JP3315201B2 - Electronic still camera - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic still camera capable of recording not only still images but also moving images and sounds.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as this kind of electronic camera, for example, as shown in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-97183, when only audio, only video, or both audio and What to display has been proposed.
Further, as a method of displaying the remaining capacity of the recording medium, for example, JP-A-2-222383, JP-A-2-248
174 and JP-A-4-107080.

A method for reducing the number of operation switches is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-280485, and a method for continuously reading out images recorded and recorded by a continuous shooting function at a predetermined cycle is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 2-280485. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 2-280478 discloses a method of recording video and audio using a release button.

[0004]

By the way, an electronic still camera capable of recording not only a still image but also a moving image and a sound has a problem that the operation at the time of recording and at the time of reproduction in each mode is complicated. However, since the recording capacity of each recording mode is different, there is a problem that the remaining capacity of the recording medium is difficult to understand.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, the present invention simplifies recording and playback operations when still images, moving images and audio can be recorded, and reduces the number of operation buttons. The purpose is to provide.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an electronic camera capable of accurately displaying the remaining capacity of a recording medium when a still image, a moving image and audio can be recorded.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, a first means is to record at least a still image, a still image recording mode, a moving image recording mode, and a still image and audio. In an electronic still camera having a plurality of recording modes of a still image and a sound recording mode, a recording mode selection button for selecting one of the plurality of recording modes, and a release button for recording a mode selected by the recording mode selection button And control means for starting by the above operation.

[0008] The second means is characterized by comprising a recording mode display means for displaying a mode selected by the recording mode selection button in the first means.

The third means includes a remaining amount display means for displaying a remaining amount of the recording medium according to the mode selected by the recording mode selection button in the first or second means. I do.

In the fourth means, in the first to third means, the control means selects and reproduces data recorded in each recording mode by operating a first operation button at the time of reproduction, and reproduces a moving image or audio. When reproducing, continuous reproduction is performed by operating the second operation button.

The fifth means includes means for displaying, when the control means selects and reproduces data recorded in each recording mode by operating the first operation button in the fourth means. It is characterized by having.

The sixth means may be a still reproduction when the second operation button is operated in a state where the moving image is continuously reproduced by operating the second operation button in the fourth or fifth means. In this still playback mode, frame advance and frame return are performed by operating the first operation button.

[0013]

In the first means, at least one of a mode for recording a still image, a mode for recording a moving image, and a mode for recording a still image and sound is selected by a recording mode selection button, and the mode is operated by operating a release button. Start recording. Therefore, since a plurality of recording modes can be selected by the recording mode selection button, when a still image, a moving image, and an audio can be recorded, the operation at the time of recording can be simplified, and the number of operation buttons can be reduced. .

In the second means, the mode selected by the recording mode selection button is displayed, so that the recording operation can be simplified when a still image, a moving image, and a sound can be recorded.

According to the third means, the remaining amount of the recording medium corresponding to the mode selected by the recording mode selection button is displayed. The capacity can be displayed accurately.

In the fourth means, the data recorded in each recording mode is selected and reproduced by the operation of the first operation button at the time of reproduction, and the operation of the second operation button is performed when reproducing a moving image or a sound. , The operation at the time of reproduction can be simplified and the number of operation buttons can be reduced when a still image, a moving image and audio can be recorded.

In the fifth means, when the data recorded in each recording mode is selected and reproduced by operating the first operation button, a message to that effect is displayed, so that a still image, a moving image and audio can be recorded. In such a case, the operation at the time of reproduction can be simplified.

In the sixth means, when the second operation button is operated in a state where the moving image is continuously reproduced by operating the second operation button, still reproduction is performed. Since frame advance and frame return are performed by operation, when still images, moving images, and audio can be recorded, operations during reproduction can be simplified, and the number of operation buttons can be reduced.

[0019]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an operation and display unit of one embodiment of an electronic camera according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing an electronic camera provided with the operation and display unit of FIG.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing recorded contents of the memory card of FIG. 2.

