JP5111263B2 - Imaging apparatus and method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus and method capable of capturing, recording, and / or reproducing moving images and still images.

  In recent years, an imaging apparatus such as a video camera that captures and records a moving image has been reduced in size and weight to improve portability. In particular, since the recording medium is shifting from magnetic tape, magnetic disk and optical disk to semiconductor media such as flash memory, a drive device and a mechanism member for mechanically rotating the recording medium become unnecessary. Miniaturization and weight reduction are advancing rapidly.

  On the other hand, many video cameras have not only a movie shooting function but also a still image shooting function similar to a digital still camera. It is now possible to shoot still images. Many of these video cameras have a function of taking a still image while simultaneously taking a moving image.

  Until now, digital still cameras have been used for daily photography (still image) photography, and video cameras were often used only for shooting motion events such as sports events and travel. However, as the video camera becomes smaller and lighter and the performance of the still image shooting function advances, the usage of enjoying both everyday still image shooting and movie shooting with a single video camera may increase. is expected.

  By the way, in still image shooting, stroboscopic light irradiation is frequently performed in order to make up for a shortage of light quantity of a subject. When still image shooting and moving image shooting are performed with a single video camera, if a strobe light for still image shooting is irradiated during moving image shooting, a flash emission scene is recorded in the shot moving image. As a result, there is a problem that when the moving image is reproduced and viewed, the recorded strobe light flickers, resulting in an unsightly image.

  In order to avoid such a problem, in a conventional video camera, when still image shooting is performed during moving image shooting, control for prohibiting strobe light irradiation is generally performed. However, in this case, if the environment of the subject is dark, a sufficient amount of light as a still image may not be obtained, and the performance of still image shooting cannot be obtained sufficiently. To solve this problem, a technique has been proposed in which moving image shooting is temporarily stopped during flash emission, and moving image shooting is resumed after light emission ends (see Patent Document 1). In this case, the immediately preceding moving image is repeatedly recorded while moving image shooting is paused so that the recorded moving image is not interrupted. Thus, flickering due to strobe light during reproduction can be prevented by preventing the captured image during strobe emission from being recorded in the moving image.

In addition, the image sensor is driven at an integral multiple (for example, twice) of the frame rate for moving image shooting, and the captured image is divided into a moving image recording frame and a still image recording frame, and then strobe light emission is performed. A technique of performing in synchronization with the light receiving period is proposed (see Patent Document 2). Also in this case, since no strobe light is recorded on the moving image recording frame, flickering due to the strobe light during reproduction can be prevented as in the above-described conventional technology.
Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2004-200951 (page 15, FIG. 2) JP 2004-064467 A (page 10, FIG. 3, FIG. 4)

  However, the above prior art has the following problems.

  First, in the technique of temporarily stopping moving image shooting during flash emission and restarting moving image shooting after the light emission ends, the same image continues in the moving image portion recorded during the flash emission, so that the moving image becomes discontinuous. As a result, when the recorded moving image is reproduced, the motion of the image is not smooth and becomes unnatural in the discontinuous portion.

  Next, in the technique described in Patent Document 2, strobe light emission is performed accurately in synchronization with the light reception period of the still image frame, and the strobe light emission ends before the start of light reception of the moving image recording frame. It is necessary to control so as not to remain. In addition, the strobe emission timing is severely limited and the control is complicated.

  In addition, in the above prior art, although the strobe light emitted by the camera body that is recording the moving image can be prevented from being recorded in the moving image recording frame, the strobe light emitted by another camera cannot be synchronized with the moving image recording frame. The flash light appears in the

  The object of the present invention is to prevent flickering due to strobe light during playback of recorded moving images even when a subject is irradiated with strobe light for still image shooting during movie shooting, and at the same time, the reproduced image is smooth. An object of the present invention is to provide an image pickup apparatus and method for producing a natural moving image.

  Furthermore, it is intended to facilitate the control of the flash emission timing and to obtain the same effect as described above for the flash emission from other cameras.

In order to achieve the above object, an imaging apparatus according to claim 1 is an imaging apparatus capable of capturing moving images and still images at a second imaging time interval shorter than the first imaging time interval for recording moving images. comprising an imaging unit capable of imaging a moving image recording means for recording an image captured as a moving image by the image pickup means, a strobe light emitting detecting means for detecting the flash emission of the subject, the said The moving image recording unit records, as a moving image, an image in which the subject is irradiated with the strobe light captured by the imaging unit at the first imaging time interval when the strobe emission detecting unit detects strobe light emission during moving image shooting. without, of an image which the imaging means has captured by the second imaging time intervals and recording the image of the object strobe light is not irradiated as moving images.

