JP4921075B2 - Imaging apparatus and control method thereof - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus and a control method therefor, and more particularly to a technique suitable for recording a plurality of types of video signals in a plurality of types of recording formats.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, video cameras that capture images and record them on an optical disk are known. A DVD is known as an optical disk used in this type of video camera. As a recording DVD, there are a write-once disc such as a DVD-R and a rewritable disc such as a DVD-RW. Moreover, there are a DVD video format and a DVD video recording format as recording formats for recording video signals on these DVDs. For example, in a disc video camera, when a disc is loaded for the first time, initialization processing according to such a recording format is performed (for example, refer to Patent Document 1).

  Various data recorded on the disc in this way are handled as normal files. Therefore, a file system is necessary to handle data recorded on the disc as a file. As a file system for data recorded on a disk, UDF (Universal Disk Format) is known. DVD-R and DVD-RW support the UDF 2.0 file system.

  As described above, in a disc video camera, it is necessary to perform file format processing and disc format processing so that data can be written to the disc before video and audio are recorded on the disc.

  In recent years, a standard (AVCHD) for shooting a high-definition (HD) video signal and recording it on a DVD disc has been proposed instead of the conventional standard resolution (SD) video signal.

JP 2003-78874 A

  As described above, in the AVCHD standard, an HD signal can be recorded on a DVD disc. Therefore, it becomes possible to realize a video camera capable of recording in the AVCHD format in addition to the conventional DVD video format and VR format for recording SD signals on a DVD disc.

  As a result, this type of video camera has a plurality of disc types, recording formats, and recordable video signal systems. For this reason, there has been a problem in that video and audio cannot be recorded on a DVD disc unless each combination is properly selected.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to easily select an initialization format when a recording medium that can be recorded in a plurality of recording formats is initialized.

  The imaging apparatus according to the present invention generates an imaging unit and a first video signal and a second video signal having a lower resolution than the first video signal from the video signal obtained by the imaging unit. Means for selecting one of the first video signal and the second video signal, and a first for recording the first video signal based on a selection result of the selection means. A menu screen including a first item for selecting one recording format and a second item for selecting a second recording format for recording the second video signal is output to the display device. And when the first video signal is selected by the selection unit, the first item is displayed with emphasis over the second item, and the second unit is displayed by the selection unit. When a video signal is selected When there is an output means for outputting the menu screen for displaying the second item with emphasis over the first item to the display device, and when there is an instruction to initialize the recording medium, the first item is displayed. The recording medium is initialized according to the recording format corresponding to the item selected from the first item and the second item displayed on the menu screen among the recording format and the second recording format. Initializing means for performing recording, and recording means for recording the first video signal or the second video signal generated by the generating means on a recording medium initialized by the initializing means. And

  According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a control method for an image pickup apparatus, wherein a generation step of generating a first video signal and a second video signal having a lower resolution than the first video signal from a video signal obtained by an imaging unit; A selection step for selecting one of the first video signal and the second video signal, and a first step for recording the first video signal based on a selection result in the selection step. Outputting a menu screen including a first item for selecting a recording format and a second item for selecting a second recording format for recording the second video signal to a display device; When the first video signal is selected in the selection step, the first item is highlighted with respect to the second item, and the second video is displayed in the selection step. The signal is selected In this case, when there is an output step of outputting the menu screen that emphasizes and displays the second item over the first item to the display device, and when there is an instruction to initialize the recording medium, the second item is displayed. Initialization processing of the recording medium according to a recording format corresponding to an item selected from the first item and the second item displayed on the menu screen, out of one recording format and the second recording format And a recording step of recording the first video signal or the second video signal generated in the generation step on the recording medium initialized in the initialization step. Features.

According to the present invention, when recording the image on a recording medium capable of recording in multiple formats, it is possible to easily select the initialization format, the recording medium in a format that can not be recorded and reproduced It is possible not to perform the initialization process.

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of an image pickup apparatus (disc camcorder) using an optical disc as a recording medium in the present embodiment.
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 101 denotes a lens, and reference numeral 102 denotes a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) which is a solid-state imaging device. Reference numeral 103 denotes a video signal processing circuit that converts an image pickup signal into a video signal, and reference numeral 104 denotes a video display output circuit that outputs the video signal to a display device or an output terminal.

  Reference numeral 105 denotes a video output terminal, and 106 denotes an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) which is a video display device. Reference numeral 107 denotes a compression method selection circuit for selecting a compression method of the video signal. Reference numeral 108 denotes a first video signal compression circuit that performs compression processing of a video signal based on a standardized compression method. Reference numeral 109 denotes a video based on a standardized compression method different from the first video signal compression circuit 108. It is a second video signal compression circuit that performs signal compression processing. Reference numeral 110 denotes a recording circuit that records a compressed video signal on a recording medium, and 111 denotes an optical disk that is a recording medium.

