JPH06105272A - Information signal processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily judge the recording timing of an information signal, and to prevent the erroneous recording of the unnecessary information signal by displaying the state of the storage capacity of the information signal in a tempo rary storage means. CONSTITUTION:A system control circuit 50 displays the photographing and recording validating residual number of screens or residual storage capacity recorded in a recording medium 100, residual battery in a power source part 82, date, photographic operation mode, and each kind of message or the like at a display device 54, based on the identification information data, camera related data, and recording medium related data of the recording medium 100, management data or each kind of mode recorded in a management data recording area 102 of the recording medium 100, and each kind of mode setting set according to the kind of the recording medium 100 connected with a system main body. Also, when the recording medium 100 can not be used, an alarm display indicating that the recording medium 100 can not be used for the main system is operated.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information signal processing device for processing an information signal, and more particularly to an information signal processing device for recording an information signal on a recording medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as an information signal processing apparatus for processing an information signal, for example, image signals or audio signals are recorded on a plurality of concentric tracks formed on a magnetic disk, and the magnetic disk is recorded. There is an electronic still video system that arbitrarily selects the upper recording track and reproduces an image signal or an audio signal recorded on the selected recording track.

By the way, the above-mentioned electronic still video system is configured to record an image signal or an audio signal on a recording track on a magnetic disk in the state of an analog signal, but recently, it has been digitized. Image signals and audio signals are recorded in D-RAM, S-RAM, EEP-RO
A plurality of RAMs (Rands) including semiconductor memory devices such as M
A new system such as recording on a memory card incorporating an am Access Memory) has also appeared.

By the way, the above memory card has a limited storage capacity due to the storage capacity per chip of the memory element and the number of chips of the memory element mountable on the card, and the price of the memory element is different from that of other recording media. Since it is more expensive than the above, it cannot be used as a recording medium having a large storage capacity at present.

On the other hand, it is known that the hard disk device is a recording medium having a larger storage capacity than the memory card, and the recent hard disk device, like the memory card, has a main body device. Since it is detachable, the hard disk device is used as a recording medium in an electronic still video system, so that a system having a large storage capacity can be constructed at a relatively low cost.

There are various types of hard disk devices depending on the storage capacity, weight, power consumption, recording speed, etc. If the system is configured so that a plurality of these types of hard disk devices can be installed, various types of hard disk devices will be available to users. It is possible to meet the request.

In the above system, when a digitized image signal (that is, image data) or audio signal (that is, audio data) is recorded on a recording medium such as a memory card or a hard disk, The image data or the audio data is once stored in the image memory, and then the image data or the audio data stored in the image memory is read out and recorded in a recording medium.
During the shooting / recording operation, when the storage capacity of the image memory is full due to the image data or the audio data temporarily stored in the image memory, the shooting / recording operation is suspended and the image stored in the image memory is temporarily stopped. By transferring the data or the audio data to the recording medium and recording the data, if the storage capacity of the image memory has a capacity for storing the image data or the audio data, the photographing and recording operation can be resumed. It is configured to be.

[0008]

However, in the electronic still camera configured as described above, the storage capacity of the image memory is full and the shooting operation is interrupted. The operator cannot judge whether or not is in a state in which data can be stored and shooting and recording operations can be performed.For example, the operator operates the recording start instruction switch to continue shooting and recording operations. However, the operator intends that the shooting operation cannot be performed, or that the operator is still operating the recording start instruction switch when the shooting / recording operation is suspended. There is an operational inconvenience that the shooting / recording operation is restarted at untimed timings and unintended image data and audio data are recorded on the recording medium.
Especially in the continuous shooting recording mode, it is difficult for the operator to judge the timing of starting, continuing and ending the shooting and recording operation,
There is a problem that there is a risk of missing the necessary shooting and recording operation.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and it is possible to easily judge the recording timing of an information signal when the information signal is continuously recorded on the recording medium with a simple structure. It is an object of the present invention to provide a convenient information signal processing device capable of recording necessary information signals on a recording medium at an intended timing and preventing erroneous recording of unnecessary information signals.

[0010]

An information signal processing apparatus of the present invention is an apparatus for recording an information signal on a recording medium, and is a temporary storage for inputting an information signal and temporarily storing the input information signal. Means, display means for displaying the state of the storage capacity of the information signal in the temporary storage means, recording means for reading the information signal temporarily stored in the temporary storage means and recording it in a recording medium, and the temporary storage The temporary storage means and the recording means are controlled so that the information signal temporarily stored in the means is recorded on the recording medium by the recording means, and the state of the storage capacity of the information signal in the temporary storage means is displayed by the display means. And a control means for displaying the image, and an image pickup means for picking up an image of an object and generating an image signal corresponding to the imaged object; Of the image pickup operation state control means for controlling the image pickup operation state, the temporary storage means for inputting the image signal generated by the image pickup means, and temporarily storing the input image signal, and the image pickup operation state control means. A display unit for selectively displaying the image pickup operation state of the subject in the image pickup unit or the state of the storage capacity of the information signal in the temporary storage unit; and reading the information signal temporarily stored in the temporary storage unit, Recording means for recording on a recording medium, the temporary storage means and the recording means are controlled so that the information signal temporarily stored in the temporary storage means is recorded on the recording medium by the recording means, and the imaging operation state The display means indicates whether the image pickup operation state of the subject in the image pickup means in the control means or the state of the storage capacity of the information signal in the temporary storage means. In which a control means for displaying on 択的.

[0011]

With the above structure, when the information signal is continuously recorded on the recording medium, the recording timing of the information signal can be easily judged, and the necessary information signal can be recorded at the intended timing. It is possible to prevent erroneous recording of an unnecessary information signal by recording the data on the disk and improve the usability.

