JP3119397B2 - Image signal recording device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image signal recording apparatus for recording an image signal on a recording medium.

[0002]

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

The above-mentioned electronic still video system is designed to record an image signal or an audio signal on a recording track on a magnetic disk in the form of an analog signal. D-RAM, S-RAM, EEP-RO
M (RAM) using semiconductor memory elements such as M
A new system that records data on a memory card having a built-in am Access Memory has also emerged.

The above-mentioned 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 that can be mounted on the card. At present, it cannot be used as a recording medium having a large storage capacity because it is expensive.

On the other hand, a hard disk device is known to be a recording medium having a larger storage capacity than the memory card, and a recent hard disk device has a main unit similar to the memory card. By using the hard disk device as a recording medium in an electronic still video system, a system having a large storage capacity can be configured at a relatively low cost.

There are various types of the hard disk devices according to storage capacity, weight, power consumption, recording speed, and the like. If a system is configured so that these plural types of hard disk devices can be mounted, various types of users can be provided. It is possible to respond to requests.

[0007] The above-described system is used to record a digitized image signal (ie, image data) or audio signal (ie, audio data) on a recording medium such as a memory card or a hard disk. After the image data or the audio data is once stored in the image memory, the image data or the audio data stored in the image memory is read out and recorded on a recording medium.
During the shooting and recording operation, if the storage capacity of the image memory becomes full due to the image data or audio data once stored in the image memory, the shooting and recording operation is temporarily stopped, and the image stored in the image memory is temporarily stopped. By transferring the data or audio data to the recording medium and recording the image data or the audio data in the storage capacity of the image memory, the shooting and recording operation can be resumed when the storage capacity becomes available. It is configured to be.

[0008]

However, in the electronic still camera configured as described above, whether the storage capacity of the image memory is full and the shooting operation is interrupted, or the storage capacity of the image memory is not sufficient. The operator cannot determine whether the camera is in a state in which data can be stored and the recording operation can be performed.For example, the operator operates the recording start instruction switch to continue the recording operation. However, the operator does not intend to perform the shooting operation, or if the operator keeps operating the recording start instruction switch while the shooting and recording operation is suspended, the operator intends. There is an operational inconvenience that the shooting and recording operation is restarted at an unintended timing, and unintended image data and audio data are recorded on the recording medium.
In particular, it is difficult for the operator to determine the start, continuation, and end timings of the shooting recording operation in the continuous shooting recording mode,
There is a problem that a necessary photographing / recording operation may be missed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and has a simple configuration which enables the image signal recording start or recording end timing to be continuously recorded on a recording medium. Provided is an easy-to-use image signal recording apparatus that can easily determine and record a necessary image signal on a recording medium at an intended timing and prevent an unnecessary image signal from being erroneously recorded. With the goal.

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An image signal recording apparatus according to the present invention is an apparatus for recording an image signal on a recording medium. The image pickup means captures a subject and generates an image signal corresponding to the captured subject. And start of the imaging operation by the imaging means
First switch means for instructing the imaging operation, an imaging operation state control means for controlling an imaging operation state of a subject in the imaging means, and an image signal generated by the imaging means, and an input image signal. Temporary storage means for temporarily storing, and starting operation of storing image signals in the temporary storage means
A second switch means for instructing an operation, and selectively displaying whether the imaging operation state of the subject in the imaging means in the imaging operation state control means or the storage capacity of the image signal in the temporary storage means. Display means, and read out the image signal temporarily stored in the temporary storage means,
Recording means for recording on a recording medium; controlling the temporary storage means and the recording means so that the image signal temporarily stored in the temporary storage means is recorded on the recording medium by the recording means; wherein either imaging operation state of the subject in the imaging means in the control means, to have a control means for selectively displaying whether the state of the storage capacity of the image signal by the display means in the temporary storage means, said system
The control means starts an imaging operation by the first switch means.
In response to the instruction, the display means displays the imaging operation state of the subject.
Is displayed, and the storage operation by the second switch means is opened.
In response to the start instruction, the display means
Display the state of the storage capacity of the image signal in the second
Switch means and the first switch means
When each instruction is lost, the primary storage means
If unrecorded image signals remain on the recording medium,
Ru Monodea to maintain the status display of capacity. In addition, the present invention
The image signal recording device is configured to capture an image of a subject, generate an image signal corresponding to the captured subject, an imaging operation state control unit that controls an imaging operation state of the subject in the imaging unit, and A temporary storage unit for inputting an image signal to be generated and temporarily storing the input image signal; and an imaging operation state of a subject in the imaging unit in the imaging operation state control unit, or an image signal in the temporary storage unit. Display means for selectively displaying the state of the storage capacity of the storage means, a recording means for reading out the image signal temporarily stored in the temporary storage means and recording it on a recording medium, and temporarily storing the image signal in the temporary storage means. Controlling the temporary storage means and the recording means so that the image signal is recorded on a recording medium by the recording means, and storing the image signals in the temporary storage means. When the amount has not reached the predetermined amount, the imaging operation state of the subject in the imaging unit in the imaging operation state control unit is displayed on the display unit, and when the storage capacity in the temporary storage unit has reached the predetermined amount. And control means for causing the display means to display the state of the storage capacity of the image signal in the temporary storage means.