In order to achieve the above object, according to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an imaging apparatus capable of shooting a moving image and a still image and reproducing the image. An imaging unit capable of imaging at an imaging time interval, and an image captured by the imaging unit as a first moving image by the first moving image recording method at the first imaging time interval and the second The moving image recording means capable of recording on the recording medium as the second moving image by the second moving image recording method at the imaging time interval, and the temporal relationship between the recorded first moving image and second moving image Synchronization information recording means for recording synchronization information for performing proper synchronization on a recording medium, strobe light emission detecting means for detecting strobe light emission to a subject, at least one of the first moving image and the second moving image To play Comprising a video playback means capable, the both of the moving image recording means when said strobe light emitting detecting means detects the flash light during moving image shooting, the first moving image recording method and the second moving image recording method Alternatively, the moving image is recorded only by the second moving image recording method, and the moving image reproducing means selects the moving image of the subject that is not irradiated with the strobe light from the recorded moving images, and the synchronization information recording means The moving image recorded by the first moving image recording method and the second moving image recording method is reproduced as a continuous moving image using the synchronization information recorded by the above method.

According to the present invention, even when a strobe light for still image shooting is irradiated on a subject during moving image shooting, flicker due to strobe light does not occur during playback of a recorded moving image, and at the same time, a reproduced image is smooth. It can be a natural moving image.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an imaging apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, 101 is a fixed first lens group, 102 is a variable power lens for zooming, 103 is a stop, and 104 is a fixed second lens group. Reference numeral 105 denotes a focus lens (hereinafter referred to as “focus lens”) that has both a function of correcting the movement of the focal plane due to zooming and a function of focusing. Reference numeral 106 denotes an image sensor, and a CCD, a CMOS, or the like is used. In particular, a CMOS sensor can easily read an image signal at high speed, and is more suitable for high-speed driving of the image sensor in the present invention. The image sensor 106 is driven at a timing synchronized with the timing signal generated by the timing signal generator 113 and outputs an image signal.

  Reference numeral 107 denotes a sampling / AGC unit that samples the imaging signal output of the imaging device 106 and adjusts the gain. A video signal processing circuit 108 processes an output signal from the sampling / AGC unit 107 into a signal corresponding to a moving image recording / reproducing unit 115 and a still image recording / reproducing unit 116 described later. The video signal processing circuit 108 also performs processing of moving images / still images reproduced by the moving image recording / reproducing unit 115 and the still image recording / reproducing unit 116. In addition, a memory circuit 121 is connected to the video signal processing circuit 108, and the memory circuit 121 can temporarily store captured images.

  Reference numeral 115 denotes a moving image recording / reproducing unit that performs moving image recording processing and reproduction processing. The moving image recording / reproducing unit 115 records a moving image on a magnetic tape, an optical disk, a magnetic disk, a semiconductor memory, etc., which are non-illustrated non-volatile recording media, and performs reproduction processing of the moving image recorded on the recording medium. A still image recording / reproducing unit 116 records a still image on a non-volatile recording medium and reproduces the still image recorded on the recording medium in the same manner as the moving image recording / reproducing unit. In addition, it can also be set as the structure which records a moving image and a still image on the same recording medium. In this case, the moving image recording / reproducing unit 115 and the still image recording / reproducing unit 116 can be made common.

  Reference numeral 114 denotes a system control unit that performs overall control of the overall operation of the imaging apparatus, and includes one or a plurality of microcomputers. Reference numeral 110 denotes a motor that is a drive source for moving the zoom lens 102, 111 is a motor that is a drive source for moving the focus lens 105, and 112 is a motor or IG meter that is a drive source for the diaphragm 103. Each of them drives the variable power lens 102, the focus lens 105, and the diaphragm 103 by a control signal from the system control unit 114.

  Reference numeral 109 denotes a display device. The display device 109 displays an output signal of the video signal processing circuit 108 and is used by a photographer to monitor an image. The display device 109 is also used to display a moving image / still image reproduced by the moving image recording / reproducing unit 115 and the still image recording / reproducing unit 116. Reference numeral 117 denotes a moving image recording switch, and 118 denotes a release switch (still image shooting instruction means), which are operated when the photographer performs moving image shooting and still image shooting. The system control unit 114 performs moving image / still image shooting processing in accordance with the operation of the moving image recording switch 117 and the release switch 118 by the photographer.

  A strobe control unit 119 controls the strobe 120. The strobe 120 irradiates the subject with strobe light when an insufficient light amount of the subject is detected or when the photographer instructs to emit strobe light.