[0012]

EXAMPLES The present invention will be described below with reference to examples of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an electronic still video system to which the present invention is applied, as an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, 10 is a photographing optical system for photographing with a photographing lens, 12 is an exposure control member composed of a diaphragm mechanism and a shutter mechanism, and 14 is the photographing optical system 10 and the exposure control member 12. An image pickup device for converting the formed optical image into an image signal as an electric signal, and 16 for analog / digital (A / D) conversion for digitizing an analog image signal output from the image pickup device 14 and outputting it as image data. A clock 18 supplies various signals such as a clock signal and a control signal to the image pickup device 14, the A / D converter 16, a memory control circuit 20 described later, and a digital / analog (D / A) converter 36 described later. This is a signal generation circuit, and the clock signal generation circuit 18 is controlled by a memory control circuit 20 and a system control circuit 50 described later. It has been.

22 is an adaptive discrete cosine transform (ADCT)
An image compression / decompression circuit for compressing or decompressing image data according to a compression / decompression method of information such as, and 24 is an image memory.

Reference numeral 20 denotes a memory control circuit for controlling the clock signal generation circuit 18, the image compression / expansion circuit 22 and the image memory 24. The image data output from the A / D converter 16 is a memory control circuit. It is written in the image memory 24 via 20.

When the image data is compressed, the image data written in the image memory 24 is read as described above, the read image data is compressed in the image compression / expansion circuit 22, and then the image data is compressed again. When writing to the image memory 24 or expanding the image data, the compressed image data stored in the image memory 24 is read and the read image data is expanded in the image compression / expansion circuit 22. After that, the image memory 24 is written again.

Reference numeral 36 is a D / A converter, and 38 is an image display device such as an electronic viewfinder. Image data stored in the image memory 24 is stored in the memory control circuit 20.
The D / A converter 36 reads out the image data and converts the image data into an analog signal so that the image signal formed can be visualized and displayed.

In this embodiment, the D / A converter 36 and the image display device 38 are built in the system main body, but the D / A converter 36 and the image display device 38 are not the system main body. The image display device 38 may be configured as a separate device so that it can be attached to and detached from the system main body.
It may be configured so that different types such as high resolution or low resolution, color or black and white can be arbitrarily replaced.

Reference numeral 26 is an interface with a recording medium 100 such as a memory card or a hard disk described later or an external device, 28 is a data communication control circuit for controlling data communication with the external device or a communication line, and a predetermined program. According to the above, the communication control of data according to the protocol of the connected external device or the communication line, the conversion or inverse conversion of the data, the modulation or the demodulation of the data, etc. are performed.

Reference numeral 30 denotes a connector for exchanging data and control signals with the recording medium 100 such as a memory card or hard disk and for supplying electric power, and 34 denotes exchanging data and control signals with external devices and communication lines. With the connector, data can be communicated with an external device directly or through a communication line by using the connector 34.

When the recording medium 100 is connected to the connector 30, the image data recorded on the mounted recording medium 100 is read out, and the connector 30, the interface 26, the data communication control circuit 28, and the connector 34 are read. When the recording medium 100 is not connected to the connector 30, the image data captured and stored in the image memory 24 is read out, the memory control circuit 20, the interface 26,
It is possible to transmit to an external device via the data communication control circuit 28 and the connector 34.

The communication method using the connectors 30 and 34 is not limited to communication using electric signals, but is mechanical, optical,
Data and control signals can be transmitted and received by various methods such as acoustically.

Further, by using, for example, a SCSI interface or the like as the data communication control circuit 28 and the connector 34, it is possible to transmit / receive data or control signals to / from an external device such as a computer, a printer device, a transmission device, etc. The transmission and reception of data and control signals with external devices can be performed from any of the system control circuit 50, the recording medium 100, and the memory control circuit 20 via the interface 26, the data communication control circuit 28, and the connector 34.

The interface 26, the data communication control circuit 28, and the connector 34 may be configured to have a plurality of external devices connected to the system main body, respectively. Further, when only one external device is connected to the system main body, each may be integrally configured.

Reference numeral 40 denotes a lens control circuit for controlling the movement of the focusing lens in the photographing optical system 10, and 42.
Is an exposure control circuit for controlling the aperture mechanism and shutter mechanism in the exposure control member 12, 44 is a distance measuring circuit for measuring the distance to the subject, 46 is a photometric circuit for measuring the brightness of the subject, and 48. Is a strobe device for illuminating a subject.

Reference numeral 50 is a system control circuit for controlling the operation of the entire system, and 52 is a control data memory for storing various constant data and variable data used for control operations in the system control circuit 50 or operation programs. Reference numerals 54, 54 are display devices for displaying the operating state of the system, and are constituted by, for example, a liquid crystal display device, and are easily visible, such as around a switch group 56 described later, or the image display device 38 or the like. It is provided in either or both of the easily recognizable places in the electronic viewfinder.

The display device 54 has a gain for increasing the image pickup sensitivity of the image pickup device 14, the shutter speed value, the aperture value, the exposure correction value of the exposure control member 12, the remaining battery level of the power supply unit 82, which will be described later. Whether there is up motion,
State of storable capacity in the image memory 24, presence / absence of image data compression / expansion operation in the image compression / expansion circuit 22, number of photographed / recorded screens in the recording medium 100, photographed / recorded capacity, and remaining recordable / recordable screen. The number and the remaining capacity for recording / recording are also displayed, and the display device 54 is easily visible, for example, around the switch group 56 and the electronic viewfinder such as the image display device 38. If both are provided,
The type of content displayed by each display device and the display timing may be different from each other.

