JP5486233B2 - Imaging apparatus and control method thereof - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus and a control method thereof, and in particular, an imaging apparatus capable of combining captured data and a header file after dividing the captured data and storing it in a recording medium, and It relates to the control method.

  Imaging data captured by an imaging device such as a digital camera or digital video camera is temporarily buffered in a recording memory area after being subjected to conversion processing such as color correction, resolution conversion, compression / decompression, etc. The In general, after all of the imaging data to which the conversion process is applied is buffered in the recording memory area, the imaging data to which the conversion process is applied is recorded from the recording memory area to the recording medium. It is.

  In recent years, with the increase in the number of pixels in an image sensor, the size of image data has also increased. In addition to the conventional JPEG format (lossy compression), the RAW format generated by lossless compression processing with a low compression rate may be used as the format (format) for recording imaging data. Recording of large-capacity imaging data is also increasing. For this reason, in order to record the imaging data, the imaging apparatus needs to have at least a recording memory area that is equal to or larger than the size of the imaging data. Further, in the compression processing of the image data, the size of the compressed data differs depending on the pattern of the subject to be imaged, so the recording memory area needs to have a sufficiently large size. However, by increasing the recording memory area in accordance with the size of the imaging data, the recording memory area can be recorded on the recording medium as usual, but the recording memory area size is increased. This leads to an increase in the manufacturing cost of the imaging device.

  Some imaging devices have a moving image imaging function. In general, the size of image data (moving image) that is finally recorded in image capturing with the moving image capturing function may be larger than the size of the memory area for recording. Before buffering is completed, it is necessary to start recording on the recording medium. In Patent Document 1, when capturing a moving image, the captured video and audio data are sequentially recorded on a recording medium for each unit (frame), and information such as the size of the photographing data and the photographing time is recorded on the recording medium after the imaging is completed. Then, the recording of the imaging data is completed. As a result, after imaging is completed, the amount of information is small (the size is small) regardless of the recording time, and it is only necessary to record information such as the size of the image data and the imaging time. The waiting time can be shortened.

JP 2006-072835 A

  For example, the above-described RAW format image data includes, as an internal structure of the data, for example, a RAW header portion, a thumbnail image portion, a display image portion, and a RAW data portion that can be independently read as shown in FIG. Have. Here, the thumbnail image portion is thumbnail image data used for displaying a list of image data recorded on the recording medium, and the display image portion is image data for display on a display device or the like of the imaging device. This is image data compressed in JPEG format. The RAW data portion is reversible compressed image data and is the main structure of RAW image data. The RAW header portion includes management information including information such as the size of the RAW format image data to be recorded and the setting of the imaging apparatus at the time of imaging, and offset information of addresses of each internal structure of the RAW format image data. Have.

  For this reason, in order to generate RAW format image data, first, imaging data obtained by imaging by the imaging device is reversibly compressed to generate RAW data, and further JPEG compressed to display image data and thumbnail images. Create data. Thereafter, RAW header information is created from the information of the RAW data, the display image data, the thumbnail image data, the information of the imaging device, and the like. The RAW data, display image data, thumbnail image data, and RAW header information are sequentially output to a recording memory area as shown in FIG. 2B, for example. When recording on a recording medium, the RAW header information, thumbnail image data, display image data, and RAW data are output to the recording medium in this order from the recording memory area so that the internal structure of the RAW format data is obtained. , RAW image data is generated.

  However, if the recording memory area does not have an area larger than the size of the imaged data to be recorded, it is not possible to generate data in a recording format having a plurality of data portions as described above as an internal structure. That is, all data portions having internal structures are provided in a memory area for recording, and recording processing to a recording medium cannot be performed according to the order of the internal structure determined by the recording format, and one unit of imaging data is recorded. The process cannot be completed.

  Further, when the recording memory area has a size smaller than the size of one data portion among the plurality of data portions having the internal structure of the recording format, the generation processing of one data portion smaller than one unit of the imaging data Cannot be completed. For example, in the case of RAW format image data, if the recording memory area does not have a size larger than the size of the compressed RAW data, the lossless compression processing of the RAW data cannot be completed.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to enable recording processing of imaging data having a size larger than a recording memory area.