  Next, an imaging method will be described in which a moving image is captured at a time interval shorter than the normal frame rate, and when a strobe light is irradiated, an image of a subject not irradiated with the strobe light is selected and recorded as a moving image. .

  FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing a moving image recording method by the image sensor 106 of the imaging apparatus according to the first embodiment.

  During moving image shooting, as shown in FIG. 2, the light receiving of the image sensor 106 and the data transfer to the sampling / AGC unit 107 are periodically performed at the cycle of the timing signal generated by the timing signal generator 113. The image sensor 106 is driven. Here, the timing signal generation unit 113 generates a timing signal so as to drive the image sensor 106 at a period four times as long as 1/60 second, which is a normal moving image recording frame rate. However, since it is only necessary to record a moving image at a frame rate of 1/60 seconds, recording is performed using only images captured at timings 1, 1 a, and 1 b as illustrated as moving image recording images. Here, the image sensor 106 is driven at a cycle four times the frame rate of the moving image. However, the present invention is not limited to this as long as the imaging time interval is shorter than the normal frame rate. Also, if the image for one frame has a short exposure time and the brightness of the image is insufficient, for example, two images captured at the timings 1 and 2 are added and recorded, or the gain of the image signal is further increased. May be recorded after being converted into an image of appropriate brightness.

  FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an example of a moving image and still image recording method by the image sensor 106 when strobe light emission is detected during moving image shooting.

  When strobe light is emitted during the period shown in FIG. 3, the strobe light appears in the image captured at 1a, which is the normal movie recording timing. End up. Therefore, in the present embodiment, when it is detected that strobe light emission is performed at the time of imaging 4 and 1a, an image captured at the timing 2a that is closest to the timing 1a and is not flashed is used for recording a moving image. Use. Since the imaging timing of 2a is shifted by only 1/4 frame from the imaging timing of normal moving image recording, discontinuity of the reproduced image is not conspicuous and a smooth and natural moving image can be reproduced.

  As for the detection of the strobe light emission, when the strobe light emission is performed by the main body of the imaging apparatus that is shooting a moving image, for example, the system control unit 114 detects the strobe light emission using timing information from the strobe control unit 119. On the other hand, in the case of strobe light emission by another camera, for example, the system control unit 114 can detect strobe light emission using a change in brightness of an image captured by the image sensor 106.

  In addition, when still image shooting is performed with the main body of the imaging device that is shooting a movie, either or both of an image captured at timing 4 during the flash emission period and an image captured at timing 1a The still image is recorded using the sum of the images. As with moving images, recording may be performed after changing the gain of the image signal to convert it to an image with appropriate brightness.

  FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram illustrating another example of a moving image and still image recording method by the image sensor 106 when strobe light emission is detected during moving image shooting.

  When strobe light emission is performed during the period shown in FIG. 4, an image captured at timing 4 is closest to the normal moving image recording timing. Since this image is an image captured before the detection of the strobe light emission, the image capturing has already started at the timing of 1a when the strobe light emission is detected. However, by temporarily storing the image for the previous screen or a plurality of screens in the memory circuit 121 in advance, it is possible to select and record an image captured at timing 4 when strobe light emission is detected. . As described above, by temporarily storing the immediately preceding image in the memory circuit 121, it is possible to select and record the image closest to the normal moving image recording timing including the image before the strobe light emission detection. As a result, the reproduced image can be a smooth and natural moving image.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation processing of moving image / still image recording in the first embodiment of the present invention. This process is executed by the system control unit 114.

  First, in step S <b> 501, the system control unit 114 acquires an image from the image sensor 106. Next, in step S502, the system control unit 114 stores the image data acquired in step S501 in the memory circuit 121 in order to use it as a moving image recording image when strobe light emission is detected. Next, in step S503, the system control unit 114 determines whether moving image shooting is in progress.

  If it is determined in step S503 that moving image shooting is in progress, the process proceeds to step S504, and the system control unit 114 determines whether the release switch is turned on and still image shooting is instructed by the photographer. If the release switch is ON, the process proceeds to step S505, and it is determined whether or not the strobe is emitted in still image shooting. If the system control unit 114 determines that strobe light emission is necessary, such as when the amount of light of the subject is insufficient or when the photographer instructs strobe light emission, the process proceeds to step S506 to perform strobe light emission. On the other hand, if it is determined that the strobe light emission is unnecessary, the process proceeds to step S508.

  When the strobe light is emitted, the system control unit 114 selects an image picked up at a timing closest to the normal moving image recording timing from images in which the strobe light is not irradiated on the subject (step S507). Is recorded as (step S508). Next, in step S509, the system control unit 114 selects an image for recording a still image from the images irradiated with the strobe light, records it as a still image (step S510), and returns to step S501.

