JPH11308555A - Moving image recording system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To record a moving image without omitting a frame by setting the recording means to record moving image data corresponding to the respective states of plural recording means. SOLUTION: In addition to a hard disk(HD) 1 built in a personal computer 1000, an external HD 2 is connected and drive software for fetching the moving image of a digital camera 1 is installed. After processing at the time of start, set values such as the frame rate of a setting file, ON/OFF of a flash, and preservation destination drive and preservation destination file names are displayed in the dialog of a monitor picture 1001. Corresponding to whether the value of the frame rate is more than 4 fps or not, the setting of the flash is made invalid or valid and when it is valid, corresponding to the click of a radio button, ON/OFF is switched. Next, the drive of optimum vacant capacity is selected, recording is started and the photographed image of the digital camera 1 is received and preserved on the designated drive.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a moving image recording system using a combination of an electronic imaging device such as a digital camera and a computer, for example, a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a personal computer).

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a moving image recording system in which a video photographing apparatus such as a video camera or a digital camera is combined with a computer, an optical image of a subject is photoelectrically converted by an electronic image pickup device of the video photographing apparatus and taken into a computer. Conventionally, digital moving image data is created by recording the data on a recording means of a computer such as a computer.

[0003]

However, in the conventional system, no consideration is given to the state of the recording means when recording the moving image data on the recording means of the computer. For example, in addition to moving image data, program data of an operating system, application program data, and other data are recorded in the recording means of the computer. The arrangement of the data becomes discrete, and the area where data can be recorded is also arranged discretely at the same time. Therefore, when a large amount of data such as moving image data is to be continuously recorded, it takes time to search for the recordable area, which makes real-time recording of moving image data difficult. As a result, when recording moving image data, a phenomenon called so-called dropped frames occurs in which image data captured at a specific timing is not recorded. Therefore, when recording a moving image, it was necessary to pay sufficient attention to the data arrangement of the hard disk in advance.

[0004] In recent years, with the advancement of functions of digital cameras, it has become possible to record moving image data even in digital cameras. 2. Description of the Related Art In a moving image recording system using a digital camera, moving image data is created by capturing still images at regular intervals and connecting the generated still image data in a time-series manner. Many digital cameras are equipped with a flash because the main purpose is to record still images.However, when recording moving images, if the shooting interval is short, the flash will not follow and the flash emission operation will stop. It was necessary to manually adjust the flash settings because it was wasted.

[0005] Some digital cameras can be switched to a reproduction mode for reproducing and displaying a photographed image. In such a case, the mode setting switch can be used to switch between the photographing mode and the reproduction mode. In such a digital camera, it is necessary to pay attention to the current mode setting state when shooting a moving image, and the operability is poor.

An object of the present invention is to provide a moving image recording system capable of recording moving image data without dropping frames.

[0007] Alternatively, even when a digital camera or the like is used, it is possible to prevent the emission of flash light from being wasted, or to record a moving image without paying attention to the current mode setting state when shooting a moving image. The task is to provide a system.

[0008]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a moving image recording system according to the present invention comprises an electronic image pickup device for photoelectrically converting an optical image of a subject and processing it as image data, and a computer having a recording means. A moving image recording system for recording image data intermittently recorded from the electronic imaging device as moving image data in the recording means, wherein the computer has a plurality of recording means; Setting means for setting which recording means to record the moving image data in accordance with each of the above conditions.

In this moving image recording system, when a moving image is formed by shortening the photographing interval of the electronic image pickup apparatus, the optimum one of the recording means of the computer can be selected, and the moving image is not dropped. It is possible for the computer to accurately capture the data.

Further, in the moving image recording system according to the second aspect, since the state of the recording means is the free space of the recording means, an electronic image pickup apparatus is selected by selecting a recording means having a large free space. Even if the amount of data is increased by moving images, the moving image can be recorded with a margin by the recording means of the computer.

Further, in the moving picture recording system according to the third aspect, since the recording means is set in consideration of the file fragmentation rate in addition to the free space, the difference in the free space among the recording means. Otherwise, by selecting a file having a small file fragmentation rate, the moving image can be efficiently recorded on the recording means of the computer.

