METHOD FOR VOICE DATA RECORDED IN DIGITAL VIDEO CAMERA
Technical Field The present invention relates to a method for recording a voice data in a digital video camera, and more particularly, to a method for recording a voice data in a digital video camera capable of recording a motion image and a still image, in which, if a voice recording mode is selected, a recording of a video signal is blocked and only a voice data is recorded, thereby increasing a recording time of a voice data in the same memory capacity.
Background Art
In general, a digital video recorder is a common name of a next-generation video camera which converts a motion image or a still image into an electrical signal and performs electrically a signal processing such as a recoding, a playing, and the like. The digital video recorder includes an electronic still camera and a digital video camera, which process a captured image signal digitally.
The digital video camera can immediately identify the captured image. Also, since the digital video camera records the captured image data in a digital form, it is possible to perform an editing operation and a modification operation. Accordingly, the digital video camera is considered as one of useful image devices in a multi-media era. Additionally, a digital still camera digitalizes a still image and stores the digitalized still image into a memory based on an international standard for a color still image compression in a high resolution, i.e., a joint photographic coding experts group (JPEG) format, so that one still image is compressed to about 1/20 times smaller than an original image and stored into a memory without any degradation of a picture quality.
A conventional digital video recorder has a still image capture mode, a motion image capture mode and a continuous still image capture mode. At the still image capture mode, the digital video recorder performs the same operation as the typical still camera. At the motion image capture mode, the digital video recorder performs the same operation as a video camera, generally referred to as a camcorder. At the continuous still image capture mode, the digital video recorder performs an operation of the still camera continuously in a short period.
For example, an SE402 chip, i.e., an integrated device for processing a video signal, is installed in a Dual-Cam, which is provided by an EndPoints company. Typically, the digital video recorder records only the video data (the still image capture mode and the continuous still image capture mode), or records a video data and a voice data simultaneously (the motion image capture mode). Also, the captured video/voice data can be stored in a memory device that is built in the digital video recorder.
However, a capacity of the built-in memory is limited. For example, when the video data and the voice data are recorded, a data corresponding to an amount of three to five minutes can be stored in a memory that is built in the Dual-Cam. The same result occurs when only the video data is recorded. In this case, even when only the voice data is recorded, the voice data is recorded together with an unnecessary video data, thereby reducing an efficiency of the memory.
Disclosure of the Invention
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method for recoding a voice data in a digital video camera, in which, if a voice recoding mode is selected, a recoding of a video data is blocked and only a voice data is recoded, thereby increasing an amount of a voice data which is being stored into a memory.
To achieve the object of the present invention, there is provided a method for
recording a voice data using a digital video camera, wherein the digital camera includes a built-in integrated device for synthesizing a video signal and a voice signal to compress and store the synthesized video and voice data, an image sensor means and an audio processing means capable of recording a video data and a voice data, a memory means for storing the video data and the voice data, and a shutter switch for selecting the record of the video data and the voice data. The method comprises the steps of: if a voice recording mode is selected, changing the image sensor means and the audio processing means into a standby state by the integrated device, and detecting an input of the shutter switch; if the input of the shutter switch is detected, operating the image sensor means and the voice processing means by the integrated device; erasing the voice data obtained through the image sensor means, and digitalizing and compressing an analog voice data through the audio processing means by the integrated device, wherein the analog voice data is inputted via a microphone; and storing the compressed voice data into the memory means.
Brief Description of the Drawings
The above objects and other advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by describing in detail preferred embodiments thereof with reference to the attached drawings in which: FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a digital video camera in accordance with the present invention; and
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a method for recoding a voice data in accordance with the present invention.
Best Mode For Carrying Out the Invention
Now, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail
with reference to the accompanying drawings.
It is noticed that the same reference numerals indicate the same elements. Also, although detailed elements of circuits are drawn, the present invention can be achieved without specific elements by those skilled in the art. In a description of the present invention, explanations of well-known elements and functions will be omitted if it is determined that the explanations are unnecessary.
FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a digital video camera in accordance with the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a method for recording a voice data in accordance with the present invention. FIG. 1 is an example showing a structure of a Dual-Cam, as one of digital video cameras, which is manufactured in an EndPoints company. Referring to Fig. 1, a power/mode switch 101 is used to turn on/off the digital video camera or change a mode. Here, the digital video camera has a still image capture mode, a motion image capture mode, a continuous still image capture mode and a voice recording mode. A shutter switch 102 is used to capture an object using the digital video camera, or to record a voice data.
An erase-last switch 103 is used to erase a recorded data, and especially, to erase a video signal and a voice signal which are captured and recorded last.
An optional strobe on/off switch 104 and an optional strobe flash connector 105 are used to operate a flash.
A serial EEPROM 106 is a firmware in which a program for operating the digital video camera is stored.
A 12 MHz crystal 107 provides a system clock defining a data processing speed of an integrated device (SE402) 119 for processing the video signal, which will be described below.
A USB connector 108 is a connection means for transmitting/retrieving a data
to/from a data processing terminal such as a computer, or for receiving a power.
An SDRAM 109 is a memory device for storing a captured video data and a recorded voice data.
A power control unit 110 controls the power, which is provided from the data processing terminal via the USB connector 108 and provided from a battery 111, to provide the power to each parts of the system.
A first constant voltage supplying unit (unswitched 3.3 V) 112 supplies a constant voltage of, e.g., 3.3 V, to the integrated device 119.
A second constant voltage supplying unit (switched 3.3 V) 112 switches to supply a constant voltage of, e.g., 3.3 V to a CMOS imager 114, an LCD 115 and an audio CODEC 116.