  On the other hand, if the release switch is OFF in step S504, the process proceeds to step S511, and the system control unit 114 determines whether or not the subject is illuminated with a strobe due to a change in the brightness of the captured image. If the system control unit 114 determines that the strobe light is not irradiated, the process proceeds to step S513. On the other hand, if the system control unit 114 determines that the strobe light is emitted, the system control unit 114 selects a moving image recording image in the same manner as in step S507 (step S512), performs moving image recording (step S513), and step S501. Return to.

  If the system control unit 114 determines in step S503 that moving image shooting is not in progress, the system control unit 114 proceeds to step S514, and determines whether the release switch is ON. If it is determined that the system control unit 114 is not ON, the process returns to step S501. If it is determined that the system control unit 114 is ON, the process proceeds to step S515. Since the processing from step S515 to step S518 is the same as the processing from step S505 to step S510, except that the image selection for moving image recording and the moving image recording are not performed, description thereof will be omitted.

  According to the embodiment, the subject is photographed at a time interval (second imaging time interval) shorter than a normal frame rate (first imaging time interval) for moving image recording. When it is detected that the subject is irradiated with the strobe light, an image of the subject that is not irradiated with the strobe light is selected from the captured images and recorded as a moving image. As a result, a moving image is captured at a time interval shorter than the normal frame rate, and when the strobe light is irradiated, an image immediately before the start of the strobe light irradiation or immediately after the irradiation is completed can be recorded as a moving image. it can. As a result, flicker due to strobe light does not occur in the reproduced image, and at the same time, the discontinuous period of the moving image can be made shorter than the normal frame rate period, so that the reproduced image can be a smooth and natural moving image. .

  In addition, since it is only necessary to select an image of a subject that is not illuminated with flash light from images captured at a time interval shorter than the normal frame rate, it is not necessary to synchronize the flash emission timing with the imaging timing of the movie. It becomes easy to control. In addition, the same effect as described above can be obtained for strobe emission from other cameras.

  Note that the image to be selected for moving image recording does not necessarily have to be for one screen, and when the brightness of the subject is insufficient with the exposure time for one screen, a plurality of images are selected and added. By doing so, an image with sufficient brightness may be generated and recorded.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, an imaging apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The imaging apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention has the same configuration (FIG. 1) as that of the imaging apparatus according to the first embodiment, and the same parts as those in the first embodiment. The description will be omitted using the same reference numerals. Only differences from the first embodiment will be described below.

  The imaging device of the first embodiment always captures a moving image at a time interval (second imaging time interval) shorter than a normal frame rate (first imaging time interval) during moving image recording. On the other hand, the imaging apparatus according to the second embodiment performs imaging at a time interval shorter than the normal frame rate only when it is detected that the subject is irradiated with the strobe light, and otherwise it is normal. The difference is that imaging is performed at intervals of the frame rate.

  6, 7, and 8 are conceptual diagrams illustrating an example of a method for recording a moving image and a still image of the image sensor 106 during moving image shooting in the second embodiment.

  When the subject is not irradiated with strobe light, the image sensor 106 is driven at a cycle of 1/60 seconds, which is a normal frame rate, as shown in FIG. In this manner, by driving the image sensor at a normal frame rate with a low cycle in this way, it is possible to suppress the power consumption of the image pickup apparatus associated with the driving of the image sensor 106, increase the continuous shooting time, and the battery The size can be reduced and portability can be improved.

  On the other hand, when the subject is irradiated with strobe light, the image sensor 106 is driven at a time interval shorter than the normal frame rate to record a moving image as shown in FIG. Here, when the strobe light is emitted from the main body of the image pickup apparatus that is shooting a moving picture, the strobe light emission timing is known in advance, so as shown in FIG. 7, the image is taken at a short time interval before the strobe light emission timing. To start. Then, the captured image is temporarily stored in the memory circuit 121. After the strobe light is emitted, an image closest to the normal moving image recording timing including the stored image (an image recorded at timing 4 in FIG. 7) is selected and recorded as a moving image. At the same time, still image recording is performed using an image obtained by adding one or both of the image 1a and the image 2a during the flash emission period. In FIG. 7, imaging at a short time interval is started from one cycle before the moving image frame rate with respect to the flash emission timing. However, if the timing is before the flash emission, the imaging start timing is not limited to this. It is not necessary.

