed to warn the user. As an example of the content of this warning display, for example, the recording start time and recording time of a video signal performed for a certain period are recorded on a recording medium. Then, the recording start time and the recording time recorded on the recording medium are displayed on the LCD panel 6.

  Next, in step S108, a processing selection opportunity is provided for allowing the user to select a processing method for another data (D2 data) recorded while the LCD panel 6 is closed. In the present embodiment, the user can freely select from the first process to the third process as the process of the different data (D2 data).

  When the first processing is selected, the process proceeds to step S109, and another data (D2 data) recorded while the LCD panel 6 is closed is replaced with new recording information (D3 data (third video signal)). To save as. If the second process is selected, the process proceeds to step S110, where another data (D2 data) recorded while the LCD panel 6 is closed is deleted. In this case, the recording start position may be the position where the recording of the second video signal is started, and the subsequent video signal may be recorded while being overwritten with the other data (D2 data).

  Further, when the third process is selected, the process proceeds to step S111, and the previous recording data obtained by dividing another data (D2 data) recorded while the LCD panel 6 is closed into another data is obtained. Synthesize. Then, a process of generating one file, creating and saving it as another file is performed.

  By performing the above processing, it is possible to reliably notify the photographer that recording has been continued by mistake. In addition, the photographer can easily select how to process video data that has been recorded unintentionally by the photographer.

  In the above-described processing, when shooting is performed while connected to an external video confirmation device (for example, a TV or the like), processing after step S105 is performed even if the LCD panel is closed in the determination of step S104. May not be performed.

  Further, when an external video confirmation device is similarly connected between step S105 and step S106, the subsequent processing is continued as the same determination as when the LCD panel 6 is opened in the determination in step S106. It is also good.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
In the present embodiment, the processing procedure from step S101 to step S105 is the same as that in the first embodiment described above, and therefore the same step numbers as those in FIG. To do.

  In this embodiment, when another data (D2 data) is recorded in the recording medium 7 in step S105, in step S201, processing for detecting whether or not a cable for outputting a signal to an external video confirmation device is connected is performed. .

  As a result of the detection process in step S201, if it is not detected that a cable for outputting a signal to an external video confirmation device is detected, the process returns to step S105 to record another data (D2 data) on the recording medium 7. continue processing.

  On the other hand, if it is detected as a result of the detection process in step S201 that a cable for outputting a signal to an external video confirmation device is connected, the process proceeds to step S202. In step S202, data (D2 data) recorded after the LCD panel 6 is closed is saved, and recording is resumed with other data (D4 data).

  Next, in step S203, it is determined whether or not the recording start / stop SW has been pressed. If the result of this determination is that the recording start / stop SW has not been pressed, processing returns to step S202 and the above processing is continued.

  As a result of the determination in step S203, if the recording start / stop SW is pressed, the process proceeds to step S204, where the recording is stopped and the recording data (D4 data) is stored in the recording medium 7. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S205, where the user is confirmed to process the recorded data (D2 data) recorded after the LCD panel 6 is closed.

  In the present embodiment, since the processing as described above is performed, a signal is output to an external video confirmation device for a user who does not record after the LCD panel 6 is closed. When this happens, video data recording resumes. Then, when the recording is completed, the previous data processing method may be confirmed. This makes it possible to smoothly shift to the recording operation.

(Another embodiment according to the present invention)
Each means constituting the video imaging apparatus in the embodiment of the present invention described above can be realized by operating a program stored in a RAM or ROM of a computer. This program and a computer-readable recording medium recording the program are included in the present invention.

  In addition, the present invention can be implemented as a system, apparatus, method, program, storage medium, or the like, and can be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices. Moreover, you may apply to the apparatus which consists of one apparatus.

  In the present invention, a software program (in the embodiment, a program corresponding to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 2 and 3) for executing each step in the above-described video imaging method is directly or remotely supplied to the system or apparatus. To do. In addition, this includes a case where the system or the computer of the apparatus is also achieved by reading and executing the supplied 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, and the like.

  Various recording media can be used as a recording medium for supplying the program. For example, floppy (registered trademark) disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, MO, CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM, DVD (DVD-ROM, DVD- R).