Further, in the moving image recording system according to the fourth aspect, the flash emission of the electronic image pickup device is prohibited when recording the moving image. The disadvantage that the operation is useless without being able to follow the frame rate is also eliminated.

Further, in the moving image recording system according to the fifth aspect, when the photographing interval is equal to or longer than a predetermined value, the flash light emission is permitted, so that the flash light emission follows the frame rate of the moving image. Work properly.

Furthermore, in the moving image recording system according to the sixth aspect, the moving image can be recorded intermittently since the electronic imaging device is set to the photographing mode when recording the moving image.

[0015]

FIG. 1, FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 show a digital camera applied to a moving image recording system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

It is to be noted that the present invention is not limited to the digital camera, and other digital electronic imaging devices such as a digital video camera can be used.

The digital camera 1 comprises a box-shaped camera body 2 and a rectangular parallelepiped imaging section 3. The imaging unit 3 is detachably attached to the right side of the camera body 2 when viewed from the front (the front side in FIG. 1), and is rotatably mounted in a plane parallel to the right side.

The image pickup section 3 has an image pickup device comprising a photographing lens formed by a macro zoom and a photoelectric conversion element such as a CCD, and is constituted by a charge signal obtained by photoelectrically converting an optical image of a subject by each pixel of the CCD. They are converted into images and imported. On the other hand, the camera body 2 is, for example, an LCD
(Liquid Crystal Display), a mounting portion 17 for the memory card 8 and a connection terminal 13 to which a personal computer is externally connected. After that, processing such as display on the LCD display unit 10, recording on the memory card 8, and transfer to a personal computer is performed.

A macro zoom lens 301 is provided inside the image pickup section 3, and an image pickup circuit having a CCD color area sensor 303 is provided at an appropriate position behind the macro zoom lens 301. In addition, a dimming circuit 304 including a dimming sensor 305 that receives the reflected light of the flash light from the subject is provided at an appropriate position in the imaging unit 3.

As shown in FIG. 1, on the front surface of the camera body 2, a grip 4 is provided at an appropriate position at the left end, and a built-in flash 5 is provided at an appropriate upper portion at the right end. As shown in FIG. 2, on the upper surface of the camera body 2, switches 6 and 7 for frame advance when reproducing a recorded image are provided substantially at the center. The switch 6 is a switch (hereinafter, referred to as an Up key) for advancing the recorded image in the direction in which the frame number increases (the direction of the photographing order). (Hereinafter referred to as Down key). Further, an erasure switch D for erasing an image recorded on the memory card 8 is provided on the left side of the Down key 7 when viewed from the rear side (the front side in FIG. 1).
A shutter button 9 is provided to the right of the p key 6.

As shown in FIG. 2, on the back of the camera body 2, an LCD display for displaying a captured image on a monitor (corresponding to a viewfinder) and displaying and reproducing a recorded image is provided substantially at the center of the left end. 10 are provided. Also, LC
A compression rate setting switch 12 composed of a slide switch for switching and setting a compression rate K of image data recorded on the memory card 8 is provided below the D display unit 10. A USB connection terminal 13 to which a personal computer is externally connected is provided on a side surface of the camera body 2 on the side of the imaging unit 3, and a power switch PS is provided on the upper rear surface.
Is provided.

The digital camera 1 has a flash (hereinafter, flash is sometimes referred to as FL) flash mode, an "auto flash mode" in which the built-in flash 5 is automatically flashed in accordance with the subject brightness, and a subject brightness mode. A "forcible light emission mode" for forcibly emitting light from the built-in flash 5 and a "light emission prohibition mode" for inhibiting light emission from the built-in flash 5 are provided irrespective of the above. FL mode setting key 11
Each time is pressed, each mode of "automatic light emission", "forced light emission" and "light emission inhibition" is cyclically switched, and any one of the modes is selectively set. In the digital camera 1, two compression ratios K of 1/8 and 1/20 can be selected and set. For example, when the compression ratio setting switch 12 is slid to the right, the compression ratio K = 1/8 is set. Slide to the left, the compression ratio K = 1/20 is set. In the present embodiment, two types of compression ratios K can be selected and set, but three or more types of compression ratios K
May be selectively set.

