JP4089236B2 - Electronic camera - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an electronic camera that records audio in addition to images.
[0002]
[Prior art]
There is known an electronic camera that records a sound around a photographed image and a memo about the photographed image. The recording operation in this case is performed by operating the recording switch while displaying an image taken by the photographer on the liquid crystal monitor of the camera.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
With the cameras described above, if you perform both the release operation for shooting and the recording operation while looking through the viewfinder with the viewfinder, the recording operation will be delayed due to the photo opportunity when the subject changes every moment, or the recording operation will be delayed. The recording time may be different for each shooting.
[0004]
An object of the present invention is to provide an electronic camera that performs recording for a predetermined time in accordance with a shooting operation.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
  BookAn electronic camera according to the invention captures a subject image in response to a release full-press operation, outputs an image signal, an image processing circuit that performs predetermined signal processing on the image signal, and a predetermined signal for input sound An audio processing circuit that performs processing, a recording circuit that records the image data output from the image processing circuit and the audio data output from the audio processing circuit in association with each other, and a release half-press operation before the release full-press operation And a control circuit for controlling the sound processing circuit and the recording circuit so as to finish the recording of the sound data at a predetermined recording time.It is characterized by.
[0006]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the back and top surfaces of an electronic camera according to a first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, on the top surface of the electronic camera 1, a main switch SW1, a release button SW2, a zoom-in switch SW4, and a zoom-out switch SW5 are provided. On the back of the electronic camera 1, a mode switch SW3, a cancel switch SW11, a left selection switch SW6, a right selection switch SW7, an upper selection switch SW8, a lower selection switch SW9, a confirmation switch SW10, and a voice switch SW12 A microphone 131, a speaker 147, a liquid crystal monitor 13, and an optical viewfinder 14.
[0007]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the electronic camera 1 of FIG. The electronic camera 1 is controlled by the microcomputer 101. The main switch SW1 outputs an operation signal for instructing power on / off of the electronic camera 1 respectively. The release half-push switch SW2a and the release full-push switch SW2b output a half-push operation signal and a full-push operation signal for instructing start of shooting in conjunction with the button operation of the release button SW2.
[0008]
The mode switch SW3 outputs an operation signal for switching the operation mode of the electronic camera 1, that is, the photographing mode, the reproduction mode, and the transmission mode. The zoom-in switch SW4 outputs an operation signal for zooming up by driving a zoom lens (not shown) to the telephoto side. The zoom-out switch SW5 outputs an operation signal for driving a zoom lens (not shown) to the wide side to zoom down.
[0009]
The left selection switch SW6, right selection switch SW7, upper selection switch SW8, and lower selection switch SW9 each output an operation signal indicating the selection direction. The confirmation switch SW10 outputs an operation signal indicating operation confirmation. The cancel switch SW11 outputs an operation signal indicating operation cancellation. The voice switch SW12 outputs an operation signal related to voice.
[0010]
The photographing optical system 103 includes a zoom lens (not shown), and forms a subject image on the imaging surface of the CCD 105. The imaging circuit 107 includes an A / D conversion circuit, converts an analog imaging signal output from the CCD 105 into digital data, and performs predetermined image processing on the converted image data. Image processing includes γ conversion processing and white balance adjustment processing. The driver circuit 111 drives the motor 109 in response to a command from the microcomputer 101. The motor 109 drives a zoom lens (not shown) to advance and retreat in the optical axis direction.
[0011]
The interface 113 is an interface circuit that outputs (transmits) data in the electronic camera 1 to an external device such as a personal computer or another electronic camera. Examples of the interface 113 include RS232C, USB, and IEEE1394. The liquid crystal drive circuit 115 generates a drive signal for the liquid crystal monitor 13 according to a command from the microcomputer 101. The liquid crystal monitor 13 displays images and operation menus. The memory card 119 is a recording medium that is attached to and detached from the electronic camera 1 via the connector 117. Image data and audio data are recorded in the memory card 119.