[0011]

[0012]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to embodiments of the present invention.

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

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 denotes a photographing optical system that is photographed by a photographing lens, 12 denotes an exposure control member constituted by an aperture mechanism, a shutter mechanism, and the like. An image sensor 16 converts an optical image to be formed into an image signal as an electrical signal. An analog / digital (A / D) converter 16 digitizes an analog image signal output from the image sensor 14 and outputs the digital image signal as image data. A clock 18 supplies various signals such as a clock signal and a control signal to the image sensor 14, the A / D converter 16, a memory control circuit 20 described later, and a digital / analog (D / A) converter 36 described later. 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.

Reference numeral 22 denotes an adaptive discrete cosine transform (ADCT).
An image compression / decompression circuit for compressing or decompressing image data by a method for compressing / decompressing information, such as information, etc., and an image memory 24.

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

When the image data is compressed, the image data written in the image memory 24 is read out as described above, and the read out image data is compressed by the image compression / decompression circuit 22 and then recompressed. When writing to the image memory 24 and expanding the image data, the compressed image data stored in the image memory 24 is read, and the read image data is expanded by the image compression / expansion circuit 22. Thereafter, the image data is written into the image memory 24 again.

Numeral 36 denotes a D / A converter, and numeral 38 denotes an image display device such as an electronic viewfinder, for example, which converts image data stored in the image memory 24 into a memory control circuit 20.
The D / A converter 36 converts the read image data into an analog signal so that an image signal formed can be visualized and displayed.

In this embodiment, the D / A converter 36 and the image display device 38 are configured to be built in the system main body. However, the D / A converter 36 and the image display device 38 are connected to the system main body. The image display device 38 may be configured as a separate device so as to be detachable from the system main body.
It may be configured such that different types such as high resolution or low resolution, color or black and white can be arbitrarily replaced.

Reference numeral 26 denotes an interface with a recording medium 100 such as a memory card or a hard disk, which will be described later, or an external device. Reference numeral 28 denotes a data communication control circuit for controlling data communication with the external device or a communication line. In accordance with the protocol of a connected external device or communication line, data conversion or inverse conversion, data modulation or demodulation, and the like are performed.

Reference numeral 30 denotes a connector for exchanging data and control signals with the recording medium 100 such as a memory card and a hard disk and supplying power, and a reference numeral 34 for exchanging data and control signals with an external device or a communication line. By using the connector 34, data communication can be performed with an external device directly or via a communication line.

When the recording medium 100 is connected to the connector 30, 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 is shot and the image data stored in the image memory 24 is read out. 26,
The data can be transmitted to an external device via the data communication control circuit 28 and the connector 34.

The communication method using the connectors 30 and 34 includes not only communication using electric signals but also mechanical and optical communication.
It is configured so that data and control signals can be transmitted and received by various methods such as acoustic.

By using, for example, a SCSI interface or the like as the data communication control circuit 28 and the connector 34, data and control signals can be transmitted and received to and from a computer, a printer device, a transmission device, and the like as external devices. Transmission and reception of data and control signals with external devices can be performed from 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 in case there are many external devices connected to the system body. 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;
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, 48 Is a strobe device for illuminating a subject.