  Reference numeral 112 denotes an initialization request circuit, and reference numeral 113 denotes a microcomputer that performs system control of the disk camcorder. Reference numeral 114 denotes an initialization selection circuit that selects the type of recording format used when initializing the optical disk 111. Reference numerals 115, 116, 117, and 118 denote the first to initialize the optical disk 111 according to different recording formats. , Second, third, and fourth initialization circuits. Reference numeral 119 denotes a camera mode switching circuit for selecting either the HD mode or the SD mode, and reference numeral 120 denotes a recording medium detection circuit for detecting the optical disk 111.

  The light imaged by the lens 101 is photoelectrically converted by the CCD 102 to become an imaging signal. The imaging signal is converted into a video signal by the video signal processing circuit 103. Further, according to an instruction from the microcomputer 113, an OSD (On Screen Display) signal is generated as a menu screen display for displaying the status of the disk camcorder and various settings.

  The video signal is output to the video display output circuit 104 and the compression method selection circuit 107. Then, the video signal becomes an external output signal in the video display output circuit 104 and is output to the outside through the video output terminal 105. Further, the video display output circuit 104 performs control for displaying video on the LCD 106.

  On the other hand, the video signal is also output to the compression method selection circuit 107 as described above. The compression method selection circuit 107 outputs the input video signal to either the first video signal compression circuit 108 or the second video signal compression circuit 109 in accordance with an instruction from the microcomputer 113.

  The first video signal compression circuit 108 and the second video signal compression circuit 109 compress the video signal using different compression methods. The compression method in the first video signal compression circuit 108 is the MPEG4-AVC (H.264) method, and compresses the HDTV video signal. On the other hand, the compression method in the second video signal compression circuit 109 is the MPEG2 method and compresses the SDTV video signal.

  Further, since the video signal output from the video signal processing circuit 103 is a signal corresponding to HDTV, the second video signal compression circuit 109 includes a down-conversion circuit that down-converts HDTV to SDTV before signal compression. Contains.

  The compressed video signal is recorded on the optical disk 111 by the recording circuit 110. Specifically, first, the recording circuit 110 converts the video signal into predetermined data. The converted data is recorded on the optical disk 111 with laser light through a pickup unit (not shown). At this time, the recording circuit 110 also controls a motor driver (not shown) that controls the driving of a spindle motor (not shown) that rotates the optical disk 111 and a tracking motor (not shown) that drives the pickup unit.

  At the time of recording, information is recorded by irradiating the recording layer of the optical disc 111 with a laser beam like DVD-R and DVD-RW. On the other hand, at the time of reproduction, the recording layer is irradiated with laser light, and the reflected light is detected by the pickup unit to extract information (the structure of the optical disk 111 is not shown).

  The recording medium detection circuit 120 reads the disk information of the optical disk 111 and outputs it to the microcomputer 113. From the result, the microcomputer 113 determines whether or not the optical disk 111 is mounted and whether or not it has been formatted. If it has been formatted, the microcomputer 113 determines the format type.

  The initialization selection circuit 114 selects one of the four initialization circuits 115 to 118. The first initialization circuit 115, the second initialization circuit 116, the third initialization circuit 117, and the fourth initialization circuit 118 respectively store initialization data for formatting the optical disk 111 with different recording formats. Output to the recording circuit 110. The recording circuit 110 records initialization data on the optical disk 111 during the formatting process, and performs the formatting process.

  The initialization request circuit 112 displays the type of format selected by an operation key (not shown) from the menu screen output and displayed from the video output terminal 105 or the menu screen displayed on the LCD 106 and the format start instruction. It outputs to 113. The camera mode switching circuit 119 selects whether to record an SD signal or an HD signal from the menu screen, and outputs the selection result to the microcomputer 113.

  Next, a combination of the camera mode (video signal system to be recorded), the video compression system, the file format of the optical disk 111, and the signal recording system in this embodiment will be described. There are two types of recording formats for disc camcorders: DVD and AVCHD. DVD uses the MPEG2 system as a moving picture compression system and UDF2.0 as the file format of the optical disk 111. As a camera mode, SDTV resolution recording is possible.