  In the case of strobe light emission by another camera, the timing of strobe light emission is unknown. Therefore, after detecting the strobe light emission as shown in FIG. 8, the image sensor 106 is driven at a time interval shorter than the normal frame rate. In this case, since the image captured at the timing 4 in FIG. 7 is not recorded, the image recorded at the timing 3a is selected and recorded as the image closest to the normal moving image recording timing. Since the image recorded at the imaging timing 3a is shifted by 1/2 frame with respect to the timing of moving image recording, the smoothness of the reproduced image is inferior, but is lost by one frame as in the above-described prior art. Compared to the case, a smoother image can be reproduced.

  According to the above embodiment, imaging is performed at a time interval shorter than the normal frame rate only when it is detected that the subject is irradiated with strobe light. In other cases, imaging is performed at an interval of the normal frame rate. Do. Thereby, the power consumption of the imaging device can be reduced, the imaging time can be extended, and the portability of the imaging device can be improved. The effect of performing strobe light emission on the imaging device main body that is shooting a movie is the same as that in the first embodiment, and the smoothness of the reproduced image is slightly inferior in the case of strobe light emission by another camera. As compared with the prior art, a smoother image can be reproduced.

[Third Embodiment]
Next, an imaging apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be described. The imaging apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention has the same configuration (FIG. 1) as that of the imaging apparatus according to the first embodiment, and the same parts as those in the first embodiment. The description will be omitted using the same reference numerals. Only differences from the first embodiment will be described below.

  The imaging devices of the first and second embodiments select and record an image of a subject that is not irradiated with strobe light when recording a moving image. In contrast, the image pickup apparatus according to the third embodiment records a captured image as it is without selecting an image when recording a moving image, and displays an image of a subject that is not irradiated with strobe light when the recorded image is reproduced. The point of selecting and playing is different.

  9, 10, and 11 are conceptual diagrams illustrating an example of a moving image and still image recording method of the image sensor 106 during moving image shooting according to the third embodiment.

  When the subject is not irradiated with strobe light, the moving image is recorded as the first moving image data (moving image recording 1) by the first moving image recording method at a normal frame rate as shown in FIG. The reason for recording an image at a normal frame rate with a low period in this way is that if a video with a time interval shorter than the normal frame rate is always recorded, the amount of video data to be recorded on the recording medium increases. This is because the time that can be recorded on the medium is shortened.

  On the other hand, when strobe light is applied to the subject, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the moving image is the second moving image data (moving image recording 2) by the second moving image recording method at a time interval shorter than the normal frame rate. ) Is recorded. Here, during the recording of the second moving image data, the recording of the first moving image data may be continued or may be interrupted. In addition, when performing strobe light emission and still image shooting with the main body of the imaging apparatus that is performing moving image shooting, still image recording is also performed in the same manner as in the first and second embodiments.

  When strobe light is emitted from the main body of the image pickup device during movie shooting, the strobe light emission timing is known in advance, as shown in FIG. 10, and imaging and recording are started at a short time interval before the strobe light emission timing. To do.

  On the other hand, when the flash emission from another camera is detected during moving image shooting, the timing of the flash emission is not known as shown in FIG. 11, but the image captured immediately before is always held in the memory circuit 121. Keep it. When the strobe light emission is detected at the timing 1a in FIG. 11, the immediately preceding image (1 to 4 in FIG. 11) is read from the memory circuit 121 and recorded as the second moving image data. By doing so, it is possible to select and reproduce an image closest to the timing of normal moving image recording, including an image before the strobe emission detection at the time of reproduction.

  In FIGS. 10 and 11, the recording of the second moving image data is started from one cycle before the moving image frame rate with respect to the flash emission timing. However, if the timing is before the flash emission, the recording starts. This timing is not limited to this.

  When playing back the recorded moving image, it is necessary to be able to synchronize the first moving image data and the second moving image data. Therefore, at the time of recording a moving image, ID information common to both the moving image data is generated so that the first moving image data and the second moving image data can be identified as moving images simultaneously captured. In addition, it is added to each moving image data and recorded. In addition, it is possible to determine at which time of the first moving image data the second moving image data was recorded so that the first moving image data and the second moving image data can be temporally synchronized during reproduction. Synchronization information (time code, etc.) is also recorded (synchronization information recording means).

  When the recorded moving image is reproduced, the imaging timing of the first moving image data and the second moving image data is determined based on the recorded synchronization information. Then, at the time of reproducing the scene irradiated with the strobe light, the image closest to the normal moving image recording timing is selected and reproduced from the images of the subject not irradiated with the strobe light in the second moving image data ( Video playback means). Since the method for selecting an image is the same as that in the second embodiment, a description thereof will be omitted.

