JP2011044818A - Electronic camera - Google Patents

Abstract

A camera capable of capturing a still image while recording a moving image, and preventing a frame drop of a moving image depending on the image quality of the still image and the processing speed of the recording medium.
An electronic camera includes an image pickup device that picks up an image of a subject and outputs an image signal, a generation unit that generates still image data and moving image data based on the image signal, and the generated still image data and moving image data. Recording control means for recording the recording medium on the recording medium, detecting means for detecting a parameter relating to recording on the recording medium, and first and second aspects different from each other as recording processing on the recording medium according to the detected parameter The recording control unit records still image data and moving image data generated by the generation unit on a recording medium using the selected recording process.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic camera.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a camera capable of taking a still image during moving image recording is known (for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-200859

  However, there is a problem that frame dropping of moving images occurs depending on the image quality of still images and the processing speed of the recording medium.

  An electronic camera according to a first aspect of the present invention includes an image pickup device that picks up an image of a subject and outputs an image signal, a generation unit that generates still image data and moving image data based on the image signal, and a generated still image A recording control unit that records data and moving image data on a recording medium, a detection unit that detects a parameter related to recording on the recording medium, and a first mode that is different from each other as a recording process on the recording medium according to the detected parameter And a selecting means for selecting one of the second modes, wherein the recording control means records the still image data and the moving image data generated by the generating means on the recording medium using the selected recording process. Features.

  According to the present invention, still image data and moving image data can be recorded on a recording medium by using one recording process of the first aspect and the second aspect selected in accordance with the detected parameter.

The block diagram explaining the principal part structure of the electronic camera by embodiment Time chart for explaining processing in the first mode Time chart for explaining processing in the second mode The flowchart explaining operation | movement of the electronic camera by 1st Embodiment. The flowchart explaining operation | movement of the electronic camera by 2nd Embodiment. The flowchart explaining operation | movement of the electronic camera by a modification. Time chart explaining processing in first mode according to modification The block diagram explaining the principal part structure of the electronic camera by a modification

-First embodiment-
An electronic camera according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The electronic camera according to the present embodiment is configured to be able to shoot a still image while recording a moving image acquired by moving image shooting. As shown in the block diagram of FIG. 1, the electronic camera 1 includes a photographing lens L1, an image sensor 100, a first image processing unit 101, a second image processing unit 102, a moving image compression unit 103, a still image compression unit 104, and a recording image. A buffer 105, an image buffer 106, a control circuit 107, an LCD drive circuit 109, a main display 110, an operation unit 111, and a card interface 112 are provided.

  The image sensor 100 is a photoelectric conversion element such as a CCD or a CMOS that converts subject light received through the photographing lens L1 into an image signal corresponding to the intensity of the subject light. The image sensor 100 outputs an image signal in accordance with the timing signal output from the control circuit 107. The control circuit 107 includes a CPU, ROM, RAM, and the like (not shown), and is an arithmetic circuit that controls each component of the electronic camera 1 and executes various data processing.

  When a user performs a shooting instruction operation, the control circuit 107 controls the image sensor 100 to output an image signal obtained by capturing a subject image. The first image processing unit 101 performs analog processing on the acquired image signal and then performs A / D conversion or the like to generate digital image data (RAW data). The second image processing unit 102 performs image processing such as white balance processing, gamma correction processing, color interpolation processing, contour enhancement, and vignette correction on the digital image data to generate image data.

  The control circuit 107 functionally includes an image quality setting unit 107a, a continuous shooting possible number setting unit 107b, a buffer management unit 107c, a mode selection unit 107d, and a recording control unit 107e. The image quality setting unit 107a sets the content of image processing performed on the image data by the second image processing unit 102 in accordance with the image quality of the captured image set by the user in a setting menu described later. The continuous shooting possible number setting unit 107b is based on the capacity of the image buffer 106, the processing speed (recording speed) and the recording capacity of the memory card 120, and the continuous shooting speed set by the operation of the operation unit 111 described later by the user. The number of image data that can be recorded in the memory card 120 (the number of continuous shots) can be calculated.

