JP2000069407A - Image recording and playback device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Problem] To make it easy to search for a moving image from a still image shot during shooting of a moving image and a still image from the moving image. SOLUTION: A captured moving image is recorded on a magnetic tape 30. At this time, moving image shooting start data including date and time data is recorded on the first track, and moving image shooting end data is recorded on the last track. When a still image is shot during shooting of a moving image, the still image specifying data for specifying the still image is recorded on a corresponding track, and the image storage device 36 for recording the still image is recorded.
Also record. The still image specifying data includes shooting date and time data. A moving image or a still image is searched using the shooting date and time data as a key.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image recording / reproducing apparatus, and more particularly, to an image recording / reproducing apparatus having a plurality of recording media for storing photographed images.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional video camera converts an optical image formed by a photographing optical system into an electric signal by a photoelectric conversion element such as a CCD image sensor and the like, and records the recording medium such as a magnetic tape or a hard disk through various signal processing circuits. To record. Normally, it also has a reproduction function of reproducing the image information recorded on the recording medium and outputting the video. In recent years, digital video cameras that digitize these various signal processes and digitally record image signals on recording media have also been commercialized.

[0003] A digital still camera is a camera having a configuration similar to a digital video camera, but a digital video camera handles moving images at 60 fields per second or 30 frames per second. -Still cameras differ in that they basically handle still images.

There has been proposed a configuration for realizing a still image recording function with a digital video camera. For example, Heisei 8
Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 298644 discloses that image data of a moving image or a still image can be selectively recorded on a magnetic tape, and when the image is a still image, the image data is recorded and reproduced with high image quality. A configuration for thinning out recording and reproduction is described. Japanese Patent Application No. 1540/1997 discloses a configuration in which still images captured by simultaneous shooting during recording of a moving image are processed in parallel after recording of the moving image or during the shooting of the moving image, and are recorded on a recording medium. .

[0005] In recent years, digital cameras have been commercialized, in which a moving picture is recorded on a magnetic tape and a still picture is recorded on a solid-state memory.

[0006]

In the prior art, there is no means for associating images recorded on a plurality of recording media with each other. There is no function to play with a natural correlation. Therefore, there is an inconvenience that a great deal of labor is required to search for an image related to that image from the other recording medium when or after reproducing one image.

For example, in a moving image / still image photographing apparatus that records a still image in a solid-state memory and records a moving image on a magnetic tape, if the moving image taken at the same time as the still image is reproduced, the solid-state memory and the It is necessary to write down the shooting date and time information and the like outside the magnetic tape cassette, and to search for a desired image while viewing both playback screens.

[0008] In this case, it takes time to search for a desired image, and it is very inconvenient. If the operator forgets specific information about the image to be searched,
There is a problem that a desired image cannot be found.

An object of the present invention is to provide an image recording / reproducing apparatus which solves such a problem.

[0010]

According to the present invention, there is provided an image recording / reproducing apparatus for generating an image signal corresponding to an optical image, and recording the image signal output from the image capturing apparatus together with predetermined accessory information. The first and second recording media; and comparing means for comparing additional information recorded together with the image signal on the first and second recording media. It is characterized in that desired image information is searched from the recording information of the recording medium.

The image recording / reproducing apparatus according to the present invention also includes a plurality of image pickup means for generating a corresponding image signal from an optical image, and records each image signal output from the plurality of image pickup means together with predetermined accessory information. The plurality of recording media, the attached information input means for inputting the attached information, the attached information input by the attached information input means, and the attached information recorded on the plurality of recording media are compared. Reproducing means for reproducing image signals recorded on the recording medium in synchronization with each other.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a first embodiment of the present invention. Reference numeral 10 denotes a photographing lens, 12 denotes an image pickup device including a CCD image sensor or a CMOS image sensor that converts an optical image by the photographing lens 10 into an electric signal, and 14 denotes an A / D that converts an analog output of the image pickup device 12 into a digital signal. The converter 16 is a camera signal processing circuit that performs well-known camera signal processing such as gain adjustment, gamma correction, and color balance adjustment on the output of the A / D converter 14.

Reference numeral 18 denotes a video / audio processing circuit for recording / reproducing video and audio signals and converting the signal format of the video signal. Reference numeral 20 denotes a VTR mechanism comprising a VTR magnetic tape traveling system and a drum rotation system. A VTR mechanism drive circuit for driving the VTR mechanism 20, a video display device 24 composed of a liquid crystal display panel, and a display drive circuit 26 for driving the video display device 24. Reference numeral 28 denotes a voice input microphone.

