JP5258443B2 - Imaging apparatus and control method thereof - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus and a control method thereof .

  In recent years, digital video cameras that record video (including moving images and still images) on a randomly accessible recording medium (recording medium) such as a semiconductor memory such as a DVD, a hard disk (HDD), or a memory card have become widespread.

  By adopting the above-mentioned random accessible recording media, it can be said that various user merits have been born for recorded video (contents), such as no need for cueing, prevention of overwriting, and improvement of PC compatibility during data backup.

  However, on the other hand, there is a demerit that each recording medium may need to be initialized (formatted) before recording. In addition, since the recording media format completely erases the content recorded on the recording medium, if a recording medium that does not require formatting is accidentally formatted, all the recorded non-replaced videos will be displayed. It will be erased. Therefore, it can be a situation where user damage is large.

  For this reason, with digital video cameras that use existing random-accessible recording media, before performing the formatting operation, a warning / confirmation such as "All contents will be erased? I'm trying to prevent you.

  The digital video camera has a recording mode for recording video and a playback mode for reproducing recorded content.

  In the formatting operation of the recording medium in the playback mode, the format execution is mainly selected from the menu while viewing the thumbnail list display screen (thumbnail screen) of the content recorded on the recording medium. That is, the formatting operation is performed while checking the content thumbnail screen.

  On the other hand, in the formatting operation in the recording mode, the formatting is executed while looking at the camera-through image and the menu screen superimposed on the screen, so that the formatting of the recording medium can be performed without checking the contents.

  Therefore, the formatting operation in the recording mode has a problem that if a recording medium that is not desired to be formatted is erroneously loaded, there is a high risk of formatting without confirming the contents as it is.

Therefore, Patent Document 1 proposes a technique for preventing erroneous erasure by disposing the format operation function only on the menu in the playback mode.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-078134

  However, according to the above-described prior art, even if formatting is performed via the thumbnail screen in the playback mode, in the case of a recording medium on which a large number of contents are recorded, if all contents are to be confirmed, There is a problem.

  That is, in the above case, it is difficult to display all the contents on one thumbnail screen, and it is necessary to manually send the thumbnail screen to the final page and confirm the contents.

  Furthermore, according to the above prior art, the format operation function is arranged only in the menu in the playback mode, so that the format operation cannot be executed from the shooting mode.

  Thus, for example, when the user wants to format immediately using a recording medium whose contents have been confirmed and can be erased immediately, and to start recording immediately after completion, the following steps must be taken.

  That is, it is necessary to perform the steps of executing the format once in the reproduction mode, switching to the recording mode after completion, and setting the recording standby. This mode switching imposes troublesome operations on the user.

  Also, it is impossible to record the imaging preparation time (for example, zoom lens position reset, focus lens position reset, detection of defective pixels in the sensor and correction thereof) such as a lens or a sensor (CCD, CMOS, etc.) that is an imaging unit of a digital video camera A period occurs. For this reason, recording cannot be started immediately, and there is a risk that a scene desired to be shot will be missed.

An object of the present invention is to provide an imaging apparatus and a control method therefor that can reduce the risk of formatting without confirming the contents if a recording medium that is not desired to be formatted is erroneously loaded. It is to provide.

In order to achieve the above object, the imaging apparatus of the present invention switches to an imaging unit that captures an image and a recording mode that records the image on a recording medium or a playback mode that reproduces the image recorded on the recording medium. A mode switching unit; a display unit for displaying the image recorded on the recording medium; and a screen for instructing initialization of the recording medium when the recording mode is switched to the recording medium. Is switched from the recording mode to the reproduction mode while the imaging unit is maintained in a recording preparation state, and the image recorded on the recording medium is displayed, and then the initial When the initialization is selected, the initialization is performed, and then the playback mode is switched to the recording mode, and the initialization is performed. Line when not selected, without performing the initialization, characterized in that it comprises a control means for switching from the playback mode to the recording mode.

