JP5523081B2 - Recording device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a recording apparatus, and more particularly to an apparatus for recording a moving image on a recording medium.

JP 2006-173908 A

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a video camera is known as an apparatus for recording a moving image or sound. In recent years, video cameras for homes that record random access such as memory cards and HDDs and record moving images and audio on a large-capacity recording medium have appeared and are widely used in general homes. Also, home video cameras can record high definition (HD) moving images. Since the HD moving image has a large amount of information, a memory card capable of writing moving image data at high speed is required to record the information.

  Therefore, a memory card that guarantees the data writing speed by accessing a block composed of a plurality of clusters as a unit has been proposed. Some memory cards whose speed is guaranteed in this way do not guarantee the writing speed when writing in cluster units is instructed during the writing of data in block units.

  Some home video cameras are capable of taking still images while recording a moving image (for example, Patent Document 1). When recording a still image, it is common to record in a format different from the recording format for moving images.

  As described above, if still image shooting is performed while a moving image is being recorded on the memory card, it is necessary to create a directory for recording the still image at that time.

  However, in the case of a memory card with a guaranteed speed, when a still image recording directory is created during recording of moving image data, a process of adding a new directory entry occurs. Therefore, the writing speed of the moving image data is not guaranteed, and there is a possibility that the recording of the moving image is interrupted.

  In addition to still image shooting, if processing that requires directory entry operations is performed during continuous data writing, the data writing speed is not guaranteed, and recording is interrupted. There's a problem.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a recording apparatus that solves such problems.

The recording apparatus according to the present invention is an acquisition unit that acquires moving image data and still image data, and a recording unit that records the moving image data and the still image data on a recording medium, the recording unit being recorded on the recording medium Recording means for managing moving picture data and still picture data by storing them in a directory, receiving means for receiving instructions for starting and stopping recording of the moving picture data, and recording instructions for the still picture data, and types of the recording medium Detecting means for detecting the recording medium, and control means for controlling the recording means based on the output of the detecting means, wherein the control means is provided when the recording medium is accessed in units of blocks comprising a plurality of clusters. In the case of a predetermined recording medium that guarantees the data writing speed and does not guarantee the writing speed when accessed in cluster units, A new still image storage directory is created before an instruction to start recording of the data, and the still image data is stored in the still image storage directory in accordance with the recording instruction of the still image data during recording of the moving image data. And when the recording medium is not the predetermined recording medium, the still image storage directory is stored in response to a recording instruction of the still image data during recording of the moving image data. The recording means is controlled so as to newly create and store and record the still image data .

  According to the present invention, creation of a still image storage directory can be suppressed during moving image recording. This ensures data writing speed when accessed in units of blocks consisting of multiple clusters, and suppresses video writing failures even for types of recording media that do not guarantee writing speed when accessed in cluster units. .

It is a figure which shows the structure of the video camera in embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows a discrimination | determination process. It is a flowchart which shows a moving image recording process. It is a flowchart which shows a moving image recording process. It is a flowchart which shows the deletion process of a directory.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a video camera 100 as an embodiment of the present invention. The video camera 100 records moving image data according to the AVCHD format and records still image data according to a DCF (Design Rule for Camera File system) format. The recorded moving image data and still image data are managed according to a FAT (File Allocation Table) file system.

  In FIG. 1, an imaging unit 101 captures a subject, generates moving image data indicating the subject, and outputs it. The imaging unit 101 includes an optical system such as a zoom lens and a focus lens, an image sensor such as a CCD, an iris, an AD converter that converts a captured moving image signal into a digital signal, a processing circuit that performs necessary processing on the digital moving image signal, and the like. Including. In addition, when there is a still image shooting instruction from the control unit 109, the imaging unit 101 generates still image data of one screen at a timing corresponding to the still image shooting instruction and stores it in the memory 102. The memory 102 stores moving image data, still image data, and other data output from the imaging unit 101. In other words, the imaging unit 101 is an acquisition unit that acquires moving image data and still image data.