Reference numeral 30 denotes a magnetic tape, and 32 denotes a solid-state memory. The solid memory 32 stores information useful for retrieving recorded images on the magnetic tape 30. Magnetic tape 30
And the solid state memory 32 are housed in the same cassette.

Numeral 34 denotes an image synthesizing device for synthesizing two field images to form one frame image, and adjusting and converting the sampling frequency. Numeral 36 denotes a flash for storing the image formed by the image synthesizing circuit 34. -An image storage device including a memory.

Reference numeral 38 denotes a main control circuit for controlling the whole, and reference numeral 40 denotes a sub-control circuit for controlling the image synthesizing circuit 34 and the image storage device 36. The main control circuit 38 and the sub-control circuit 40 are composed of separate microcomputers, and are connected via a communication line. Of course, the main control circuit 38 and the sub-control circuit 4
0 may be realized by one microcomputer. Reference numeral 42 denotes an operation device including switches for the user to input various instructions to the main control circuit 38. The main control circuit 38 can access the solid-state memory 32 through the contact 44.

Reference numeral 46 denotes a video / audio input / output terminal, which comprises a still image input / output terminal, a moving image input / output terminal, and an audio input / output terminal. .

MPEG and JP as image compression methods
The EG method is widely used. Also in this embodiment, the video / audio processing circuit 18 and the image synthesizing circuit 34 correspond to these well-known image compression methods.

A power supply circuit for supplying necessary power to each unit is not shown.

Next, a recording system (SD standard) of a magnetic tape in a digital video tape recorder will be briefly described. FIG. 2 shows a format of the SD standard. 2A shows a track format on a magnetic tape, and FIG. 2B shows a data arrangement in one track. As shown in FIG. 2A, the tracks Tr are formed in parallel at a constant angle in a diagonal direction with respect to the longitudinal direction of the magnetic tape. To record one frame of digital image data, ten consecutive tracks are used.

One track has a subcode recording area,
It has a video recording area, an auxiliary recording area, an audio recording area, and a track information recording area. Information such as a time code and an absolute track number for high-speed search is recorded in the subcode recording area. Digital image data is recorded in the video storage area. Digital audio data is recorded in the audio recording area. Reference information for the magnetic head to trace the center of the track Tr is recorded in the track information recording area. Other additional information is recorded in the auxiliary recording area. The gap between the regions is not shown.

FIG. 3 shows an operation flowchart of the main control circuit 38, and FIG. 4 shows an operation flowchart of the sub-control circuit 40. 3 and 4 show a flowchart of an operation of recording a still image during shooting (recording) of a moving image, and then searching for the simultaneously shot moving image while reproducing the still image.

First, the operation of the main control circuit 38 in the recording mode will be described. However, in the present embodiment, the following operation is performed once in the vertical synchronization period.

When the power switch, photographing mode switch, moving image standby switch and moving image photographing switch of the operating device 42 are sequentially pressed (S1 to S3), moving image photographing (recording) starts.

That is, when the moving image photographing switch is pressed, it is determined whether or not the first track has started moving image photographing (S).
4) If it is the first track, predetermined moving image shooting start data indicating the moving image shooting start position is read from the ROM in the main control circuit 38 (S5). It is determined whether or not the still image shooting switch has been pressed (S6). If the still image shooting switch has been pressed, the main control circuit 38 indicates data indicating the still image shooting and specifies the still image (still image specifying data). It is read from the ROM inside (S7). For the moving image shooting end operation (S8), the shooting end data is read (S9). The management data including the moving image shooting start data, the moving image shooting end data, and the still image specifying data is combined with the moving image data and written on a predetermined track of the magnetic tape 30 (S10). This management data may be recorded in the subcode recording area of the track shown in FIG. 2 or may be recorded in the auxiliary recording area. Further, it may be recorded in the solid-state memory 32 together with the track number. The specific content of the management data may be any data that can be mainly correlated with time, for example, the date and time of photographing, location, weather, encryption, and other codes.

When a plurality of still images are shot during shooting of a moving image, still image specifying data is recorded on a corresponding track each time the shooting is performed. The still image specifying data at that time includes information indicating the number of the still image. As a result, the correspondence between the moving image and the still image is recorded as management information.

FIG. 3 shows an algorithm in which moving image shooting start data, moving image shooting end data, and still image specifying data can be simultaneously written within one vertical synchronization period. Can be effectively operated within one vertical synchronization period, so that only one of the moving image shooting start data, the moving image shooting end data and the still image specifying data is written in one vertical synchronization period. it can.