[0012]
The image storage memory 121 temporarily stores image data during the above-described image processing, compression processing and decompression processing described later. The compression / decompression circuit 123 compresses the image data by a predetermined method such as JPEG, or decompresses the compressed image data. The memory 125 is used as a work area for the microcomputer 101. The timer 127 measures the time designated by the microcomputer 101 and outputs a time-up signal. The battery 129 supplies power to each unit in the electronic camera 1.
[0013]
The microphone 131 outputs an electrical signal according to the input voice. The amplifying unit 133 amplifies the electric signal and outputs it to the A / D conversion unit 135. The A / D converter 135 converts an analog audio signal into digital audio data. The audio information compression unit 137 performs predetermined compression processing on the audio data. The audio primary memory 151 temporarily stores audio data. The audio information decompressing unit 141 decompresses the compressed audio data. The D / A conversion unit 143 converts the digital audio data into an analog audio signal. The amplifying unit 145 amplifies the audio signal and drives the speaker 147. The speaker 147 reproduces sound.
[0014]
The above-described electronic camera 1 records the captured image data and the recorded audio data in the memory card 119 in association with each other in the shooting mode. Associating the image data and the sound data, for example, the names of the files in which the respective data are recorded are made common, and only the extension is different between the image and the sound. Taking the case where the name is “goal” as an example, the image data file is “goal.jpg” and the audio data file is “goal.wav”. In the playback mode, the electronic camera 1 reads image data and audio data recorded on the memory card 119, displays an image based on the image data on the liquid crystal monitor 13, and plays back audio based on the audio data from the speaker 147. When the audio switch SW12 is operated, the audio associated with the image being displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 13 is reproduced. Further, the electronic camera 1 transmits image data and audio data in the electronic camera 1 to an external device via the interface 113 in the transmission mode.
[0015]
Since the present invention is characterized by voice recording (recording) in the shooting mode, the operation in the shooting mode will be mainly described.
[0016]
Processing that the microcomputer 101 of the electronic camera 1 according to the first embodiment performs in the shooting mode will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The processing program shown in FIG. 3 is repeatedly performed when the photographer operates the mode switch SW3 and an operation signal for switching to the photographing mode is input to the microcomputer 101.
[0017]
In step S11 of FIG. 3, the microcomputer 101 determines whether or not a half-press operation has been performed. When the half-press operation signal is input from the release switch SW2a, the microcomputer 101 makes an affirmative determination in step S11 and proceeds to step S12. If the half-press operation signal is not input, the microcomputer 101 makes a negative determination in step S11. Repeat the determination process.
[0018]
In step S12, the microcomputer 101 instructs the voice primary memory 151 to start storing voice data, and instructs the timer 127 to start measuring time, and proceeds to step S13. As a result, voice data collected by the microphone 131 is sequentially stored in the voice primary memory 151.
[0019]
The time counted by the timer 127 corresponds to the recording time. The recording time is set in advance on a menu screen (not shown). For example, every time the right selection switch SW7 is operated, the recording time increases as 1 → 5 → 10 → 20 → 30 → 40 → 50 → 60 (unit: second), and the left selection switch SW6 is operated. Decreases by 1 second each time. The recording time according to the present embodiment is, for example, 5 seconds. The voice primary memory 151 has a storage capacity for storing voice data for at least several minutes.
[0020]
In step S13, the microcomputer 101 performs AE processing and AF processing, respectively, and proceeds to step S14. In step S14, the microcomputer 101 determines whether the time is up. When the time-up signal is input from the timer 127, the microcomputer 101 makes a positive determination in step S14 and proceeds to step S15. When the time-up signal is not input, the microcomputer 101 makes a negative determination in step S14 and proceeds to step S16.
[0021]
In step S15, the microcomputer 101 instructs the audio primary memory 151 to finish storing the audio data, and proceeds to step S16. As a result, voice data collected by the microphone 131 from the half-press start to a predetermined time (in this case, 5 seconds) is stored in the voice primary memory 151. In step S16, the microcomputer 101 determines whether or not a full press operation has been performed. When the full-press operation signal is input from the release switch SW2b, the microcomputer 101 makes an affirmative determination in step S16 and proceeds to step S17. When the full-press operation signal is not input, the microcomputer 101 makes a negative determination and proceeds to step S23. move on.
