JP3609870B2 - Video camera and recording control method thereof - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
【Technical field】
The present invention relates to a video camera capable of recording still images and moving images and a recording control method thereof.
[0002]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Both analog video cameras and digital video cameras are required to be able to record both still and moving images. When a video camera is used for shooting, for example, field image data representing a field image made up of pixels in odd rows and field image data representing a field image made up of pixels in even rows are obtained alternately. In the case of moving image recording, these field image data are recorded as they are on a video tape. When reproducing a moving image, these field image data are read out and interlaced. When playing back still images, displaying field images represented by field image data is conspicuous because of poor resolution and poor image quality. Therefore, interpolation of image data is performed when recording still images, resulting in high-resolution frame images. It may be.
[0003]
In this way, different processing is performed between moving image recording and still image recording. For this reason, if still image recording with different processing is performed during moving image recording, the data of the portion where the still image is recorded becomes discontinuous during reproduction, which may be unnatural when viewed as a moving image.
[0004]
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to enable natural moving image reproduction even when still image shooting is performed during moving image recording.
[0005]
According to the video camera recording control method of the present invention, a moving image recording mode and a still image recording mode can be set, and according to the setting of the moving image recording mode, a subject is recorded as a moving image, and a still image is recorded. When the subject is shot in response to the recording mode being set, it is determined whether the still image recording mode is set during the movie shooting, and the still image recording mode is set during the movie shooting. In this case, the still image signal obtained by still image shooting is temporarily stored, the moving image signal obtained by moving image shooting is recorded on the recording medium, and then the stored still image signal is recorded on the recording medium. It is characterized by doing.
[0006]
The present invention also provides a video camera for realizing the recording control method. That is, an imaging unit that images a subject and outputs an image signal representing the subject image, a mode setting unit that sets a moving image recording mode and a still image recording mode, and the moving image recording mode that is set by the mode setting unit The moving image shooting control means for controlling the image pickup means so as to continuously shoot the subject at a fixed period, and the still image shooting mode is set in accordance with the setting of the still image recording mode by the mode setting means. Still image shooting control means for controlling the imaging means, determination means for determining whether or not the still image recording mode is set by the mode setting means during moving image shooting based on the moving image shooting control means, and a moving image by the determination means When it is determined that the still image recording mode has been set during shooting, the still image output from the imaging means by the still image shooting A recording control unit for storing the image signal once, recording the moving image signal output from the imaging unit by moving image recording on the recording medium, and then recording the stored still image signal on the recording medium; It is characterized by.
[0007]
According to the present invention, it is determined whether or not the still image recording mode is set during moving image shooting. If the still image recording mode is set during moving image shooting, the recording of the moving image signal is continued without inserting and recording the still image signal during recording of the moving image signal. The still image signal is temporarily stored. When the recording of the moving image signal is completed, the still image signal is recorded after the recording of the moving image signal.
[0008]
Even when the still image recording mode is set during moving image shooting, only the moving image signal is continuously recorded and then the still image signal is recorded, so that the continuity of the moving image is not disturbed during reproduction. Natural video playback is possible.
[0009]
[Explanation of Examples]
FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention and is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a digital video tape recorder.
[0010]
The entire operation of the digital video tape recorder is controlled by the camera controller 10.
[0011]
The digital video tape recorder can record still images and moving images. The digital video tape recorder includes a still recording setting button 31 for recording still images, a movie recording setting button 32 for recording moving images, and a stop button 33 for stopping recording. Signals representing the settings of the buttons 31, 32 and 33 are provided to the camera controller 10. In this digital video camera, it is also possible to take a still image while recording a moving image.
[0012]
The focus motor 5 controls the positioning of the imaging lens 11 based on a focusing control signal given from the camera controller 10. A subject image is formed on the light receiving surface of the CCD 12 by the imaging lens 11.
[0013]
The CCD 12 has a pixel number of about 350,000 pixels of 720 pixels in the horizontal direction and 480 pixels in the vertical direction. The CCD 12 is of a so-called two-line readout system, and outputs an odd video signal obtained from odd rows of pixels and an even video signal obtained from even rows of pixels. When the still recording setting button 31 is pressed, the odd-numbered video signal and the even-numbered video signal are output from the CCD 12 at a timing of pressing, and when the movie recording setting button 32 is pressed, the odd-numbered video signal and the even-numbered video signal are output at a period of 1/60 seconds.