Next, the operation of the sub control circuit 40 in the recording mode will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.
The processing of the sub-control circuit 40 is executed concurrently with the main control circuit 38. The sub control circuit 40 includes the main control circuit 3
The operation status of the operation device 42 can be known one by one through communication with the communication device 8. When the power switch, the shooting mode switch, the still image standby switch, and the still image shooting switch are sequentially pressed (S21 to S23), a still image is captured (S24), and the still image specifying data read in S7 is mainly read. It is read from the control circuit 38 (S25). When the capture of the still image is completed (S26), the captured still image and the still image specifying data are combined and written into the storage device 36 (S2).
7).

In this way, the moving image is recorded on the magnetic tape 30 and the still image taken during that time is stored in the image storage device 3.
6 and the moving image and the still image are associated with each other by the still image specifying data.

The operation of the main control circuit 38 in the reproduction mode will be described. When the reproduction mode is designated by the mode switch of the operation device 42 (S1) and the still image reproduction switch is pressed (S12), the main control circuit 38 causes the sub control circuit 4 to operate.
Then, a still image output command is transmitted to 0 (S13). This instruction includes an instruction to select which still image of a plurality of captured still images is to be reproduced. The still image specifying data recorded together with the corresponding still image is received from the sub-control circuit 40 (S14).

When the moving image search switch is pressed (S1
5) The still image characteristic data having the same content as the still image specifying data received from the sub control circuit 14 in S14 is
0 is searched (S16). The search may be performed by scanning the magnetic tape 30 from the beginning to the end, or from the storage information of the solid-state memory 32 incorporated in the cassette together with the magnetic tape 30. When the search is completed (S17) and the position of the moving image captured together with the still image being reproduced is found, the magnetic tape is rewound (or wound up) to that position, and the searched moving image is reproduced (S18). The playback of the moving image may be the entire corresponding moving image, from the beginning of the moving image to the point in time when the still image being played is captured, or several seconds before and after the shooting point of the still image being played back. It is desirable to be able to choose. After the reproduction of the specified range, the reproduction of the moving image ends (S19).

The operation of the sub control circuit 40 in the reproduction mode will be described. When the still image reproduction switch of the operation device 42 is pressed in the reproduction mode (S29), the still image data is read from the image storage device 36 (S30), and is divided into image data and still image specific data (S31). The obtained image data is supplied to the video / audio processing circuit 18 (S32), and the still image specifying data is output to the main control circuit 38 (S33).

In order to shorten the access time, the image data and the still image specifying data may be stored at different addresses of the image storage device 36. In that case, needless to say, the data decomposing process becomes unnecessary.

In this manner, the corresponding moving image can be simultaneously reproduced from the magnetic tape 30 while reproducing the still image stored in the image storage device 36.

FIG. 5 schematically shows a relationship between a moving image recorded on the magnetic tape 30 and moving image shooting start data, moving image shooting end data, and still image specifying data. A moving image is recorded in the shaded area. Moving image shooting start data is recorded on the first track, and moving image shooting end data is recorded on the last track. Still image specifying data is recorded on a track corresponding to the timing of still image shooting.

In the above-described embodiment, the recording / reproducing when a still image is photographed during moving image photographing has been described. However, the present invention is also effective when a moving image and a still image are photographed separately. The operation will be described below.

As shown in FIG. 6, it is assumed that n moving images are continuously recorded on the magnetic tape 30. The moving image shooting start data and the moving image shooting end data include data indicating the shooting start and shooting end dates, respectively. For example,
When the shooting starts and ends on March 24, 1997, the shooting start data and the shooting end data include “970324”.
Such data corresponding to the date is included. FIG.
In this example, n shootings are performed, and the shooting start data and the shooting end data are simply described as ON1, ON2,.
Nn; OFF1, OFF2,..., OFFn.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 7, if a still image is shot on the same day, the same date data is added to the still image. This date data can be used as still image specifying data. When a moving image is searched using the shooting date of the still image as a key, n moving images are recorded on the magnetic tape 3.
You can search from 0. Even if all the searched videos are played in order, a predetermined time (for example, several seconds) from the start point of each video
May be reproduced in order.

In the above embodiment, the case where a still image is reproduced and a corresponding moving image is searched has been described. Conversely, a corresponding still image can be searched while a moving image is being reproduced. FIG. 8 shows a flowchart of the main control circuit 38,
FIG. 9 shows a flowchart of the sub control circuit 40. 8 and 9 show a control operation of recording a still image while shooting a moving image, and then searching for a still image shot during the shooting of the moving image while reproducing the moving image. The operation in the photographing mode is the same as that in FIG.