Reference numeral 56 is a switch group for instructing various operation to the system control circuit 50. The switch group 56 includes, for example, a main switch 60 for instructing the operation of the system and a two-stage release. The switch 58 is closed at the first stage, and the distance measuring / photometering switch 62 for instructing the start of the distance measuring operation by the distance measuring circuit 44 and the photometric operation by the photometric circuit 46, the second stage of the two-step release switch 58. The recording medium 10 such as a memory card or a hard disk of a captured image signal corresponding to a captured subject image
A recording start switch 64 for instructing to start recording to 0,
Single-shot shooting recording (S) mode for shooting and recording field image signals or frame image signals for one screen, continuous shooting recording for shooting and recording field image signals or frame image signals for multiple screens in succession (C) mode and a shooting / recording mode selection switch 66 for selecting one of the self-timer shooting / recording mode, the number of shooting / recording screens of image signals, discrimination between frame recording / field recording, aspect ratio of a shooting image, To select various setting conditions relating to the recording operation of the image signal, such as the pixel configuration of the captured image, the data compression / decompression method, and the data compression / decompression rate when compression / decompression processing is performed by the data compression / decompression method. Recording condition setting switch 68, an erase mode selection switch 70 for selecting the erase mode, and an erase operation start instruction switch for instructing the start of the erase operation. 72, there is electrical transmission operation start instructing switch 76 or the like for instructing electrical transmission mode selection switch 74 for selecting the electrical transmission mode of the data, the start of the data telegraphic operation.

Reference numeral 80 denotes a detection circuit for detecting a power supply state of a power supply unit 82, which will be described later, and a DC-DC converter for converting a DC power supply supplied from the power supply unit 82 into a voltage suitable for each power supply unit. , A switch for switching the circuit block to be supplied with power, etc., for detecting whether or not the power supply unit 82 is attached to the main body device, detecting the type of the power supply unit 82, and when the power supply unit 82 is composed of a battery. Is a power supply control circuit for detecting the remaining amount of the battery, controlling the DC-DC converter based on the detection result and an instruction from the system control circuit 50, and supplying necessary power to each unit for a necessary period. Reference numerals 82 and 86 denote power supply units composed of, for example, rechargeable secondary batteries, and reference numerals 84 and 86 denote connectors for connecting the main body device and the power supply unit 82.

Reference numeral 90 denotes an electrically erasable / recordable non-volatile memory such as EEP-ROM.

The system control circuit 50 controls the movement of the focusing lens in the photographing optical system 10 by the lens control circuit 40 in accordance with the measurement result of the distance measuring circuit 44, thereby controlling the photographing optical system 10 in the in-focus state, and The exposure control circuit 42 controls the exposure by the exposure control member 12 so that the subject optical image formed on the image pickup surface of the image pickup device 14 has an optimum exposure amount in accordance with the photometry result of the photometry circuit 46.

The management data recording area 10 is provided in the recording area of the recording medium 100 such as a memory card or a hard disk.
2, an information data recording area 104 and a camera-related data recording area 114 are provided, and the interface 106 is provided.
Further, it is configured such that data is externally written and data is externally read out via the connector 108.

Further, the recording medium 100 is also provided with a recording area 110 for write protect (write-inhibit) information for the management data recording area 102, the information data recording area 104, and the camera-related data recording area 114. The protect information is the interface 10
The external write protect data is written and the external write protect data is read via the connector 6 and the connector 108.

Further, the recording medium 100 includes the recording medium 10
There is also provided a medium identification information recording area 112 in which data indicating medium identification information indicating the type and characteristics of 0 is recorded, and the system control circuit 50 described later is recorded in the medium identification information recording area 112. By reading data through the interface 106 and the connector 108, the recording medium 100 connected to the connector 30.
It is configured so that it can detect what kind of data and what kind of characteristics it has from the information indicated by the read data.

The interface 106 is a CP
It is composed of a control circuit such as U and MPU, a non-volatile memory such as ROM and EEP-ROM, and a memory such as RAM, and controls the operation of the recording medium 100 such as a memory card or a hard disk based on a predetermined program. It is a thing.

The operation of the electronic still video system according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the flow charts shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 5.

2 and 3 are flowcharts showing the main operation routine of the electronic still video system shown in FIG. 1 as a whole.

In FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the system control circuit 50 is provided by mounting the power supply unit 82 on the system main body.
After initializing various flags and control variables (step S1 in the figure), the main switch 60 is in a standby state until the main switch 60 is in the on state (step S2 in the figure), and the power source is turned on. The remaining battery level in the section 82 is sufficient (step S3 in the figure), the recording medium 100 such as a memory card or a hard disk is connected to the system body (step S4 in the figure), and further connected to the system body. It is determined that the write protect data indicating the write protect has not been set in the recording area 110 of the write protect information of the recorded recording medium 100 (step S5 in the figure), and the search of the recording state in the recording medium is not completed yet. In the case (step S in the figure
6), identification information data such as the type of the recording medium in the recording medium 100, the recording capacity of the data, the characteristics of the recording medium, the camera-related data used at the time of shooting and recording the image data recorded in the recording medium 100, The recording medium related data is read from the recording medium 100, and the recording state of the recording medium 100 is searched (step S7 in the figure).

The system control circuit 50 also includes a power supply unit 8
2. If it is determined that the remaining battery level in 2 is not sufficient (step S3 in the figure), or if the recording medium 100 is not connected (step S4 in the figure), or the write protect data is set. If it is determined that the battery has not been charged (step S5 in the figure), the display device 54 indicates that the battery level is insufficient, the recording medium 100 is not connected, or the write protect data is set. After displaying a warning indicating that
Return to step S10 in the figure.

Then, the system control circuit 50 controls the identification data of the recording medium 100, the camera related data, the recording medium related data, the management data recorded in the management data recording area 102 of the recording medium 100 and the switch as described above. Based on various modes set by the group 56 and various mode settings set according to the type of the recording medium 100 connected to the system body, the number of remaining recordable screens or images recorded in the recording medium 100 or photographing Remaining recordable capacity, remaining battery level in the power supply unit 82, date, photographing operation mode, various messages, etc. are displayed on the display device 54 (step S8 in the figure), and the recording medium 100 is used in this system. It is an impossible recording medium, or there is no free area where data can be recorded in the information data recording area 104 of the recording medium 100. If step S in (Fig.
9) After the warning display indicating that the recording medium 100 is a recording medium that cannot be used in the present system or that the information data recording area 104 of the recording medium 100 has no data recordable area Then, the process returns to step S2 (step S10 in the figure).