  On the other hand, AVCHD uses the MPEG4-AVC (H.264) system as a moving picture compression system and UDF2.5 as the file format of the optical disk 111. As a camera mode, HDTV resolution recording is possible. Therefore, the difference in recording format is equal to the difference in file format. In addition, each recording format can be selected from a video format or a VR format when recording on the optical disk 111.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing combinations that can be recorded by combinations of camera modes, recording formats, and disk formats. Note that “◯” indicates a recordable combination, and “X” indicates a recordable combination.

  As shown in FIG. 2, there are eight combinations of recording formats, disk formats, and camera modes. When the SD mode is selected as the camera mode, the optical disk 111 can only record at the resolution of SDTV. Therefore, the selectable recording format can be selected from two types of DVD Video format and DVD VR format.

  On the other hand, when the HD mode is selected as the camera mode, the optical disk 111 can only record HDTV resolution. For this reason, selectable recording formats can be selected from two types: AVCHD Video format and AVCHD VR format. Thus, in order to record in the camera mode selected by the user of the disc camcorder in advance, it is necessary to select a recording format of the optical disc 111 that can be recorded in the camera mode.

  Next, the operation from when the unformatted optical disc (hereinafter, blank disc) 111 is loaded to the disc camcorder of the present embodiment until the recording format is selected and the formatting process is completed will be described. When a blank disc is mounted on the disc camcorder as the optical disc 111, the recording medium detection circuit 120 reads data in a predetermined area on the blank disc. Then, the disk information including the file format type and the presence / absence of the format is sent to the microcomputer 113.

  The initialization selection circuit 114 selects a circuit for formatting from the first initialization circuit 115 to the fourth initialization circuit 118. The first initialization circuit 115 performs file formatting with UDF 2.0 for DVD recording, and disk formatting with the Video format. The second initialization circuit 116 performs file formatting with UDF 2.0 for DVD recording and disk formatting with the VR format. The third initialization circuit 117 performs file formatting with UDF2.5 for AVCHD recording, and disc formatting with the Video format. The fourth initialization circuit 118 performs file formatting with UDF2.5 for AVCHD recording and disk formatting with the VR format. In the present embodiment, as described above, four types of initialization circuits 115 to 118 for outputting initialization data for formatting with a combination of different file formats and disk formats are provided. The format type is instructed from the microcomputer 113.

  The microcomputer 113 is a computer for controlling the system of the disk camcorder, and includes a ROM composed of control codes and a control data table and a RAM for temporarily storing various information (the configuration of the ROM and RAM is the same). Not shown). When the microcomputer 113 detects the loading of the blank disk from the disk information sent from the recording medium detection circuit 120, the microcomputer 113 performs the formatting process.

  At that time, the microcomputer 113 detects whether the camera mode is the SD mode or the HD mode. Then, it generates OSD data for outputting to the video output terminal 105 and the LCD 106 a menu screen that allows the user to select the type of format that can be recorded in the selected camera mode, and outputs it to the video signal processing circuit 103. Also, the item selected on the menu screen is input from the initialization request circuit 112 to the microcomputer 113 as format type and format start information.

Next, processing performed by the microcomputer 113 after the blank disk is loaded will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.
When the optical disk 111 is loaded, first, in step S301, the disk information input from the recording medium detection circuit 120 is detected to determine whether or not the optical disk 111 has been inserted. If the optical disc 111 is not inserted as a result of this determination, the process waits until it is detected. On the other hand, if the result of determination in step S301 is that the optical disc 111 has been inserted, disc type information is acquired and processing proceeds to step S302. The disc type information is information including a file format and a disc format type. If the optical disc 111 has been formatted, a predetermined value is obtained.

  Next, in step S302, it is determined whether or not the disc is a blank disc from the disc type information acquired in step S301. If it is determined that the disc is a blank disc, the process proceeds to step S303. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S302 that the disc is not a blank disc but a formatted disc, the formatting is not necessary, and the processing is terminated.

  Next, in step S303, it is determined from the information sent from the camera mode switching circuit 119 whether or not the camera mode of the disc camcorder body currently selected by the user is the SD mode. As a result of this determination, if the camera mode is the SD mode, the process proceeds to step S305. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S303 that the camera mode is not the SD mode but the HD mode, the process proceeds to step S304.

  In step S304, since the camera mode is the HD mode, only the types of recording formats that can record HDTV images are displayed on the menu screen. On the other hand, in step S305, since the camera mode is the SD mode, only the types of recording formats that can record SDTV images are displayed on the menu screen.

  An example of a specific menu screen at the time of formatting when the camera mode is selected in the HD mode is shown in FIG. In this case, since the camera mode is the HD mode, only the recording format capable of recording HDTV images is displayed.