In order to achieve the above object, an imaging apparatus of the present invention has the following configuration.
An imaging apparatus including a memory area for storing information to be recorded on a recording medium, the imaging means for imaging a subject and outputting imaging data, and the imaging data output from the imaging means for storing the imaging data in the memory area And converting means for converting in accordance with the recording format when recording on the recording medium, and recording means for recording the data converted by the converting means and stored in the memory area on the recording medium, obtained by conversion by the converting means. was when the capacity of the data is larger than the capacity of the memory area includes a recording means for dividing the recording medium is divided into smaller capacity than the capacity of the memory area, the divided recorded on the recording medium by the recording unit data, recorded And combining means for combining by updating the link information of the clusters related to each data according to the data structure of the format .

  According to the present invention, it is possible to record image data having a size larger than the memory area for recording.

1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of an imaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The figure for demonstrating the internal structure of the RAW format which is an example of the output format of embodiment, and the memory area for recording Flowchart of imaging / recording processing according to the embodiment The figure for demonstrating the data transfer between the memory area for recording in the recording processing which concerns on embodiment, and a recording medium

  DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The embodiment described below is an example in which the present invention is applied to a digital camera as an example of an imaging apparatus having a recording memory area smaller than the size of imaging data to be recorded.

(Embodiment 1)
In the digital camera 100 shown in FIG. 1, the imaging unit 102 converts an optical image of a subject formed through the imaging lens 101 into an electrical signal and outputs the electrical signal to the A / D conversion unit 103. The imaging unit 102 is an imaging element such as a CCD or a CMOS element. The A / D conversion unit 103 performs A / D conversion on an analog signal that is an input electric signal, and outputs the obtained digital image data (imaging data) to the RAM 106 described later. The image processing unit 104 receives the imaging data stored in the RAM 106, applies predetermined pixel interpolation processing, resolution conversion processing, color conversion processing, and the like to the received imaging data, and stores them again in the RAM 106. The compression / decompression unit 105 receives imaging data stored in the RAM 106, and applies irreversible or reversible compression / decompression processing to the received imaging data by applying processing such as adaptive discrete cosine transform (ADCT), for example. Is stored in the RAM 106 again. For example, the RAM 106 develops a program necessary for processing each block, stores intermediate data generated in the process of each block, header information when outputting imaging data to a predetermined recording format, and the like. to manage. For easy understanding, an area for storing data to be recorded on the recording medium 120 when data to which conversion processing is applied is recorded on the recording medium 120 to be described later, in the area of the RAM 106 in the present embodiment. Is called a “memory area for recording”. However, the “recording memory area” is also used as an area for storing, for example, management information generated in the process of each block. In addition, an area for storing imaging data before the compression / decompression unit 105 applies predetermined compression processing is referred to as a “compression memory area”.

  The system control unit 107 is a CPU, for example, and controls the operation of each block of the digital camera 100. For example, the system control unit 107 reads out an operation program of each block of the digital camera 100 stored in the ROM 108, expands it in the RAM 106, and executes it. The ROM 108 stores, for example, an operation program for each block of the digital camera 100 necessary for the operation of the digital camera 100, setting parameters for each block, and the like. The image display unit 109 is a display device such as a small LCD, for example, and displays imaging data stored or recorded in a recording memory area of the RAM 106 or a recording medium 120 described later. For example, when the imaging data recorded on the recording medium 120 is RAW format data, the image display unit 109 reads and displays the data of the display image unit from the data structure of the imaging data. The recording medium attachment / detachment detection unit 110 detects whether or not the detachable recording medium 120 is connected to the digital camera 100 via the recording I / F 111. The recording I / F 111 is an interface for transferring information and data between the removable recording medium 120 and each block of the digital camera 100. The recording I / F 111 is an input terminal such as a memory card slot into which a memory card is inserted or a USB or IEEE 1394 for connecting a hard disk. The operation input unit 112 is a UI such as a power button, a shutter button, or a zoom button. The operation input unit 112 receives, for example, a user operation on the shutter button and transmits the operation to the system control unit 107.

  The recording medium 120 is a detachable recording medium such as a memory card or a hard disk that is used by being attached to the digital camera 100. The recording medium 120 is picked up by the digital camera 100, which is input via the recording I / F 111, for example, and is subjected to conversion processing in the image processing unit 104 or compression / decompression unit 105 to be stored in a recording memory area of the RAM 106. Record the stored imaging data. In the present embodiment, the recording medium 120 will be described as a recording medium conforming to a general FAT file system. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the present invention can be applied to any file system recording medium that manages recorded data using cluster link information based on logical cluster numbers, such as the NT file system (NTFS). It is.