Next, the system control circuit 50 detects the state of the distance measuring / photometric switch 62, and when the distance measuring / photometric switch 62 is in the off state, the step S25 described later is performed.
(Step S11 in the figure), and if it is in the on state, the display device 54 is set to the exposure display operation mode for displaying the exposure correction state (step S12 in the figure), and then the distance measuring circuit 44 is used. By measuring the distance to the subject and moving the focusing lens in the photographing optical system 10 by the lens control circuit 40 according to the distance measurement result in the distance measuring circuit 44, the photographing optical system 10 is focused on the subject and the photometric circuit The brightness of the subject is measured by 46, and the exposure control circuit 42 controls the exposure control member 12 so that the subject optical image formed on the image pickup surface of the image pickup device 14 has an optimum exposure amount according to the photometry result of the photometry circuit 46. The aperture mechanism and the shutter mechanism in (3) are controlled, and the exposure control member 12 determines the exposure to the subject (step S13 in the figure).

Then, the system control circuit 50 detects the state of the recording start switch 64, and the recording start switch 6
4 is turned on (step S1 in the figure)
4) After the display device 54 is set to the continuous shooting display operation mode for displaying the state of the storable capacity in the image memory 24 (step S15 in the figure), the image memory 24 has an empty area in which image data can be stored. If there is (step S16 in the figure), the image capturing operation is started, and the image data obtained by digitizing the analog image signal output from the image sensor 14 in the A / D converter 16 is stored in the image memory. The data is stored (step S17 in the figure), and the display based on the continuous shooting display operation mode showing the state of the storable capacity of the image memory 24 in the display device 54 is updated (step S18 in the figure).

A detailed description of the distance measuring operation, the photometric operation and the photographing operation will be given later.

By the way, in the step S16,
If the image memory 24 has no free space for storing image data and the shooting operation cannot be performed, step S
19, the system control circuit 50 causes the image memory 2
4 is read out and recorded in the information data recording area 104 of the recording medium 100 via the memory control circuit 20, the interface 26, the connector 30, the connector 108, and the interface 106, and
A recording operation such as recording management data corresponding to the image data in the management data recording area 102 is performed (step S19 in the figure), and the image memory 24 in the display device 54 is displayed.
After updating the display based on the continuous shooting display operation mode indicating the state of the storable capacity (step S20 in the figure), the process returns to step S14.

If the recording start switch 64 is off in step S14 and image data not recorded in the recording medium 100 remains in the image memory 24 (step S21 in the figure), the above step S19 is performed.
If the display device 54 is performing a display operation based on the continuous shooting display operation mode (step S23 in the drawing), the image memory in the display device 54 is displayed. After updating the display based on the continuous shooting display operation mode indicating the state of the storable capacity of 24 (step S24 in the figure), the process returns to step S11.

Further, in the step S21, there is no image data not recorded in the recording medium 100 in the image memory 24, or in the step S23, the display device 54 performs the display operation based on the continuous shooting display operation mode. If not, the process returns to step S11 without updating the display on the display device 54.

In step S11, distance measurement /
When the photometric switch 62 is in the off state and image data not recorded in the recording medium 100 remains in the image memory 24 (step S25 in the figure), the step S1 is performed.
A recording operation similar to that of No. 9 is performed (step S26 in the figure),
After updating the display based on the continuous shooting display operation mode indicating the state of the storable capacity of the image memory 24 in the display device 54 (step S27 in the figure), the process returns to step S11,
If there is no image data that has not been recorded in the recording medium 100 in the image memory 24 in step S25, the display device 54 can be used to record the number of screens that have been shot and recorded, the capacity that has been shot and recorded, or the shooting and recording can be performed. After setting to the shooting screen number display operation mode for displaying the number of remaining screens and the remaining capacity for shooting and recording (step S2 in the figure)
8) Then, returning to the step S2, the main switch 60 is in a standby state until it is operated.

When the display device 54 is performing a display operation based on the exposure display operation mode for displaying the exposure correction state, for example, the exposure scale is indicated by A in the figure as shown in FIG. , And the exposure value is displayed by "dots" as shown by B in the figure, and the continuous shooting display operation for displaying the state of the storable capacity of the image data in the image memory 24. When the display operation is performed based on the mode, as shown in FIG. 11, the storable range of the data in the image memory 24 is displayed as shown in C in the figure and stored in the image memory 24. By displaying the amount of the displayed image data by a "bar" having a length corresponding to the amount of data as shown by D in the figure, such a difference in the display style in the display device 54 is obtained. From the operator It is possible to easily determine which display operation mode 4 is performing the display operation among the exposure display operation mode and the continuous shooting display operation mode, and the exposure value displayed on the display device 54. Alternatively, the amount of image data stored in the image memory 24 can be instantly read.

The image memory 2 as shown in FIG.
In the same display mode as the continuous shooting display operation mode for displaying the state of the storable capacity of image data in No. 4, the power supply unit 8
The display operation based on the battery remaining amount display operation mode for displaying the state of the battery remaining amount in 2 or the data recording remaining amount display operation mode for displaying the state of the recording remaining amount of the image data in the recording medium 100. In the case of performing the display operation based on, the display device 54 performs the display operation based on the exposure display operation mode, the display operation based on the continuous shooting display operation mode, the battery remaining amount display operation mode. By performing the display operation based on the display device 54 and the display operation based on the data recording remaining amount display operation mode, the display colors on the display device 54 are different from each other. The operator can easily distinguish each display operation mode from the difference in the display color on the display device 54, and the display device 54 can be displayed based on each display operation mode. The value that is displayed, and the like can be read instantly.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart for explaining the distance measurement / photometry operation routine in step S13 of FIG. 3 in detail.