  According to the present embodiment, when strobe light is applied to a subject during moving image recording, the moving image data is recorded as second moving image data at a time interval shorter than the normal frame rate. Then, the image closest to the normal moving image recording timing is selected and reproduced from the images of the subject that is not irradiated with the strobe light in the second moving image data during reproduction. As a result, when a strobe light is irradiated, a moving image captured at a time interval shorter than the normal frame rate is recorded, and at the time of reproduction, an image immediately before the start of the strobe light irradiation or immediately after the irradiation is completed is used as a moving image. You can select and play. As a result, flicker due to strobe light does not occur in the reproduced image, and at the same time, the reproduced image can be a smooth and natural moving image.

  In addition, since an image of a subject that is not illuminated with flashlight is selected from images captured at a time interval shorter than the normal frame rate during playback, it is not necessary to synchronize the flash emission timing during shooting with the shooting timing of the movie. The light emission timing can be easily controlled. In addition, the same effect as described above can be obtained for strobe emission from other cameras. When the strobe light is irradiated, a plurality of moving images having different imaging time intervals are recorded. However, the plurality of moving images may be reproduced as continuous moving images at the time of reproduction using the recorded synchronization information.

  Note that the image to be selected at the time of moving image reproduction does not necessarily have to be for one screen, and when the brightness of the subject is insufficient for the image for one screen, a plurality of images can be selected and added. An image with sufficient brightness may be generated and reproduced.

[Fourth Embodiment]
Next, an imaging apparatus according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. The imaging apparatus according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention has the same configuration (FIG. 1) as that of the imaging apparatus according to the first embodiment, and the same parts as those in the first embodiment. The description will be omitted using the same reference numerals. Only differences from the first embodiment will be described below.

  In the imaging apparatus according to the fourth embodiment, as in the third embodiment, an image of a subject that is not irradiated with strobe light is selected and played back when the recorded image is played back. In addition to this, as in the second embodiment, imaging is performed at a time interval shorter than the normal frame rate only when it is detected that the subject is irradiated with the strobe light. Images are taken at frame rate intervals. As a result, compared with the imaging device in the third embodiment, the power consumption of the imaging device associated with the driving of the imaging device can be suppressed, the continuous shooting time can be lengthened, the battery can be downsized, and the portability can be improved. it can.

  12, 13, and 14 are conceptual diagrams illustrating an example of a moving image and still image recording method of the image sensor 106 during moving image shooting according to the fourth embodiment.

  When the subject is not stroboscopically illuminated, as shown in FIG. 12, the image sensor 106 is driven at a normal frame rate of 1/60 seconds, and the captured image is a normal frame rate moving image. The first moving image data is recorded by the recording method.

  On the other hand, when strobe light is applied to the subject, a moving image is captured at a time interval shorter than the normal frame rate as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, and the captured image is used as second moving image data. To be recorded.

  When the strobe light is emitted from the main body of the image pickup device during movie shooting, as shown in FIG. 13, since the strobe light emission timing is known in advance, imaging and recording are started at a short time interval before the strobe light emission timing. Is done.

  On the other hand, when the strobe emission from another camera is detected during moving image shooting, the timing of the strobe emission is not known as shown in FIG. 14, so that it is short after the strobe emission is detected at the timing 1a in FIG. Imaging and recording at time intervals is started. Therefore, at the time of reproduction, the image 3a is selected and reproduced as the image closest to the timing of normal moving image recording, and the reproduced image is inferior in smoothness, but a smoother image is reproduced as compared with the conventional technique. This is the same as in the second embodiment.

  Since the process of recording and reproducing the synchronization information of the first moving image data and the second moving image data is the same as that of the third embodiment, the description thereof is omitted.

  According to the present embodiment, the same effect as that of the second embodiment can be obtained, except that an image of a subject that is not irradiated with strobe light during playback is selected and played back.

  The object of the present invention can also be achieved by executing the following processing. That is, a recording medium that records a program code of software that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus, and a computer (or CPU, MPU, or the like) of the system or apparatus is stored in the recording medium. This is the process of reading the code. In this case, the program code itself read from the recording medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the program code and the recording medium storing the program code constitute the present invention.

  Moreover, the following can be used as a recording medium for supplying the program code. For example, floppy (registered trademark) disk, hard disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-ROM, DVD-RAM, DVD-RW, DVD + RW, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM or the like. Alternatively, the program code may be downloaded via a network.

  Further, the present invention includes a case where the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by executing the program code read by the computer. In addition, an OS (operating system) running on the computer performs part or all of the actual processing based on an instruction of the program code, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing. Is also included.