Further, a photographing / playback mode setting switch 14 for switching between a "photographing mode" and a "playback mode" is provided at the upper right end of the rear surface of the camera body 2.
The photographing mode is a mode for photographing, and the reproduction mode is a mode for reproducing and displaying a photographed image recorded on the memory card 8 on the LCD display unit 10. The shooting / playback mode setting switch 14 also includes a two-contact slide switch. For example, sliding to the right sets the playback mode, and sliding to the left sets the shooting mode. By setting a switch that is frequently used to switch the mode to a slide switch, the mode setting can be understood at a glance and the usability is improved.

The FL mode setting switch 11, Up key 6, Down key 7, and shutter button 9 are constituted by push switches.

On the bottom of the camera body 2, a battery loading chamber 1 is provided.
8 and a card loading chamber 17 for the memory card 8 are provided.
The loading ports of the loading chambers 17 and 18 are closed by a clamshell type lid 15. The digital camera 1 according to the present embodiment uses a power supply battery E, which is formed by connecting four AA batteries in series, as a drive source.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a control system of the digital camera 1.

In the image pickup section 3, the CCD 303
Converts the light image of the subject formed by the macro zoom lens 301 into image signals of R (red), G (green), and B (blue) color components (from a signal train of pixel signals received by each pixel). ) And output. The timing generator 314 generates various timing pulses for controlling driving of the CCD 303.

The exposure control in the image pickup unit 3 is performed by adjusting the exposure amount of the CCD 303, that is, the charge accumulation time of the CCD 303 corresponding to the shutter speed, since the stop is a fixed stop. If an appropriate shutter speed cannot be set when the subject brightness is low, the CCD 3
By performing the level adjustment of the image signal output from the device 03, the improper exposure due to the insufficient exposure is corrected. That is, when the luminance is low, the exposure control is performed by combining the shutter speed and the gain adjustment. The level adjustment of the image signal is performed in the gain adjustment of the AGC circuit in the signal processing circuit 313.

The timing generator 314 generates a drive control signal for the CCD 303 based on the reference clock transmitted from the timing control circuit 202.
The timing generator 314 generates clock signals such as integration start / end (exposure start / end) timing signals and light-receiving signal readout control signals (horizontal synchronization signal, vertical synchronization signal, transfer signal, etc.) for each pixel. Output to the CCD 303.

The signal processing circuit 313 performs predetermined analog signal processing on an image signal (analog signal) output from the CCD 303. The signal processing circuit 313
It has a DS (correlated double sampling) circuit and an AGC (auto gain control) circuit. The CDS circuit reduces the noise of the image signal, and the level of the image signal is adjusted by adjusting the gain of the AGC circuit.

The light control circuit 304 controls the light emission amount of the built-in flash 5 during flash photography to a predetermined light emission amount set by the overall control unit 211. In flash photography, the reflected light of flash light from the subject is received by the light control sensor 305 at the same time as the start of exposure, and when the amount of received light reaches a predetermined light emission amount, the light control circuit 3
An emission stop signal is output from 04 to the flash control circuit 214 via the overall control unit 211. The flash control circuit 214 forcibly stops the light emission of the built-in flash 5 in response to the light emission stop signal, whereby the light emission amount of the built-in flash 5 is controlled to a predetermined light emission amount.

In the camera body 2, the A / D converter 205 converts each pixel signal of the image signal into a 10-bit digital signal. The A / D converter 205 is
A / D input from an A / D clock generation circuit (not shown)
Each pixel signal (analog signal) is converted into a 10-bit digital signal based on a clock for D conversion.

In the camera body 2, a timing control circuit 202 for generating a reference clock, a timing generator 314, and a clock for the A / D converter 205 is provided. The timing control circuit 202 is controlled by the overall control unit 211.

The black level correction circuit 206 corrects the black level of the pixel signal (hereinafter referred to as pixel data) A / D converted by the A / D converter 205 to a reference black level. A white balance circuit (hereinafter, referred to as a WB circuit) 207 performs level conversion of pixel data of each of R, G, and B color components so that the white balance is adjusted after the γ correction. WB circuit 207
Converts the level of the pixel data of each of the R, G, and B color components using the level conversion table input from the overall control unit 211. The conversion coefficient (gradient of the characteristic) of each color component in the level conversion table is set by the overall control unit 211 for each captured image.