Reference numeral 50 denotes a system control circuit for controlling the operation of the entire system. Reference numeral 52 denotes a control data memory for storing various constant data, variable data, operation programs, and the like used for the control operation in the system control circuit 50. , 54 are display devices for displaying the operation state of the system and the like, and are constituted by, for example, a liquid crystal display device. It is provided at one or both of the places easily visible in the electronic viewfinder.

The display device 54 has a remaining battery power in a power supply unit 82, a shutter speed value, an aperture value, an exposure correction value in the exposure control member 12, and a gain for increasing the imaging sensitivity of the imaging device 14. Up operation,
The state of the storable capacity in the image memory 24, the presence / absence of image data compression / expansion operations in the image compression / expansion circuit 22, the number of captured / recorded screens and the captured / recorded capacity in the recording medium 100, and the remaining screens available for photography The number and the remaining capacity that can be recorded are also displayed. The display device 54 is easily visible, for example, around the switch group 56, and the electronic display finder such as the image display device 38 is easily visible. If both are provided,
The type of content displayed by each display device and the timing of display may differ from each other.

Reference numeral 56 denotes a switch group for issuing various operation instructions to the system control circuit 50. The switch group 56 includes, for example, a main switch 60 for instructing the system to be operable and a two-stage release. It is closed at the first stage of the switch 58 and is a distance measuring / photometric switch 62 for instructing the start of a distance measuring operation by the distance measuring circuit 44 and a photometric operation by the photometric circuit 46, and a second stage of the two-stage release switch 58 And a recording medium 10 such as a memory card or a hard disk of a captured image signal corresponding to the captured subject image.
Recording start switch 64 for instructing the start of recording to 0,
Single-shot shooting / recording (S) mode for shooting / recording a field image signal or a frame image signal for one screen, continuous shooting / recording for continuously shooting a field image signal or a frame image signal for a plurality of screens (C) a photographing / recording mode selection switch 66 for selecting one of the mode and the self-timer photographing / recording mode, the number of image signal recording screens, the distinction between frame recording / field recording, the aspect ratio of the captured image, To select various setting conditions related to the image signal recording operation, such as the pixel configuration of the captured image, the data compression / expansion method, and the data compression / expansion rate when the data compression / expansion processing is performed using the data compression / expansion method. Record condition setting switch 68, an erase mode selection switch 70 for selecting an erase mode, and an erase operation start instruction switch for instructing the start of an 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 described later, and a DC-DC converter for converting DC power supplied from the power supply unit 82 into a voltage suitable for each unit to which power is supplied. , A switch for switching the circuit block to be supplied with power, and the like, and detects whether or not the power supply unit 82 is attached to the main body device, detects the type of the power supply unit 82, and is used when the power supply unit 82 is formed of a battery. Is a power 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 required period. , 82 are, for example, power supply units constituted by rechargeable secondary batteries, and 84, 86 are connectors for connecting the main unit and the power supply unit 82.

Numeral 90 denotes an electrically erasable / recordable nonvolatile memory such as an 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 according to the measurement result of the distance measuring circuit 44, thereby controlling the photographing optical system 10 to be in focus. In accordance with the photometry result in the photometry circuit 46, the exposure control circuit 12 controls the exposure by the exposure control member 12 so that the subject optical image formed on the imaging surface of the imaging device 14 has the optimal exposure amount.

A recording area of a recording medium 100 such as a memory card or a hard disk has a management data recording area 10.
2, an information data recording area 104 and a camera-related data recording area 114 are provided.
In addition, data writing and data reading from the outside are performed via the connector 108.

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

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 representing the type, characteristics, etc. of 0 is recorded. A system control circuit 50 described later is recorded in the medium identification information recording area 112. By reading the data through the interface 106 and the connector 108, the recording medium 100 connected to the connector 30 is read.
Is configured to be able to detect what kind and what kind of characteristics it has from 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 nonvolatile 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. Things.

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

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

2 and 3, when the power supply unit 82 is mounted on the system main body, the system control circuit 50 is turned on.
After initializing various flags and control variables (step S1 in the figure), the apparatus enters a standby state until the main switch 60 is turned on, and the main switch 60 is turned on (step S2 in the figure). When the remaining amount of the battery in the unit 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 protection data indicating the write protection is not set in the recording area 110 of the write protection information of the recording medium 100 (step S5 in the figure), and the search of the recording state in the recording medium has not been completed yet. (Step S in the figure)
6), identification information data such as the type of recording medium, data recording capacity, and characteristics of the recording medium in the recording medium 100, camera-related data used when photographing and recording image data recorded on the recording medium 100; The recording medium-related data is read from the recording medium 100, and the recording state on the recording medium 100 is searched (step S7 in the figure).