  The signal processing unit 103 compresses and encodes the captured moving image signal according to a known moving image compression method such as the MPEG method at the time of recording, and decodes or expands the compressed and encoded moving image signal and audio signal at the time of reproduction. The signal processing unit 103 also compresses and encodes still image data stored in the memory 102 using a known method such as JPEG in accordance with a still image shooting instruction from the control unit 109, and stores the compressed data in the memory 102. The signal processing unit 103 has a function of expanding compressed still image data.

  The display control unit 104 causes the display unit 105 to display moving images, still images, and various types of information in accordance with instructions from the control unit 109. Further, as will be described later, when there is an instruction to set the continuous recording mode, the display control unit 104 generates a setting screen for the user to set the continuous recording mode and causes the display unit 105 to display the setting screen. The display unit 105 includes a known display device such as a liquid crystal panel.

  The recording / reproducing unit 106 records and reproduces moving image data, still image data, and various data on the recording medium 107 in accordance with instructions from the control unit 109. The recording medium 107 is built in the main body of the video camera 100. The recording medium 107 is composed of a large-capacity flash memory, for example, but may be a random access recording medium such as a hard disk (HDD). The recording / playback unit 106 manages data recorded on the recording medium 107 as a file in accordance with the FAT file system. The recording / playback unit 106 stores and manages moving image files in a directory according to the AVCHD format, and stores and manages still image files in a directory according to the DCF format.

  The control unit 109 includes a microcomputer and necessary memory. The operation unit 108 includes various switches such as a power switch, a trigger switch for instructing start and stop of moving image shooting, a still image shooting switch, a zoom switch, a playback switch, and a menu switch. The control unit 109 also functions as a reception unit that receives a user instruction from the operation unit 108. The control unit 109 controls the operation of each unit of the video camera 100 in accordance with an instruction from the operation unit 108 according to a program stored in the memory 102. In this embodiment, the user operates a menu switch to display a menu screen on the display unit 105, and changes the settings of the video camera 100 using this menu screen.

  Similar to the recording / reproducing unit 106, the recording / reproducing unit 110 records and reproduces various data on the recording medium 111 in accordance with instructions from the control unit 109. The recording medium 111 is a replaceable memory card with a built-in flash memory, but may be a randomly accessible recording medium such as a hard disk (HDD). The recording medium 111 can be easily mounted on and discharged from the video camera 100 by a mounting / discharging mechanism (not shown). The recording / reproducing unit 110 includes a lid 112 that protects the loaded recording medium 111. The user can attach or eject the recording medium 111 by opening the lid 112. The moving image can be recorded by closing the lid 112 with the recording medium 111 mounted. The recording / reproducing unit 110 determines whether or not the recording medium 111 is mounted, and outputs information indicating whether the recording medium 111 is mounted or not to the control unit 109. The open / close detection unit 113 detects the open / closed state of the lid 112 and outputs information indicating whether the lid 112 is open or closed to the control unit 109.

  In this embodiment, two types of recording media can be used as the recording medium 111. The first type of recording medium 111 is a recording medium that guarantees a data writing speed when accessed in units of a block composed of a plurality of clusters, and does not guarantee a writing speed when accessed in units of clusters. The second type of recording medium 111 is a recording medium that guarantees the data writing speed even when accessed in units of clusters. Further, it is assumed that the data writing speed when the first type recording medium is accessed in block units is faster than the writing speed of the second type recording medium. The recording / reproducing unit 110 detects whether the loaded recording medium 111 is the first type recording medium or the second type recording medium, and notifies the control unit 109 of the detection result. The built-in recording medium 107 is a second type of recording medium that guarantees the data writing speed even when accessed in units of clusters.

  The output unit 114 outputs the captured moving image signal and reproduced moving image signal to an external device of the video camera 100. The internal bus 115 is used to transfer various data and commands between the units of the video camera 100.

  A basic photographing process of the video camera 100 will be described. In the video camera 100, moving image data and still image data can be recorded on both the built-in recording medium 107 and the recording medium 111, and can be reproduced from either. The user operates the operation unit 108 when the video camera 100 is in the recording pause state, and selects one of these two recording media 107 and 111 as a recording destination. The control unit 109 stores information indicating the selected recording medium in an internal nonvolatile memory.