  An item 401 “HD (AVCHD) Video” displayed on the menu screen is a selection item for performing file formatting with UDF2.5 for AVCHD recording and disk formatting with Video format. On the other hand, the item 402 of “HD (AVCHD) VR” is a selection item for performing file formatting with UDF2.5 for AVCHD recording and disk formatting with VR format.

  Since the user has previously selected the HD mode as the camera mode, only the recording format capable of recording HDTV images can be selected. As a result, it is possible to avoid an accident in which the user mistakenly selects a recording format for recording an SDTV image.

  Next, an example of a specific menu screen at the time of formatting when the camera mode is selected in the SD mode is shown in FIG. In this case, since the camera mode is the SD mode, only a recording format capable of recording an SDTV image is displayed.

  The “SD (DVD) Video” item 403 displayed on the menu screen is a selection item for performing file formatting with UDF2.0 for DVD recording and disk formatting with the Video format. An item 404 of “SD (DVD) VR” is a selection item for performing file formatting with UDF 2.0 for DVD recording and disk formatting with VR format.

  Since the user has previously selected the camera mode as the SD mode, only the recording format capable of recording an SDTV image can be selected. As a result, it is possible to avoid an accident in which the user mistakenly selects a recording format for recording an HDTV image.

  Next, another example of a specific menu screen at the time of formatting when the camera mode is selected in the HD mode is shown in FIG. In this case, all the recording formats of a recording format 501 that can be recorded by HDTV and a recording format 502 that can be recorded by SDTV are displayed. However, since the camera mode is the HD mode, a recording format capable of recording an HDTV image is highlighted.

  “HD (AVCHD) Video” and “HD (AVCHD) VR” displayed on the menu screen are selection items of a recording format in which HDTV images can be recorded. Compared with the selection item of the recording format that can be recorded by the SDTV, the selection item of the recording format that can record the HDTV image is highlighted. As a result, it is possible to avoid an accident in which the user mistakenly selects a recording format for recording an SDTV image.

  Next, another example of a specific menu screen at the time of formatting when the camera mode is selected in the SD mode is shown in FIG. In this case, all the recording formats of the recording format 503 that can be recorded in HD and the recording format 504 that can be recorded in SD are displayed. However, since the camera mode is the SD mode, the recording format in which SDTV images can be recorded is highlighted.

  “SD (DVD) Video” and “SD (DVD) VR” displayed on the menu screen are selection items for performing a recording format that can be recorded by the SDTV. Compared with a selection item of a disc format capable of recording an HDTV image, a selection item of a disc format capable of recording an SDTV image is highlighted. As a result, it is possible to avoid an accident in which the user mistakenly selects a disc format for recording an HDTV image.

  Returning to the description of FIG. 3A, next, in step 306, when a disc format is selected by the user, items corresponding to the contents of the selected format are displayed. In addition, information regarding the type of the camera mode and the type of the disc format is displayed as detailed information of the selected item so that the user is not allowed to select a format that is not suitable (incorrect). In step 307, formatting is performed in the selected disk format, and the process is terminated.

  Here, specific display contents will be described with reference to FIG. In step S306, the recording format type is selected from the recording format types displayed in step S304, and the format menu screen is first switched to the screen shown in FIG. In the screen shown in FIG. 6A, the user is allowed to select whether or not to execute the format. The selected item 601 is highlighted in the same manner as the format type selection.

  In step S307, when the format start is selected, the initialization request circuit 112 outputs a blank disk format request to the microcomputer 113. The microcomputer 113 outputs the format type information generated in step S306 to the initialization selection circuit 114.

  For example, when the AVCHD Video mode is selected as shown in FIG. 6A, the initialization selection circuit 114 selects the third initialization circuit 117 as the initialization circuit. Then, a file format based on UDF2.5 and a disk format based on Video format are executed. When the formatting is executed, the menu screen is switched to the screen shown in FIG. 6B and sequentially notifies the status of the formatting process together with the progress information 602. When the formatting process is completed, the menu screen is switched to the screen shown in FIG. 6C, and a message indicating that the formatting is completed is displayed and the process is terminated.

  In this embodiment, the formatting process performed when a blank disk is loaded has been described. However, the same process can be performed when reformatting a formatted rewritable optical disk 111. It is.

  FIG. 3-2 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing procedure performed by the microcomputer 113 with respect to the formatted rewritable optical disk 111. A difference from the flowchart shown in FIG. 3A is that in step S310, it is determined whether or not there is a request for initialization processing from the menu screen by the user. If the result of this determination is that there is no request for initialization processing, the processing ends. On the other hand, if the result of determination in step S310 is that there is a request for initialization processing, the process proceeds to step S303, and the subsequent processing is the same as the processing shown in FIG.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, a recording format capable of recording a video signal on the optical disk 111 is presented according to the selected camera mode. Thus, the user can execute the formatting process without considering the combination of the blank disc format type and the camera mode.