The gamma correction circuit 208 corrects gamma characteristics of pixel data. The γ correction circuit 208 has, for example, six types of γ correction tables having different γ characteristics, and performs γ correction of pixel data using a predetermined γ correction table according to a shooting scene or shooting conditions.

The image memory 209 is a memory for storing pixel data output from the gamma correction circuit 208. The image memory 209 has a storage capacity for one frame. That is, in the image memory 209, the CCD 303
In the case of having pixels in rows and m columns, it has a storage capacity for pixel data of n × m pixels, and each pixel data is stored in a corresponding pixel position.

The VRAM 210 is a buffer memory for image data reproduced and displayed on the LCD display unit 10. VR
The AM 210 has a storage capacity for image data corresponding to the number of pixels of the LCD display unit 10.

In the shooting standby state, each pixel data of the image picked up by the image pickup unit 3 every 1/30 (second) is
After being subjected to predetermined signal processing by the A / D converters 205 to γ correction circuit 208, the signals are stored in the image memory 209, transferred to the VRAM 210 via the overall control unit 211, and displayed on the LCD display unit 10. You. Thus, the photographer can visually recognize the subject image from the image displayed on the LCD display unit 10. In the playback mode, after the image read from the memory card 8 is subjected to predetermined signal processing by the overall control unit 211, the VRAM 210
And reproduced and displayed on the LCD display unit 10.

The card I / F 212 is an interface for writing image data to the memory card 8 and reading image data. Also, the communication I / F 21
Reference numeral 3 denotes an interface compliant with, for example, the USB standard for externally connecting the personal computer 1000 so that communication is possible.

The flash control circuit 214 is a circuit for controlling light emission of the built-in flash 5. The flash control circuit 214 controls the presence / absence of light emission of the built-in flash 5, the amount of light emission, the light emission timing, and the like based on the control signal of the overall control unit 211. Is controlled.

The RTC 219 is a clock circuit for managing the shooting date and time, and is driven by another power source (not shown).

The operation unit 250 is an input / output device for the overall control unit 211, and includes the Up key 6,
It includes a Down key 7, a shutter button 9, an FL mode setting key 11, a compression ratio setting switch 12, and a shooting / playback mode setting switch 14.

The overall control unit 211 is composed of a microcomputer, and controls the driving of each member in the image pickup unit 3 and the camera main body unit 2 in an organic manner to control the photographing operation of the digital camera 1 overall. is there.

In the photographing mode, when photographing is instructed by the shutter button 9 in the photographing mode, the overall control unit 211 displays the thumbnail image of the image taken into the image memory 209 after the photographing instruction and the compression ratio set by the compression ratio setting switch 12. A compressed image compressed by the JPEG method using K is generated, and tag information (frame number, exposure value, shutter speed, compression ratio K, shooting date, flash on / off data at shooting, scene information, image ) Are stored in the memory card 8 together with the information such as the judgment result of the above).

The memory card 8 has a compression ratio of 1/20
Zero frames of images can be stored, and each frame includes a tag portion and high-resolution image data (64
0 × 480 pixels) and image data for thumbnail display (8
0 × 60 pixels). For example, each frame can be handled as an image file in the EXIF format.

FIG. 5 shows a moving image recording system using the digital camera 1.

Referring to FIG. 5, the moving image recording system according to this embodiment includes a personal computer 1000.
A return key Ent is provided on the main body of the personal computer 1000.
er and a keyboard K with an escape key ESC,
A mouse M, a printer Pri, and a digital camera 1 are connected to a keyboard K via a USB cable L, respectively. The keyboard K also serves as a USB interface hub. The personal computer 1000 is connected with a built-in hard disk HDI and an external hard disk HD2 as recording means for storing image data and the like.

Further, driver software (hereinafter referred to as a driver) for capturing a moving image after recognizing the connection of the digital camera 1 is installed in the personal computer 1000.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the personal computer 1000, and other computers can be employed.

When the digital camera 1 is connected to the USB port of the keyboard K while the personal computer 1000 is running, the personal computer screen 1001 is displayed as shown in FIG.
Then, the execution of the driver for moving image recording (recording) of the digital camera 1 is started.

The personal computer screen 1001 displays an icon Icon of data and application software, an icon Folder of a folder, and an icon cC indicating the personal computer 1000 itself.