According to the present onset Ming, if you've installed the wrong recording media that are not desired format, it is possible to reduce the risk of resulting in a format without as it is content confirmation.

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

  FIG. 1 is a front external perspective view of an imaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a rear external perspective view of the imaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, a digital video camera 11 as an imaging apparatus includes a lens 12, a zoom key 13 for performing a zoom operation, a trigger key 14 for triggering recording of a video (moving image, still image), and a menu key 15 for switching various menus. Prepare.

  In FIG. 2, the digital video camera 11 includes an LCD monitor 21 for confirming a recorded video and viewing a reproduced video, and an external output terminal 22 for outputting a video to an external monitor.

  FIG. 3 is an internal block diagram of the digital video camera shown in FIGS.

  Hereinafter, the configuration will be described together with the operation.

  The subject image passes through the lens 12, is converted into an electrical signal by the image sensor 32, and enters the camera signal processing 33. Here, the lens 12, the imaging device 32, and the camera signal processing 33 constitute an imaging unit 34.

  The electric signal subjected to image quality correction and noise reduction by the camera processing unit 33 enters the video signal processing unit 35, is processed as a video signal, and is recorded on a recording medium (recording medium) 36 (DVD, HDD, semiconductor memory, etc.). To be recorded. The recording medium 36 is recorded, reproduced, formatted, finalized, completely erased, and the like.

  Further, the video signal processing unit 35 supplies a video signal to the LCD monitor control unit / external video output unit 37 for confirming the recorded video and viewing the playback video. Further, the video signal processing unit 35 has a function of superimposing and outputting character information (including time code, recording date / time, recording format, recording media information, battery remaining amount, etc.) on the video signal.

  The digital video camera 11 includes a control unit 38 for controlling each component described above, and an operation input unit 39 for performing various inputs to the control unit 38.

(First embodiment)
A format method of the recording medium 36 in the recording mode of the digital video camera 11 that records and reproduces video with the above configuration will be described. First, a method for formatting the recording medium 36 in the recording mode corresponding to claim 1 will be described.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the recording medium formatting process in the recording mode executed by the digital video camera shown in FIG.

  This process is executed under the control of the control unit 38 in FIG.

  First, as shown in FIG. 5, when a format is selected from the menu screen in the recording mode (step S41), the mode is automatically switched to the playback mode (step S42). As shown in FIG. Is displayed? (Step S43).

  Here, step S41 functions as first display means for displaying a screen for selecting an instruction to initialize the recording medium in a recording mode for recording video on the recording medium (recording medium 36).

  Step S42 functions as first switching means for switching to a playback mode for playing back video recorded on a recording medium when an instruction for initialization is selected on the first display means.

  In step S43, when the playback mode is switched by the first switching means, a thumbnail screen of the video recorded on the recording medium is displayed and a second display for selecting whether or not to execute initialization is displayed. Functions as a means.

  If “No” is selected from the operation input unit 39 in response to the “Do you want to format?” Display, the recording mode is switched without executing the formatting (steps S44 and S49).

  When “Yes” is selected as shown in FIG. 6, formatting is executed and the recording mode is switched to the recording mode after completion (step S45, step S47, step S49) as shown in FIG.

  Here, step S47 functions as an execution means for executing initialization when execution of initialization is selected in the second display means.

  Step S49 functions as a second switching unit that switches to the recording mode when the initialization is executed by the execution unit and when the execution of the initialization is not selected by the second display unit.

  As shown in FIG. 8, when the reproduction is selected by placing the cursor on the content displayed on the thumbnail screen in step S43 (step S46), the content is reproduced as shown in FIG. 9 (step S48). When playback completion or STOP is selected, the thumbnail screen display (step S43) is resumed.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a method for formatting the recording medium 36 in the recording mode of the digital video camera 11 corresponding to claim 2 will be described.

  In the flowchart of FIG. 4, as shown in FIG. 5, when a format is selected from the menu screen in the recording mode (step S41), the mode is automatically switched to the reproduction mode (step S42).