(Other embodiments according to the present invention)
Each unit constituting the image pickup apparatus and each step of the control method of the image pickup 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.

  Further, the present invention can be implemented as, for example, a system, apparatus, method, program, or recording medium. Specifically, the present invention may be applied to a system including a plurality of devices. The present invention may be applied to an apparatus composed of a single device.

  In the present invention, a software program (in the embodiment, a program corresponding to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B) that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is directly or remotely transmitted to the system or apparatus. Supply. This includes the 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.

  Examples of the recording medium for supplying the program include a floppy (registered trademark) disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, and a magneto-optical disk. Further, 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, there is a method of connecting to a homepage on the Internet using a browser of a client computer. 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, 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.

  As another method, the program of the present invention is encrypted, stored in a recording medium such as a CD-ROM, distributed to users, and encrypted from a homepage via the Internet to users who have cleared predetermined conditions. Download the key information to be solved. It is also possible to execute the encrypted program by using the key information and install the program on a computer.

  Further, the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the computer executing the read program. Furthermore, based on the instructions of the program, an OS or the like running on the computer performs part or all of the actual processing, and the functions of the above-described embodiments can be realized by the processing.

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

It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the disc camcorder in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the combination of the recording format and camera mode in embodiment of this invention. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing procedure performed by a microcomputer for a blank disc in the embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing procedure performed by the microcomputer for a formatted rewritable optical disc in the embodiment of the present invention. In an embodiment of the present invention, it is a figure showing an example of a concrete menu screen at the time of formatting when a camera mode is selected in HD mode. In an embodiment of the present invention, it is a figure showing an example of a concrete menu screen at the time of formatting when a camera mode is selected in SD mode. In the embodiment of the present invention, it is a diagram showing another example of a specific menu screen at the time of formatting when the camera mode is selected in the HD mode. In an embodiment of the present invention, it is a figure showing another example of a concrete menu screen at the time of formatting when a camera mode is selected in SD mode. In an embodiment of the present invention, it is a figure showing an example of a menu screen at the time of formatting.

Explanation of symbols

101 Lens 102 CCD
103 video signal processing circuit 104 video display output circuit 105 video output terminal 106 LCD
Reference Signs List 107 compression method selection circuit 108 first video signal compression circuit 109 second video signal compression circuit 110 recording circuit 111 optical disk 112 initialization request circuit 113 microcomputer 114 initialization selection circuit 115 first initialization circuit 116 second Initialization circuit 117 Third initialization circuit 118 Fourth initialization circuit 119 Camera mode switching circuit 120 Recording medium detection circuit

Claims (2)

Imaging means;
Generating means for generating a first video signal and a second video signal having a lower resolution than the first video signal from the video signal obtained by the imaging means;
Selecting means for selecting one of the first video signal and the second video signal;
Based on the selection result of the selection means, a first item for selecting a first recording format for recording the first video signal, and a second item for recording the second video signal. Means for outputting a menu screen including a second item for selecting a recording format to a display device, and the second item when the first video signal is selected by the selection means. The first item is emphasized and displayed, and when the second video signal is selected by the selection means, the second item is emphasized and displayed rather than the first item. Output means for outputting the menu screen to the display device;
When there is an initialization instruction for the recording medium, the first item and the second item displayed on the menu screen are selected from the first recording format and the second recording format. Initialization means for performing initialization processing of the recording medium according to a recording format corresponding to the item
An image pickup apparatus comprising: a recording unit configured to record the first video signal or the second video signal generated by the generation unit on a recording medium initialized by the initialization unit. Generating a first video signal and a second video signal having a lower resolution than the first video signal from the video signal obtained by the imaging means;
A selection step of selecting any one of the first video signal and the second video signal;
Based on the selection result in the selection step, a first item for selecting a first recording format for recording the first video signal, and a second item for recording the second video signal. Outputting a menu screen including a second item for selecting a recording format to a display device, wherein the second item is selected when the first video signal is selected in the selection step. The first item is highlighted and displayed, and when the second video signal is selected in the selection step, the second item is emphasized and displayed than the first item. An output step of outputting the menu screen to the display device;
When there is an initialization instruction for the recording medium, the first item and the second item displayed on the menu screen are selected from the first recording format and the second recording format. An initialization step of initializing the recording medium in accordance with a recording format corresponding to the item,
And a recording step of recording the first video signal or the second video signal generated in the generation step on the recording medium initialized in the initialization step. Method.

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