  The buffer management unit 107c is a still image to be described later in the image buffer 106 based on the content of the image processing set by the image quality setting unit 107a and the continuous shooting possible number set by the continuous shooting possible number setting unit 107b. The allocation of the image storage area 106a and the still image / video shared storage area 106b is controlled. As described later, the mode selection unit 107d selects a recording mode for still image data and moving image data based on various information (parameters) when still image shooting is performed during moving image shooting. As will be described later, the electronic camera 1 of the present embodiment includes a first mode and a second mode as recording modes, and the mode selection unit 107d selects one of the first mode and the second mode. The recording control unit 107e controls recording processing on at least one of moving image data and still image data. In addition, when still image shooting is instructed during moving image shooting, the recording control unit 107e performs recording processing of moving image data and still image data in the first mode or the second mode selected by the mode selection unit 107d. Control.

  The image buffer 106 is a volatile memory used to temporarily store data during or after image processing, image compression processing, and display data creation processing. The image buffer 106 includes a still image storage area 106a for temporarily storing still image data, and a still image / moving image shared storage area 106b. In the still image storage area 106a, the digital image data (RAW data) generated by the first image processing unit 101 is temporarily stored. The still image / moving image shared storage area 106b temporarily stores still image data or moving image data generated by the second image processing unit 103. The still image storage area 106 a and the still image / moving image shared storage area 106 b are variable within the capacity of the image buffer 106 under the control of the buffer management unit 107 c of the control circuit 107. It is configured as follows.

  The moving image compression unit 103 performs a compression process such as MPEG on the moving image data generated by the second image processing unit 102 to generate a moving image file. The still image compression unit 104 performs JPEG compression processing on the still image data generated by the second image processing unit 102 and generates a still image file in a format such as EXIF. The recording buffer 105 is a volatile memory used for temporarily storing the moving image file generated by the moving image compression unit 103 or the still image file generated by the still image compression unit 104.

  The memory card interface 112 is an interface to which the memory card 120 can be attached / detached, and outputs a detection signal to the control circuit 107 when the attachment / detachment of the memory card 120 is detected. Then, the memory card interface 112 outputs information such as the recording speed and recording capacity of the attached memory card 120 to the control circuit 107. The memory card interface 112 writes the image file temporarily stored in the recording buffer 105 to the memory card 120 or reads the image file recorded on the memory card 120 under the control of the control circuit 107. The memory card 120 is a semiconductor memory card such as a compact flash (registered trademark) or an SD card.

  The LCD drive circuit 109 is a circuit that drives the main display 110 based on a command from the control circuit 107. The main display 110 is a liquid crystal display panel, for example, and displays an image corresponding to the display data created by the control circuit 107 based on the image data recorded on the memory card 120 in the reproduction mode. The main display 120 displays a menu screen for setting various operations of the electronic camera 1. The setting contents displayed on the menu screen include an image quality mode. In the image quality mode, for example, basic, normal, fine, RAW, RAW + fine, and RAW + normal can be set as the image quality of the captured image.

  The operation unit 111 is a switch that receives a user operation. The operation unit 111 includes a power switch, a moving image release switch for instructing moving image shooting, a still image release switch for instructing still image shooting, a display switch for other setting menus, a setting menu determination button, and the like. The contents that can be set by the operation unit 111 include settings such as the operation mode of the electronic camera 1 and the image quality described above. The electronic camera 1 has, for example, a single shooting mode, a continuous shooting mode, a moving image shooting mode, and a playback mode as operation modes. In the continuous shooting mode, the user operates the operation unit 111 to continuously acquire image data such as 4 fps (4 frames per second) or 8 fps (8 frames per second) (shooting interval). That is, the continuous shooting speed can be set.

  The selection process of the first mode or the second mode relating to the recording process of the still image data and the moving image data when the control circuit 107 is instructed to capture the still image during the moving image shooting, and the recording process in the first mode and the second mode. Will be described. The first mode is a mode in which RAW data acquired during moving image shooting is stored in the still image storage area 106a, and after moving image shooting is completed, still image data is generated. The second mode is a mode for generating still image data during moving image shooting.