The operation of the main control circuit 38 in the reproduction mode will be described. In the reproduction mode (S41), when the moving image reproduction switch of the operation device 42 is pressed (S42), the VTR mechanism 20 is driven by the VTR mechanism driving circuit 22 to reproduce the moving image from the magnetic tape 30 (S43). The moving image shooting start data and the moving image shooting end data stored together with the moving image are read from the magnetic tape 30 or the solid-state memory 32 (S4).
4).

It is determined whether or not the still image search switch of the operation device 42 has been pressed (S45). When the still image search switch has been pressed, a command to start the still image search is issued to the sub-control circuit 40.

Thereafter, the main control circuit 38 determines whether or not the reproduction of the searched still image has been turned off (S46).
If it is off, check on / off of the power switch (SS4
7) If the power switch is off, turn off the power and end.

The operation of the sub control circuit 40 in the reproduction mode will be described. In the playback mode (S51), when the still image search switch is pressed (S52) and a still image search start command is received from the main control circuit 38, the moving image shooting start data and the moving image shooting end read by the main control circuit 38 in advance. The data is read (S53), and the still images stored in the image storage device 36 are sequentially searched for those shot on the same day as the moving image (S54 to 57, S60, S61).

That is, 1 is set to the loop variable A (S5).
4) The A-th still image data is read from the image storage device 36 (S55), and is decomposed into image data and still image specifying data (S56). It is determined whether or not the date data included in the still image specifying data falls between the date of the moving image shooting start data and the date of the moving image shooting end data (S57).
The still image data is output to the video / audio processing circuit 18 (S58). If the date data included in the still image specifying data does not fall between the date of the moving image shooting start data and the date of the moving image shooting end data (S57), the variable A is incremented to become the last still image data (Amax). Until (S61), S55 and subsequent steps are repeated.

If there is no corresponding still image (S61), a warning is issued and the process returns to S51 (S62).

As described above, the image data and the still image specifying data may be stored at different addresses of the image storage device 36 in order to shorten the access time.

As described above, during the reproduction of the moving image recorded on the magnetic tape 30, the related still image is stored in the image storage device 3.
6 and can be reproduced.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing the relationship between the moving image shooting start data and the moving image shooting end data for the operations shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, and the still image specifying data. A moving image is recorded in the hatched portion, moving image shooting start data is recorded at the beginning, and moving image shooting end data is recorded at the end. At the time when a still image is shot during moving image shooting, data indicating that the still image was shot (still image specific data) is recorded.

For example, the shooting of a moving image starts at 16:52:25 on March 24, 1997, and is performed on March 24, 1997.
It is assumed that the day ends at 17:02:33. At this time, for example, the moving image shooting start data is' 97032165522
5 'and date and time data of '97
0324170233 'date data. Assuming that a still image was shot at 16:58:33 on March 24, 1997, the still image specifying data is' 970321658.
33 'date data. In S57 of FIG. 9, the relationship between these date data is checked.

As data to be included in the moving image shooting start data, the moving image shooting end data, and the still image specifying data, in addition to the date data, a shooting location, weather, encryption, and other codes can be used.

When a plurality of still images are retrieved according to the retrieval result, these still images may be reproduced sequentially or in an arbitrary order at an arbitrary time.

For example, as shown in FIG.
From 11:30:45 on March 24, 1997 to March 1997
Movie recording (recording) until 11:45:33 on March 23
11:32:25 on March 24, 1997
Suppose that a still image was shot (recorded) in seconds. Still image characteristic data '97032413132 corresponding to the shooting date and time of the still image
25 ′ is written on the track of the magnetic tape 30 and in the image storage device 36. As shown in FIG. 11B, the still image specifying data is output at the same time as the printout of the photographed still image. When a still image or a moving image as a source image is reproduced at a later date while viewing this print image, the date and time data '970324113225' is input from the operating device 42, and the still image and / or the moving image Is played.

FIG. 11C shows an image obtained by resting a still image or moving image in the still mode on the monitor 24. Date and time data is displayed at one corner of the screen as in FIG. 11B. Have been. While viewing this information, a corresponding moving image or still image can be searched and found in the same manner as in the case of a print image.