  As another program supply method, a browser on a client computer is used to connect to an Internet home page. The computer program itself of the present invention or a compressed file including an automatic installation function can be downloaded from the homepage by downloading it 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, the present invention includes 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.

  Also, the key information for encrypting the program of the present invention, storing it in a storage medium such as a CD-ROM and distributing it to the user, and decrypting the encryption from the homepage via the Internet to the user who cleared the predetermined condition Download. It is also possible to execute the encrypted program by using the key information and install the program on a 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 performs part or all of the actual processing. Also, the functions of the above-described embodiments can be realized.

  Further, the program read from the recording medium is written in a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer. Thereafter, the CPU of the function expansion board or function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing based on the instructions of the program, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a video imaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows embodiment of this invention and demonstrates the 1st process sequence of the video imaging method. It is a flowchart which shows embodiment of this invention and demonstrates the 2nd process sequence of the video imaging method.

Explanation of symbols

1 Lens 2 Sensor part 2
3 Camera processing unit 4 Control unit 5 Video signal processing unit 6 Display unit (LCD panel)
7 Recording medium 8 Video signal output unit 9 Open / close detection unit

Claims (11)

Video shooting means for shooting a subject and generating a video signal;
Shooting video recording means for recording the video signal generated by the video shooting means on a recording medium;
Photographed video reproduction means for reproducing the video signal recorded on the recording medium by the photographed video recording means;
A display for confirming the video signal generated by the video photographing means, or a video display means for displaying the video signal reproduced by the photographed video reproducing means on a video display device;
Control means for controlling the operation of the entire apparatus,
The control means converts the video signal generated by the video photographing means into a second video signal for a certain period after the video display device is changed from a state where the video signal can be confirmed to a state where the video signal can not be confirmed. A video imaging apparatus, wherein the captured video recording means is controlled to record on the recording medium. Wherein, when said image display device is restored to ensure ready the video signal, until returning to further confirm ready after being changed can not check state from said identifiable state The content of the second video signal recorded on the recording medium for a certain period of time is displayed on the display device as a warning so as to notify the user that recording unintended by the user has been performed. The video imaging apparatus according to claim 1.   A video signal output unit for outputting the video signal to an external video confirmation device in order to confirm the video signal generated by the video photographing unit or the video signal reproduced by the photographed video reproducing unit; The video imaging apparatus according to claim 1. The control means starts recording from the time when the output of the video signal generated by the video photographing means is stopped from the video signal output unit to an external video confirmation device, and the external video from the video signal output unit. The video signal generated by the video photographing means is recorded on the recording medium as a second video signal for a certain period until the video signal is output again to the confirmation device and the video signal returns to a state where it can be confirmed. The video imaging apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the captured video recording unit is controlled as described above.   The control means includes a first process for storing the record information recorded on the recording medium during the certain period as new record information in the recording medium, and a second process for deleting the record information recorded during the certain period. The video display means is controlled to display on the display device a third process for synthesizing the record information recorded in the predetermined period with other record information to create a single file. 5. The video imaging apparatus according to any one of 1 to 4.   The video imaging apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a process selection unit that selects any one process from the first process to the third process displayed on the display device.   When the third process is selected by the process selection unit, the control unit combines the record information recorded in the predetermined period with the previous record information recorded in the predetermined period to create one file. 7. The photographed video recording means is controlled so that recording information recorded in a predetermined period before being synthesized as one file is stored as another recording information. Video imaging device. When the video display device returns to a state in which the video signal can be confirmed, or when the video signal is output again to an external video confirmation device, the control means generates the video signal generated by the video photographing means. Is recorded on the recording medium as the second video signal, the recording start position is set as the recording start position of the second video signal, and the recording information recorded in the predetermined period is overwritten thereafter. The video imaging apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the captured video recording unit is controlled to record the video signal. When the video display device returns to a state in which the video signal can be confirmed or when the video signal is output again to an external video confirmation device, the control means stores the recorded information recorded in the predetermined period. The video imaging apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the captured video recording unit is controlled so as to record subsequent video signals as separate files.   The video imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a recording medium that records a recording time recorded in the predetermined period.   The video imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a detection unit that detects a use state of the video display apparatus.

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