-First mode-
The mode selection unit 107d selects the first mode when the user sets high image quality (for example, “fine”) as the still image quality. That is, when high-load image processing is involved, the mode selection unit 107d selects the first mode. Then, the image quality setting unit 107a determines the data size of the still image data according to the user's image quality mode setting. Furthermore, the image quality setting unit 107a determines image processing (AE bracketing, color processing, etc.) that the second image processing unit 102 performs on still image data. Corresponding data indicating the correspondence between the image quality and the data size is recorded in advance in a predetermined recording area, and the image quality setting unit 107a refers to the corresponding data to determine the data size of the still image data.

  The continuous shooting number setting unit 107b calculates the number of continuous shootings based on the data size of the still image data determined by the image quality setting unit 107a and the capacity of the still image storage area 106a of the image buffer 106. . In the first mode, since the acquired RAW data is stored in the still image storage area 106a until the moving image shooting is completed, the continuous shooting possible number setting unit 107b sets the capacity of the still image storage area 106a to the still image storage area 106a. The number of continuous shots is calculated by dividing by the data size of the data.

  With reference to the time chart of FIG. 2, recording control by the recording control unit 107e when a still image shooting instruction is given during moving image shooting will be described. FIG. 2 shows a case where 6 frames of moving images have been shot, and 3 frames of still images have been shot from the second frame of moving images. Note that the horizontal axis of the time chart in FIG. 2 indicates time.

  At time t1, the recording control unit 107e causes the image sensor 100 to output an image signal corresponding to the moving image data of the first frame. Then, the recording control unit 107e causes the first image processing unit 101 to perform image processing on the image signal output from the image sensor 100 and generate RAW data. When generation of the RAW data corresponding to the moving image data of the first frame is completed at time t2, the recording control unit 107e causes the second image processing unit 102 to perform image processing on the generated RAW data, thereby moving the moving image data. Is generated. At time t2, the recording control unit 107e causes the first image processing unit 101 to generate RAW data corresponding to the moving image data of the second frame.

  At time t3, the generation of the first frame of moving image data by the second image processing unit 102 and the generation of the RAW data corresponding to the second frame of moving image data by the first image processing unit 101 are completed. The recording control unit 107e then causes the moving image compression unit 103 to compress the first frame of moving image data, and causes the second image processing unit 102 to generate the second frame of moving image data. Further, the recording control unit 107e causes the first image processing unit 101 to generate RAW data corresponding to the moving image data of the third frame. Further, at time t3, the recording control unit 107e converts the RAW data corresponding to the moving image data of the second frame as the RAW data corresponding to the still image data of the first frame as a still image storage area of the image buffer 106. It is stored in 106a.

  At time t4, the first frame of moving image data compression processing, the generation of the second frame of moving image data, and the generation of RAW data corresponding to the third frame of moving image data are completed. Further, the storage of the RAW data corresponding to the still image data of the first frame in the still image storage area 106a ends. At time t4, the recording control unit 107e records the moving image data of the first frame on the memory card 120, causes the moving image compression unit 103 to compress the moving image data of the second frame, and causes the second image processing unit 102 to perform the first processing. The moving image data of the third frame is generated. Further, the recording control unit 107e causes the first image processing unit 101 to generate RAW data corresponding to the moving image data of the fourth frame. In addition, as a process for the still image data, the recording control unit 107e converts the RAW data corresponding to the third frame of moving image data generated at time t4 as the RAW data corresponding to the second frame still image data. The image is stored in the still image storage area 106 a of the image buffer 106.