[0022]
In step S23, the microcomputer 101 determines whether or not the half-press operation has been performed. The microcomputer 101 makes an affirmative decision in step S23 when the half-press operation signal is continuously input from the release switch SW2a, returns to step S14, and negates step S23 if the half-press operation signal is not input. Determine and proceed to step S24. In step S24, the microcomputer 101 invalidates the voice data stored in the voice temporary memory 151 and ends the process of FIG. Invalid audio data is not used. The invalidation of the audio data may be to delete the recorded data in the audio temporary memory 151 or to permit overwriting to the storage area of the data in the audio temporary memory 151.
[0023]
Step S17 and subsequent steps are photographing processing. In step S17, the microcomputer 101 drives and controls an unillustrated aperture and an unillustrated shutter according to the aperture control value and shutter control value obtained by the AE process, and proceeds to step S18. In step S18, the microcomputer 101 causes the CCD 105 to start accumulating charges and proceeds to step S19. In step S19, the microcomputer 101 causes the imaging circuit 107 to start image processing and proceeds to step S20.
[0024]
In step S20, the microcomputer 101 instructs the compression / decompression circuit 123 to start image compression processing, and proceeds to step S21. In step S21, the microcomputer 101 reads audio data from the audio primary memory 151, and proceeds to step S22. Here, when the storage of the sound data in the sound primary memory 151 is not completed, the reading is performed after the sound data is stored. In this case, a predetermined time (in this case, 5 seconds) may not have elapsed since the half-pressing started.
[0025]
In step S22, the microcomputer 101 records the compressed image data on the memory card 119, records the audio data on the memory card 119 in association with the image data, and ends the process of FIG.
[0026]
According to the first embodiment described above, the following operational effects can be obtained.
(1) When the release button SW2 is half-pressed, storage of voice data in the voice primary memory 151, that is, recording starts (step S12), and a predetermined time (in the above example, 5 seconds) after the half-press operation. The sound data is stored in the sound primary memory 151 until the time elapses (Yes in step S14). The voice data stored in the voice primary memory 151 is recorded on the memory card 119 in association with the image data shot by the full press operation. As a result, even if the photographer does not perform the recording operation, recording is automatically started after the half-pressing operation. You can record automatically with the same recording time each time you take a single frame.
(2) The recording time is set in advance on a menu screen (not shown). The setting operation is performed every time the right selection switch SW7 is operated. The recording time is 1 → 5 → 10 → 20 → 30 → 40 → 50 → 60 ... (unit is second), and every time the left selection switch SW6 is operated, it decreases by 1 second. As a result, an arbitrary recording time can be set, and the setting operation can be performed coarsely, finely and quickly.
[0027]
In the above description, the voice data collected by the microphone 131 is recorded for a predetermined time (in the above example, 5 seconds) from the start of half-pressing. It is good also as time until after pushing. In this case, the processes in steps S14 and S15 in FIG. 3 may be omitted. Such a change in voice recording time is set in advance on a menu screen (not shown).
[0028]
When the electronic camera 1 described above is fully pressed before a predetermined time (5 seconds in the above example) has elapsed since the half-press start, and when the storage of the audio data in the audio primary memory 151 has not ended. The storage of the sound data is terminated regardless of the elapse of the predetermined time, and the stored sound data is read from the sound primary memory 151 (step S21). Instead of this, the storage of the voice data may be terminated after waiting for a predetermined time from the start of half-pressing, and the stored voice data may be read from the voice primary memory 151. As a result, even when a full press operation is performed before a predetermined time has elapsed since the half press start, recording for a preset time can be performed. Such a change relating to the voice recording time is set in advance on a menu screen (not shown).
[0029]
Moreover, although the above-mentioned electronic camera 1 records the sound data collected after the half-press start, the sound data may be recorded before the half-press operation. In this case, when the processing shown in FIG. 3 is started, the voice primary memory 151 is instructed to start storing voice data regardless of the release half-press operation. Data based on the sound collected by the microphone 131 is sequentially stored in the sound primary memory 151. For example, when the storage capacity for 3 minutes is full, new data is overwritten and stored in the old storage data area. As a result, the latest three-minute audio data is always held, and the audio data may be recorded in the memory card 119 in association with the image data. It should be noted that the number of seconds before the half press operation is performed is recorded in advance on a menu screen (not shown).