  Here, the control unit 38 controls to hold the recording preparation state of the imaging unit 34 (for example, each state such as zoom lens position reset, focus lens position reset, detection of defective pixels in the sensor and correction thereof).

  With this control, when switching to the recording mode again (step S49), it is possible to shorten the imaging preparation time of the imaging unit 34 and to shorten the time until recording starts.

(Third embodiment)
Next, a method of formatting the recording medium 36 in the recording mode of the digital video camera 11 corresponding to claim 3 will be described.

  In the flowchart of FIG. 4, when the format is selected in the recording mode, the mode is switched to the reproduction mode (step S42), and as shown in FIG. 6, the thumbnail screen display and “Do you want to format?” Are displayed (step S43).

  When displaying the thumbnail screens of all the contents recorded on the recording medium 36, the control unit 38 automatically displays the thumbnail screen pages at certain time intervals (for example, about 5 seconds) when the thumbnail screens cover a plurality of pages. (See FIG. 10).

  This saves the user from having to manually send the thumbnail screen. Even if the first half of the recording medium 36 is erasable content, it can be confirmed before formatting even if there is content that should not be erased in the second half.

1 is a front external perspective view of an imaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a back side appearance perspective view of an imaging device concerning an embodiment of the invention. It is an internal block diagram of the digital video camera of FIG. 1, FIG. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a procedure of recording medium formatting processing in a recording mode executed by the digital video camera of FIG. 3. FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the LCD monitor in FIG. (1). It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the LCD monitor in FIG. 2 (2). It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the LCD monitor in FIG. (3). It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the LCD monitor in FIG. (4). It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the LCD monitor in FIG. (5). It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the LCD monitor in FIG. (6).

Explanation of symbols

11 Digital Video Camera 12 Lens 21 LCD Monitor 32 Image Sensor 33 Camera Signal Processing Unit 34 Imaging Unit 35 Video Signal Processing Unit 36 Recording Media 37 LCD Monitor Control Unit / External Video Output Unit 38 Control Unit 39 Operation Input Unit

Claims (4)

An imaging unit that captures an image;
Mode switching means for switching to a recording mode for recording the image on a recording medium or a reproduction mode for reproducing the image recorded on the recording medium;
Display means for displaying the image recorded on the recording medium;
When switching to the recording mode, a screen for instructing initialization of the recording medium is displayed, and when the initialization of the recording medium is instructed, the imaging unit is held in a recording preparation state. When switching from the recording mode to the reproduction mode, displaying the image recorded on the recording medium, and then selecting whether or not to execute the initialization, and selecting the execution of the initialization. After executing the initialization, the playback mode is switched to the recording mode, and if the initialization is not selected, the playback mode is switched to the recording mode without executing the initialization. imaging apparatus characterized by comprising a control means. Wherein, when said initialize the recording medium is instructed, said to display the thumbnail screen of the image recorded on the recording medium, when the previous SL thumbnail screen across a plurality of pages, a predetermined time the thumbnail screen imaging apparatus according to claim 1 Symbol mounting, characterized in that sending the pages of each. An image pickup unit for picking up an image, mode switching means for switching to a recording mode for recording the image on a recording medium or a reproduction mode for reproducing the image recorded on the recording medium, and the image recorded on the recording medium And a display means for displaying the imaging device, comprising:
When the recording mode is switched, a screen for instructing initialization of the recording medium is displayed,
When initialization of the recording medium is instructed, the recording unit is switched from the recording mode to the reproduction mode while being kept in a recording preparation state,
After displaying the image recorded on the recording medium, let the user select whether to execute the initialization,
If execution of the initialization is selected, after executing the initialization, switching from the playback mode to the recording mode,
When the execution of the initialization is not selected, the imaging apparatus control method is characterized in that the playback mode is switched to the recording mode without executing the initialization. When the initialization of the recording medium is instructed, the thumbnail screen of the image recorded on the recording medium is displayed. When the thumbnail screen covers a plurality of pages, the thumbnail screen is displayed at regular intervals. The method of controlling an imaging apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a page is sent.

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