JPH04142188A - Picture recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To photograph a picture to be recorded and to execute interval recording thereafter by not only recording a single picture but also resetting the counted time at the time when a single picture recording instruction is given during execution of interval recording. CONSTITUTION:A first release switch 42 of a switch group 40 which inputs a prescribed indication to a system control circuit 38 is closed by the first stroke of the shutter release operation to indicate the start of the photographing preparation operation, and a second release switch 44 is closed by the second stroke of the shutter release operation to indicate the photographing operation. When the switch 44 is turned on during execution of interval photographing, recording operation and display are performed, and the interval time counted till then is reset to start counting of the set time. Thus, the picture is recorded at an arbitrary time even in the interval recording mode, and interval recording is continued at intervals of the preliminarily set time thereafter.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an image recording device, and more specifically to an image recording device that records and reproduces images on a recording medium such as a magnetic disk or a solid-state memory.

[Prior Art] Electronic still cameras that use a 2-inch diameter magnetic disk called a still video floppy as an image recording medium have been commercialized. Still video floppy recording formats are specified by the Still Video Conference. A still video floppy has 50 tracks, from the first track on the outermost track to the 50th track on the innermost track, and each track can record one field of video signals. Two adjacent tracks are used to record one frame of video. Furthermore, formats such as date, time, track number, field/frame identification information, and user code are defined as identification information, ie, ID information, that accompanies still images to be recorded.

Furthermore, electronic still cameras are also known that digitally record images on a solid-state memory such as a semiconductor memory as a recording medium.

Such electronic still cameras are equipped with an interval photography mode in which photography (recording) is performed intermittently at regular time intervals, in addition to a normal photography (recording) mode in which a single photographed image is recorded. With conventional electronic still cameras, when performing interval shooting, when the interval shooting time is set, interval shooting is performed at the set interval shooting time, and even if recording operations are performed while shooting in interval shooting mode, the interval shooting is not received. was not attached, and interval shooting was continued at predetermined time intervals.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] In the conventional example, when performing interval photography, there are images recorded between the time of taking a certain image and the time of taking the next image, so even if you try to take a photo, you cannot take a photo, and the shutter is not activated.・There was a drawback of missing opportunities.

An object of the present invention is to provide an image recording device that eliminates such inconveniences.

[Means for Solving the Problems] An image recording device according to the present invention includes an interval recording mode in which an image is recorded on a recording medium every time a predetermined time is measured, and a normal recording mode in which a single image is recorded. The image recording device is characterized by having means for recording a single image and resetting the clock time when a command to record a single image is given during interval recording. do.

[Function] With the above means, when executing the interval recording mode, an image to be recorded can be captured by a recording command, and,
Then continue interval recording.

[Example code] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention. 1
0 is a photographing lens, 12 is a mechanical shutter, 14 is a drive circuit for the shutter 12, 16 is an image sensor, and 18 is an image sensor 16
20 is a recording circuit that performs recording processing such as modulation on the luminance signal and color difference signal output from the process circuit 18;
2 is a recording, erasing and playback switch; 24 is a video floppy recording medium; 26 is a floppy 24;
28 is a magnetic head, 30 is an erasing circuit that generates an erasing signal, 32 is a reproduction circuit that performs reproduction processing such as demodulation on the reproduced signal by the magnetic head 28, and outputs it in a video signal format; 34 is a video output It is a terminal.

36 is a liquid crystal display device for displaying the system status and various data, and 38 is a system control circuit that controls the entire system. 40 is a switch group for inputting predetermined instructions to the system control circuit 38, and the second release switch 42 is closed at the first stroke of the shutter release operation to instruct to enter the shooting preparation operation; The second release switch 44 closes on the second stroke of the shutter release to instruct a photographing operation. In addition, there is a recording switch 46, a playback switch 48, an up switch 50 for instructing track up, a down switch 52 for instructing track down, a mode for switching the display mode of the display device 36, and a mode for switching the setting mode.・Switch 5
4. There is a BLC switch 56 for backlight correction, a DATE switch 58 for date, and a flash switch 60 for turning on/off the flash device. Switch 50.
Detailed functions and additional functions of 52, 54, 56, 58, and 60 will be described later.

Further, 70 is a motor drive circuit that drives the motor 26, and stops the motor 26 when shut off.