  Furthermore, the present invention includes a case where the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized by the following processing. That is, the program code 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, based on the instruction of the program code, the CPU or the like provided in the function expansion board or function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the imaging device which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the recording method of the moving image by the image pick-up element of the imaging device in 1st Embodiment. It is a conceptual diagram which shows an example of the recording method of the moving image and still image by an image pick-up element when strobe light emission is detected during video recording. FIG. 11 is a conceptual diagram illustrating another example of a method for recording a moving image and a still image using an image sensor when strobe light emission is detected during moving image shooting. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement process of the moving image / still image recording in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the recording method of the moving image by the image pick-up element of the imaging device in 2nd Embodiment. FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an example of a method for recording a moving image and a still image using an image pickup device when strobe light is emitted from the imaging apparatus main body during moving image shooting. It is a conceptual diagram which shows an example in the recording method of the moving image and still image by an image pick-up element at the time of detecting the strobe light emission by another camera during video recording. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the recording method of the moving image by the image pick-up element of the imaging device in the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an example of a method for recording a moving image and a still image using an image pickup device when strobe light is emitted from the imaging apparatus main body during moving image shooting. It is a conceptual diagram which shows an example of the recording method of the moving image and still image by the image pick-up element 106 when the stroboscope light emission by another camera is detected during video recording. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the recording method of the moving image by the image pick-up element of the imaging device in the 4th Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an example of a method for recording a moving image and a still image using an image pickup device when strobe light is emitted from the imaging apparatus main body during moving image shooting. It is a conceptual diagram which shows an example of the recording method of the moving image by an image pick-up element when the stroboscope light emission by another camera is detected during moving image photography.

Explanation of symbols

101 Fixed first lens group 105 Focus lens 106 Imaging element 108 Video signal processing circuit 109 Display device 113 Timing signal generator 114 System controller 115 Movie recording / reproducing unit 116 Still image recording / reproducing unit 119 Strobe controller 120 Strobe 121 Memory circuit

Claims (14)