  Regarding the processing at the time of moving image shooting, the recording control unit 107e performs the above-described processing until the moving image shooting ends (that is, until the recording of the sixth frame of moving image data to the memory card 120 ends at time t11 in FIG. 2). Let the process repeat. As for the still image shooting process, the recording control unit 107e stores the RAW data corresponding to the still image data of the third frame in the still image storage area 106a in the image buffer (in FIG. 2). , Time t6), the above processing is repeated. Then, the recording control unit 107e stores the RAW data corresponding to the three frames of still image data in the still image storage area 106a until the moving image data recording process by the second image processing unit 102 is completed. At this time, the recording control unit 107e secures an area for recording still image data for three frames in the recording area of the memory card 120.

  At time t11, as shown in FIG. 2, recording of moving image data of the sixth frame by the second image processing unit 102, that is, recording of all moving image data ends. Then, the recording control unit 107e causes the second image processing unit 102 to perform image processing on the RAW data corresponding to the still image data of the first frame stored in the still image storage area 106a. First frame still image data is generated. At time t12 when generation of the still image data for the first frame ends, the recording control unit 107e causes the still image compression unit 104 to compress the still image data for the first frame. Further, the recording control unit 107e causes the second image processing unit 102 to perform image processing on the RAW data corresponding to the still image data of the second frame stored in the still image storage area 106a. The second frame still image data is generated.

  When the still image data compression process for the first frame ends at time t13 and a still image file is generated, the recording control unit 107e records the generated still image file on the memory card 120. Then, the recording control unit 107e causes the still image compression unit 104 to start the compression process from the area where the generation of the still image data of the second frame has been completed.

  When still image data of all areas of the second frame is generated at time t14, the recording control unit 107e stores the second image processing unit 102 in the still image storage area 106a. Image processing is performed on the RAW data corresponding to the still image data of the third frame, and still image data of the third frame is generated. At time t15, the recording of the still image file for the first frame and the generation of the still image file for the second frame are completed. Then, the recording control unit 107e starts recording the still image file of the second frame to the memory card 120, and compresses the still image compression unit 104 from the area where the generation of the still image data of the third frame is finished. Start processing. Regarding the processing at the time of still image shooting, the recording control unit 107e until the recording of the still image file to the memory card 120 ends (in FIG. 2, until the recording of the third frame still image file ends at time t18). ) Repeat the above process.

-Second mode-
The mode selection unit 107d selects the second mode when the user sets low image quality (for example, “basic”) as the image quality of the still image. That is, when low-load image processing is involved, the mode selection unit 107d selects the first mode. Then, as in the first mode, the image quality setting unit 107a determines the data size of the still image data and the image processing (second image processing unit 102 applies to the still image data) according to the user's image quality mode setting. AE bracket, color processing, etc.).

  The continuous shooting possible number setting unit 107b determines the data size of the still image data determined by the image quality setting unit 107a, the capacity of the still image storage area 106a of the image buffer 106, the recording speed of the memory card 120, and the user. The number of continuous shots is calculated based on the set continuous shooting speed.

  With reference to the time chart of FIG. 3, recording control by the recording control unit 107e when a still image shooting instruction is given during moving image shooting will be described. FIG. 3 shows a case where a moving picture of 6 frames is taken and three still pictures are taken by continuous shooting from the moving picture of the second frame, as in the time chart of FIG. The time is also shown on the horizontal axis of the time chart of FIG. Further, the processing related to moving image shooting is the same as that shown in FIG. Therefore, the case of still image shooting will be described below.

  At time t3, the recording control unit 107e uses the RAW data corresponding to the moving image data of the second frame as the RAW data corresponding to the still image data of the first frame, as in the first mode. The image is stored in the still image storage area 106 a of the buffer 106. At time t4, the storage of the RAW data corresponding to the still image data of the first frame in the still image storage area 106a ends. At time t4, the recording control unit 107e causes the second image processing unit 102 to perform image processing on the RAW data corresponding to the still image data of the first frame stored in the still image storage area 106a. The still image data of the first frame is generated. Then, the recording control unit 107e converts the RAW data corresponding to the moving image data of the third frame, which has been generated at time t4, as the RAW data corresponding to the still image data of the second frame, as a still image in the image buffer 106. Stored in the storage area 106a.