The driver dialog D10 includes a display section d10 for displaying a live view image displayed on the display section 10 of the digital camera 1, and “execution of application software” and “image Buttons for “viewer”, “recording preparation”, “camera setting”, and “end driver” are displayed.

Here, "execution of application software"
Is a button for executing digital camera 1 and other application software, and
The “image viewer” is a button for transitioning to a mode for displaying image data or moving image files stored in the personal computer 1000 by shooting with the digital camera 1.
“Recording preparation” is a button for transitioning to a dialog for executing recording with the digital camera 1.
The “camera setting” is a button for performing various settings of the digital camera 1, and the “end driver” is a button for terminating the execution of the driver by clicking this button.

When the "recording preparation" button is pressed, the screen of the dialog D10 transits to D2 as shown in FIG.

Here, when the button of "capture setting" is pressed in the dialog D2, as shown in FIG. 8, a modal dialog D3 is opened, in which the frame rate is set and the flash 5 is turned on at the time of recording. / Off, moving image file storage destination, etc. can be set. D3S1 is a slider for setting a frame rate, and sets a frame rate of a moving image to 30 frames / second (hereinafter, referred to as a frame rate).
fps) to 0.5 fps. The set value is D3T1
Will be displayed.

The setting of the flash 5 can be switched on / off by clicking a pair of left and right radio buttons D3R1 and D3R2.

As will be described later, when the frame rate is greater than 4 fps, the flash 5 is forcibly stopped because the shooting interval is short and the flash 5 does not follow.
Is set to off, and radio buttons D3R1, DS3R
2 for turning on / off the flash 5 is prohibited. For example, when the frame rate is set to 30 fps, as shown in FIG.
Off becomes unselectable.

As described above, since the light emission operation of the flash 5 is restricted according to the frame rate of the moving image, the light emission of the flash 5 operates wastefully without being able to follow the frame rate of the moving image. It is possible to avoid a situation in which a flash is fired or inappropriate moving image data is generated, thereby saving power consumption and the like.

On the other hand, in selecting the storage destination of the recording data of the digital camera 1, when the moving image file which is the moving image data is stored in the personal computer 1000, the name of the drive (including the hard disk and its driving device) and the name of the folder are stored. Can be set and selected. Keyboard K for text boxes D3T2, D3T3 and D3T4
It is also possible to input a character directly from the button D3B2, D3B3, D3 in the dialog D3.
By pressing 3B4, it is also possible to select an existing one.

In this embodiment, the moving image data is recorded in one of the drives HD1 and HD2 in accordance with each state of the drives HD1 and HD2. Thus, when the data of the moving image is taken into the personal computer 1000, the optimum drive is selected, and the moving image at an arbitrary frame rate can be smoothly recorded without dropping frames.

Specifically, an index of each state of the drives HD1 and HD2 is set in consideration of a free space or a free space and a file fragmentation rate. The free space is preferably large, and if there is not much difference in the free space, it is desirable to select a drive having a small file fragmentation rate, that is, a drive in which data is not fragmented. This is because a moving image file requires a considerably large capacity, and the data recording time (drive access time) is required to be as short as possible due to the speed of the moving image.

When a plurality of drives HD1 and HD2 are mounted on a personal computer as in this embodiment,
By clicking the optimal button D3B1, the optimal one of the drives HD1 and HD2 is selected, and the result is displayed in the text box D3T2.

When the OK button D3B5 is pressed in the dialog D3, the setting result is written in the setting file and the dialog D3 is closed. Pressing the cancel button D3B6 closes the dialog D3 without doing anything. In any case, the screen returns to the screen D2.

Next, when the recording button is pressed on the screen D2, the screen 1001 of the personal computer 1000 is updated.
As shown in FIG. 10, the screen transits to a screen D4 during recording. During recording, an image to be recorded is displayed on the display section d40 of the dialog D4. In the dialog D4, the recording time, the number of frames to be captured, and the file size are displayed in the texts D4T1, D4T2, and D4T3. When the recording display button D4B1 is pressed, the recording ends and the screen D2 is displayed.
When the pause button D4B2 is pressed, the screen transits to the screen D5 as shown in FIG.

In the paused screen D5, the display section d50 displays a frame image photographed when the pause button is pressed, and includes a text D5T1,
D5T2 and D5T3 display the recording time, the number of frames to be captured, and the file size.