FIG. 11 shows an external view of the device according to the embodiment. The symbols in the figure correspond to those in FIG.

FIG. 2 shows display elements in the liquid crystal display device 36.

100 is displayed when the flash device is forcibly prohibited from emitting light, and is turned off when the on/off of light emission is automatically controlled according to the amount of external light. 102 is displayed in the normal shooting mode. 104 is displayed during interval shooting or interval playback. 106 is displayed during self-timer photography. 108 is displayed in continuous shooting mode. 1
10 is displayed when distinguishing the date (Y: year, M: month, D second day). 112 blinks when the watch battery needs to be replaced. 114 blinks when the main power battery needs to be replaced. 116 is displayed in the erase mode. Reference numeral 118 is displayed simultaneously with the display of reference numeral 116 in the all-track erase mode. 120 is displayed when distinguishing time (H: hour, M: minute). 122 displays letters and numbers such as date, time and track number depending on the situation.

The operation shown in FIG. 1 will be schematically explained. During recording, the shutter 12 is activated by a release operation, and the electrical signal from the image sensor 16 is converted into a luminance signal and a color difference signal by the process circuit 18. The recording circuit 20 is the process circuit 18
The output is subjected to recording processing such as FM modulation, and the output is applied to the magnetic head 28 via the switch 22 and recorded on the magnetic disk 24. During reproduction, the reproduction output of the magnetic head 28 is applied to the reproduction circuit 32 via the switch 22, and the reproduction circuit 32 performs reproduction processing such as demodulation and outputs a reproduced video signal to the output terminal 34.

The recording operation and display operation based thereon will be explained with reference to FIG. The recording mode is entered by operating the recording switch 46, and as shown in FIG.
is displayed, and the track number is displayed in alphanumeric characters 122. When the switch 44 is turned on in this state (S 10
4) As described above, the photographed image is recorded on the magnetic disk 24 (Sl). If the switch 44 is kept on after recording, the recorded image is reproduced as described above (S2.3). During this reproduction, a reproduced video signal in which the track number of the track recorded in Sl is superimposed on the reproduced image is output from the output terminal 34. switch 4
4 is turned off, the magnetic head 28 is sent to the next track (S4), and the display device 36 displays the track number after the movement.

Here, when the mode switch 54 is operated, the normal shooting mode changes to the continuous shooting mode (SIOI), and a "C" symbol indicating the continuous shooting mode is displayed on the display device 36, as shown in FIG. 5 (2). 108 is displayed, the letter number 122
The track number to be recorded is displayed. When the switch 44 is turned on in this state (S105), the switch 44
While on, photographed images are continuously recorded on the magnetic disk 24 (S5, 6.7).

When the mode switch 54 is operated again, the continuous shooting mode changes to the self-timer shooting mode (S102), and the timer symbol 106 indicating the self-timer shooting mode is displayed on the display device 36, as shown in FIG. 5(3). The track number to be recorded is displayed in alphanumeric characters 122.

When the switch 44 is turned on in this state (S106),
The motor 26 rotates and the self-timer light emitting element (not shown) blinks at 8 Hz for 2 seconds (S8), then recording is executed (S9) and the magnetic head 28 is sent to the next track (S10). .

When the mode switch 54 is operated again, the interval shooting mode (S103) is entered, and the display device 36 shows the following:
As shown in FIG. 6 (1), the "INT" symbol 104 indicating the interval shooting mode is displayed, and the letters and numbers 12
2 and the hour/minute symbol 120, "OM" indicating that the interval shooting time has not been set is displayed. up·
1 to 99 by switch 50 and down switch 52
Set the interval shooting time between minutes. switch 4
4 is turned on, the recording operation and display described above are performed, and the magnetic head 28 is moved to the next track to be recorded.
Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 6 (2), the "INT" symbol 104
flash, check the interval timer (S
:Ll), the motor 26 rotates 2 seconds before the set time, and the self-timer light emitting element (not shown) blinks at 8Hz for 2 seconds, and then recording (S12) and track movement (S13) are started.
). During interval shooting mode, Sll, 1
2.13 is repeated.

If the DATE switch 58 is operated while the "INT" symbol 104 is blinking during the interval photographing operation, the interval photographing time is displayed on the display device 36, as shown in FIG. 6(3).