  At time t5 when the generation of still image data for the first frame ends, the recording control unit 107e causes the still image compression unit 104 to compress the still image data for the first frame. Further, the recording control unit 107e causes the second image processing unit 102 to perform image processing on the RAW data corresponding to the still image data of the second frame stored in the still image storage area 106a. The second frame still image data is generated. When the still image data compression process for the first frame ends at time t6 and a still image file is generated, the recording control unit 107e records the generated still image file on the memory card 120. Then, the recording control unit 107e causes the still image compression unit 104 to start compression processing of still image data for the second frame.

  Furthermore, at time t6, the recording control unit 107e performs image processing on the RAW data corresponding to the still image data of the third frame stored in the still image storage area 106a, with respect to the second image processing unit 102. The third frame still image data is generated. At time t7, the recording of the still image file for the first frame and the generation of the still image file for the second frame are completed. Then, the recording control unit 107e starts recording the still image file of the second frame to the memory card 120, and compresses the still image compression unit 104 from the area where the generation of the still image data of the third frame is finished. Start processing. Regarding the processing at the time of still image shooting, the recording control unit 107e until the recording of the still image file to the memory card 120 ends (in FIG. 3, until the recording of the third frame still image file ends at time t9). ) Repeat the above process.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a flowchart of a control program executed by the control circuit 107. The control program shown in FIG. 4 is stored in a ROM (not shown), and is started when the shooting mode of the electronic camera 1 is set by operating the operation unit 111.
In step S101, it is determined whether or not the image quality of the still image has been set by the user. For example, when a high image quality setting such as “Fine” is set, an affirmative determination is made in step S101 and the process proceeds to step S102. In step S102, the number of continuous shots is calculated based on the capacity of the still image storage area 106a of the image buffer 106, and the process proceeds to step S103. In step S103, the first mode is selected and the process ends.

  If the user has set a low image quality such as “basic”, for example, a negative determination is made in step S101 and the process proceeds to step S104. In step S104, the number of continuous shots is calculated based on the capacity of the still image storage area 106a of the image buffer 106 and the recording speed of the memory card 120, and the process proceeds to step S105. In step S105, the second mode is selected and the process is terminated.

According to the electronic camera 1 according to the first embodiment described above, the following operational effects can be obtained.
(1) The image quality setting unit 107a detects the image quality of a still image set by the user as a recording parameter when recording moving image data and still image data on the memory card 120. The mode selection unit 107d selects one of the first mode and the second mode that are different from each other as the recording process to the memory card 120 in accordance with the set still image quality. Then, the recording control unit 107e records the generated still image data and moving image data on the memory card 120 using the recording mode selected by the mode selection unit 107d. That is, in the first mode, after the recording of the moving image data to the memory card 120 is completed, the second image processing unit 102 performs high-load image processing on the still image data stored in the image buffer 106. . In the second mode, the second image processing unit 102 performs low-load image processing on still image data during recording of moving image data on the memory card 120. Therefore, when a still image is shot during moving image shooting, it is possible to prevent occurrence of a frame drop in the moving image data due to the still image shooting process.

(2) In the first mode, the continuous shooting possible number setting unit 107b calculates the number of still image data that can be continuously acquired based on the capacity of the still image storage area 106a in the image buffer 106. I did it. Further, in the second mode, the continuous shooting possible number setting unit 107b continuously acquires still image data based on the capacity of the still image storage area 106a in the image buffer 106 and the capacity of the memory card 120. The number of possible sheets was calculated. Therefore, it is possible to guarantee the number of continuous shots that can be acquired while maintaining the continuous shooting speed without causing problems such as frame dropping of moving image data.

-Second Embodiment-
A second embodiment of an electronic camera according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and different points will be mainly described. Points that are not particularly described are the same as those in the first embodiment. This embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that one of the first mode and the second mode is selected according to the processing speed of the memory card.