By pressing the button D5B3,
Playback is performed by jumping to the first frame of the moving image and pressing the play button D5B4. By pressing the jump button D5B5 to the last frame, jump to the last frame. Recording end button D5B1
The screen transitions to the screen D2 by pressing. The screen transitions to the screen D4 during recording when the recording restart button D5B2 is pressed.

Next, regarding the screen control, FIGS.
This will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

In FIGS. 12 to 15 and the following description, “step” is indicated by “S”. In addition, PC
Indicated as C.

<Processing at Startup> In FIG. 12, in step S100, the personal computer 1000 uses the driver installed in the
Is connected to the personal computer 1000. When the digital camera 1 is connected (YE in S100)
S), a dialog D1 is displayed in S101, and then S1
At 02, a shooting mode setting signal is sent to the digital camera 1.

On the other hand, in the digital camera 1, in S10,
It is determined whether or not the digital camera 1 is connected to the personal computer 1000. When connected to a personal computer (YE in S10)
S) In S11, the process waits for receiving a shooting mode setting signal from the personal computer 1000 side. When the photographing mode setting signal is received (YES in S111), in S12, it is determined whether the current mode of digital camera 1 is “photographing mode” or “playback mode”. If it is the “shooting mode” (YES in S12), the live view image displayed on the display unit 10 of the digital camera 1 is transmitted to the personal computer 1000 in S14.

If the current mode is the "reproduction mode" (S
(NO at 12), and after setting the “photographing mode” at S13, the process proceeds to S14.

If the digital camera 1 is not connected to the personal computer 1000 in S10 (S10
NO), the processing at the time of startup in the digital camera 1 ends.

On the other hand, in the personal computer 1000, S10
When the shooting mode setting signal transmission process is performed in step 2,
In S103, it is determined whether a live view screen from the digital camera 1 has been received. When the live view screen is received (YES in S103), the image is displayed on display portion d10 of screen 1001 in S104, and the processing at the time of startup is ended. If the live view screen is not received (NO in S103), the process returns to S102.

In step S100, the digital camera 1
If the connection is not made (NO in S100), the process at the time of startup on the personal computer 1000 side ends.

<Setting of Setting Dialog D3> In FIG. 13, when the setting dialog D3 is open, S3
At 00, the setting value is read from the setting file, and the value is displayed on D3. Information about the following is recorded in the setting file.

Frame rate Flash ON / OFF valid / invalid If flash ON / OFF is valid, the value at that time (O
(N or OFF) Save destination drive Save destination folder Save destination file name When starting up for the first time or when there is no file, an appropriate value is given as the initial value.

At S301, it is determined whether or not the frame rate setting slider D3S1 has been operated. If the operation has been performed (YES at S301), the value of the text box D3T1 is updated at S302.

Next, in S303, it is determined whether or not the value of the set frame rate is larger than 4 fps. If the frame slider has not been operated (NO in S301), the process proceeds to S303. If the value of the frame rate is greater than 4 (YES in S303), this means that the flash interval is short and the emission of the flash 5 cannot follow the moving image frame rate, so that the flash setting is invalidated. That is, it is determined in step S304 whether the flash is “ON” or not.
S), “OFF” is set in S305, and if “OFF” (NO in S304), the radio button D3R1 for setting the flash 5 is set in S306 without any change.
Invalidate the setting of D3R2.

When the value of the frame rate is 4 fps or less (NO in S 303), the photographing interval is long and the flash 5 can follow. Therefore, in S307, it is determined whether the setting of the flash setting radio buttons D3R1 and D3R2 is invalid. If this setting is invalid (Y in S307)
ES), flash setting radio buttons D3R1, D3R
The setting of No. 2 is made effective (S308).

The flash setting radio button D3R
When the settings of D1R1 and D3R2 become valid, it is determined in S309 whether the flash setting radio buttons D3R1 and D3R2 have been clicked. If the determination in S307 is "N
In the case of "O", the process proceeds to S309.

Flash setting radio buttons D3R1, D
When 3R2 is clicked (YES in S309), flash setting radio buttons D3R1 and D3R2 are turned on / off.
Switching off is performed (S310).

