Image recording apparatus, dynamic image processing apparatus, dynamic image reproduction apparatus, dynamic image recording apparatus, information recording / reproduction apparatus and methods employed therein, recording medium with computer program stored therein

• US 20030210898A1
• Filed: 04/28/2003
• Published: 11/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nikon Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nikon Corporation
• Inventors: Juen, Masahiro, Tanaka, Masahide, Nozaki, Hirotake, Ito, Masaharu, Toyoda, Kenji
• Granted Patent: US 7,519,268 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 386/117
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/20 Disc-shaped record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2525 Magneto-optical [MO] discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/005 Reproducing at a different information rate from the information rate of recording for television signals H04N5/783
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/034 on discs G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/34 Indicating arrangements indicating means incorporated in magazine or cassette G11B23/046 and G11B23/0875; indicating measured values in general G01D
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/36 Monitoring, i.e. supervising the progress of recording or reproducing for digital recording G11B20/00 and s.gr.; for monitoring, testing or measuring of TV recorders of the type covered by H04N5/76 and subgroups, see H04N17/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00408 Display of information to the user, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00477 Indicating status, e.g. of a job for control or supervision between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N2201/3219
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00885 Power supply means, e.g. arrangements for the control of power supply to the apparatus or components thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00899 Detection of supply level or supply failure
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2112 using still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2158 using a detachable storage unit
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4436 Power management, e.g. shutting down unused components of the receiver power management in computer systems G06F1/3203; hibernate or awake process in computer systems G06F9/4418
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/214 Checking or indicating the storage space
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/772 the recording apparatus and the television camera being placed in the same enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/783 Adaptations for reproducing at a rate different from the recording rate
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/85 on discs or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8042 involving data reduction
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8205 : involving the multiplexing of an additional signal and the colour video signal

Abstract

The image recording apparatus according to the present invention is provided with a conversion device that converts an optical image of a subject to an electrical signal, a recording circuit that records the electrical signal achieved through the conversion device in a storage device as image data and a display control circuit that detects an available capacity at the storage device and the length of time that power supply by a source is possible and displays them on a display as available capacity information and remaining power supply time information. The available capacity information indicates the length of available recording time remaining at the available capacity that has been detected.

Claims

1. An image recording apparatus comprising:

a conversion device that converts an optical image of a subject to an electrical signal;

a recording circuit that records the electrical signal achieved through a conversion performed by said conversion device in a storage device as image data; and

a display control circuit that detects available capacity at said storage device and a length of time that power supply by a source is possible and displays the available capacity and the length of time on a display as available capacity information and remaining power supply time information.

2. An image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein;

said available capacity information indicates length of available recording time remaining at the available capacity that has been detected.

3. An image recording apparatus comprising:

a conversion device that converts an optical image of a subject to an electrical signal;

a recording circuit that records the electrical signal achieved through conversion performed by said conversion device in a storage device as image data; and

a display control circuit that detects a length of time that information can be recorded in said storage device and the length of time that power supply by a source is possible and displays a remaining recording time or a remaining power supply time on a display in correspondence to the results of a comparison of the remaining recording time and the remaining power supply time.

4. An image recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein;

said display control circuit indicates the remaining power supply time on the display when the remaining power supply time is shorter than the remaining recording time.

5. An image recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein;

when the remaining recording time is longer than the remaining power supply time, the remaining power supply time is displayed flashing.

6. An image recording apparatus comprising;

a conversion device that converts an optical image of a subject to an electrical signal;

a recording circuit that records the electrical signal achieved through a conversion performed by said conversion device in a storage device as image data; and

a display control circuit that displays the length of time that information can be recorded at said storage device on a display when dynamic image data recorded in said storage device are set to be erased.

7. An image recording apparatus according to claim 6, wherein;

said display control circuit displays on said display the length of time that information can be recorded, which increases in correspondence to the volume of dynamic image data set to be erased.

8. A dynamic image processing apparatus comprising:

an image processing circuit that receives data of dynamic images that are continuous over time, forms divisional specific units of dynamic images, compresses and record each of the dynamic images in the divisional specific units thus formed as different files in a storage device.