The system control circuit 50 includes a power supply unit 8
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 recording has been performed (step S5 in the figure), the display device 54 indicates that the remaining battery level is insufficient, that the recording medium 100 is not connected, or that the write protection data is set. After a warning display indicating that the
(Step S10 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, and the management data and switches recorded in the management data recording area 102 of the recording medium 100. Based on the various modes set by the group 56 and the various mode settings set according to the type of the recording medium 100 connected to the system main body, the number of remaining recordable screens or images recorded on the recording medium 100 The remaining recordable capacity, the remaining amount of the battery in the power supply unit 82, the date, the photographing operation mode, various messages, and the like are displayed on the display device 54 (step S8 in the figure), and the recording medium 100 is used in the present system. There is no available recording medium, or there is no free area for recording data in the information data recording area 104 of the recording medium 100. If step S in (Fig.
9) After a warning display indicating that the recording medium 100 is a recording medium that cannot be used by the present system or that there is no data recording area in the information data recording area 104 of the recording medium 100 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 if the distance measuring / photometric switch 62 is in the OFF state, a step S25 described later.
(Step S11 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 S12 in the figure). 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 focus of the photographing optical system 10 is adjusted to the subject, and The exposure control circuit 42 measures the brightness of the subject by the exposure control circuit 42 so that the subject optical image formed on the image pickup surface of the image pickup device 14 has the optimum exposure amount in accordance with the photometry result in the photometry circuit 46. , 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
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), there is no free space in the image memory 24 where image data can be stored. In some cases (step S16 in the figure), the photographing operation is started, and the image data obtained by digitizing the analog image signal output from the image sensor 14 by the A / D converter 16 is stored in the image memory. The storage is performed (step S17 in the figure), and further, the display based on the continuous shooting display operation mode indicating the state of the storable capacity of the image memory 24 on the display device 54 is updated (step S18 in the figure).

The details of the distance measuring operation, the photometric operation and the photographing operation will be described later.

By the way, in the step S16,
If there is no free space in the image memory 24 where image data can be stored and the photographing operation cannot be performed, the process proceeds to step S
19, the system control circuit 50 determines that 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.
A recording operation of recording the 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
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 turned off in step S14 and image data not recorded on the recording medium 100 remains in the image memory 24 (step S21 in the figure), step S19 is performed.
(Step S22 in the figure), and when the display device 54 is performing a display operation based on the continuous shooting display operation mode (step S23 in the figure), 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 storage capacity of 24 (step S24 in the figure), the process returns to step S11.

In step S21, if there is no image data remaining on the recording medium 100 in the image memory 24, or in step S23, the display device 54 performs a 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, the distance measurement
If the photometric switch 62 is in the off state and image data not recorded on the recording medium 100 remains in the image memory 24 (step S25 in the figure), step S1 is performed.
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 on the display device 54 (step S27 in the figure), the process returns to step S11.
If no image data that has not been recorded on the recording medium 100 remains in the image memory 24 in the step S25, the display device 54 changes the number of photographed and recorded screens or the recorded and recorded capacity on the recording medium 100, or the photographing and recording capacity. After setting the shooting screen number display operation mode to display the remaining number of screens and the remaining capacity for shooting and recording (step S2 in the figure)
8), the process returns to step S2, and waits until the main switch 60 is operated.

When the display device 54 is performing a display operation based on, for example, an exposure display operation mode for displaying an exposure correction state, the display scale is set to A as shown in FIG. , The exposure value is indicated by "dots" as indicated by B in the figure, and a 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, the storable range of the data in the image memory 24 is displayed as shown in FIG. 11 as shown in FIG. By displaying the amount of the displayed image data with a “bar” having a length corresponding to the amount of data as indicated by D in the figure, such a difference in the display style of the display device 54 can be obtained. From the display device 4 can easily determine whether the display operation is being performed based on the display operation mode of the exposure display operation mode or the continuous shooting display operation mode, and the exposure value displayed on the display device 54 can be easily determined. Alternatively, the amount of image data stored in the image memory 24 can be read instantaneously.