Further, during the interval shooting operation, when the switch 44 is turned on (S14), the recording operation and display are performed (S14).
15, 16), reset the interval time that was being counted up to that point S17), and perform counting up to the new set time. Incidentally, FIG. 10 shows a time chart when the switch 44 is turned on after automatic photographing is performed twice after the interval photographing operation.

The normal shooting mode can be set by operating the mode switch 54, the normal shooting mode by operating the recording switch 46 again after locking or playing, or the normal shooting mode by removing the magnetic disk 24 and loading it again. Interval shooting mode can be canceled by either of the following methods. Note that the interval shooting time is not set (
When the switch 44 is turned on with "OM" displayed),
After performing the recording operation and display described above, the normal photographing mode is entered, and the "S" symbol 102 is displayed.

In any of the above modes, when the BLC switch 56 is operated at the same time as the switch 44 is operated, the photographed image is recorded with backlight correction performed. Furthermore, when the flash switch 60 is turned on, the flash device emits light when taking pictures.

Operations and displays during playback and erasure will be explained with reference to FIG. The reproduction mode is entered by the reproduction switch 48, and the image recorded immediately before or the image recorded on the designated track is reproduced (S20).

Then, data such as year, month, day, hour and minute recorded as ID data is superimposed as a character signal on the reproduced video signal according to the operation of the DATE switch 58 and output from the output terminal 34. That is, each time the DATE switch 58 is operated, the track number, year, month, day, hour and minute are displayed and not displayed. Further, the track to be played can be changed by using the up switch 50 and the down switch 52.

If the track to be reproduced is unrecorded, a mute signal is output from the output terminal 34. At this time, of course,
The ID data is not displayed, and the ID data is not reproduced. Furthermore, even if the DATE switch 58 is operated, the I
The display mode of D data is not changed.

If you operate the flash switch 60 during playback (S3
4) The interval playback mode is entered, and the display device 36 displays the "INT" symbol 104 representing interval playback, as shown in FIG.
Displays the track number currently being played. In this mode, after 3.5 seconds of playback (S21), the magnetic head is moved to an adjacent upper recorded track (S22).
), playback is performed (S23). Steps S21, 22, and 23 are repeated until the interval playback mode is canceled.

If there is no recorded track of higher rank, the recorded tracks are reproduced in order from the first track. Therefore, if there is only one recorded track, only that track is reproduced. Furthermore, if there is no recorded track, the display of the "INT" symbol 104 disappears and interval playback is canceled.

The interval playback mode can be canceled by operating the flash switch 60, turning on the switch 42, operating the playback switch 48 again after entering the lock or recording mode, or operating the mode switch 54. be.

During playback, including interval playback, all switches 4
When 2 to 60 are not operated for 3 minutes (when the main power source is a battery) or 6 minutes (when the main power source is an AC power source) (S38), the power is automatically turned off and playback is stopped ( S39). Hereinafter, this will be referred to as shutoff. At this time, the display device 36 displays the track number using alphanumeric characters 122, as shown in FIG. 7(1), and the interval playback mode is canceled.

To perform playback again (S33), the switch 42 may be turned on (S37), or the playback switch 48 may be operated again after entering the lock or recording mode.

There is no dedicated switch for entering the erase mode; instead, the erase mode can be entered by simultaneously operating multiple switches, which are used only in the recording mode, during the playback mode. That is, during playback switch 42.4
4 and the mode switch 54 at the same time (S35), the reproduced image is muted (S40)
, the track being played back is erased (S25). By continuing to press the button further (S26), the magnetic head 28 is moved to the next inner track (S27), and that track is erased (S25). During this time, the display on the display device 36 becomes a display as shown in FIG.
4 and displayed on a monitor (not shown).

Further, by simultaneously operating the switches 42 and 44, the mode switch 54, and the BLC switch 56 (S36), the all-track erase mode is entered. That is, after muting the reproduced image (S41), the magnetic head 28 moves to the 50th position on the innermost circumference.
528), from the 50th track to the 1st track.
Continuously erase up to the track (S29, 30.31)
. After erasing up to the first track, the power is turned off and shut off (S32). In addition, -dan, switch 424
4. Once the mode switch 54 and BLC switch 56 are operated simultaneously, they may be released thereafter.