  The mode selection unit 107d selects either the first mode or the second mode based on the recording speed of the memory card 120 input from the memory card interface 112 when the memory card 120 is inserted. That is, the mode selection unit 107d selects the first mode when the recording speed of the memory card 120 is lower than the predetermined threshold, and the second mode when the recording speed of the memory card 120 is higher than the predetermined threshold. Select. Note that the above-described predetermined threshold is a speed at which, when a still image is recorded during moving image recording, the moving image cannot be recorded due to the recording speed of the memory card 120 and a frame is dropped. When the first mode or the second mode is selected, the process for calculating the number of continuous shots by the continuous shot number setting unit 107b and the process for recording the moving image file and the still image file to the memory card 120 by the recording control unit 107e are as follows. This is the same as in the case of the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a flowchart of a control program executed by the control circuit 107. The control program in FIG. 5 is stored in a ROM (not shown), and is started when the photographing mode of the electronic camera 1 is set by operating the operation unit 111.
In step S201, it is determined whether the recording speed of the memory card 120 is low. If the recording speed of the memory card 120 is lower than the predetermined threshold, an affirmative determination is made in step S201 and the process proceeds to step S202. In step S202, the number of continuous shots is calculated based on the capacity of the still image storage area 106a of the image buffer 106, and the process proceeds to step S203. In step S203, the first mode is selected and the process ends.

  If the recording speed of the memory card 120 is higher than the predetermined threshold, a negative determination is made in step S201 and the process proceeds to step S204. In step S204, the number of continuous shots is calculated based on the capacity of the still image storage area 106a of the image buffer 106 and the recording speed of the memory card 120, and the process proceeds to step S205. In step S205, the second mode is selected and the process ends.

According to the electronic camera according to the second embodiment described above, in addition to the functions and effects obtained by the first embodiment, the following functions and effects are obtained.
The mode selection unit 107d selects the first mode when the processing speed of the memory card 120 is low, and selects the second mode when the processing speed of the memory card 120 is high. Therefore, when shooting a still image during moving image shooting, it is possible to prevent a frame drop from occurring in the moving image data due to the recording speed of the memory card 120.

-Modification-
The electronic camera according to the first embodiment or the second embodiment described above can be modified as follows.
(1) One of the first mode and the second mode may be selected based on the set still image quality and the recording speed of the memory card 120. In this case, the mode selection unit 107d prioritizes the recording speed of the memory card 120 and selects the recording mode as one of the first mode and the second mode. That is, even when the image quality mode is set to low image quality (low load), for example, “basic”, the mode selection is performed when the recording speed of the memory card 120 is lower than the threshold described in the second embodiment. The unit 107d selects the first mode.

  Processing executed by the control circuit 107 of the electronic camera 1 according to the modification will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. The flowchart in FIG. 6 is performed by the control circuit 107 executing a control program. The control program shown in FIG. 6 is stored in a ROM (not shown), and is started when the shooting mode of the electronic camera 1 is set by operating the operation unit 111.

  In step S301, it is determined whether or not the image quality of the still image has been set by the user. For example, when a high image quality such as “Fine” is set, an affirmative determination is made in step S301 and the process proceeds to step S302. In step S302, it is determined whether the recording speed of the memory card 120 is low. If the recording speed of the memory card 120 is lower than the predetermined threshold, an affirmative determination is made in step S302 and the process proceeds to step S303. When the recording speed of the memory card 120 is higher than the predetermined threshold, a negative determination is made in step S302, and the process proceeds to step S306 described later. In step S303, the number of continuous shots is calculated based on the capacity of the still image storage area 106a of the image buffer 106, and the process proceeds to step S304. In step S304, the first mode is selected and the process ends.

  If the user has set a low image quality such as “basic”, a negative determination is made in step S301 and the process proceeds to step S305. In step S305, as in step S302, it is determined whether or not the recording speed of the memory card 120 is low. If the recording speed of the memory card 120 is low, an affirmative determination is made in step S305 and the process proceeds to step S303 described above. If the recording speed of the memory card 120 is higher than the predetermined threshold, a negative determination is made in step S305, and the process proceeds to step S306. In step S306, the number of continuous shots is calculated based on the capacity of the still image storage area 106a of the image buffer 106 and the recording speed of the memory card 120, and the process proceeds to step S307. In step S307, the second mode is selected and the process is terminated.