  When the video camera 100 is turned on by the operation unit 108, the control unit 109 controls each unit and executes the following recording preparation process. When the recording preparation is completed, a moving image of the subject corresponding to the moving image signal obtained by the imaging unit 101 is displayed on the display unit 105, and a recording pause state is set. In this state, as described above, when a recording medium as a recording destination is set and an instruction to start shooting is given by the operation unit 108, the control unit 109 controls each unit and starts recording moving image data. The imaging unit 101 outputs moving image data in response to an instruction from the control unit 109. This moving image data is temporarily stored in the memory 102 via the bus 115. The signal processing unit 103 encodes the moving image data stored in the memory 102 and stores the compressed moving image data in the memory 102.

  When the recording medium 107 is selected as the recording destination, the control unit 109 reads the compressed moving image data from the memory 102 to the recording / reproducing unit 106 and records it on the recording medium 107. When the recording medium 111 is selected as the recording destination, the control unit 109 reads the compressed moving image data from the memory 102 to the recording / reproducing unit 110 and causes the recording medium 111 to record the compressed moving image data.

  After the start of recording, when the operation unit 108 instructs to stop moving image shooting, the control unit 109 instructs the recording / reproducing unit 106 or 110 corresponding to the recording medium 107 or 111 selected as the recording destination to stop recording the moving image signal. To do. In this embodiment, a series of moving image signals recorded between an instruction to start shooting and an instruction to stop shooting are managed as one file.

  When a signal indicating the open state of the lid 112 is output from the open / close detection unit 113 during recording of the moving image signal on the recording medium 111, the control unit 109 controls the recording / reproducing unit 110 to record the moving image signal on the recording medium 111. To stop. On the other hand, even when the open / close detection unit 113 outputs a signal indicating the open state of the lid 112 during the recording of the moving image signal on the built-in recording medium 107, the control unit 109 continues without stopping the recording of the moving image signal. To do. The control unit 109 also records each of the recording / playback units 106 and 110 so as to stop the recording of the moving image signal when the recording remaining amount of the recording medium 107 or 111 selected as the recording destination becomes a predetermined amount or less during the recording of the moving image. To control.

  In the recording pause state, when a still image shooting instruction is given by the operation unit 108, the control unit 109 instructs the imaging unit 101 to output a still image. The imaging unit 101 generates still image data for one screen in response to a still image output instruction, and stores the still image data in the memory 102. The signal processing unit 103 compresses and encodes still image data in the memory 102 in accordance with a still image recording instruction from the control unit 109, and stores the compressed still image data in the memory 102. The control unit 109 instructs the recording / reproducing unit 106 or 110 corresponding to the recording medium 107 or 111 selected as the recording destination to record still image data. The recording / playback unit 106 or 110 records the compressed still image data on the recording medium 107 or 111 according to this instruction.

  In the present embodiment, a still image can be recorded during moving image shooting. In this case, before starting the moving image shooting, the user operates the operation unit 108 to set the simultaneous shooting mode. When a still image shooting instruction is given by the operation unit 108 during recording of a moving image, the imaging unit 101 outputs one-screen still image data corresponding to the still image shooting instruction. This still image data is compression-encoded as described above and stored in the memory 102.

  When the moving image recording destination and the still image recording destination are the same recording medium, the compressed still image data is recorded on the same recording medium in accordance with the recording timing of the moving image signal. In this embodiment, the data rate of the moving image signal is lower than the data rate that can be recorded on each of the recording media 107 and 111. Therefore, every time a predetermined amount of compressed moving image data is stored in the memory 102, the compressed moving image data is read from the memory 102 and written to the recording medium. When the amount of compressed moving image data stored in the memory 102 becomes lower than the threshold, recording on the recording medium at the recording destination is temporarily stopped. If there is an instruction to shoot a still image while recording a moving image, the still image is recorded while recording a moving image signal to the recording medium is paused. The simultaneous recording of moving images and still images will be described later.

  When a recording medium for recording a moving image is different from a recording medium for recording a still image, a still image signal can be recorded while recording a moving image signal.