At this time, the display on the display device 36 shows that the switches 42, 44
．． 54. At the time of simultaneous operation of 56, Fig. 7 (4)
The display will look like the one shown below.

All track erase mode is activated by operating switch 42 (S4
4) (between S42 and S43), or by operating the playback switch 48 again after entering the lock or recording mode. If the switch 42 is operated while erasing a certain track, "ALL" symbol 1 is displayed.
18 disappears and the display becomes as shown in FIG. 7 (3). This allows the user to know when the all-track erase mode has been released. Thereafter, after erasing the track being erased, the display on the display device 36 changes to the display shown in FIG. indicate. Furthermore, when the switch 42 is operated while the truck is moving, the display on the display device 36 immediately changes to the image shown in FIG. 7(1).
will be displayed.

Recording prevention measures can be taken on the magnetic disk 24,
In this case, when the above-mentioned erasing operation is performed, the display device 36 displays a display as shown in FIG. 8(1) or FIG. 8(2), and erasing is not performed.

Further, when the main power supply voltage decreases to a predetermined voltage, the battery symbol 114 is blinked to warn of this, but erasing of all tracks is prohibited at this voltage. That is,
If you perform an all-track erase operation below this voltage,
The display device 36 displays a display as shown in FIG. 8(3).

However, if the above voltage is reached during the execution of all-track erasing, erasing is continued.

Furthermore, when the voltage of the main power supply decreases to a predetermined voltage, erasing of one track and continuous erasing are prohibited.

In response to the erasing operation, the display device 36 displays the display shown in FIG. 8(4).

Next, the setting of the clock for recording ID data will be explained. When the DATE switch 58 is operated when the recording switch 48 is operated (excluding interval recording operation) or when the playback switch 48 is operated when the magnetic disk 24 is not loaded, the display device 36 will display one of the symbols 110. A "Y" symbol indicating the year is displayed, and the numerical value of the year is displayed in the alphanumeric character 122. Each time the DATE switch 58 is operated, the display changes from month display to day display to hour display to minute display to normal display. This allows you to check the current date and time. Up switch 50 and down switch 5
The numerical value can be changed by the operation 2, for example, Y, M, D as shown in FIG. 9 (2).

The corresponding symbol among H and M blinks. Note that if the above operation is performed while the interval time is displayed (the interval time is not set or set), the camera enters the normal shooting mode.

If all the switches are not opened for about 1 minute while the year, month, date and time are displayed, the display switches to normal display. In addition, if the voltage of the main power supply drops, the recording switch 46 and the playback switch 4
8 or by inserting or removing the magnetic disk 24, the normal display is returned.

In this embodiment, a still video floppy disk was used as the recording medium, but such a recording medium may also be a tape-shaped medium, an optical recording medium, or a solid-state memory such as a semiconductor memory.

[Effects of the Invention] As can be easily understood from the above explanation, according to the present invention, even when executing the interval recording mode,
Since you can record images at any time, you will never miss a photo opportunity. Also, the interval timer is then reset and starts counting from that point, and interval recording continues at the previously set interval interval, so there is no need to perform any other operations, making it very easy to use. Become.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of all display contents of the display device 36, FIG. 3 is a flowchart of operations and display operations during recording, and FIG. 4 is a flow chart of playback and display operations. Flowcharts of erasing operation and display operation, FIGS. 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 are display examples of display device #L36, FIG. 10 is a time chart during interval shooting, and FIG. The figure is an external view of the device. lO: Photographic lens 12; Mechanical shutter 14; Shutter drive circuit 16: Image sensor 18; Process circuit 2
0: Recording circuit 22: Switch 24: Floppy 2
6: Motor 28: Magnetic head 30: Erasing circuit 32
: Reproduction circuit 34: Video output terminal 36: Liquid crystal display device 38 System control circuit 4o: Switch group 42
:2nd release switch 44:2nd release switch 46:Record switch 48:Playback switch 50Near switch 52:Down switch 54:Mode switch 56:BLC switch 58:DA
TE switch 60; flash switch

Claims (1)

[Claims] An image recording device that has an interval recording mode in which an image is recorded on a recording medium every time a predetermined time is measured, and a normal recording mode in which a single image is recorded, and the single image is recorded during interval recording. 1. An image recording apparatus, comprising means for recording a single image and resetting the clock time when a command is given to do so.