First, an outline of the electronic camera of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. A signal captured by the CCD camera unit 1 is processed by a video signal processing unit 2, and a luminance signal, a color difference signal, and the like obtained from the video signal processing unit 2 are converted into digital signals by an A / D converter 3. D converter 3
The luminance signal for one screen converted by the above is stored in the frame memory 4. The screen division unit 5 is configured such that the exposure control unit 6 uses a CCD.
The screen is divided into blocks in order to calculate the exposure correction amount of the camera unit 1. The exposure control unit 6 calculates the exposure correction amount by performing an operation for each block. The exposure of the CCD camera unit 1 is controlled via the CCD camera control unit 9 based on the calculation result.

After the image stored in the frame memory 4 is compressed by a predetermined compression method, it is recorded on, for example, a removable memory card 8, and at the time of reproduction, the image is read from the memory card 8 and expanded by a predetermined decompression. It is displayed by the display unit 11 after being expanded by the method.

The sound is converted into a sound signal by the microphone 12, amplified by the amplifier 12, converted into a digital signal by the A / D converter 14, compressed by a predetermined compression method, and recorded on the memory card 8. . During reproduction, the audio code read from the memory card 8 is expanded by a predetermined expansion method, converted into an analog signal by a D / A converter 15, amplified by an amplifier 16, and then reproduced by a speaker 17.

The CPU 7 also controls the operation and operation of the operation buttons on the display unit 10 and controls the display thereof. In this electronic still camera, for example, a still image recording mode in which one still image is set as one group is provided. A still image + sound recording mode in which still images with sound of 10 seconds are included in one group, a continuous shooting recording mode in which continuous shooting in which a plurality of still images are continuously recorded by one action is included in one group, A moving image recording mode in which a 5-second moving image
Only one voice recorded continuously by one action
There are five recording modes of the audio recording mode to be grouped and a reproduction mode thereof.

As shown in FIG. 1, the operation and display unit 10 is, for example, a main switch 1 for turning on and off the power and selecting a recording / reproducing mode when the power is on.
01, the recording mode indicators 102 to 106 for displaying the five recording modes, respectively, and the remaining amount of the memory card 8 (the number of remaining images and the remaining time for audio) when each recording mode is selected. Remaining amount display 107 and reproduction data display 108 for displaying the type of reproduction data
And a recording mode button 121 for selecting the above-mentioned five recording modes, a strobe / erase button 122, a start / stop button 123, and previous and next reproduction select buttons 124 and 125. The previous playback select button 124 also serves as a frame return, reverse slow, and fast reverse operation button, and the next playback select button 125 also serves as a frame forward, forward slow, and fast forward operation button.

In such a configuration, when the recording mode is selected by the main switch 101, the power supply of the apparatus is turned on and the recording mode is set. Each time the recording mode button 121 is pressed in this state, the still image recording is performed. Mode, a still image + sound recording mode, a continuous recording mode, a moving image recording mode, and an audio recording mode are set, the indicators 102 to 106 of the respective recording modes are sequentially turned on, and the memory card in the selected recording mode is set. 8 is displayed on the remaining amount indicator 107.

When the start / stop button 123 is pressed in a state where the recording mode is set, images and sounds corresponding to the recording mode are recorded on the memory card 8, and when the start / stop button 123 is pressed, the recording is performed. To stop. Therefore, start / stop button 1
23 allows the user to start and end recording by a release operation.

When the reproduction mode is selected by the main switch 101, the power of the apparatus is turned on and the reproduction mode is set. For example, the data recorded last on the memory card 8 is selected and reproduced. FIG. 3 shows an example in which still images, moving images, still images, still images, continuous shooting, audio, moving images, and still images + sound are recorded in the memory card 8 in this order. Is set, the last recorded still image + sound is reproduced.

If the following reproduction select buttons 124 and 125 are operated during the reproduction, the data recorded on the memory card 8 is selectively reproduced in the order shown in FIG. Here, when a still image + sound is reproduced, a character generator generates a character to indicate that sound is present during standby for sound reproduction, and the reproduced data display 108
May be displayed.