  The reproduction process of this embodiment will be described. When the playback unit is instructed by the operation unit 108, the control unit 109 detects the recording medium selected as the playback source from the recording medium 107 and the recording medium 111. The recording / reproducing unit 106 or 110 is controlled so as to read out the compressed moving image data of the moving image head portion of the moving image file recorded in the selected recording medium 107 or 111. The signal processing unit 103 decodes the read compressed moving image data and sends it to the display control unit 104. The display control unit 104 reduces the size of the decoded top screen, generates a representative image, and displays the representative image on the display unit 105. The user operates the operation unit 108 to select a desired representative image to be reproduced from the representative images of each moving image file displayed on the display unit 105, and instruct to reproduce.

  The control unit 109 controls the recording / reproducing unit 106 or 110 corresponding to the selected recording medium 107 or 111 so as to reproduce the moving image file corresponding to the representative image instructed to be reproduced. The recording / playback unit 106 or 110 reads the designated moving image file from the recording medium 107 or 111 and stores it in the memory 102. The signal processing unit 103 reads and decodes the compressed moving image data from the memory 102 and stores the reproduced moving image data in the memory 102. The display control unit 104 reads the reproduced moving image data from the memory 102 and causes the display unit 105 to display the reproduced moving image data. Then, when there is an instruction to stop playback, the control unit 109 stops playback of the moving image file and causes the display unit 105 to display the representative image again.

  When reproduction of a still image is instructed, the control unit 109 similarly generates a representative image of each still image data recorded on the recording medium 107 or 111 and causes the display unit 105 to display it. A still image file corresponding to the representative image selected by the user is reproduced from the recording medium 107 or 111 and displayed on the display unit 105.

  A shooting preparation process and a process for generating a directory for storing still image files will be described. When the power of the video camera 100 is turned on, the control unit 109 executes a recording preparation process that enables recording of moving images and still images. The recording preparation process includes a determination process for determining whether or not recording on the recording media 107 and 111 is possible. Further, when the recording medium 111 is newly loaded, the discrimination process is executed for the newly loaded recording medium 111. In the recording preparation process, the state of each of the recording media 107 and 111 is confirmed, and it is detected whether or not the recording medium 111 is the first type of recording medium.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the determination process of the recording medium 111. The process of FIG. 2 is executed by the control unit 109 controlling each unit.

  When the control unit 109 detects that the video camera 100 is turned on by the operation unit 108 or the lid 112 is closed, the control unit 109 starts the process illustrated in FIG. First, the state of the recording medium 111 is confirmed with respect to the recording / reproducing unit 110 (S201). It is determined whether or not the recording medium 111 is accessible (S202). If the recording medium 111 is not loaded or the lid 112 is open, it is determined that access is not possible. If it is not accessible (S202), the state without the recording medium 111 is set, information to that effect is stored in the memory 102 (S210), and the process ends.

If the recording medium 111 is accessible (S202), it is determined whether data recording is possible for the recording medium 111 (S203). Specifically, it is determined that recording is possible when the recording medium 111 satisfies all of the following conditions 1 to 6. That is,
(Condition 1) The recordable remaining amount is equal to or greater than a predetermined value.
(Condition 2) The number of recorded moving image scenes (number of moving image files) is less than the upper limit of the number of scenes defined in the recording format.
(Condition 3) The file format is correct.
(Condition 4) The file system is correct.
(Condition 5) The moving image broadcasting system already recorded matches the moving image broadcasting method recorded by the video camera 100.
(Condition 6) Protection is not applied.

  Regarding condition 1, it is determined whether the remaining recording amount is 0 or more than a predetermined value close to 0. The video camera 100 records moving images according to the AVCHD format, and the upper limit of scenes that can be recorded on one recording medium is determined depending on the recording format. Condition 2 relates to the upper limit of the number of scenes. The number of scenes recorded on the recording medium 111 is detected to determine whether the upper limit has been reached. For conditions 3 and 4, it is determined whether or not the file format of the recording medium 111 is the same as the file format and file system defined by the recording format in the video camera 100, respectively.