In FIG. 4, the system control circuit 50 is
When the distance measuring / photometry switch 62 is in the ON state, first, the distance measuring circuit 44 measures the distance to the object, and the system control circuit 5 measures the distance measuring data according to the distance measuring result.
0 in the memory or the memory 52 (step S41 in the figure), the brightness of the subject is measured by the photometric circuit 46, and the photometric data according to the photometric result is stored in the memory or the memory 52 in the system control circuit 50. (Step S42 in the figure).

Further, the system control circuit 50 is responsive to the result of photometry in the photometry circuit 46, and the strobe device 48
If it is necessary to make the strobe device 48 emit light, a strobe flag is set and the strobe device 4 is set.
8 starts the charging operation (step S4 in the figure).
4).

FIG. 5 is a flow chart for explaining the photographing operation routine in step S17 of FIG. 3 in detail.

In FIG. 5, the system control circuit 50 is
When the distance measuring / photometering switch 62 is in the ON state, the memory in the system control circuit 50 or the memory 52
The distance measurement data stored in is read, and the lens control circuit 40 controls the movement of the focusing lens of the photographing optical system 10 according to the read distance measurement data, thereby controlling the photographing optical system 10 to the in-focus state. (Step S51 in the figure), and the photometric data stored in the memory in the system control circuit 50 or the memory 52 is read out, and the subject imaged on the imaging surface of the image sensor 14 according to the read photometric data. The exposure amount for the subject by the shutter mechanism of the exposure control member 12 is determined so that the captured optical image has the optimum exposure amount, and the shutter mechanism of the exposure control member 12 is opened during the period corresponding to the determined exposure amount. Similarly, by driving the shutter mechanism of the exposure control member 12 by the exposure control circuit 42, a subject is photographed on the image pickup surface of the image pickup device 14. Exposing an optical image (step S52, S53 in the figure).

Further, the system control circuit 50 detects whether or not the strobe flag which is set according to the photometry result in the photometry circuit 46 is set (step S54 in the figure), and the strobe flag is set. If so, the strobe device 48 is caused to emit light (step S5 in the figure).
5).

Then, the system control circuit 50 completes the exposure time of the subject imaged optical image on the image pickup surface of the image pickup device 14 by the shutter mechanism of the exposure control member 12 set according to the determined exposure amount (see FIG. Step S5 in
6) By driving the shutter mechanism of the exposure control member 12 by the exposure control circuit 42 so that the shutter mechanism of the exposure control member 12 is closed, the optical image of the subject imaged on the imaging surface of the image sensor 14 is displayed. After the exposure operation is completed (step S57 in the figure), the charge signal accumulated in the image pickup device 14 is output, digitized in the A / D converter 16, and then output from the A / D converter 16. Image data from the image memory 2 via the memory control circuit 20.
4 and the data corresponding to the captured image for one screen is temporarily stored in the image memory 24 (step S58 in the figure).

The operation of the electronic still video system according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.

FIGS. 6 and 7 are flow charts showing the main operation routine of the electronic still video system shown in FIG. 1 as a whole.

In FIGS. 6 and 7, the power supply section 82 is mounted on the system main body, so that the system control circuit 50
After initializing various flags, control variables, etc. (step S61 in the figure), the main switch 60 is in a standby state until it is in the on state (step S62 in the figure), and the power source is turned on. The battery level in the unit 82 is sufficient (step S6 in the figure).
3), recording medium 1 such as memory card or hard disk
00 is connected to the system body (step S6 in the figure)
4) Further, it is determined that the write protect data indicating the write protect is not set in the recording area 110 of the write protect information of the recording medium 100 connected to the system body (step S65 in the figure), and the recording on the recording medium is performed. If the state has not been searched yet (step S66 in the figure), the identification information data such as the type of the recording medium in the recording medium 100, the recording capacity of the data, the characteristics of the recording medium, and the like are recorded in the recording medium 100. The camera-related data and the recording medium-related data used at the time of shooting and recording the recorded image data are read from the recording medium 100, and the recording state in the recording medium 100 is searched (step S67 in the figure).

Further, the system control circuit 50 includes a power supply unit 8
When it is determined that the remaining battery level in 2 is not sufficient (step S63 in the figure) or the recording medium 100 is not connected (step S6 in the figure)
4) or when it is determined that the write protect data is set (step S65 in the figure), the display device 54 does not have enough battery power, or the recording medium 100 is not connected. Or, after displaying a warning indicating that the write protect data is set, the process returns to step S2 (step S70 in the figure).

Then, the system control circuit 50 controls the identification data of the recording medium 100, the camera-related data, the recording-medium-related data, the management data recorded in the management-data recording area 102 of the recording medium 100, and the switch as described above. Based on various modes set by the group 56 and various mode settings set according to the type of the recording medium 100 connected to the system body, the number of remaining recordable screens or images recorded in the recording medium 100 or photographing The remaining recording capacity, the remaining battery level in the power supply unit 82, the date, the shooting operation mode, various messages, etc. are displayed on the display device 54 (step S68 in the figure), and the recording medium 100 is used in this system. It is an impossible recording medium, or there is a free area where data can be recorded in the information data recording area 104 of the recording medium 100. If you have (step S6 in FIG.
9) After the warning display indicating that the recording medium 100 is a recording medium that cannot be used in the present system or that the information data recording area 104 of the recording medium 100 has no data recordable area , And returns to step S2 (step S70 in the figure).

Next, the system control circuit 50 detects the state of the distance measuring / photometric switch 62, and when the distance measuring / photometric switch 62 is in the off state, the step S85 which will be described later is performed.
(Step S71 in the figure), if it is in the ON state, the display device 54 is set to the exposure display operation mode for displaying the exposure correction state (step S72 in the figure), and then the distance measuring circuit 44 is used. By measuring the distance to the subject and moving the focusing lens in the photographing optical system 10 by the lens control circuit 40 according to the distance measurement result in the distance measuring circuit 44, the focusing of the imaging optical system 10 is performed on the subject and the photometric circuit The brightness of the subject is measured by 46, and the exposure control circuit 42 controls the exposure control member 12 so that the subject optical image formed on the image pickup surface of the image pickup device 14 has an optimum exposure amount according to the photometry result of the photometry circuit 46. The shutter control mechanism in FIG. 4 is controlled, and the exposure control member 12 determines the exposure to the subject (step S7 in the figure).
3).