(2) In the first mode, after the image processing on the moving image data by the second image processing unit 102 is completed, the image processing on the still image data may be started. In this case, the time chart in the first mode is as shown in FIG.

  In this case, generation of moving image data of the sixth frame by the second image processing unit 102, that is, generation of all moving image data, ends at time t8. Then, the recording control unit 107e causes the second image processing unit 102 to perform image processing on the RAW data of the first frame stored in the still image storage area 106a to generate still image data. At time t <b> 10 when generation of the first frame still image data is completed, the recording control unit 107 e causes the still image compression unit 104 to compress the first frame still image data. Further, the recording control unit 107e causes the second image processing unit 102 to generate still image data using the RAW data of the second frame stored in the still image storage area 106a.

  When the still image data compression process for the first frame ends at time t12 and a still image file is generated, the recording control unit 107e causes the generated still image file to be recorded on the memory card 120, and the recording is performed. The control unit 107e causes the still image compression unit 104 to start the compression process from the area where the generation of the still image data of the second frame has been completed.

  When the still image data of all the areas of the second frame is generated at time t13, the recording control unit 107e causes the second image processing unit 102 to generate the still image data of the third frame. At time t14, recording of the first frame still image file and generation of the second frame still image file are completed. Then, the recording control unit 107e starts recording the still image file of the second frame to the memory card 120, and compresses the still image compression unit 104 from the area where the generation of the still image data of the third frame is finished. Start processing. Regarding the processing at the time of still image shooting, the recording control unit 107e until the recording of the still image file to the memory card 120 ends (in FIG. 2, until the recording of the third frame still image file ends at time t16). ) Repeat the above process.

-Third embodiment-
A third embodiment of an electronic camera according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and different points will be mainly described. Points that are not particularly described are the same as those in the first embodiment. The present embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the image quality of moving image data is set according to the number of continuous shots set when continuous shooting of still images is performed.

  In the continuous shooting mode of the electronic camera 1 according to the present embodiment, the user can set the number of continuous shots by operating the operation unit 111. When the continuous shooting number is set, the continuous shooting possible number setting unit 107b sets the data size of the still image data determined by the image quality setting unit 107a, the capacity of the still image storage area 106a of the image buffer 106, and the setting. Based on the number of continuous shots, the number of continuous shots is calculated. Note that the number of images that can be continuously shot is the number of images that can be recorded in the memory card 120 with still image data acquired by continuous shooting at the shooting interval set as described above.

  When the number of continuous shots is calculated, the image quality setting unit 107a sets the content of image processing to be performed on the moving image data according to the calculated number of continuous shots. That is, when the calculated number of continuous shots is greater than a predetermined threshold, the image quality setting unit 107a sets, for example, the size (resolution) of the moving image data low so that the image quality of the moving image data becomes low. . Then, the image quality setting unit 107a causes the second image processing unit 102 to perform image processing so that the moving image data has the set size. Note that the image quality may be set low by reducing the compression rate of the moving image data. In this case, the image quality setting unit 107a causes the moving image compression unit 103 to perform a compression process so that the moving image data has a low compression rate set. The above threshold is the number of continuous shots in which a plurality of still image data is continuously recorded on the memory card 120 and moving image recording cannot be performed and frames are dropped.

According to the electronic camera according to the third embodiment described above, the following operational effects can be obtained.
The continuous shooting number setting unit 107b accepts a setting operation for setting the number of still image data to be continuously acquired, sets the continuous shooting number, and the image quality setting unit 107a sets the set number of continuous shootings to the set number. Based on this, the image processing to be applied to the moving image data is set. That is, when the set number of continuous shots exceeds a predetermined threshold, the image quality setting unit 107a sets the image quality so that the image processing of moving image data has a low load. Therefore, by maintaining the number of images that can be continuously shot when continuously acquiring still images, it is possible to prevent frames from dropping in moving image data.