In an imaging device capable of shooting movies and still images,
Imaging means capable of imaging at a second imaging time interval shorter than the first imaging time interval for moving image recording;
Moving image recording means for recording an image picked up by the image pickup means as a moving image on a recording medium;
And a strobe light emission detecting means for detecting the flash emission on the subject,
When the strobe light emission detecting means detects strobe light emission during moving image shooting , the moving image recording means uses, as a moving image, an image obtained by irradiating a subject with strobe light imaged at the first imaging time interval. without recording, among the images the imaging means has captured by the second imaging time interval, imaging apparatus characterized by recording the image of the object strobe light is not irradiated as moving images. When the strobe light emission detecting means detects strobe light emission during moving image shooting , the moving image recording means is an image captured by the imaging means at the second imaging time interval and is not irradiated with strobe light. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an image at a timing closest to an imaging timing at the first imaging time interval is recorded as a moving image. A storage means for temporarily storing at least one of the images picked up by the image pickup means;
The moving image recording unit, among the images the imaging means is stored in the image or the storage means has captured claim 1, characterized in that for recording an image of an object strobe light is not irradiated as moving images or 2. The imaging device according to 2. In an imaging device capable of shooting movies and still images,
Imaging means capable of imaging at a second imaging time interval shorter than the first imaging time interval for moving image recording;
Moving image recording means for recording an image picked up by the image pickup means as a moving image on a recording medium;
A strobe emission detecting means for detecting strobe emission to the subject;
E Bei and a control means for controlling the imaging time interval by the imaging means,
Wherein, when the strobe light emission detecting means during moving image shooting detects the flash light emission, the imaging said imaging means in the second imaging time interval is controlled on the line Migihitsuji,
The moving image recording means records, as a moving image, an image of a subject that is not irradiated with strobe light among images captured by the imaging means when the strobe light emission detecting means detects strobe light emission during moving image shooting. imaging device characterized. Further equipped with a strobe light emitting means for performing strobe light emission,
The control means includes the second imaging from the imaging timing at the second imaging time interval at least one cycle before the timing at which the strobe light emitting means emits the strobe light. The imaging apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the imaging apparatus is controlled to perform imaging at time intervals. In an imaging device capable of shooting moving images and still images and reproducing images ,
Imaging means capable of imaging at a second imaging time interval shorter than the first imaging time interval for moving image recording;
The image picked up by the image pickup means is used as the first moving image by the first moving image recording method at the first image pickup time interval and by the second moving image recording method at the second image pickup time interval. Moving image recording means capable of recording on a recording medium as a moving image;
Synchronization information recording means for recording synchronization information for performing temporal synchronization of the recorded first moving image and second moving image on a recording medium;
A strobe emission detecting means for detecting strobe emission to the subject;
And a video playback means capable of playing at least one of the first moving image and the second moving image,
When the strobe light emission detecting means detects strobe light during moving image shooting , the moving image recording means uses both the first moving image recording method and the second moving image recording method or only the second moving image recording method. Record the image,
The moving image reproducing means selects a moving image of a subject that is not irradiated with strobe light from the recorded moving images, and uses the synchronization information recorded by the synchronization information recording means to perform the first moving image recording method. And an image pickup apparatus that reproduces a moving image recorded by the second moving image recording method as a continuous moving image.   The imaging according to claim 6, wherein the moving image reproduction unit selects an image at a timing closest to an imaging timing at the first imaging time interval from among images of a subject not irradiated with strobe light. apparatus. A storage means for temporarily storing at least one of the images picked up by the image pickup means;
The moving image recording means, when the strobe light emission detecting means detects strobe light emission, at least one of the images stored in the storage means in addition to the image picked up by the image pickup means. 8. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 6, wherein recording is performed by both the moving image recording method and the second moving image recording method or only the second moving image recording method. A control means for controlling an imaging time interval by the imaging means;
When the strobe emission detecting means detects strobe light emission during moving image shooting , the image pickup means takes an image at the second imaging time interval, and during the moving image shooting, the strobe light emission detection means 9. The imaging apparatus according to claim 6, wherein when no luminescence is detected , control is performed so that imaging is performed at the first imaging time interval. 10. Further equipped with a strobe light emitting means for performing strobe light emission,
The control means includes the second imaging from the imaging timing at the second imaging time interval at least one cycle before the timing at which the strobe light emitting means emits the strobe light. While controlling to take images at time intervals,
10. The imaging apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the moving image recording unit records a moving image using both the first moving image recording method and the second moving image recording method or only the second moving image recording method. . A still image recording unit that records an image captured by the imaging unit as a still image on a recording medium;
A still image shooting instruction means for the photographer to instruct still image shooting;
When the photographer instructs still image photography, when the strobe light emitting detecting means detects the flash light emission, the still image recording means, among the image which the image pickup means has captured an image strobe light is irradiated the imaging apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that recorded as an electrostatic stop image. In a control method of an image pickup apparatus capable of shooting moving images and still images,
An imaging step capable of imaging at a second imaging time interval shorter than the first imaging time interval for moving image recording;
A moving image recording step of recording an image captured in the imaging step as a moving image on a recording medium;
And a strobe light emission detecting step of detecting the flash emission on the subject,
In the moving image recording step, when the strobe light emission is detected during moving image shooting , the image in which the strobe light imaged at the first imaging time interval is irradiated to the subject is not recorded as a moving image, and the second of the image captured by the imaging time interval, the control method characterized by recording the image of the object strobe light it is not irradiated as moving images. In a control method of an image pickup apparatus capable of shooting moving images and still images,
An imaging step capable of imaging at a second imaging time interval shorter than the first imaging time interval for moving image recording;
A moving image recording step of recording an image captured in the imaging step as a moving image on a recording medium;
A strobe emission detecting step for detecting strobe emission to the subject;
A control step of controlling an imaging time interval in the imaging step,
The control step controls to perform imaging at the second imaging time interval in the imaging step when the strobe emission is detected during moving image shooting,
In the moving image recording process, when the strobe light emission is detected during moving image shooting, an image of a subject that is not irradiated with strobe light is recorded as a moving image among the captured images. In a control method of an image pickup apparatus capable of shooting moving images and still images and reproducing images ,
An imaging step capable of imaging at a second imaging time interval shorter than the first imaging time interval for moving image recording;
The image captured in the imaging step is used as a first moving image by the first moving image recording method at the first imaging time interval and as a second moving image recording method by the second moving image recording method at the second imaging time interval. A moving image recording process capable of recording on a recording medium as a moving image of
A synchronization information recording step of recording, on a recording medium, synchronization information for temporal synchronization of the recorded first moving image and second moving image;
A strobe emission detecting step for detecting strobe emission to the subject;
And a video playback process capable of reproducing at least one of the first moving image and the second moving image,
In the moving image recording step, when the strobe light is detected during moving image shooting , the moving image is recorded by both the first moving image recording method and the second moving image recording method or only the second moving image recording method. Done
The moving image reproduction step selects a moving image of a subject that is not irradiated with strobe light from the recorded moving images, and uses the recorded synchronization information to perform the first moving image recording method and the second moving image recording method. A control method, wherein a moving image recorded by a moving image recording method is reproduced as a continuous moving image.

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