9. A dynamic image processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein:

said image processing circuit forms each divisional specific units of the dynamic images every specific time or specific data quantity.

10. A dynamic image processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein:

said image processing circuit forms each divisional specific units of the dynamic images which contains a specific number of GOPs to be compressed by adopting the MPEG method.

11. A dynamic image processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein:

said image processing circuit also records information indicating continuity over time of a plurality of dynamic image files that have been divisionally formed.

12. A dynamic image processing apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising:

a photographing device that photographs a moving object to form dynamic images, wherein;

said image processing circuit processes data of the dynamic images photographed by said photographing device to be compressed and recorded.

13. A dynamic image reproduction apparatus comprising:

a reproduction circuit that reproduces a plurality of sets of image data that are recorded in a storage device and are constituted of a plurality of sets of dynamic image data that are continuous over time; and

a reproduction control circuit that selects either a first reproduction mode for reproducing only selected sets of image data among the plurality of sets of image data or a second reproduction mode for sequentially reproducing the plurality of sets of image data in a specific order and controls said reproduction circuit to ensure that the dynamic images are reproduced in correspondence to a reproduction mode that has been selected.

14. A dynamic image reproduction apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising:

a reproduction instruction device that issues an instruction for reproduction of the dynamic image data; and

a data selection device for selecting one set of image data among the plurality of sets of image data stored in said storage device, wherein;

said reproduction control circuit controls said reproduction circuit to ensure that selected image data are reproduced when said data selection device is operated and the plurality of sets of image data are sequentially reproduced in the specific order when said reproduction instruction device is operated.

15. A dynamic image reproduction apparatus according to claim 14, wherein:

said reproduction control circuit controls said reproduction circuit so that when image data are first selected by said data selection device and then an instruction for a reproduction start is issued by said reproduction instruction device, the image data selected by said data selection device are reproduced and then image data following the image data are sequentially reproduced.

16. A dynamic image reproduction apparatus according to claim 13, wherein:

the image data are sequentially reproduced in the chronological order in which the image data were photographed.

17. A dynamic image recording apparatus comprising:

a photographing device that photographs a moving object to form dynamic images;

a recording circuit that records the dynamic images in a storage device;

a reproduction circuit that reproduces the dynamic images recorded in said storage device;

a display device that displays the dynamic images reproduced by said reproduction circuit; and

a specification device that specifies on said display an editing range for the dynamic images reproduced by said reproduction circuit.

20. A dynamic image recording apparatus according to claim 17, wherein:

said specification device that specifies a range for the dynamic images to be erased.

18. A dynamic image recording apparatus comprising:

a photographing device that photographs a moving object to form dynamic images;

a recording circuit that records the dynamic images in a storage device;

a reproduction circuit that reproduces the dynamic images recorded in said storage device;

a display device that displays the dynamic images reproduced by said reproduction circuit;

a specification device that specifies on said display an editing range for the dynamic images reproduced by said reproduction circuit; and

a display control circuit that controls said reproduction circuit so that the dynamic images within the editing range specified by said specification device and a non-editing range are displayed in a distinct manner when said reproduction circuit reproduces the dynamic images to be displayed on said display.

19. A dynamic image recording apparatus comprising:

a photographing device that photographs a moving object to form dynamic images;

a recording circuit that records the dynamic images in a storage device;

a reproduction circuit that reproduces the dynamic images recorded in said storage device;

a display device that displays the dynamic images reproduced by said reproduction circuit;

a specification device that specifies on said display an editing range for the dynamic images reproduced by said reproduction circuit; and

a reproduction control circuit that controls said reproduction circuit to ensure that the dynamic images of non-editing ranges preceding and following the editing range are continuously displayed when said reproduction circuit reproduces the dynamic images to be displayed on said display, by skipping the dynamic images of the editing range specified by said specification device.

21. A dynamic image reproduction apparatus comprising:

a reproduction circuit that reproduces the dynamic image data recorded in a storage device; and

a means for inquiry that inquires of a user as to whether or not a specific type of processing is to be performed on the dynamic image data reproduced by said reproduction circuit after said reproduction circuit reproduces the dynamic image data.