If the setting of the flash setting radio buttons D3R1 and D3R2 is invalidated in S306, or if the determination in S309 is "NO",
10. Flash setting radio buttons D3R1, D3R2
If the switch of ON / OFF is performed, S311
(FIG. 14).

In FIG. 14, in S311, it is determined whether or not the optimum button D3B1 has been pressed. If the button has been pressed (YES in S311), the drives connected in S312 and the free space of each drive are determined. To get. In the example of FIG. 5, the internal hard disk HD1 is allocated to the C drive, and the external hard disk is allocated to the D drive. For example, values of C: 500 MB and C: 510 MB are obtained as the respective free capacities.

Next, in S313, the difference in free space between the drive having the largest free space and the second drive is 10%.
It is determined whether it is within. If within the above 10% (S3
13) (YES in S13), and in S314, the size of the file fragmentation rate of the drive having the largest free space is compared with that of the second drive. This is compared by the number of empty sectors on the hard disks HD1 and HD2. Then, S31
In step 5, the optimum drive is determined, and if necessary, the value of the text box D3B2 of the dialog D3 is updated. S
In 313, if it exceeds the above 10% (S
(NO at 313), and the process proceeds to S315.

In the above embodiment, the D drive has a larger free space, but if the C drive is smaller than the D drive in the file fragmentation rate,
Select a drive. This is because, as described above, in order to record a moving image, it is necessary to select an optimum drive in consideration of not only the size of free space but also the recording efficiency of image files. That is, the difference in free space is 10
%, The drive can be efficiently recorded by selecting the drive with the smaller fragment ratio of the image file.

The optimum drive may be determined based on not only the fragmentation rate of the image file but also the access speed of the drive.

When the optimum drive is determined in S315, the OK button D3B5 on the dialog D3 is determined in S316.
It is determined whether or not is pressed. If the determination in S311 is “NO”, the process also proceeds to S316. If the OK button is pressed (YES in S316), the setting contents of the dialog are overwritten on the setting file in S317, the dialog D3 is closed in S318, and the screen returns to the screen D2.

If the OK button D3B5 has not been pressed (NO in S316), it is determined in S319 whether or not the cancel button D3B6 has been pressed. If the cancel button has been pressed (YES in S319), S3
Without executing the process of S17, the dialog D3 is closed in S318 and the screen returns to the screen D2.

If the cancel button is not pressed (NO in S319), the setting of dialog D3 ends as in the case where dialog D3 is closed.

<Recording Processing (Execution of Importing Image Data)
15, in step S200, the personal computer 1000 determines whether or not the recording button of the dialog D2 has been pressed.
If this button is pressed (YES in S200), S
At 201, the screen is updated to D4, at S202, a setting file is read, a timer time corresponding to the set frame rate is set, and the on / off of the flash 5 is transmitted to the digital camera 1 side. If the recording button has not been pressed (NO in S200), this process is not performed.

Next, in step S203, an instruction to transfer the photographed image is issued to the digital camera 1, and the process waits until the image is received in step S204. When the image is received (YES in S204), the image is stored in the designated drive in S205,
It is displayed on the display unit d40.

Thereafter, in S206, the end of the timer time corresponding to the frame rate, for example, if the frame rate is 30 fps, the file storage time from 1/30 second and the digital camera 1 and the personal computer 100
It is determined whether or not the time obtained by subtracting the time required for the communication with 0 has elapsed. If the time has elapsed (S206).
YES), the digital camera 1 is similarly instructed to transmit the image of the next frame (S208). If the above time has not elapsed (NO in S206),
In step S207, the process waits for the end of the timer time, and waits in step S206.

In S209, it is determined whether or not the image of the next frame has been received. If the image has been received (YES in S209), the received image is added to the destination file saved in S205 in S210. To create a video file, S2
At 11, the image of the display unit d40 and the text D4T1, D4T
2. Update D4T3. If the next image is not received (NO in S209), the process returns to S208.

When the screen is updated in S211, S2
At 12, it is determined whether or not there is free space. If there is no free space (YES in S211), a warning is displayed in S213, and the process ends. If there is free space (NO in S211), it is determined in S214 whether or not the recording end button has been pressed. If the recording end button is pressed (S21
(YES in 4), the screen is updated to D2 in S215, and this processing ends.