  In response to a user operation on the power button of the operation input unit 112, the system control unit 107 activates the digital camera 100. After the digital camera 100 is activated, the system control unit 107 develops the operation program for each block of the digital camera 100 stored in the ROM 108 in the RAM 106 and starts control of each block. A subject image formed through the imaging lens 101 is captured by the imaging unit 102 and output to the A / D conversion unit 103, converted into imaging data by the A / D conversion unit 103, and memory for compression in the RAM 106. Stored in the area. The system control unit 107 applies the conversion process in the image processing unit 104 and the compression / decompression process in the compression / decompression unit 105 to the image data stored in the compression memory area, and the recording memory area in the RAM 106. To remember. The system control unit 107 starts through display that sequentially displays on the image display unit 109 the imaging data to which the conversion processing and compression / decompression processing stored in the recording memory area are applied. It will be in a standby state.

  The imaging / recording process of the digital camera of the present embodiment having the above-described configuration will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In the present embodiment, an imaging / recording process when recording imaging data obtained by imaging on the recording medium 120 in the RAW format will be described. However, the present invention is not limited to the RAW format, and can be applied to imaging / recording processing when the size of recorded image data is larger than the size of a recording memory area.

  The RAW format image data has a data (address) structure as shown in FIG. The RAW format image data is arranged in the RAW header section 201 including the thumbnail offset 202, the display image offset 203, and the RAW offset 204, the thumbnail image section 205, the display image section 206, and the RAW data section 207 from the top of the address. Is done. The thumbnail image unit 205 is low-resolution thumbnail image information used when, for example, the recording medium 120 is connected to a PC and a list of image data recorded on the recording medium 120 is displayed by an application or the like. The display image unit 206 is display-only image information used when the image display unit 109 of the digital camera 100 browses RAW format image data. The display image has a resolution higher than the display resolution of the image display unit 109 and is output by the compression / decompression unit 105 by applying JPEG compression processing. For example, by changing the setting of the digital camera 100 for the display image, it is possible to change the image resolution, the recording format, etc. according to the application. The RAW data unit 207 is image data obtained by applying reversible compression processing such as DPCM in the compression / decompression unit 105 to the captured image data after application of the A / D conversion processing in the A / D conversion unit 103.

    When the system control unit 107 receives a user operation on the shutter switch of the operation input unit 112, the system control unit 107 starts photographing / recording processing. In step S301, the system control unit 107 starts an imaging process. The system control unit 107 applies A / D conversion processing by the A / D conversion unit 103 to the analog signal output from the imaging unit 102 and converts the analog signal to imaging data that is digital data. The system control unit 107 stores the imaging data to which the A / D conversion process is applied in the compression memory area of the RAM 106 (S302). At this time, the system control unit 107 also stores setting information of the digital camera 100 at the time of imaging in the RAM 106. The setting information of the digital camera 100 at the time of imaging includes, for example, information such as exposure time and focal length required for imaging.

  In step S303 to S309, the system control unit 107 performs lossless compression processing on the captured image data stored in the compression memory area, and generates RAW data. Note that the processing of S303 to S309 is repeated until generation of RAW data is completed.

  In step S <b> 303, the system control unit 107 determines whether or not the lossless compression processing in the compression / decompression unit 105 has been completed for the imaging data stored in the compression memory area. At this time, if there is information of imaged data to which the lossless compression process has not been applied yet in the compression memory area, the system control unit 107 moves the process to S304. If the application of the lossless compression process has been completed for all pieces of information of the captured image data in the compression memory area, the system control unit 107 moves the process to S308.

  In step S <b> 304, the system control unit 107 uses the compression / decompression unit 105 to perform reversible compression processing on the information of the captured image data that has not been applied with the reversible compression processing among the captured image data recorded in the compression memory area. Apply. Here, the information of the imaging data is partially subjected to the lossless compression process, and one part of the obtained information of the imaging data to which the lossless compression process is applied is sequentially recorded from the compression / decompression unit 105 for recording in the RAM 106. It is output and stored in the memory area. In step S <b> 305, the system control unit 107 outputs the accumulated size (capacity) of the imaging data information to which the lossless compression process is applied, which is output in the lossless compression process of step S <b> 304, for the size of the recording memory area in the RAM 106. Determine whether it was done. Specifically, for example, the amount of information output from the compression / decompression unit 105 is determined by using the DMA transfer method for transferring the information of the imaging data from the compression / decompression unit 105 to the memory area for recording, and system control is performed. What is necessary is just to tell the part 107. If it is determined in S305 that the accumulated size of the information of the imaging data to which the lossless compression process is applied is smaller than the size of the recording memory area, the system control unit 107 moves the process to S303. If it is determined in step S305 that the accumulated size of the information of the imaging data to which the lossless compression processing is applied is equal to the size of the recording memory area, the system control unit 107 stores the lossless compression stored in the recording memory area. The imaging data to which the process is applied is recorded on the recording medium 120. Specifically, the system control unit 107 captures (a part of) image data obtained by applying lossless compression processing from a recording memory area to a recording medium 120 attached to the digital camera 100 via the recording I / F 111. Transfer and record (split recording). After the transfer of the imaging data to which the lossless compression process is applied to the recording medium 120 is completed, the system control unit 107 empties the recording memory area in S307, and the process proceeds to S303.