Then, the system control circuit 50 detects the state of the recording start switch 64, and the recording start switch 6
4 is turned on (step S74 in the figure), and if the image memory 24 has a free area in which image data can be stored (step S75 in the figure), the display device 54 displays the exposure correction state. After the exposure display operation mode is set (step S76 in the figure), the photographing operation is started, and the image sensor 1
The analog image signal output from the A.D.
The image data obtained by digitizing the image data is stored in the image memory 24 (step S7 in the figure).
7) In addition, in step S75, if the image memory 24 does not have a free area for storing image data and the shooting operation cannot be performed, the display device 54 is set to the state of the storage capacity of the image memory 24. After setting to the continuous shooting display operation mode shown (step S78 in the figure), step S79
Proceed to.

Further, in this embodiment, even if the display device 54 is set to the continuous shooting display operation mode indicating the state of the storable capacity of the image memory 24 in step S78, the image data is stored in the image memory 24 in step S75. If it is determined that there is an open area capable of storing, the display device 54 is set to the exposure display operation mode for displaying the exposure correction state in step S76. The description will be omitted until the recording start switch 64 is determined to be in the OFF state in step S74 as described later, and the display device 54 is set to the exposure display operation mode for displaying the exposure correction state in step S72. In step S78, the display device 54 is set to the continuous shooting display operation mode indicating the state of the storable capacity of the image memory 24. It may be configured so as to the state of the remains.

The distance measuring / photometering operation and the photographing operation are the same as those described above, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Then, in step S79, the system control circuit 50 reads the image data stored in the image memory 24, and the recording medium is read through the memory control circuit 20, the interface 26, the connector 30, the connector 108, and the interface 106. A recording operation such as recording in the information data recording area 104 of 100 and recording management data corresponding to the image data in the management data recording area 102 is performed, and the display device 54 performs the display operation based on the continuous shooting display operation mode. If it is (step S80 in the figure), the image memory 24 in the display device 54 is displayed.
After updating the display based on the continuous shooting display operation mode indicating the state of the storable capacity (step S81 in the figure), the process returns to step S74, and in step S80, the display device 54 performs the display operation based on the continuous shooting display operation mode. If not, the process returns to step S74 without updating the display on the display device 54.

If the recording start switch 64 is off in step S74 and image data not recorded on the recording medium 100 remains in the image memory 24 (step S82 in the figure), the above step S79 is performed.
If the display device 54 is performing the same recording operation (step S83 in the drawing) and the display device 54 is performing the display operation based on the continuous shooting display operation mode (step S84 in the drawing), the image memory in the display device 54 is displayed. After updating the display based on the continuous shooting display operation mode indicating the state of the storable capacity of 24 (step S85 in the figure), the process returns to step S71.

If there is no image data that has not been recorded on the recording medium 100 in step S82, or if the display device 54 is not performing a display operation based on the continuous shooting display operation mode in step S84. The process returns to step S71 without updating the display on the display device 54.

In step S71, distance measurement /
When the photometric switch 62 is in the off state, the display device 54 is set to the continuous shooting display operation mode for displaying the state of the storable capacity in the image memory 24 (step S in the figure).
86) and when image data not recorded in the recording medium 100 remains in the image memory 24 (step S87 in the figure), the same recording operation as in step S79 is performed (step S88 in the figure). After updating the display based on the continuous shooting display operation mode indicating the state of the storable capacity of the image memory 24 in the display device 54 (step S89 in the figure), the process returns to step S71, and the step S87 is performed.
If there is no image data that has not been recorded in the recording medium 100 in the image memory 24, the display device 5
After 4 is set to the shooting screen number display operation mode for displaying the number of screens that have been shot and recorded in the recording medium 100, the capacity that has been shot and recorded, or the number of screens that can be shot and recorded and the remaining capacity that can be shot and recorded ( Step S90), the process returns to step S62, and a standby state is set until the main switch 60 is operated.

The operation of the electronic still video system according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS.

FIGS. 8 and 9 are flowcharts showing the main operation routine of the electronic still video system shown in FIG. 1 as a whole.

In FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, the system control circuit 50 is provided by mounting the power supply unit 82 on the system main body.
After initializing various flags, control variables, etc. (step S91 in the figure), the main switch 60 is in a standby state until the main switch 60 is in the on state (step S92 in the figure). The battery level in the unit 82 is sufficient (step S9 in the figure).
3), recording medium 1 such as memory card or hard disk
00 is connected to the system body (step S9 in the figure)
4) Further, it is judged that the write protect data indicating the write protect is not set in the recording area 110 of the write protect information of the recording medium 100 connected to the system body (step S95 in the figure), and the recording on the recording medium is performed. If the state has not been searched yet (step S96 in the figure), identification information data such as the type of the recording medium in the recording medium 100, the recording capacity of the data, the characteristics of the recording medium, and the like are recorded in the recording medium. The camera-related data and the recording medium-related data used at the time of shooting and recording the image data are read from the recording medium 100, and the recording state in the recording medium 100 is searched (step S97 in the figure).

The system control circuit 50 also includes a power supply unit 8
When it is determined that the remaining battery level in 2 is not sufficient (step S93 in the figure) or the recording medium 100 is not connected (step S9 in the figure).
4) or when it is determined that the write protect data is set (step S95 in the figure), the display device 54 does not have enough battery power, or the recording medium 100 is not connected. , Or after displaying a warning indicating that the write protect data is set, the process returns to step S92 (step S100 in the figure).