  The video camera 100 shoots and records NTSC video. Therefore, as condition 5, as for condition 6 for determining whether or not a moving image of a broadcasting system other than the NTSC system, for example, a PAL system, is recorded on the recording medium 111, data cannot be written to the recording medium 111. It is determined whether or not it is protected.

  For each of the conditions 1 to 6, the control unit 109 determines according to a response from the recording / reproducing unit 110 as a result of an inquiry to the recording / reproducing unit 110. At this time, the control unit 109 also acquires information on the remaining recording capacity of the recording medium 111, and calculates the time during which a moving image can be recorded and / or the number of still images that can be recorded.

  If it is determined that recording of moving images and still images on the recording medium 111 is not possible (S203), recording is impossible on the recording medium 111, information to that effect is stored in the memory 102 (S211), and the process ends. To do.

  When a moving image or a still image can be recorded on the recording medium 111 (S203), information indicating that recording is possible on the recording medium 111 is stored in the memory 102 (S204). The type of the loaded recording medium 111 is detected (S205). Specifically, the recording / reproducing unit 110 reads the manufacturer ID information from the recording medium 111, information on the standards supported by the recording medium 111, and the like from the recording medium 111, and determines the type of the recording medium 111 based on these information. To detect.

  It is determined whether the recording medium 111 is the first type of recording medium (S206). If the recording medium 111 is not the first type of recording medium (S206), the process is terminated as it is. When the recording medium 111 is the first type of recording medium (S206), the still image storage directory created in the recording medium 111 is confirmed (S207). Then, it is determined whether or not a directory capable of storing a still image exists (S208). For example, the directory with the largest number is confirmed among the still image storage directories created on the recording medium 111. If the number of still image files already stored in the directory having the largest directory number is equal to or smaller than a predetermined value, it is determined that there is a directory that can store still image files.

  In the DCF standard, the upper limit of the number of still image files that can be stored in one directory is defined as 9999. Therefore, according to the standard, still image files can be stored in this directory until the number of still image files stored in the directory with the largest number reaches 9999. However, if a large number of files are stored in one directory, it becomes difficult to handle. In this embodiment, the number of still image files that can be stored in one still image directory is set to a smaller number, for example, 100 to 1000. The degree. Of course, a predetermined value in the standard may be set as the upper limit value, or may be set to another value.

  If there is no directory that can store still images (S208), a new directory for storing still images is created in the recording medium 111 (S209). When a new directory is created, a new directory entry is created on the file system. In this embodiment, when recording a directory entry, the recording medium is accessed in units of clusters rather than in units of blocks consisting of a plurality of clusters. In this embodiment, each directory is managed by adding a directory number independently. Each time a new directory is created, the directory number is incremented by a predetermined value (for example, 1). If there is a directory in which a still image can be stored (S208), the process ends.

  In the case of the first type of recording medium, if a still image directory is created during recording of a moving image, the expected writing speed is not guaranteed, so that continuous moving image recording is not guaranteed. However, in this embodiment, as shown in steps S206 to S209, a still image directory is created in advance when the power is turned on or when the power is mounted. Although details will be described later, in the simultaneous shooting mode, even if there is an instruction to shoot a still image during movie shooting, the still image is stored in the still image directory without interrupting or stopping the recording of the movie, Can be recorded.

  Processing in the simultaneous shooting mode in which a still image can be shot while recording a moving image will be described. In this embodiment, the user can independently set the moving image recording destination and the still image recording destination in the simultaneous shooting mode by operating the operation unit 108. For example, the moving image recording destination in the simultaneous shooting mode can be set in the built-in recording medium 107, and the still image recording destination can be set in the recording medium 111. Alternatively, both the moving image and still image recording destinations can be set in the recording medium 107, or can be set in the recording medium 111.

  When the video recording destination and the still image recording destination in the simultaneous shooting mode are different, the video is recorded on the recording medium set as the video recording destination according to the instruction to start recording the video, and according to the instruction to stop recording, Stop recording the movie. If there is a still image recording instruction during recording of a moving image, the still image is recorded on a recording medium set as a still image recording destination. When the number of still image files stored in the still image directory reaches a predetermined number, a still image directory is newly created to store still image files.