An image memory 2 as shown in FIG.
The power supply unit 8 has the same display format as the continuous shooting display operation mode for displaying the state of the storage capacity of the image data in FIG.
2 to a display operation based on the remaining battery level display operation mode for displaying the state of the remaining battery level, or a data recording remaining level display operation mode for displaying the remaining recording state of image data on the recording medium 100. When the display device 54 performs the display operation based on the exposure display operation mode, the display device 54 performs the display operation based on the continuous shooting display operation mode, the battery remaining amount display operation mode When the display operation is performed based on the display device 54, the display colors on the display device 54 are different from each other when the display operation is performed based on the data recording remaining amount display operation mode. The operator can easily determine each display operation mode from the difference in the display color on the display device 54 and, based on each display operation mode, change the display operation mode. The value that is displayed, and the like can be read instantly.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining in detail the distance measuring / photometric operation routine in step S13 of FIG.

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

Further, the system control circuit 50 controls the flash device 48 in accordance with the photometric result of the photometric circuit 46.
It is determined whether or not it is necessary to emit light (step S43 in the figure). If it is necessary to make the flash device 48 emit light, a flash flag is set and the flash device 4 is set.
8 is started (step S4 in the figure).
4).

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

In FIG. 5, the system control circuit 50 comprises:
If the distance measurement / photometry switch 62 is in the ON state, the memory or the memory 52 in the system control circuit 50 is
The lens control circuit 40 controls the movement of the focusing lens of the photographing optical system 10 in accordance with the read distance measurement data, thereby controlling the photographing optical system 10 to be in a focused state. (Step S51 in the figure) Then, the photometric data stored in the memory or the memory 52 in the system control circuit 50 is read, and the subject formed on the imaging surface of the image sensor 14 in accordance with the read photometric data. The exposure amount of the exposure control member 12 to the subject is determined by the shutter mechanism of the exposure control member 12 so that the photographed optical image has the optimum exposure amount, and the shutter mechanism of the exposure control member 12 is opened during a period corresponding to the determined exposure amount. By driving the shutter mechanism of the exposure control member 12 by the exposure control circuit 42, the subject Exposing an optical image (step S52, S53 in the figure).

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

Then, the system control circuit 50 terminates the exposure time of the subject 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 (FIG. Step S5 during
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 image on the imaging surface of the image sensor 14 is obtained. After the exposure operation is completed (step S57 in the figure), the charge signal stored in the image sensor 14 is output, digitized by the A / D converter 16, and output from the A / D converter 16. Data stored in the image memory 2 via the memory control circuit 20.
4 and temporarily stores data corresponding to the captured image of one screen (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.

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

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

The system control circuit 50 includes a power supply unit 8
2 is determined to be insufficient (step S63 in the figure) or when the recording medium 100 is determined not to be connected (step S6 in the figure).
4) Alternatively, if it is determined that the write protection data is set (step S65 in the figure), the display device 54 indicates that the remaining battery power is not sufficient, or that the recording medium 100 is not connected. Alternatively, after displaying a warning indicating that the write protect data is set, the process returns to step S2 (step S70 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, and the management data and switches recorded in the management data recording area 102 of the recording medium 100. Based on the various modes set by the group 56 and the various mode settings set according to the type of the recording medium 100 connected to the system main body, the number of remaining recordable screens or images recorded on the recording medium 100 The remaining recordable capacity, the remaining battery power in the power supply unit 82, the date, the shooting operation mode, various messages, and the like are displayed on the display device 54 (step S68 in the figure), and the recording medium 100 is used in the present system. An unusable recording medium or an empty 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 a warning display indicating that the recording medium 100 is a recording medium that cannot be used by the present system or that there is no data recording area in the information data recording area 104 of the recording medium 100 The process 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. If the distance measuring / photometric switch 62 is off, the system control circuit 50 executes step S85 described later.
(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). 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 focus of the imaging optical system 10 is adjusted to the subject and The exposure control circuit 42 measures the brightness of the subject by the exposure control circuit 42 so that the subject optical image formed on the image pickup surface of the image pickup device 14 has the optimum exposure amount in accordance with the photometry result in the photometry circuit 46. 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
4 is turned on (step S74 in the figure), and if there is an empty area in the image memory 24 where image data can be stored (step S75 in the figure), the display device 54 is displayed to display the exposure correction state. (Step S76 in the figure), the photographing operation is started, and the image pickup device 1
A / D converter 16 converts the analog image signal output from
Is stored in the image memory 24 (step S7 in the figure).
7) In step S75, if there is no free space in the image memory 24 for storing image data and the photographing operation cannot be performed, the display device 54 changes the state of the storage capacity of the image memory 24. After setting the continuous shooting display operation mode shown (step S78 in the figure), step S79 is performed.
Proceed to.