If the recording end button has not been pressed (NO in S214), it is determined in S216 whether the pause button has been pressed. If the pause button is pressed (YES in S216), the screen is updated to D5 in S217, and the process ends. If the pause button has not been pressed (NO in S216), the process returns to S206, and S207
Wait for the timer to count up, and capture the image of the next frame.

That is, from S206 to S212, S21
4. The moving image file is created by executing the processing in S216 until the recording end button is pressed, the pause button is pressed, or the free space is exhausted.

When the digital camera 1 is provided with a microphone, sound may be recorded when creating a moving image.

[0098]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the computer has a plurality of recording means, and in accordance with each state of these recording means, which of the recording means records the moving image data. Therefore, when an image captured by the electronic imaging device is converted into a moving image, the optimal one of the recording means of the computer is selected, and the moving image is appropriately captured without dropping frames. Can be recorded in the recording means.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the state of the recording means is the free space of the recording means, by selecting one of the recording means having a large free space, the moving image can be formed by the electronic imaging apparatus. Even if the data amount increases, this moving image can be recorded with sufficient margin by the recording means of the computer.

Further, in the invention of claim 3, since the recording means is set in consideration of the file fragmentation rate in addition to the free space, if there is not much difference in the free capacity among the recording means, By selecting a file having a small file fragmentation rate, the moving image can be efficiently recorded in the recording means of the computer.

Furthermore, according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the flash emission of the electronic image pickup device is prohibited during recording of a moving image. Therefore, when a moving image is taken into a computer, the flash emitting operation may be wasted. Absent.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, when the photographing interval is equal to or longer than a predetermined value, the flash light emission is permitted.
The light emission of the flash can be appropriately operated by following the frame rate of the moving image.

Further, according to the invention of claim 6, when recording a moving image, the electronic imaging device is set to the shooting mode, so that the moving images by the electronic imaging device can be intermittently and sequentially recorded on the computer side.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a digital camera applied to a moving image recording system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a rear view showing the digital camera.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view showing the digital camera.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the digital camera.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram showing a moving image recording system using the digital camera.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a screen of a personal computer when the digital camera is connected.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a screen of a personal computer during recording preparation.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a screen of a personal computer when recording is set.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of a screen of a personal computer when a radio button is disabled during recording setting.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a screen of a personal computer during recording.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of a screen of the personal computer during a pause.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a procedure for controlling screen contents when the personal computer is started.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a control procedure of screen contents when setting recording in the personal computer.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a procedure for controlling the contents of a screen at the time of recording setting of the personal computer following the terminal A of FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of an execution process when capturing image data of a digital camera.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Digital camera (electronic imaging device) 14 ... Mode setting switch 5 ... Flash 10 ... Display part 211 ... General control part 1000 ... Computer 1001 ... Screen HD1, HD2 ... Recording means

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An electronic imaging device that photoelectrically converts an optical image of a subject into image data and processes the image data, and a computer having a recording device, wherein the image data intermittently recorded from the electronic imaging device is recorded in the recording device. A moving image recording system for recording as moving image data, wherein the computer has a plurality of recording units, and according to each state of these recording units, which recording unit records the moving image data is determined. A moving image recording system comprising a setting means for setting. 2. The moving image recording system according to claim 1, wherein the state of the recording unit is a free space of the recording unit. 3. The moving image recording system according to claim 2, wherein the state of the recording means is set in consideration of the file fragmentation rate of the recording means. 4. An electronic imaging device having a flash emission function and a computer having a recording device, wherein the electronic imaging device photoelectrically converts an optical image of a subject into image data and processes the image data, and a computer intermittently records from the electronic imaging device. What is claimed is: 1. A moving image recording system for recording image data as moving image data, wherein the flash light emission is prohibited during moving image recording. 5. The moving image recording system according to claim 4, wherein a flash light emission is permitted when a photographing interval of the electronic image pickup device is equal to or longer than a predetermined value. 6. An electronic imaging apparatus comprising: an electronic imaging device that photoelectrically converts an optical image of a subject to process image data and has a switching unit for photographing mode / reproduction mode; and a computer that has a recording unit. A moving image recording system for intermittently recording a moving image in said recording means, wherein the mode switching means sets a photographing mode when recording a moving image.