As described above, the system control circuit 50 controls the identification information data of the recording medium 100, the camera-related data, the recording medium-related data, the management data recorded in the management data recording area 102 of the recording medium 100 and the switch. Based on various modes set by the group 56 and various mode settings set according to the type of the recording medium 100 connected to the system body, the number of remaining recordable screens or images recorded in the recording medium 100 or photographing Remaining recordable capacity, remaining battery level in the power supply unit 82, date, photographing operation mode, various messages, etc. are displayed on the display device 54 (step S98 in the figure), and the recording medium 100 is used in this system. It is an impossible recording medium, or there is a free area where data can be recorded in the information data recording area 104 of the recording medium 100. If you have (step S9 in FIG.
9) After the warning display indicating that the recording medium 100 is a recording medium that cannot be used in the present system or that the information data recording area 104 of the recording medium 100 has no data recordable area Then, the process returns to step S92 (step S100 in the figure).

Next, the system control circuit 50 detects the state of the distance measuring / photometry switch 62, and when the distance measuring / photometry switch 62 is in the off state, the step S11 to be described later.
5 (step S101 in the figure), and if it is in the on state, the display device 54 is set to the exposure display operation mode for displaying the exposure correction state (step S10 in the figure).
2), the distance to the subject is measured by the distance measuring circuit 44,
The focusing lens of the image pickup optical system 10 is moved by the lens control circuit 40 according to the distance measurement result of the distance measurement circuit 44 so that the image pickup optical system 10 is focused on the object and the photometry circuit 46 measures the brightness of the object. The exposure control circuit 42 controls the shutter mechanism in the exposure control member 12 so that the optical image of the subject formed on the image pickup surface of the image pickup device 14 has an optimum exposure amount in accordance with the photometry result of the photometry circuit 46. Member 1
The exposure of the subject is determined by 2 (step S103 in the figure).

Then, the system control circuit 50 detects the state of the recording start switch 64, and the recording start switch 6
4 is turned on (step S104 in the figure) and if the image memory 24 has a free area for storing image data (step S105 in the figure), the display device 54 displays the exposure correction state. After the exposure display operation mode is set (step S106 in the figure), the image pickup operation is started, and the image data obtained by digitizing the analog image signal output from the image pickup device 14 by the A / D converter 16 Is stored in the image memory 24 (step S10 in the figure).
7) and returns to step S104.

In step S105, when the image memory 24 does not have an open area for storing image data and the image pickup operation cannot be performed, the display device 5 is used.
4 is set to the continuous shooting display operation mode indicating the storable capacity of the image memory 24, the image data stored in the image memory 24 is read out, and the memory control circuit 20, the interface 26, the connector 30, the connector 108, and the interface 106 are set. Via the recording medium 100, recording operation is performed in the information data recording area 104 of the recording medium 100, and management data corresponding to the image data is recorded in the management data recording area 102 (step S109 in the figure). After updating the display based on the continuous shooting display operation mode indicating the state of the storable capacity of the image memory 24 in step S110 (step S110 in the figure), the process returns to step S104.

Since the distance measuring / photometric operation and the photographing operation are as described above, detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Further, in step S104, the recording start switch 64 is in the off state, the display device 54 is performing the display operation based on the continuous shooting display operation mode (step S111 in the figure), and further recorded in the image memory 24. Medium 1
If there is image data that has not been recorded in 00 (step S112 in the figure), then step S109 described above is performed.
The same recording operation is performed (step S113 in the figure),
Further, after updating the display based on the continuous shooting display operation mode indicating the state of the storable capacity of the image memory 24 in the display device 54 (step S114 in the figure), step S101.
Return to.

If the display device 54 does not perform the display operation based on the continuous shooting display operation mode in step S111, or if the display device 54 performs the display operation based on the continuous shooting display operation mode, Step S11
When there is no image data that has not been recorded in the recording medium 100 in the image memory 24 in 2, the process returns to step S101.

When the distance measuring / photometry switch 62 is off in step S101, the display device 54 is set to the continuous shooting display operation mode for displaying the state of the storable capacity in the image memory 24 (in the figure). Step S
115) and when image data not recorded in the recording medium 100 remains in the image memory 24 (step S116 in the figure), the same recording operation as in step S109 is performed (step S117 in the figure). , Display device 5
4, after updating the display based on the continuous shooting display operation mode indicating the state of the storable capacity of the image memory 24 (step S118 in the figure), the process returns to step S101 and the recording medium 10 is stored in the image memory 24 in step S116.
If there is no image data that has not been recorded in 0, the display device 54 displays the number of screens that have been shot and recorded in the recording medium 100, the capacity that has been shot and recorded, or the number of remaining screens that can be shot and recorded and the remaining number that can be shot and recorded. After switching to the shooting screen number display operation mode for displaying the capacity (step S11 in the figure)
9), returning to step S92, the main switch 60
Will be in a standby state until is operated.

In the system of the present invention, as shown in this embodiment, the recording medium 100 is not limited to a memory card or a hard disk device, but a micro DAT (digital audio tape) device or a magneto-optical disk device. Alternatively, the optical disc device may be configured by an optical disc device or the like, and the same effect as that of the present invention can be obtained.

In addition, the system of the present invention is the recording medium 10
Reference numeral 0 denotes a composite recording medium in which a memory card and a hard disk device are integrally formed. The memory card portion or the hard disk portion of the composite recording medium is removable, and the composite recording medium can be arbitrarily connected to or separated from the main body of the composite medium. Of course, the composite recording medium is not only a memory card and a hard disk device, but also a combination of two or more kinds of recording media including a micro DAT, a magneto-optical disk, an optical disk and the like. May be.

In this embodiment, the recording medium 100 such as a memory card or a hard disk device is detachable from the system body 200, and can be arbitrarily connected or separated. It may have a configuration in which more than one type of recording medium can be connected.
Two or more types of recording media are fixed to the system body, or some of the two or more types of recording media are fixed to the system body, and some of them are removable from the system body. Thus, it may be configured to be arbitrarily connected or disconnected.