The electronic cameras of the first to third embodiments described above can be modified as follows.
(1) As a low-load process, instead of setting the image quality to low image quality, the data size of still image data may be set low. In this case, the user can operate the operation unit 111 so that the size of the still image data can be selected from, for example, S, M, or L. The mode selection unit 107d determines that the process is low load when the size of the still image data is set to S or M by the user, and high load when the size of the still image data is set to L. In this case, the recording mode may be selected.

(2) Instead of recording moving image data and still image data on the memory card 120, they may be recorded on an external device, a server, or the like. In this case, as shown in the block diagram of FIG. 8, the electronic camera 1 includes an external interface 115 in addition to the components shown in FIG. The external interface 115 is, for example, a predetermined cable such as a USB interface cable (not shown) or an external device 300 (for example, a personal computer) connected via a wireless transmission path according to a command from the control circuit 107. Sends and receives data via two-way communication. Then, the recording control unit 107e included in the control circuit 107 transmits the generated moving image data and still image data to the external device 300 via the external interface 115 to record them. Note that the mode selection unit 107d may select either the first mode or the second mode based on the communication speed of the external interface 115.

  In addition, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment as long as the characteristics of the present invention are not impaired, and other forms conceivable within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention are also within the scope of the present invention. included. The embodiments and modifications used in the description may be configured by appropriately combining them.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Electronic camera, 100 ... Image sensor,
101 ... 1st image processing part, 102 ... 2nd image processing part,
106: Image buffer, 106a: Still image storage area,
107... Control circuit, 107a.
107b... Continuous shooting possible number setting section, 107d... Mode selection section,
107e: Recording control unit, 120: Memory card

Claims (7)

An image sensor that images a subject and outputs an image signal;
Generating means for generating still image data and moving image data based on the image signal;
Recording control means for recording the generated still image data and the moving image data on a recording medium;
Detection means for detecting parameters relating to recording on the recording medium;
Selecting means for selecting one of the first mode and the second mode different from each other as a recording process to the recording medium according to the detected parameter;
The electronic camera characterized in that the recording control means records the still image data and the moving image data generated by the generating means on the recording medium using the selected recording process. The electronic camera according to claim 1,
Storage means for temporarily storing the generated still image data and the moving image data;
Image processing means for performing image processing on the still image data and the moving image data;
When the detected parameter indicates that the still image data is subjected to high-load image processing, the selection unit selects the first mode, and the detected parameter is a low-load image for the still image data. When indicating that processing is to be performed, the selecting means selects the second mode,
In the first aspect, after the recording of the moving image data to the recording medium is completed, the image processing unit performs the high-load image processing on the still image data stored in the storage unit,
The electronic camera according to the second aspect, wherein the image processing means performs the low-load image processing on the still image data during recording of the moving image data on the recording medium. The electronic camera according to claim 2,
The storage means includes first storage means for storing the still image data, and second storage means for storing the moving image data,
In the first aspect, the number of still image data that can be acquired continuously is calculated based on the capacity of the first storage means, and in the second aspect, the capacity of the first storage means and the recording An electronic camera, further comprising: a calculating unit that calculates the number of still image data that can be continuously acquired based on a capacity of a medium. The electronic camera according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
When the detected parameter indicates that the processing speed of the recording medium is low, the selection unit selects the first mode. The electronic camera according to claim 2 or 3,
The image processing means generates the high-quality still image data in the high-load image processing, and generates the low-quality still image data in the low-load image processing. . An image sensor that images a subject and outputs an image signal;
Generating means for generating still image data and moving image data based on the image signal;
Recording control means for recording the generated still image data and the moving image data on a recording medium;
Accepting means for accepting a setting operation for setting the number of the still image data to be continuously acquired;
An electronic camera comprising: setting means for setting image processing to be applied to the moving image data based on the number of sheets set by the setting operation. The electronic camera according to claim 6.
The electronic camera characterized in that the setting means sets an image quality of the moving image data.

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