In this embodiment, even if the display device 54 is set to the continuous shooting display operation mode indicating the state of the storage capacity of the image memory 24 in step S78, the image data is stored in the image memory 24 in step S75. When it is determined that there is an open area in which can be stored, the display device 54 is set to the exposure display operation mode for displaying the exposure correction state in step S76. Omitted, as described later, until the recording start switch 64 is determined to be in the off state in the step S74 and the display device 54 is set to the exposure display operation mode for displaying the exposure correction state in the step S72. In step S78, the display device 54 sets 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.

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

Then, in step S79, the system control circuit 50 reads the image data stored in the image memory 24, and via the memory control circuit 20, the interface 26, the connector 30, the connector 108, and the interface 106, The recording operation is performed such that the information data is recorded in the information data recording area 104 and the management data corresponding to the image data is recorded in the management data recording area 102, and the display device 54 performs the display operation based on the continuous shooting display operation mode. (Step S80 in the figure), the image memory 24 in the display device 54
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 performed, the process returns to step S74 without updating the display on the display device 54.

If the recording start switch 64 is turned 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-mentioned step S79 is performed.
(Step S83 in the figure), and when the display device 54 is performing a display operation based on the continuous shooting display mode (step S84 in the diagram), 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.

When there is no image data remaining on the recording medium 100 in step S82, or when the display device 54 is not performing a display operation based on the continuous shooting display operation mode in step S84. Then, the process returns to step S71 without updating the display on the display device 54.

In step S71, the 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) If image data that has not been recorded on the recording medium 100 remains in the image memory 24 (step S87 in the figure), the same recording operation as that 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 returns to step S87.
In the case where no image data not recorded on the recording medium 100 remains in the image memory 24 in
4 is a photographing screen number display operation mode for displaying the number of photographed and recorded screens and photographed and recorded capacity in the recording medium 100, or the number of remaining photographable and recordable screens and the remaining photographable and recordable capacity (in FIG. Step S90), the process returns to the step S62, and the apparatus enters a standby state 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.

8 and 9, when the power supply unit 82 is mounted on the system main body, the system control circuit 50 is turned on.
After initializing various flags and control variables (step S91 in the figure), the apparatus enters a standby state until the main switch 60 is turned on, and the main switch 60 is turned on (step S92 in the figure). The remaining amount of the battery in the unit 82 is in a sufficient state (step S9 in the figure).
3), a recording medium 1 such as a memory card or a hard disk
00 is connected to the system body (step S9 in the figure).
4) Further, it is determined that the write protection data indicating the write protection is not set in the recording area 110 of the write protection information of the recording medium 100 connected to the system main body (step S95 in the figure), and the recording on the recording medium is performed. If the state search has not been completed yet (step S96 in the figure), identification information data such as the type of the recording medium, the recording capacity of the data, and the characteristics of the recording medium in the recording medium 100, and the identification information data recorded on 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 of the recording medium 100 is searched (step S97 in the figure).