[0014]
The odd-numbered video signal and the even-numbered video signal output from the CCD 12 are amplified in the amplifying circuits 13 and 14, respectively, and supplied to the analog / digital conversion circuits 15 and 16. The odd video signal and the even video signal are converted into digital odd image data and even image data by the analog / digital conversion circuits 15 and 16 and supplied to AGC (automatic gain adjustment circuits) 17 and 18. AGCs 17 and 18 are circuits for adjusting the white balance of the input odd-numbered image data and even-numbered image data. In the AGCs 17 and 18, the white balance adjustment of the odd-numbered image data and the even-numbered image data is performed so that the predetermined reference level is obtained. The odd image data and the even image data are subjected to gamma correction in the gamma correction circuits 19 and 20 and supplied to the color separation matrix circuit 21.
[0015]
The color separation matrix circuit 21 separates the given odd-numbered image data and even-numbered image data into R (red), G (green), and B (blue) image data, respectively, and the separated R, G, and B images. This is a circuit for generating and outputting luminance data Y and color difference data C of BY and RY from the data. Further, in the color separation matrix circuit 21, frame image data of 720 pixels in the horizontal direction and 480 pixels in the vertical direction for reproducing a still image and the number of pixels in the vertical direction of the frame image data are halved, 720 pixels in the horizontal direction, vertical Odd and even field image data of 240 pixels in the direction are respectively generated and output. The field image data of 720 pixels in the horizontal direction and 240 pixels in the vertical direction is image data for moving images. When still image shooting is set by the still recording setting button 31, still image frame image data is output from the color separation matrix circuit 21, and when moving image shooting is set by the movie recording setting button 32, the color separation matrix circuit From 21, field image data for a moving image is output.
[0016]
The field image data for moving image output from the color separation matrix circuit 21 is given to the a terminal side of the changeover switch 24, and the frame image data for still picture is given to the frame memory 23. The frame memory 23 is controlled to write and read image data under the control of the memory controller 22. The field image data read from the frame memory 23 is given to the b terminal side of the changeover switch 24.
[0017]
The changeover switch 24 is switched in accordance with a changeover control signal given from the camera controller 10, and either field image data for moving image given to the a terminal side or frame image data for still picture given to the b terminal side Select. The image data that has passed through the changeover switch 24 is given to the data compression circuit 25. The image data subjected to data compression in the data compression circuit 25 is given to an error correction code adding circuit 26, and an error correction code is added. The encoding circuit 27 performs encoding processing such as Huffman encoding on the image data to which the error correction code is added. The image data is amplified by the amplifier circuit 28 and given to the magnetic head 29. As a result, in the case of frame image data of a still image of 720 pixels in the horizontal direction and 480 pixels in the vertical direction, it is recorded on 10 continuous tracks of the magnetic tape 8 over a time period of 1/30 seconds. The two-field image data of the odd-numbered field image data of 720 pixels in the horizontal direction and 240 pixels in the vertical direction and the even-numbered field image data of 720 pixels in the horizontal direction and 240 pixels in the vertical direction takes the time of 1/30 sec. It is recorded on 8 consecutive 10 tracks.
[0018]
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when the still recording setting button 31 is pressed during recording of moving image data.
[0019]
When the movie recording setting button 32 is pressed, a subject is photographed at a 1/60 second period, and field image data for odd fields and field image data for even fields are alternately output from the color separation matrix circuit 21 at 1/60 second periods. can get. When the movie recording setting button 32 is pressed, the selector switch 24 is connected to the a terminal side, and the field image data of the odd field and the field image data of the even field obtained by photographing are recorded on the magnetic tape 8 (step 41). .
[0020]
It is monitored whether the still recording setting button 31 is pressed during the moving image recording process. If the still recording setting button 31 is not pressed during the moving image recording process (NO in step 42), the odd field image data and the even field image data representing the moving image are displayed until the stop setting button 33 is pressed to stop the moving image recording process. Will continue to be recorded.
[0021]
When the still recording setting button 31 is pressed during the moving image recording process (YES in step 42), the frame image data for the still image output from the color separation matrix circuit 21 is provided to the frame memory 23 and temporarily stored ( Step 43). The changeover switch 24 is held so that the terminal a is connected. Even if the still recording setting button 31 is pressed during the moving image recording process, the moving image recording process is continued unless the stop button 33 is pressed (steps 41 to 41). 44).