  A processing operation when the recording destination of the moving image and the still image in the simultaneous shooting mode is set to the same recording medium will be described. FIG. 3 shows a processing operation when a moving image recording destination and a still image recording destination in the simultaneous shooting mode are set on the recording medium 111 which is the second type of recording medium. The control unit 109 controls each unit according to the process shown in FIG.

  When the simultaneous photographing mode is set by the operation unit 108 and the recording start of the moving image is instructed, the recording of the moving image on the recording medium 111 is started (S301). It is determined whether still image recording is instructed by the operation unit 108 during recording of a moving image (S302). If there is no instruction to record a still image (S302), it is determined whether or not an instruction to stop recording a moving image has been issued (S303). If there is no instruction to stop moving image recording (S303), the process returns to S301 to continue recording the moving image. If there is an instruction to stop recording of moving images (S303), recording of moving image data is stopped (S304), and the recording standby state is resumed.

  When there is a still image recording instruction during moving image recording (S302), as described above, one-screen still image data is generated and stored in the memory 102 (S305). It is determined whether the still image file can be stored in the directory selected as the storage destination of the still image file (S306). In this embodiment, among the still image directories created on the recording medium 111, the directory with the largest directory number is selected as the storage destination directory. Here, it is determined whether or not the number of still image files already stored in the storage destination still image directory has reached a predetermined value.

  If the number of still image files already stored in the storage destination still image directory has not reached the predetermined value, it is determined that the storage is possible (S306). In this case, the still image data (compressed still image data) stored in the memory 102 is stored and recorded in the storage destination still image directory (S307).

  If the number of still image files already stored in the storage destination still image directory has reached a predetermined value and cannot be stored any more, it is determined that storage is impossible (S306). In this case, the control unit 109 controls the recording / reproducing unit 110 to create a new still image storage directory on the recording medium 111 (S308). Then, the still image data (compressed still image data) stored in the memory 102 is stored and recorded in the newly created directory (S309).

  FIG. 4 shows a processing operation when the moving image recording destination and the still image recording destination are set to the same recording medium 111 in the simultaneous shooting mode and the recording medium 111 is the first type of recording medium. The control unit 109 controls each unit according to the process shown in FIG.

  When the simultaneous shooting mode is set by the operation unit 108 and the start of moving image recording is instructed, the moving image recording on the recording medium 111 starts as described above (S401). It is determined whether or not still image recording is instructed by the operation unit 108 during moving image recording (S402). If there is no instruction to record a still image (S402), it is determined whether or not an instruction to stop recording a moving image has been issued (S403). If there is no instruction to stop moving image recording (S403), the process returns to S401 to continue recording the moving image.

  When there is an instruction to stop recording moving images (S403), recording of moving image data is stopped (S404). Then, it is determined whether or not a directory capable of storing a still image exists (S405). Specifically, it is determined whether or not the number of still image files stored in the directory having the largest directory number among the still image directories on the recording medium 111 has reached a predetermined value. If there is no directory that can store still images (S405), a new directory for storing still images is created in the recording medium 111 (S406). When a new directory is created, a new directory entry is recorded on the recording medium 111. If there is a directory in which a still image can be stored (S405), the process is terminated.

  When a still image recording instruction is issued during moving image recording (S402), as described above, one-screen still image data is generated, and the compressed still image data is stored in the memory 102 (S407). Then, it is determined whether or not the still image file can be stored in the directory selected as the storage destination of the still image file (S408). In this embodiment, among the still image directories created on the recording medium 111, the directory with the largest directory number is selected as the storage destination directory. Therefore, it is determined whether or not the number of still image files already stored in the storage destination still image directory has reached a predetermined value.

  If the number of still image files already stored in the storage destination still image directory has not reached the predetermined value, it is determined that the storage is possible (S408). In this case, the compressed still image data stored in the memory 102 is stored in the still image directory and recorded (S409).