The system control circuit 50 includes a power supply unit 8
2 when it is determined that the remaining battery level is not sufficient (step S93 in the figure), or when it is determined that the recording medium 100 is not connected (step S9 in the figure).
4) Alternatively, if it is determined that the write protection data is set (step S95 in the figure), the display device 54 indicates that the remaining battery power is not sufficient, or that the recording medium 100 is not connected. Alternatively, after displaying a warning indicating that the write protection 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, and the management data and switches recorded in the management data recording area 102 of the recording medium 100. Based on the various modes set by the group 56 and the various mode settings set according to the type of the recording medium 100 connected to the system main body, the number of remaining recordable screens or images recorded on the recording medium 100 The remaining recordable capacity, the remaining battery power in the power supply unit 82, the date, the shooting operation mode, various messages, and the like are displayed on the display device 54 (step S98 in the figure), and the recording medium 100 is used in the present system. An unusable recording medium or an empty 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 a warning display indicating that the recording medium 100 is a recording medium that cannot be used by the present system or that there is no data recording area in the information data recording area 104 of the recording medium 100 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 / photometric switch 62, and if the distance measuring / photometric switch 62 is in the OFF state, a step S11 described later.
5 (step S101 in the figure). If the display device 54 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,
By moving the focusing lens in the imaging optical system 10 by the lens control circuit 40 according to the distance measurement result in the distance measurement circuit 44, the focus of the imaging optical system 10 is focused on the subject, and the brightness of the subject is measured by the photometry circuit 46. The exposure control circuit 42 controls the shutter mechanism of the exposure control member 12 so that the subject optical image formed on the imaging surface of the image sensor 14 has an optimal exposure amount according to the photometry result of the photometry circuit 46. Member 1
Exposure to 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
4 is turned on (step S104 in the figure), and if there is an empty area in the image memory 24 where image data can be stored (step S105 in the figure), the display device 54 is used to display the exposure correction state. After the exposure display operation mode is set (step S106 in the figure), the photographing operation is started, and the analog image signal output from the image sensor 14 is digitized by the A / D converter 16 to obtain image data. Is stored in the image memory 24 (step S10 in the figure).
7), and return to step S104.

If it is determined in step S105 that there is no open area in the image memory 24 where image data can be stored and that an imaging operation cannot be performed, the display device 5
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, and the memory control circuit 20, the interface 26, the connector 30, the connector 108, and the interface 106 are read. Then, the recording operation is performed such that the information data is recorded in the information data recording area 104 of the recording medium 100 and the 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 (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 will be omitted.

In step S104, the recording start switch 64 is turned off, and the display device 54 performs a display operation based on the continuous shooting display operation mode (step S111 in the figure). Medium 1
If image data not recorded at 00 remains (step S112 in the figure), the above-described step S109 is performed.
The same recording operation as described above 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 on the display device 54 (step S114 in the figure), step S101 is performed.
Return to

In step S111, if the display device 54 is not performing a display operation based on the continuous shooting display operation mode, or if the display device 54 is performing a display operation based on the continuous shooting display operation mode, Step S11
If the image data not recorded on the recording medium 100 does not remain in the image memory 24 in 2, the process returns to step S101.

When the distance measurement / 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 FIG. Step S
115) If image data not recorded on the recording medium 100 remains in the image memory 24 (step S116 in the figure), the same recording operation as that in the step S109 is performed (step S117 in the figure). , Display device 5
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 4 (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 is not recorded in the recording medium 100, the display device 54 displays the number of captured images on the recording medium 100, the number of captured images on the recording medium 100, or the number of remaining images that can be captured and the number of remaining images that can be captured. After setting 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
It is in a standby state until is operated.

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

Further, the system according to the present invention provides a 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 composite recording medium has a detachable memory card unit or a hard disk unit, and can be arbitrarily connected to or separated from the composite medium main body. The composite recording medium may, of course, be a combination of two or more types of recording media including a micro DAT, a magneto-optical disk, and an optical disk, as well as a memory card and a hard disk device. May be.

In the present embodiment, the recording medium 100 such as a memory card or a hard disk device is described as being detachable from the system main body 200 and can be arbitrarily connected or separated. A configuration in which more than two types of recording media can be connected may be used.
A configuration in which two or more types of recording media are fixed to the system main unit, or a part of two or more types of recording media is fixed to the system main unit and a part is detachable from the system main unit However, 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 on the recording medium, the image signal can be stored in the image memory. When the image signal is continuously recorded on the recording medium with a simple configuration by configuring the amount to be displayed on the display device, the operator can display the image signal on the display device. Since it is possible to easily determine the recordable timing visually, the necessary image signals are recorded on the recording medium at the intended timing,
Unnecessary erroneous recording of image signals can be prevented, and usability can be improved.

In the electronic still video system according to the present embodiment, the display for displaying the exposure correction state is switched between the display indicating the exposure correction state and the display of the storable amount of the image signal in the image memory. Since the configuration is such that a new display device is not required, the configuration of the system can be simplified and the cost can be reduced.