  If it is determined in S303 that all of the captured image data in the compression memory area has been subjected to lossless compression processing, the system control unit 107 determines that the generation of RAW data has been completed (S308). Further, the system control unit 107 determines whether or not division recording has been performed in the process of generating RAW data (S309). In the case where divided recording was performed in the process of generating RAW data, the system control unit 107 moved the process to S306, and there was imaging data to which a lossless compression process that has not yet been recorded in the recording memory area was applied. In this case, the recording process to the recording medium 120 is performed.

  After the generation of the RAW data is completed, the system control unit 107 applies processing in the image processing unit 104 and the compression / decompression unit 105 in steps S310 to S317 to generate a display image (development processing). Note that the processing of S310 to S317 is repeated until the generation of the display image is completed.

  In step S310, the system control unit 107 applies predetermined image conversion processing in the image processing unit 104 to the image data stored in the compression memory area, and stores the obtained image data in the compression memory area again. To do.

  Further, in S311 to S317, the system control unit 107 sends the display data to the compression / decompression unit 105 in order to generate the display image for the imaging data to which the image conversion process is applied, which is stored in the compression memory area in S310. JPEG compression processing is applied and output to the memory area for recording. Since the processing performed between the recording memory area and the recording medium 120 at this time is the same as the RAW data generation processing except for the compression method and the compression target, description thereof will be omitted.

  After the generation of the display image is completed, the system control unit 107 causes the image processing unit 104 to further apply resolution conversion processing to the imaging data stored in the compression memory area. Further, the system control unit 107 applies a JPEG compression process to the captured image data to which the resolution conversion process is applied, generates a thumbnail image, and stores it in a recording memory area (S318).

  The RAW data, display image, and thumbnail image information necessary for the RAW format image data in the previous steps are complete. In S319, the system control unit 107 generates RAW header information and stores it in the recording memory area. Remember.

  In step S320, the system control unit 107 determines whether division recording has been performed in the previous steps. If divisional recording has been performed in the steps so far, the system control unit 107 transfers all the information stored in the recording memory area to the recording medium 120 and records it in S321. In step S322, the system control unit 107 combines the four pieces of RAW data, the display image, the thumbnail image, and the RAW header information that are divided and recorded to generate RAW image data. If it is determined in S320 that the divided recording has not been performed in the previous steps, the recording memory area stores the RAW data, the display image, the thumbnail image, and the RAW header information. Transfer and recording are performed as follows. The system control unit 107 records the recording medium 120 in the order of RAW header information, thumbnail images, display images, and RAW data from the recording memory area so that the data structure is recorded in the RAW format when transferred to the recording medium 120. And record (S323). As described above, RAW image data can be recorded on the recording medium 120.

(Combination with split recording)
Here, the above-described divided recording and combination processing will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a recording memory area, a directory entry of the recording medium 120, FAT information, and data arrangement when performing divided recording and combination processing. The figure shows each state along the time series from left to right. Also, in order to make the explanation easy to understand, it is assumed that the size of the memory area for recording is larger than the combined size of the RAW header information, the thumbnail image, and the display image, and the size of the RAW data is It is assumed that it is larger than the size of the memory area for recording. Here, divided recording of RAW data and a process of combining RAW data with other data will be described.

  The recording memory area 401 is still in a state before starting the lossless compression process for generating RAW data. When the system control unit 107 starts the lossless compression process, the image data (RAW data) to which the lossless compression process is applied is sequentially stored in the recording memory area, and the recording memory area is entirely filled with the RAW data. The state is the state of the memory area 402 for recording. RAW data (part) of the RAW data in the recording memory area 402 at this time is 1. TMP # 1.