[0030]
In the above description, the case where one shot of image data and one piece of audio data are associated and recorded in the memory card 119 has been described as an example. The invention can be applied. In this case, one piece of audio data is recorded in association with a plurality of image data that have been continuously shot. At this time, whether the image data to be associated is the first image in the continuous shooting, the last image, or all of the continuous shooting images is set by a menu screen (not shown).
[0031]
In the recording, the audio data is temporarily stored in the audio temporary memory 151 and then recorded on the memory card 119. However, the audio data output from the audio information compression unit 137 may be directly recorded on the memory card 119. Good.
[0032]
(Second embodiment)
The audio recording timing may be performed immediately after exposure to the CCD 105, that is, immediately after charge accumulation. Processing in the shooting mode according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The processing program shown in FIG. 4 is repeatedly performed when the photographer operates the mode switch SW3 and an operation signal for switching to the photographing mode is input to the microcomputer 101. Note that switching to the processing according to the first embodiment is performed in advance on a menu screen (not shown).
[0033]
In step S31 of FIG. 4, the microcomputer 101 determines whether or not a half-press operation has been performed. The microcomputer 101 makes a positive determination in step S31 when a half-press operation signal is input from the release switch SW2a and proceeds to step S32. If the half-press operation signal is not input, the microcomputer 101 makes a negative determination in step S31, according to FIG. The process ends.
[0034]
In step S32, the microcomputer 101 performs AE processing and AF processing, respectively, and proceeds to step S33. In step S33, the microcomputer 101 determines whether or not a full press operation has been performed. The microcomputer 101 makes an affirmative decision in step S33 when a full-press operation signal is input from the release switch SW2b, and proceeds to step S34. If a full-press operation signal is not input, the microcomputer 101 makes a negative determination in step S33 and proceeds to step S31. Return.
[0035]
The shooting process is started from step S34. In step S34, the microcomputer 101 drives and controls an unillustrated aperture and an unillustrated shutter according to the aperture control value and shutter control value obtained by the AE process, and proceeds to step S35. In step S35, the microcomputer 101 causes the CCD 105 to start accumulating charges and proceeds to step S36. In step S36, the microcomputer 101 instructs a charging operation as preparation for the next photographing, and proceeds to step S37. Thereby, in the case of a single-lens reflex camera, charging of a mirror driving mechanism (not shown) and charging operation of a shutter driving mechanism (not shown) are performed. If the camera is not a single-lens reflex camera, the process proceeds to step S37 when the next shooting preparation is completed, regardless of the charging operation.
[0036]
In step S37, the microcomputer 101 instructs the audio primary memory 151 to start storing audio data, and instructs the timer 127 to start measuring time, and proceeds to step S38. As a result, voice data collected by the microphone 131 is sequentially stored in the voice primary memory 151.
[0037]
The time counted by the timer 127 is set in advance on a menu screen (not shown). In this embodiment, for example, it is 5 seconds. The voice primary memory 151 has a storage capacity for storing voice data for at least several minutes.
[0038]
In step S38, the microcomputer 101 causes the imaging circuit 107 to start image processing and proceeds to step S39. In step S39, the microcomputer 101 instructs the compression / decompression circuit 123 to start image compression processing, and proceeds to step S40. In step S40, the microcomputer 101 determines whether or not the voice switch SW12 has been operated. When the operation signal is input from the voice switch SW12, the microcomputer 101 makes a positive determination in step S40 and proceeds to step S42. When the operation signal is not input from the voice switch SW12, the microcomputer 101 makes a negative determination and proceeds to step S41. move on. The operation of the voice switch SW12 in this case is performed in order to end the recording before a predetermined time has elapsed.
[0039]
In step S41, the microcomputer 101 determines whether the time is up. When the time-up signal is input from the timer 127, the microcomputer 101 makes an affirmative determination in step S41 and proceeds to step S42. When the time-up signal is not input, the microcomputer 101 makes a negative determination in step S41 and returns to step S40.