22. A dynamic image reproduction apparatus according to claim 21, wherein:

said specific type of processing is processing in which the dynamic image data reproduced by said reproduction circuit are erased or processing in which erase is disabled.

23. A dynamic image reproduction apparatus according to claim 21, further comprising:

a decision-making circuit that makes a decision as to whether or not said specific type of processing is in progress on the dynamic image data reproduced by said reproduction circuit.

24. A dynamic image reproduction apparatus according to claim 21, further comprising:

a display that displays information, wherein;

said means for inquiry causes said display to display an inquiry.

25. A dynamic image recording apparatus comprising:

a mode selector device that switches between a recording mode and a reproduction mode;

a photographing device that photographs a moving object to form dynamic images;

a reproduction circuit that reproduces dynamic image data stored in a storage device in said reproduction mode; and

an instruction device for issuing an instruction for a power supply start through a user operation, wherein;

said mode selector device switches to said reproduction mode when the power supply is started through an operation of said instruction device.

26. A dynamic image reproduction apparatus comprising:

a reproduction mode selector device that switches said reproduction mode between a dynamic image reproduction mode that reproduces dynamic images and a still image reproduction mode that reproduces still images; and

an instruction device operated by a user to issue an instruction for a pause in dynamic image reproduction in the dynamic image reproduction mode, wherein;

in response to the user operation of said instruction device, the reproduction mode selector device switches from said dynamic image reproduction mode to said still image reproduction mode.

27. A dynamic image reproduction apparatus comprising:

a reproduction mode selector device that switches a reproduction mode between a dynamic image reproduction mode for reproducing dynamic images and a still image reproduction mode for reproducing still images;

an instruction device operated by a user to issue an instruction for fast-forwarding the dynamic images in said dynamic image reproduction mode; and

a reproduction circuit that achieves frame feed reproduction of the still images in response to a user operation of said instruction device in said still image reproduction mode.

28. A dynamic image reproduction apparatus comprising:

a reproduction mode selector device that switches a reproduction mode between a dynamic image reproduction mode for reproducing dynamic images and a still image reproduction mode for reproducing still images;

an instruction device operated by a user to issue an instruction for rewinding the dynamic images in the dynamic image reproduction mode; and

a reproduction circuit that achieves frame reverse reproduction of the still images in response to a user operation of said instruction device in said still image reproduction mode.

29. An information recording/reproduction apparatus comprising:

an image-capturing device that captures images of a specific subject and generates a corresponding image signal;

a recording circuit that records the image signal generated by said image-capturing device in an image storage device as image files;

a reproduction circuit that reproduces the image files recorded in said image storage device by said recording circuit;

a mode storage device that, when power is turned off, stores information as to which mode is set, at least a first mode related to the generation of the image signal or a second mode related to the image files recorded in said image storage device; and

a setting circuit that sets either the first mode or the second mode in conformance to the information stored in said mode storage device when power is turned on.

30. An information recording/reproduction apparatus according to claim 29, further comprising:

a first display control circuit that displays setting details related to the generation of the image signal by the image-capturing device when the setting circuit is executing setting for the first mode; and

a second display control circuit that displays a representative image or a file name of a representative file among image files recorded in the image storage device when the setting circuit is executing the setting for the second mode.

31. An information recording/reproduction apparatus according to claim 30, wherein:

when power is turned on and the setting circuit sets the first mode or the second mode in correspondence to the information stored in said mode storage device, said second display control circuit displays the representative images or the file names of the image files, and when the information stored in said mode storage device indicate the first mode, said second display control circuit erases the representative image or the file name after a specific length of time has elapsed.

32. An information recording/reproduction apparatus according to claim 29, further comprising:

an instruction device that issues an instruction for an emergency start of generation of the image signal by said image-capturing device and image file recording in said image storage device when the first mode or the second mode is set by the setting circuit.

33. An information recording/reproduction apparatus according to claim 29, wherein

said image storage device is constituted of a recording medium that can be freely loaded into or ejected from an apparatus main body, and said apparatus further comprises:

a decision-making circuit that makes a decision as to whether or not a recording medium is loaded when the first mode or the second mode has been set by said setting circuit; and

a third display control circuit that displays a warning indicating that no recording medium is loaded when said decision-making circuit has decided that no recording medium has been loaded.