As described above, in the electronic still video system of this embodiment, when the input image signal is temporarily stored in the image memory and then recorded in the recording medium, the image signal can be stored in the image memory. By configuring the amount to be displayed on the display device, when the image signal is continuously recorded on the recording medium with a simple configuration, the operator can display the image signal by the display displayed on the display device. Since it is possible to easily determine the recordable timing visually, record the necessary image signal on the recording medium at the intended timing,
It is possible to prevent erroneous recording of unnecessary image signals and improve usability.

Further, in the electronic still video system of the present embodiment, the display device for displaying the exposure correction state switches between the display showing the exposure correction state and the display of the storable amount of the image signal in the image memory. Since it is configured so that a new display device is not provided by configuring the display as described above, the system configuration can be simplified and the cost can be reduced.

[0088]

As described above, according to the present invention, the recording timing of the information signal can be easily determined when the information signal is continuously recorded on the recording medium with a simple structure. Therefore, it is possible to provide a convenient information signal processing device capable of recording a necessary information signal on a recording medium at an intended timing and preventing erroneous recording of an unnecessary information signal.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an electronic still video system to which the present invention has been applied, as an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a part of a flow chart showing a main operation routine of the electronic still video system shown in FIG. 1 as a first embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a part of a flowchart showing a main operation routine of the electronic still video system shown in FIG. 1 as a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart for explaining in detail a distance measurement / photometry operation routine in the present embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining in detail a shooting operation routine in the present embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a part of a flowchart showing a main operation routine of the electronic still video system shown in FIG. 1 as a second embodiment of the present invention.

7 is a part of a flowchart showing a main operation routine of the electronic still video system shown in FIG. 1 as a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a part of a flowchart showing a main operation routine of the electronic still video system shown in FIG. 1 as a third embodiment of the invention.

9 is a part of a flowchart showing a main operation routine of the electronic still video system shown in FIG. 1 as a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a display example when the display device 54 in the present embodiment is performing a display operation based on an exposure display operation mode.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a display example when the display device 54 in the present embodiment is performing a display operation based on a continuous shooting display operation mode.

[Explanation of Codes] 10 Shooting Optical System 12 Exposure Control Member 14 Image Sensor 16 Analog / Digital Converter 20 Memory Control Circuit 22 Image Compression / Expansion Circuit 24 Image Memory 26 Interface 28 Data Communication Control Circuit 30 Connector 34 Connector 36 Digital / Analog Converter 38 Image display device 40 Lens control circuit 42 Exposure control circuit 44 Distance measuring circuit 46 Photometric circuit 48 Strobe device 50 System control circuit 52 Control data memory 54 Display device 56 Switch group 58 Two-stage release switch 60 Main switch 62 Distance measuring / Photometric switch 64 Recording start switch 66 Photographing recording mode selection switch 68 Recording condition setting switch 70 Erase mode selection switch 72 Erase operation start instruction switch 74 Electric transmission mode selection switch 76 Electric transmission operation start Instruction switch 80 Power supply control circuit 82 Power supply unit 84 Connector 86 Connector 90 Non-volatile memory 100 Recording medium 102 Management data recording area 104 Information data recording area 106 Interface 108 Connector 110 Write protect information recording area 112 Medium identification information recording area 114 Camera-related Data recording area

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An apparatus for recording an information signal on a recording medium, comprising: temporary storage means for inputting the information signal and temporarily storing the input information signal; and storage capacity of the information signal in the temporary storage means. Display means for displaying the state of, the recording means for reading the information signal temporarily stored in the temporary storage means and recording it on a recording medium, and the recording means for storing the information signal temporarily stored in the temporary storage means. And a control means for controlling the temporary storage means and the recording means so as to record on a recording medium by the display means, and for displaying the state of the storage capacity of the information signal in the temporary storage means on the display means. Information signal processing device. 2. An apparatus for recording an information signal on a recording medium, comprising: an image pickup means for picking up an image of an object and generating an image signal corresponding to the imaged object; and an image pickup operation state of the object in the image pickup means. Image pickup operation state control means, a temporary storage means for inputting an image signal generated by the image pickup means, and temporarily storing the input image signal, and a subject of the image pickup means in the image pickup operation state control means. Display means for selectively displaying an image pickup operation state or a storage capacity state of the information signal in the temporary storage means, and a record for reading the information signal temporarily stored in the temporary storage means and recording it on a recording medium Means for controlling the temporary storage means and the recording means so that the information signal temporarily stored in the temporary storage means is recorded on the recording medium by the recording means. And a control means for selectively displaying, on the display means, the image pickup operation state of the subject in the image pickup means in the image pickup operation state control means or the state of the storage capacity of the information signal in the temporary storage means. Information signal processing device characterized by the above. 3. The control means includes a first operation instruction means for instructing the start of the image capturing operation in the image capturing operation state control means and a second operation instruction for instructing the start of the storage operation in the temporary storage means. Means for displaying the image-capturing operation state of the subject in the image-capturing means in the image-capturing operation state control means, in response to an instruction to start the image-capturing operation by the first operation instruction means,
3. The information signal processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the display means displays the state of the storage capacity of the information signal in the temporary storage means in response to an instruction to start the storage operation from the operation instruction means. 4. The control means, when the storage capacity in the temporary storage means has not reached a predetermined amount, displays the image pickup operation state of the subject in the image pickup means in the image pickup operation state control means by the display means. 3. The information signal according to claim 2, wherein when the storage capacity of the temporary storage means reaches a predetermined amount, the status of the storage capacity of the information signal of the temporary storage means is displayed by the display means. Processing equipment. 5. The first control means for instructing the start of the imaging operation in the imaging operation state control means, and the second operation for instructing the start of the storage operation in the temporary storage means. An image pickup operation state of the subject in the image pickup means in the image pickup operation state control means, and the image pickup operation state of the subject in the image pickup operation state control means is displayed by the display means in response to the instruction to start the image pickup operation by the first operation instruction means. In response to the instruction to start the storage operation by the operation instruction means,
5. The display means displays the storage capacity of the information signal in the temporary storage means.
Information signal processing device described.