When the continuous shooting or the moving image is to be reproduced, the first frame is reproduced and the apparatus enters a standby state for continuous reproduction. When the sound is reproduced, the reproduction data display 108 indicates that the sound is a sound. In this case, a continuous playback may be performed when the start / stop button 123 is pressed in the standby state. When the start / stop button 123 is pressed during continuous playback of a continuous shot or a moving image, the continuous shot or the moving image is displayed as a still image on the playback data display 108. Each time the (next playback select button) 125 and the frame return button (previous playback select button) 124 are pressed, the still image frame advance and frame return are performed, respectively, and the button 124 is continuously pressed. And slow playback is performed.

[0030]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, at least one of a mode for recording a still image, a mode for recording a moving image, and a mode for recording a still image and sound is operated by a recording mode selection button. The recording is started in the selected mode by operating the release button. Therefore, since a plurality of recording modes can be selected by the recording mode selection button, when a still image, a moving image, and an audio can be recorded, the operation at the time of recording can be simplified, and the number of operation buttons can be reduced. .

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the mode selected by the recording mode selection button is displayed, the recording operation can be simplified when a still image, a moving image, and a sound can be recorded. .

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the remaining amount of the recording medium in accordance with the mode selected by the recording mode selection button is displayed. The remaining capacity can be accurately displayed.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the data recorded in each recording mode is selected and reproduced by operating the first operation button during reproduction, and the second data is reproduced when reproducing a moving image or sound.
Since the continuous playback is performed by operating the operation button, when the still image, the moving image, and the audio can be recorded, the operation at the time of the reproduction can be simplified, and the number of the operation buttons can be reduced.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, when the data recorded in each recording mode is selected and reproduced by operating the first operation button, the fact is displayed, so that the still image, the moving image and the sound are displayed. When recording is possible, the operation at the time of reproduction can be simplified.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, when the second operation button is operated in a state where the moving image is continuously reproduced by the operation of the second operation button, the still operation is performed, and the first operation is performed during the still operation. Since frame advance and frame rewind are performed by button operations, when still images, moving images, and audio can be recorded, operations during reproduction can be simplified, and the number of operation buttons can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an operation and display unit of one embodiment of an electronic camera according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing an electronic camera including the operation and display unit of FIG.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing recorded contents of a memory card of FIG. 2;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 CCD camera part 7 CPU 8 Memory card 10 Operation and display part 11 Display part 101 Main switch 102-106 Recording mode display 107 Remaining amount display 108 Playback data display 121 Recording mode button 123 Start / stop button 124 Previous reproduction selection Button 125 Next playback select button

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] 1. A still image recording mode for recording at least a still image, a moving image recording mode for recording a moving image,
In an electronic still camera having a plurality of recording modes of a still image and a voice recording mode for recording a still image and a voice, a recording mode selection button for selecting one of the plurality of recording modes, and a recording mode selection button selected by the recording mode selection button. An electronic still camera, comprising: control means for starting recording of a set mode by operating a release button. 2. The electronic still camera according to claim 1, further comprising recording mode display means for displaying a mode selected by the recording mode selection button. 3. The electronic still camera according to claim 1, further comprising a remaining amount display unit that displays a remaining amount of the recording medium according to a mode selected by the recording mode selection button. 4. The control means selects and reproduces data recorded in each recording mode by operating a first operation button at the time of reproduction, and a second operation button when reproducing a moving image or a sound. The electronic still camera according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein continuous reproduction is performed by an operation. 5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control means includes means for displaying when the data recorded in each recording mode is selected and reproduced by operating a first operation button. 4. The electronic still camera according to 4. 6. The control means performs still playback when the second operation button is operated in a state where the moving image is continuously played back by operating the second operation button, and performs the first operation button during the still playback. 6. The electronic still camera according to claim 4, wherein frame advance and frame return are performed by the operation of (1).