34. An information recording/reproduction apparatus according to claim 33, further comprising:

a fourth display control circuit which, when the instruction device issues an instruction for a start of generation of the image signal by said image-capturing device or a start of image file recording in said recording medium after said decision-making circuit has decided that no recording medium is loaded, displays the warning by said third display control circuit superimposed on the image generated by said image-capturing device.

35. An information recording/reproduction apparatus according to claim 32, further comprising:

an instruction prohibition device that prohibits said instruction device from issuing an instruction for a start of generation of an image signal by said image-capturing device and image file recording in said image storage device, wherein

said setting circuit starts to set the first mode when the prohibition on said instruction device effected by said instruction prohibition device is canceled.

36. An information recording/reproduction apparatus according to claim 33, further comprising:

an ejection prohibition device that prohibits ejection of the recording medium when said setting circuit is executing a setting operation to set the first mode or the second mode.

37. An information recording/reproduction apparatus according to claim 29, further comprising:

an interruption circuit that interrupts a setting operation performed by said setting circuit when an instruction for power off is issued in a state in which said setting circuit is executing the setting operation to set the first mode or the second mode; and

a verification circuit that verifies with the user in regard to whether or not power is to be turned off, wherein;

when said verification circuit has verified that power is to be turned off, the power is turned off, whereas if said verification circuit has not verified that power is not to be turned off, said setting circuit continues with the setting operation.

38. An information recording/reproduction apparatus according to claim 33, wherein

an identification name and a most recent overwrite date on which image files were recorded most recently are recorded for any recording medium that has been used at least once;

said apparatus further comprises a medium information storage device that stores the identification name, the most recent overwrite date and recorded contents with respect to said recording medium that has been loaded and a search circuit that searches for the identification name and the most recent overwrite date of the recording medium currently loaded; and

wherein

said display control circuit displays the recorded contents stored in the medium information storage device when the identification name and the overwrite date searched by said search circuit respectively match the identification name and the overwrite date stored in said medium information storage device.

39. An information recording/reproduction apparatus according to claim 38, wherein:

the recorded contents include at least;

a file name and a file size of the image files and a recording capacity of the recording medium.

40. An information recording/reproduction apparatus according to claim 38, wherein:

when the identification name searched by said search circuit and the identification name stored in said medium information storage device match and the most recent overwrite date searched by said search circuit and the date stored in said medium information storage device do not match, said search circuit searches for an image file among the image files recorded in the recording medium that does not match the file stored in said medium information storage device and said medium information storage device stores information on the image file that has been searched by said search circuit; and

when neither the identification name nor the most recent overwrite date searched by said search circuit matches the identification name or the most recent overwrite date stored in said medium information storage device, said search circuit searches all the image files recorded in the recording medium and said medium information storage device stores information on the image files searched by said search circuit.

41. An information recording/reproduction apparatus according to claim 33, further comprising:

an assignment circuit that assigns a specific identification name to a recording medium that is loaded for the first time.

42. An information recording/reproduction method employed in an information recording/reproduction apparatus provided with:

an image-capturing device that captures an image of a specific subject and generates a corresponding image signal;

a recording circuit that records the image signal generated by said image-capturing device in an image storage device as an image file; and

a reproduction circuit that reproduces the image file stored in said image storage device by said recording circuit, that includes;

a storage step of storing information as to which mode is set when power is turned off, a first mode related to generation of the image signal or a second mode related to the image file recorded in said image storage device; and

a setting step of setting either the first mode or the second mode in conformance to the information stored during said storage step when power is turned on.

43. A recording medium for storing a computer program employed in an information recording/reproduction apparatus provided with:

an image-capturing device that captures an image of a specific subject and generates a corresponding image signal;

a recording circuit that records the image signal generated by said image-capturing device in an image storage device as an image file; and

a reproduction circuit that reproduces the image file recorded in said image storage device by said recording circuit;

wherein

said computer program has;

a storage step of storing as to which mode is set when power is turned off, a first mode related to image signal generation or a second mode related to image files recorded in said image storage device; and

a setting step of setting either the first mode or the second mode in conformance to contents stored during the storage step when power is turned on.