[0040]
In step S42, the microcomputer 101 instructs the voice primary memory 151 to finish storing the voice data, reads the voice data from the voice primary memory 151, and proceeds to step S43. As a result, the voice data collected by the microphone 131 from the time immediately after the charge accumulation to the predetermined time (in this case, 5 seconds) is read from the voice primary memory 151.
[0041]
In step S43, the microcomputer 101 records the compressed image data on the memory card 119, records the audio data on the memory card 119 in association with the image data, and ends the process of FIG.
[0042]
According to the second embodiment described above, the following operational effects can be obtained.
(1) Storage of audio data in the audio primary memory 151, that is, recording is started immediately after the charge accumulation of the CCD 105 by the full press operation of the release button SW2, that is, recording (step S36). ) (Step S40 is affirmative determination) or the voice switch SW12 is operated before the predetermined time has elapsed (step S39 is affirmative determination), and the voice data is stored in the voice primary memory 151. The sound data stored in the sound primary memory 151 is recorded on the memory card 119 in association with the captured image data. As a result, since the recording is automatically started after the exposure to the CCD 105 even if the photographer does not perform the recording operation, unlike the conventional technique, a photo opportunity is not missed for the recording operation. Every time one frame is taken according to the timing, automatic recording can be performed with the same recording time.
(2) By operating the voice switch SW12, the recording is ended before a predetermined time (in the above example, 5 seconds) has elapsed after the start of recording. Even if there is, the recording can be finished immediately, so that a convenient camera can be obtained.
[0043]
In the above-described example, the voice switch SW12 is operated to stop the recording before a predetermined time (in the above example, 5 seconds) has elapsed after the start of recording. However, the recording time after the start of recording is extended. It may be. In this case, when the remaining time until the time is up is, for example, 3 seconds, the remaining recording time is counted and displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 13. If the photographer operates the voice switch SW12 between the time up and the end of recording, the recording time is further extended by 5 seconds. When extending the recording time, the microcomputer 101 instructs the timer 127 to start measuring time for another 5 seconds. If the audio switch SW12 is operated each time the count display is displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 13, the recording time is repeatedly extended. Thereby, when it is not desired to end the recording halfway, the recording can be continued even during the recording, so that a user-friendly camera can be obtained. The extension time (in the above example, 5 seconds) is set in advance on a menu screen (not shown).
[0044]
In the above example, recording of the audio data to the audio primary memory 151 is started immediately after the completion of the charge accumulation of the CCD 105 by the full pressing operation of the release switch SW2b. However, the recording is started together with the start of the charge accumulation. It may be.
[0045]
Both the recording according to the first embodiment for recording the sound before shooting by the half-press operation before the release full-press operation and the recording according to the second embodiment for recording the sound after shooting by the release full-press operation. You may make it perform. In this case, two pieces of audio data consisting of audio data before shooting and audio data after shooting are recorded in the memory card 119 in association with the shot image data. The two audio data before and after photographing may be recorded separately, or may be recorded together as one audio data. The setting at which timing before and after shooting and the setting as to whether or not to separate the two audio data are set in advance on a menu screen (not shown).
[0046]
The sound quality at the time of sound recording is determined by the sound recording rate. The audio recording rate includes a sampling rate and a bit rate. When the sampling rate is increased by increasing the clock frequency of the A / D conversion unit 135, the amount of data after digital conversion is increased and the sound quality is improved as compared with the case where the clock frequency is low. If the sampling rate is lowered by lowering the clock frequency of the A / D converter 135, the amount of data after digital conversion is reduced and the sound quality is deteriorated as compared with the case where the clock frequency is high.
[0047]
Further, when the audio information compression unit 137 performs audio compression processing using all the bit data output from the A / D conversion unit 135, the audio information compression unit 137 performs audio compression in a state where the bit rate is reduced without using some bit data. Sound quality is better than when processing. Thus, in order to record with good sound quality, the audio information compression rate should be set low so as to increase the amount of audio data, and if high quality recording is not required, the amount of audio data should be reduced. Set the voice information compression rate to high.