[0088]

As described above, according to the present invention, when recording an image signal continuously on a recording medium, the recording start or the recording end timing of the image signal can be easily configured with a simple configuration. It is possible to provide an easy-to-use image signal recording apparatus capable of recording necessary image signals on a recording medium at intended timing and preventing unnecessary image signals from being erroneously recorded. I can do it. In addition, even in the case of re-shooting after the operation for shooting is completed, the status of the storage capacity is displayed if unrecorded images remain in the temporary storage means, so that it is easy to determine whether or not shooting is possible. You can know.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 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. 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 flowchart for explaining in detail a distance measurement / photometry operation routine in the present embodiment.

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

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.

FIG. 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 present invention.

FIG. 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 illustrating a display example when the display device according to the present embodiment performs a display operation based on an exposure display operation mode.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a display example in a case where the display device according to the present embodiment performs a display operation based on a continuous shooting display operation mode.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 photographing optical system 12 exposure control member 14 image pickup device 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 measurement circuit 46 Photometry 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 measurement / photometry switch 64 Start recording Switch 66 Photographing / recording mode selection switch 68 Recording condition setting switch 70 Erasure mode selection switch 72 Erasure operation start instruction switch 74 Electric transmission mode selection switch 76 Electric transmission operation instruction switch 8 0 power control circuit 82 power supply section 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 protection information recording area 112 medium identification information recording area 114 camera related data recording region

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04N 5/907 G11B 20/00 H04N 5/225 H04N 5/781

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. An apparatus for recording an image signal on a recording medium, comprising: an imaging unit configured to capture an image of a subject and generate an image signal corresponding to the captured subject; and an instruction to start an imaging operation by the imaging unit. First
Switch means, imaging operation state control means for controlling an imaging operation state of a subject in the imaging means, and a temporary storage for inputting an image signal generated by the imaging means and temporarily storing the input image signal Means for instructing the start of the operation of storing the image signal in the temporary storage means
A second switch means for displaying, and a display for selectively displaying whether the imaging operation state of the subject in the imaging means in the imaging operation state control means or the state of the storage capacity of the image signal in the temporary storage means. Means for reading an image signal temporarily stored in the temporary storage means and recording the image signal on a recording medium; and recording the image signal temporarily stored in the temporary storage means on the recording medium by the recording means. In addition to controlling the temporary storage means and the recording means, the display operation means controls whether the imaging operation state of the subject in the imaging means in the imaging operation state control means or the storage capacity of the image signal in the temporary storage means. It has a control means for selectively displaying, the control unit, imaging dynamic by the first switching means
In response to an instruction to start the operation, the display means displays a moving image of the subject.
The operation status is displayed and stored by the second switch means.
The temporary storage in the display means in response to an instruction to start operation
Display the state of the storage capacity of the image signal in the means,
The second switch means and the first switch means
The primary storage means when each instruction is lost.
If an unrecorded image signal remains on the recording medium,
An image signal recording apparatus characterized by maintaining a state display of a storage capacity . 2. An apparatus for recording an image signal on a recording medium, comprising: an imaging unit configured to capture an image of a subject and generate an image signal corresponding to the captured subject; and controlling an imaging operation state of the subject in the imaging unit. Imaging operation state control means, an image signal generated by the imaging means is input, a temporary storage means for temporarily storing the input image signal, and an object of the imaging means in the imaging means in the imaging operation state control means. Display means for selectively displaying an imaging operation state or a state of a storage capacity of an image signal in the temporary storage means; and a recording means for reading out the image 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 such that the image signal temporarily stored in the temporary storage means is recorded on a recording medium by the recording means. When the storage capacity of the temporary storage unit has not reached a predetermined amount, the imaging operation state control unit causes the display unit to display the imaging operation state of the subject in the imaging unit,
An image signal recording apparatus comprising: a control unit for displaying, by the display unit, a state of the storage capacity of the image signal in the temporary storage unit when the storage capacity of the temporary storage unit reaches a predetermined amount. . 3. The first operation instructing means for instructing a start of an imaging operation in the imaging operation state control means, and the second operation instructing a start of a storage operation in the temporary storage means. And instructing the display unit to display an imaging operation state of a subject in the imaging unit in the imaging operation state control unit in response to an instruction to start an imaging operation by the first operation instruction unit. In response to an instruction to start a storage operation by the operation instruction means,
3. The image display apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the display means displays a state of the storage capacity of the image signal in the temporary storage means.
The image signal recording device as described in the above.