[0022]
When the stop button 33 is pressed, the moving image recording process for recording field image data on the magnetic tape 8 is stopped (YES in step 44). When the moving image recording process is stopped, the still recording setting button 31 is pressed during the moving image recording process to check whether still image frame image data is stored in the frame memory 23 (step 45). When frame image data for a still image is stored in the frame memory 23 (YES in step 45), the changeover switch 24 is controlled by the camera controller 10 so that the b terminal side is connected. The frame image data for the still image stored in the frame memory 23 is read out under the control of the memory controller 22, and the changeover switch 24, the data compression circuit 25, the error correction code addition circuit 26, and the encoding circuit 27 are read out. The signal is supplied to the magnetic head 29 via the amplifier circuit 28 and recorded on the magnetic tape 8. When the frame image data for still images stored in the frame memory 23 is recorded on the magnetic tape 8, the digital video tape recorder enters a standby state (step 47).
[0023]
If frame image data for still images is not stored in the frame memory 23 (NO in step 45), the digital video tape recorder enters a standby state when the stop button 33 is pressed (step 47). .
[0024]
Even when the still recording setting button 31 is pressed to record a still image during the moving image recording process, the frame image data for the still image is not inserted into the field image data for the moving image, and the moving image is recorded. After the recording of the field image data for use is completed, the frame image data for the still image is recorded. Image data for still images can be recorded without disturbing the continuity of moving images. Since still images are taken, still images can be taken at a desired timing even during moving image recording. Image data recorded by the digital video tape recorder shown in FIG. 1 can be reproduced using a normal digital image data reproducing apparatus. In the digital video tape recorder shown in FIG. 1, when the still recording setting button 31 is pressed during the moving image recording process, the frame image data for the still image is recorded after the field image data for the moving image is recorded. Is recorded, the still image is reproduced after the moving image is reproduced without reproducing the still image when the moving image is reproduced. Natural video playback is possible.
[0025]
In the process shown in FIG. 2, the case where the still recording setting button 31 is pressed during the moving image recording process has been described. However, when the still recording setting button 31 is pressed when the moving image is not recorded, Frame image data for a still image obtained by photographing is recorded on the magnetic tape 8 through the frame memory 23 without being stored in the frame memory 23.
[0026]
In the above-described embodiment, the case where the frame image of 720 pixels in the horizontal direction and 480 pixels in the vertical direction is a still image has been described. However, the number of pixels is not limited to these cases, and the still image has a higher image quality. The moving image may be a frame image. In that case, the image data will be divided and recorded so that the data amount is about 350,000 pixels so as to conform to the video camera standard. In any case, when the still recording setting button for recording a still image is pressed during the moving image recording process, the still image is shot at the timing of pressing the button, and the still image recording is performed for the moving image recording process. You can do it later.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a recording system of a digital video table recorder.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when a still recording setting button is pressed during moving image recording processing.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 Camera controller 12 CCD
21 Color separation matrix circuit 23 Frame memory 24 Changeover switch 29 Magnetic head

Claims (2)

The video recording mode and still image recording mode can be set,
In response to the setting of the video recording mode, the subject is video-recorded at a fixed period, and the moving image signal obtained by the video recording is sequentially recorded on the recording medium,
In response to the still image recording mode being set, the subject is shot as a still image,
Determine whether the still image recording mode was set during the video recording,
When the still image recording mode is set during the above movie shooting, the still image signal obtained by the still image shooting is temporarily stored in the memory,
Determine whether the video recording process has stopped,
When it is determined that the video recording process has stopped, the still image signal once stored in the memory is recorded on the recording medium.
Recording control method for digital video camera. Imaging means for imaging a subject and outputting an image signal representing the subject image;
Mode setting means for setting a video recording mode and a still image recording mode;
In response to the moving image recording mode being set by the mode setting device, the imaging device is controlled so that the subject is continuously photographed at a fixed period, and the moving image signals obtained by the moving image photographing are sequentially recorded on the recording medium. video recording control means for,
A still image shooting control means for controlling the image pickup means so as to take a still image of a subject in response to the setting of the still image recording mode by the mode setting means;
First determination means for determining whether or not a still image recording mode is set by the mode setting means during moving image shooting and recording based on the moving image shooting and recording control means;
When the first determination unit determines that the still image recording mode is set during moving image shooting and recording , control is performed so that the still image signal output from the imaging unit by still image shooting is temporarily stored in the memory. Memory control means for
Second determination means for determining whether or not the moving image recording process has stopped;
The second when the video recording process is determined to have stopped by the determining means, still image recording control means for storing the still image signal is temporarily stored in the memory to the recording medium,
With digital video camera.

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