[0048]
The compression rate of the audio information is changed by the microcomputer 101 according to the compression rate of the image data. FIG. 5 is a table showing the relationship between the image compression rate according to the JPEG method, the clock frequency, and the number of bits. Image data with a low image compression rate is image data having a large data size and good image quality. Therefore, when the image compression rate is set low, the microcomputer 101 increases the sampling rate of the A / D conversion unit 135 and increases the bit rate of the audio information compression unit 137 so as to reduce the audio compression rate. . As a result, audio data associated with high-quality image data is automatically recorded with high sound quality. When audio information is recorded in stereo, the data size increases, so it is recorded with higher sound quality than monaural.
[0049]
On the other hand, image data with a high image compression rate is image data in which the data size is reduced to suppress image quality. When the image compression rate is set high, the microcomputer 101 lowers the sampling rate of the A / D conversion unit 135 so as to increase the audio compression rate and lowers the bit rate of the audio information compression unit 137. As a result, audio data associated with low-quality image data is automatically recorded with low sound quality. If the audio information is recorded in monaural, the data size is reduced compared to stereo recording, so the sound quality can be suppressed.
[0050]
As described above, instead of associating high-quality image data with high-quality sound data and associating low-quality image data with low-quality image data, low-quality sound data is associated with high-quality image data. High-quality image data may be associated with the image data. In general, since high-quality image data has a large data size, consumption of the memory card 119 can be suppressed by reducing the data size of the associated audio data. On the other hand, since the data size of low-quality image data is small, the consumption of the memory card 119 does not increase so much even if the data size of the associated audio data is increased.
[0051]
A recording device that does not include a photographing function may be used to change the audio compression rate in accordance with the compression rate of the image data to be associated during audio recording.
[0052]
  The correspondence between each component in the claims and each component in the embodiment of the invention will be described. The image sensor is constituted by a CCD 105, for example. The image processing circuit includes, for example, an imaging circuit 107, a compression / decompression circuit 123, and an image storage memory 121. The audio processing circuit includes, for example, an A / D conversion unit 135, an audio information compression unit 137, and an audio temporary memory 151. The recording circuit and the control circuit are constituted by, for example, the microcomputer 101Is done. Audio processing control circuitIs constituted by the microcomputer 101, for example. In addition, as long as the characteristic function of this invention is not impaired, each component is not limited to the said structure.
[0053]
【The invention's effect】
  In the electronic camera according to the present invention,Recording with half-press release timingit can.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a back surface and a top surface of an electronic camera according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the electronic camera of FIG.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining a flow of processing performed by the microcomputer of the electronic camera in a shooting mode.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining a flow of processing performed by the microcomputer of the electronic camera according to the second embodiment in a shooting mode.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between an image compression rate according to a JPEG method, a clock frequency, and the number of bits.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 ... Electronic camera, 13 ... LCD monitor,
101 ... Microcomputer, 105 ... CCD,
107: imaging circuit, 119: memory card,
121: Image storage memory, 123: Compression / decompression circuit,
127 ... Timer 131 ... Microphone,
133 ... Amplifying unit, 135 ... A / D conversion unit,
137 ... voice information compression unit, 151 ... temporary voice memory,
SW2 ... release button, SW2a ... half-press switch,
SW2b: Full press switch, SW12: Voice switch

Claims (2)

An image sensor that captures a subject image in response to a release full-press operation and outputs an image signal;
An image processing circuit for performing predetermined signal processing on the image signal;
An audio processing circuit for performing predetermined signal processing on the input audio;
A recording circuit that records the image data output from the image processing circuit on the recording medium in association with the audio data output from the audio processing circuit;
Control for controlling the audio processing circuit and the recording circuit to record the audio data in response to a release half-press operation before the release full-press operation and to finish recording the audio data in a predetermined recording time. An electronic camera comprising a circuit. The electronic camera according to claim 1 ,
The image processing circuit includes image data compression processing,
The audio processing circuit includes audio data compression processing,
An electronic camera further comprising: an audio processing control circuit that controls the audio processing circuit so as to perform audio data compression processing by changing an audio compression rate in accordance with an image compression rate by the image compression processing.

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