  The system control unit 107 performs reversible compression processing for the capacity of the recording memory area, and when the processing is temporarily stopped, transfers a part of the RAW data to the recording medium 120 and records it. . For example, when the head cluster number of the free cluster on the recording medium 120 is (10), the system control unit 107 starts from the cluster number (10) to 1. Record TMP # 1. At this time, assuming that the recording memory area has a size of, for example, 5 clusters, the system control unit 107: TMP # 1 is recorded in cluster numbers (10) to (14) (data arrangement 433). For example, if the size of one cluster is N, the system control unit 107 starts from the cluster number (10) in the directory entry 413, and the file size is 5 * N. Information indicating that data having a file name of TMP exists is recorded. Then, the system control unit 107 records link information from the cluster numbers (10) to (14) in the FAT information 423. Further, the system control unit 107 determines that the transfer of the RAW data in the recording memory area is completed, and empties the recording memory area (recording memory area 403).

  Further, the system control unit 107 is 1. After the transfer of TMP # 1, since there is imaging data to which the lossless compression process is not applied in the compression memory area, the suspended lossless compression process is resumed. At this time, for example, if the application of the reversible compression process is completed for all of the imaging data stored in the compression memory area, the RAW data (1. TMP # 2) is output to the recording memory area. (Memory area 404 for recording). The system control unit 107 completes the generation processing of the RAW data in the recording memory area, and first performs division recording on the recording medium 120. Record additional information on the TMP. Specifically, the system control unit 107 is 1. TMP # 2 is recorded from the first cluster number (15) of the current free cluster. At this time If the size of TMP # 2 is, for example, one cluster and x bytes, the system control unit 107: TMP # 2 is recorded in cluster numbers (15) and (16) (data arrangement 435). Further, the system control unit 107 starts the directory entry 415 from the cluster number (10), and the file size is 6 * N + x (in combination with 1.TMP # 1). Update to information that data with a file name of TMP exists. Then, the system control unit 107 records the link information of the cluster numbers (15) and (16) in the FAT information 425. However, since the reversible compression process has been completed at this time, the system control unit 107 does 1. Since the TMP is closed, the FAT information 425 1. A (0xFF) code indicating the end of the file is recorded in the last cluster (16) of the TMP.

  Since the RAW data in the recording memory area has been transferred, the system control unit 107 again empties the recording memory area. Subsequently, the system control unit 107 performs development processing of the imaging data stored in the compression memory area in the image processing unit 104 to generate a display image, a thumbnail image, and RAW header information, and a recording memory area. (Memory area 405 for recording). The system control unit 107 transfers and records the display image, thumbnail image, and RAW header information stored in the recording memory area to the recording medium 120 as one piece of data (1. RAW). In that case, 1. In accordance with the data structure of the RAW format, the system control unit 107 transfers RAW to the recording medium 120 in the order of RAW header information, thumbnail images, and display images. At this time, RAW is recorded from the leading cluster number (17) of the free cluster. Where: If the RAW size is, for example, one cluster and y bytes, the system control unit 107 is 1. The RAW is recorded in cluster numbers (17) and (18) (data arrangement 436). In addition, the system control unit 107 starts from the cluster number (17) in the directory entry 416, and the file size is N + y. Information that data with a file name of RAW exists is newly recorded. The system control unit 107 records the link information of the cluster numbers (17) and (18) in the FAT information 426. Since the RAW is closed, a code (0xFF) indicating the end of the file is recorded in the final cluster number (18) of the FAT information 426. The system control unit 107 also stores data in the memory area for recording as 1.. Since recording as RAW has been completed, the recording memory area is emptied (recording memory area 406).

Further, since the system control unit 107 performs division recording, the system control unit 107 is recorded on the recording medium 120. TMP and 1. Combine processing with RAW is performed.
The system control unit 107 includes 1. The (0xFF) code recorded in the RAW last cluster number (18) Change to the first cluster number (10) of TMP (FAT information 427). Further, the system control unit 107 starts the directory entry 417 from the cluster number (17), and the file size is 8 * N + x (all together). Update to information that data with a file name of RAW exists. Further, the system control unit 107 includes: RAW and 1. TMP data has already been combined. Since the information of the TMP directory entry is unnecessary, An erasure flag is set in the directory entry information of TMP. By updating the FAT information and the directory entry, RAW format image data (1. RAW) can be obtained as in the data arrangement 437.