The CMOS imager 114 converts an image of an object into an electrical signal.
The LCD 115 displays a current mode and an operation state of the digital video camera. The audio CODEC 116 digitalizes and simultaneously compresses an input voice signal, and demodulates the compressed digital voice signal into an analog voice signal.
A camera-active LED 117 displays a capturing state and a recording state of the digital video camera. A low-light LED 118 indicates that an adjacent luminance is lower than a reference value.
The integrated device (SE402) 119 for processing a video signal stores the video data and the voice data, which are respectively obtained by the CMOS imager 114 and the audio CODEC 116, into the SDRAM 109, and controls an entire operation of the digital video camera, such as a detection and a play of the video data and the voice data stored in the SDRAM 109.
An operation of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG. 2.
STILL IMAGE CAPTURE MODE. MOTION IMAGE CAPTURE MODE AND CONTINUOUS STILL IMAGE CAPTURE MODE
If a user operates the power/mode switch 101 to turn on the digital video camera, this signal is provided to the integrated device (SE402) 119. At this time, the power supplied through the battery 111 or the USB connector 108 is provided to the integrated device (SE402) 119 via the first constant voltage supplying unit 112 according to a control of the power control unit 110. In case where the power is provided to the integrated device (SE402) 119 via the USB connector 108, the power control unit 110 blocks the supply of the power that is provided from the battery 111. In case where the power is not provided to the integrated device (SE402) 119 from the USB connector 108, the power is provided from the battery 111 under the control of the power control unit 110.
Then, the integrated device (SE402) 119 is changed into a standby state. If the user selects one of the still image capture mode, the motion image capture mode and the continuous still image capture mode, the integrated device (SE402) 119 changes the CMOS imager 114, the LCD 115 and the audio CODEC 116 into a standby state. At this time, the second constant voltage supplying unit 113 provides a power to the CMOS imager 114, the LCD 115 and the audio CODEC 116.
Then, if the user turns on the shutter switch 102, this signal is transmitted to the integrated device (SE402) 119, and the integrated device (SE402) 119 detects the signal transmitted from the shutter switch 102 to operate the LCD 115, the CMOS imager 114 and the audio CODEC 116 according to the selected mode. The LCD 115 displays the current mode, and the CMOS imager 114 obtains the video data of the object and
transmits the obtained video data to the integrated device (SE402) 119. The audio CODEC 116 digitalizes and compresses the input voice signal and transmits the digitalized and compressed voice data to the integrated device (SE402) 119. At this time, the integrated device (SE402) 119 turns on the camera-active LED 117, thereby indicating to the user that the object is now being captured.
Thereafter, the integrated device (SE402) 119 synthesizes the video data and the voice data, which are transmitted from the CMOS imager 114 and the audio CODEC
116, and stores the synthesized video and voice data into the SDRAM 109. At this time, the video data and the voice data are recorded according to an oscillation clock, i.e., the system clock, that is generated from the 12 MHz crystal 107.
Also, if the user operates the erase-last switch 103, the integrated device (SE402) 119 detects an erase signal and erases a last-captured video data and a last- recorded voice data stored in the SDRAM 109.
Additionally, the integrated device (SE402) 119 measures an adjacent luminance of the object through a luminance measurement unit (not shown). If the adjacent luminance is lower than the reference value, the integrated device (SE402) 119 turns on the low-light LED 118. Then, the user connects the flash to the optional strobe flash connector 105 and operates the optional strobe on/off switch 104. The integrated device (SE402) 119 generates a control signal through the optional strobe flash connector 105 to thereby operate the flash.
At this time, the control operations of the integrated device (SE402) 119 are performed by the program stored in the serial EEPROM 106.
VOICE RECORDING MODE Hereinafter, a voice recording mode will be described with reference to FIG. 2.
At steps S101 and SI 02, if the user operates the power/mode switch 101 to set
up the digital video camera to the voice recording mode, the integrated device (SE402) 119 changes the CMOS imager 114, the LCD 115 and the audio CODEC 116 into a standby state. At this time, the second constant voltage supplying unit 113 provides a power to the CMOS imager 114, the LCD 115 and the audio CODEC 116. At steps SI 03 and SI 04, if the user turns on the shutter switch 102, this signal is transmitted to the integrated device (SE402) 119, and the integrated device (SE402) 119 detects the signal transmitted from the shutter switch 102 to operate the LCD 115, the CMOS imager 114 and the audio CODEC 116. The LCD 115 displays the current mode, and the CMOS imager 114 obtains the video data of the object and transmits the obtained video data to the integrated device (SE402) 119. The audio CODEC 116 digitalizes and compresses the input voice signal and transmits the digitalized and compressed voice data to the integrated device (SE402) 119. At this time, the integrated device (SE402) 119 turns on the camera-active LED 117, thereby indicating to the user that the object is now being captured. At step S 105 and S 106, the integrated device (SE402) 119 blocks the video data transmitted from the CMOS imager 114, and stores only the voice data, which is transmitted from the audio CODEC 116, into the SDRAM 109. At this time, the voice data are recorded according to the oscillation clock generated from the 12 MHz crystal 107. Accordingly, the SDRAM 119 stores only the voice data, and a recordable time of the voice data is increased.
Industrial Applicability
As mentioned above, when the voice recording mode added to the digital video camera is selected, the video data is blocked and only the voice data is recorded so that a large amount of voice data is recordable compared with a conventional memory
having the same capacity, thereby improving an efficiency of the memory.
While the present invention has been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations could be made hereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.