  If the number of still image files already stored in the storage destination still image directory has reached a predetermined value and cannot be stored any more, it is determined that the storage is impossible (S408). In this case, recording of still image data is prohibited (S410), and warning information (icon) indicating that a still image cannot be captured is displayed on the display unit 105 by the display control unit 104 (S411). By checking this icon, the user can recognize that no more still images can be taken.

  FIG. 5 shows a flowchart of still image directory deletion processing when the lid 112 is opened to turn off the power or to take out the recording medium 111. The control unit 109 controls each unit according to the process shown in FIG. Specifically, when the operation unit 108 instructs to turn off the power or the open / close detection unit 113 detects that the power supply is open, the control unit 109 starts the process illustrated in FIG.

  It is determined whether or not the recording medium 111 is the first type of recording medium (S501). If the recording medium 111 is not the first type of recording medium (S501), the process ends. If the recording medium 111 is the first type of recording medium (S502), it is determined whether or not the still image storage directory newly created in S209 or S406 exists in the recording medium 111 (S502). If there is no newly created directory (S502), the process is terminated. When there is a newly created directory (S502), it is determined whether or not one or more still image files are stored in the new directory (S503). If no still image file is stored in the new directory (S503), the new directory is deleted (S504). When the directory is deleted, the directory entry is deleted from the recording medium 111. If one or more still image files are stored in the new directory (S503), the process ends.

  In the present embodiment, when a recording medium of a type in which recording of a continuous moving image is not guaranteed if a still image directory is created during recording of a moving image is used as a recording destination, the still image directory is generated in advance when the power is turned on or mounted. Thus, in the simultaneous shooting mode, even when there is an instruction to shoot a still image during moving image shooting, the still image can be stored and recorded in the still image directory without interrupting or stopping the recording of the moving image.

  In addition to the simultaneous shooting mode, when a first type of recording medium is loaded as the recording medium 111, a process corresponding to steps S405 and S406 in FIG. Also good.

  In the present embodiment, the built-in recording medium 107 and the replaceable recording medium 111 can be designated as recording destinations for moving images and still images. The present invention can also be applied to a configuration for recording images. The present invention can also be applied to a configuration for recording a moving image or a still image on one recording medium.

Although the embodiment applied to the video camera has been described, the present invention can be applied to any imaging device capable of recording moving images and still images.

Claims (4)

Acquisition means for acquiring video data and still image data;
Recording means for recording the moving image data and the still image data on a recording medium, wherein the recording means manages the moving image data and the still image data recorded on the recording medium by storing them in a directory;
Receiving means for receiving instructions for starting and stopping recording of the moving image data and recording instructions for the still image data;
Detecting means for detecting the type of the recording medium;
Control means for controlling the recording means based on the output of the detection means,
The control means is a predetermined recording medium that guarantees a data writing speed when the recording medium is accessed in units of blocks composed of a plurality of clusters, and does not guarantee a writing speed when accessed in units of clusters. In this case, a new still image storage directory is created before the instruction to start recording the moving image data, and the still image storage directory is stored in the still image storage directory in accordance with the instruction to record the still image data during recording of the moving image data. When the recording means is controlled to store and record still image data, and the recording medium is not the predetermined recording medium, the still image data is recorded in response to an instruction to record the still image data during recording of the moving image data. and create a new storage directory recording apparatus characterized by controlling the recording device to record and store the still image data When the number of still image data stored in the still image storage directory during recording of the moving image data reaches a predetermined value when the recording medium is the predetermined recording medium, the control means When data recording is prohibited and the recording medium is not the predetermined recording medium, when the number of still image data stored in the still image storage directory during recording of the moving image data reaches the predetermined value, a new The recording apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the recording unit is controlled to create a still image storage directory . The control means determines whether or not a still image file is stored in the newly created still image storage directory in response to a power-off instruction, and stores it in the newly created still image storage directory. 2. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when it is determined that no still image file is stored, the newly created still image storage directory is deleted. When the still image storage directory in which the number of stored still image files is equal to or less than a predetermined value has already been created for the predetermined recording medium, the control means instructs to start recording the moving image data. 2. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a new still image storage directory is not created before the recording.

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