  In the description of the division recording and the combination processing, in this embodiment, only the RAW data is larger than the size of the recording memory area. However, other data such as a display image is also stored in the recording memory area. The present invention can also be applied to large cases. Specifically, for example, when the display image needs to be divided and recorded in addition to the RAW data, the display image is paused each time after being compressed for the size of the recording memory area, and sequentially recorded. What is necessary is just to transfer to the medium 120. At this time, RAW data 1. Apart from TMP A display image is recorded on the recording medium 120 as TMP. And finally 1. RAW and 1. TMP and 2. In binding TMP, 1. Set the RAW last cluster number to 2. To the first cluster number of TMP, 2. Set the final cluster number of TMP as 1. By changing to the first cluster number of TMP, RAW format data can be obtained.

  As described above, the digital camera 100 described in the present embodiment can record imaging data having a size larger than the recording memory area by dividing and recording the imaging data in the course of processing. . In addition, when it is desired to place data including information that can only be obtained after completion of processing of imaging data, such as header information, at the beginning of the divided and recorded data in the recording format, the FAT information is updated. The divided and recorded data can be rearranged and combined.

(Modification of the embodiment)
In the embodiment, the still image recording process has been described. However, the present invention can also be applied to a moving image recording process. In that case, the digital camera 100 according to the modification of the present embodiment further includes a microphone for capturing audio information.

  For example, when a moving image capturing request is input by a user operation on the shutter button provided in the operation input unit 112, the system control unit 107 starts capturing a moving image and recording audio information. The system control unit 107 sequentially stores moving image data captured and processed in each block, and recorded and digitized audio data in a recording memory area. Further, when moving image data and audio data are stored for the size of the recording memory area, the system control unit 107 performs recording processing on the recording medium 120 and sequentially updates the FAT information and the directory entry. For example, when a moving image capturing completion command is input by a user operation on the shutter button provided in the operation input unit 112, the system control unit 107 completes recording of moving image data and audio data, and generates header information. Are recorded on the recording medium 120 and the above-described combination processing is performed.

Claims (6)

An imaging device comprising a memory area for storing information for recording on a recording medium,
Imaging means for imaging a subject and outputting imaging data;
To store the imaging data output from the imaging means to the memory area, and converting means for converting according to a recording format for recording on the recording medium,
A recording means for recording the data stored in the conversion has been the memory area by said converting means to said recording medium, when the capacity of the data obtained is converted by the conversion means capacity larger than the memory area Recording means for dividing and recording on the recording medium by dividing into a capacity smaller than the capacity of the memory area ;
Combining means for combining the data divided and recorded on the recording medium by the recording means by updating the link information of the clusters related to the respective data according to the data structure of the recording format. An imaging device. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the data recorded by the recording unit is moving image data and audio data. When the recording means records the data obtained by conversion by the conversion means that is larger than the capacity of the memory area, after recording the entire data on the recording medium, the conversion means completes the conversion. Record header information including information that can only be obtained later on the recording medium,
  The combining means rearranges and combines the header information so as to be arranged at the head portion of the divided and recorded data by updating the link information of each cluster of the divided and recorded data and the header information. Do
The imaging apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein A method for controlling an imaging apparatus including a memory area for storing information for recording on a recording medium,
An imaging step in which an imaging means images a subject and outputs imaging data;
Conversion means, for storing the imaging data output in the imaging step to the memory area, the conversion step of converting in accordance with the recording format for recording on the recording medium,
Recording means, a recording process of recording the data stored being converted into the memory area in the conversion step to the recording medium, the volume of data obtained by conversion in the converting step of the memory area If larger than the capacity, a recording step of dividing and recording on the recording medium by dividing into a capacity smaller than the capacity of the memory area ;
And a combining step of combining the data divided and recorded on the recording medium in the recording step by updating the link information of the clusters related to each data according to the data structure of the recording format. An imaging apparatus control method characterized by the above. 5. The method for controlling an imaging apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the data recorded in the recording step is moving image data and audio data. In the recording step, when the data obtained by conversion by the conversion unit larger than the capacity of the memory area is divided and recorded, the recording unit records the entire data on the recording medium, and then the conversion step. In the recording medium, header information including information that can be obtained only after completion of the conversion is recorded,
  In the combining step, the combining means updates the link information of each cluster of the divided and recorded data and the header information so that the header information is arranged at the head portion of the divided and recorded data. Sort and join
The method for controlling an imaging apparatus according to claim 4, wherein

Images