The present invention can be applied to an apparatus for photographing the same subject with two cameras having a predetermined convergence angle for three-dimensional display. As shown in FIG.
0 and 52 are arranged with a certain convergence angle, and the same subject 5
Shoot 4. From the two images thus obtained, a three-dimensional image can be formed by a known method. FIG. 13 shows an example of the recording timing of the magnetic tape of the two cameras 50 and 52. FIG. 13A shows a magnetic tape of the camera 50 and FIG. 13B shows a magnetic tape of the camera 52.

Conventionally, images taken by two cameras arranged as shown in FIG. 12 are alternately taken for each frame and recorded on a magnetic tape. When reproducing the magnetic tape, three-dimensional viewing is realized by opening and closing a shutter in front of the viewer for each frame. That is, an image captured by the right camera is input to the right eye, and an image captured by the left camera is input to the left eye. At this time, two images are
Set the shutter speed to 2V (1/30
Second) and the image flickers.

In the present embodiment, the shutter speed can be increased during reproduction by recording the images captured by the cameras 50 and 52 on magnetic tapes in synchronization with each other.
Flicker can be prevented. That is, in the present embodiment, when the images captured by the two cameras 50 and 52 are recorded on each other's magnetic tape, the photographing date and time data is also recorded for each field or each track. Thus, the reproduced images on the two magnetic tapes can be synchronized on a field-by-field basis during reproduction, and the shooting dates and times can be matched.

In FIG. 13, the camera 50 shoots
Although it precedes 2, the image captured by the camera 50 may be reproduced first, and the reproduction of the image captured by the camera 52 may be started when the image capturing by the camera 52 starts. It is difficult to completely synchronize the running of the two magnetic tapes, but either one or both of the reproducing systems have a field memory or a frame memory.
By providing a buffer such as a memory, complete synchronization can be achieved.

[0059]

As can be easily understood from the above description, according to the present invention, retrieval and cueing of images related to each other are facilitated.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a format and a track format of a magnetic tape 30.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a case where a still image is recorded during shooting of a moving image, and then the still image is reproduced while searching for a moving image shot at the same time.
6 is a flowchart of a main control circuit 38.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a case where a still image is recorded during shooting of a moving image, and then the still image is played back while searching for a moving image shot at the same time.
5 is a flowchart of the sub control circuit 40.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a magnetic tape in a case where a still image is shot during moving image shooting.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a magnetic tape when a plurality of moving images are captured.

FIG. 7 is an example of a reproduced image with a shooting date.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of the main control circuit 38 in a case where a still image is recorded during shooting of a moving image, and then the moving image is reproduced while searching for a still image shot during shooting of the moving image.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of the sub-control circuit 40 in the case of recording a still image during shooting of a moving image, and then searching for a still image shot during shooting of the moving image while reproducing the moving image.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of a magnetic tape when shooting date and time data are recorded together.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of an operation when a still image is output together with shooting date and time data.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a camera arrangement for photographing the same subject with two cameras.

13 is a diagram showing the timing of the recorded image on the magnetic tape in the case of FIG. 12;

[Explanation of symbols]

 10: Photographing lens 12: Image sensor 14: A / D converter 16: Camera signal processing circuit 18: Video / audio processing circuit 20: VTR mechanism section 22: VTR mechanism section drive circuit 24: Video display device 26: Display drive circuit 28 : Microphone 30: Magnetic tape 32: Solid-state memory 34: Image synthesizing device 36: Image storage device 38: Main control circuit 40: Sub-control circuit 42: Operation device 44: Contact point 46: Video / audio input / output terminal 50, 52: Camera 54 :subject

Claims (6)

[Claims] An imaging unit for generating a corresponding image signal from an optical image; first and second recording media for recording the image signal output from the imaging unit together with predetermined additional information; Comparing means for comparing the attached information recorded together with the image signal on the second recording medium, and searching for the desired image information from the recorded information on the first and second recording media by using the attached information. An image recording / reproducing apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned. 2. The image recording and reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a moving image is recorded on the first recording medium, and a still image is recorded on the second recording medium. 3. The image recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a moving image is recorded on both the first and second recording media. 4. A plurality of imaging means for generating a corresponding image signal from an optical image, a plurality of recording media for recording each image signal output from the plurality of imaging means together with predetermined additional information, and the additional information Attached information input means for inputting the attached information, Comparing the attached information input by the attached information input means with the attached information recorded on the plurality of recording media,
An image recording / reproducing apparatus, comprising: reproducing means for reproducing image signals recorded on the plurality of recording media in correspondence with each other. 5. The image recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a moving image is recorded on the first recording medium, and a still image is recorded on the second recording medium. 6. The image recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a moving image is recorded on both the first and second recording media.