Image pickup device with still picture pickup function during moving picture pickup operation

• US 8,482,624 B2
• Filed: 12/26/2007
• Issued: 07/09/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Beijing Xiaomi Mobile Software Co., Ltd. (Xiaomi Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Casio Computer Company Limited
• Inventors: Yokoi, Makoto
• Primary Examiner(s): Velez, Roberto
• Assistant Examiner(s): LE, TUAN H
• Application Number:
  US11/964,573
• Publication Number:
  US 20080112689A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,022 Days
• Field of Search: 348/220.1, 348/333.04, 348373-376, 348/345, 348/362
• US Class Current: 348/220.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/66 Remote control of cameras or camera parts, e.g. by remote control devices

Abstract

An image pickup device is equipped with a function to a pickup still picture during a moving picture pickup operation with voices. After a moving picture pickup processing with voices is started (YES in S2), a moving picture recording processing and a voice recording processing are started (S14). Subsequently, when a shutter button is depressed halfway (YES in S16), the moving picture recording processing is switched to a processing to store substitute frames, which are a copy of frame data immediately preceding the half depression operation of the shutter button, instead of moving picture frames imaged in moving picture frame cycles (step S20), and a still picture pickup processing is performed. After the still picture pickup processing ends, the normal moving picture recording processing is resumed. When a picture recording end button is operated (YES in S17), a moving picture file with voices is created from frame data, which includes substitute frames, and voice data, both of which are accumulated and stored in a buffer memory (S18). As a result, even thought the moving picture pickup operation is interrupted, moving pictures can be recorded as a single moving picture file.

Claims

1. An image pickup device comprising:

an imaging section that executes a moving picture pickup processing and a still picture pickup processing;

a voice recording section that executes a voice recording processing in parallel with the moving picture pickup processing;

an interrupt processing section that sequentially executes, during the moving picture pickup processing by the imaging section, a processing to suspend the moving picture pickup processing by the imaging section, a processing to pickup a still picture by the imaging section, and a processing to resume the moving picture pickup processing by the imaging section,

wherein the interrupt processing section continually executes the voice recording processing executed by the voice recording section in parallel with the moving picture pickup processing before the moving picture pickup processing is suspended, until the moving picture pickup processing is resumed;

a sound output section that outputs a notice tone before the still picture pickup processing by the imaging section, and

a notice tone control section that prohibits a sound output section from outputting a notice tone when the imaging section picks up a still picture in accordance with the interrupt processing and allows the sound output section to output a notice tone when the imaging section picks up a still picture independently of the interrupt processing.

2. An image pickup device according to claim 1, further comprising

an image pickup preparation instruction section that instructs an execution of at least one of an auto focus processing and an auto iris processing for the still picture pickup processing, and

an image pickup preparation control section that executes at least one of the auto focus processing and the auto iris processing, when the image pickup preparation instruction section instructs an execution of at least one of the auto focus processing and the auto iris processing,

wherein the sound output section outputs a notice tone along with at least one of the auto focus processing and the auto iris processing.

3. An image pickup device according to claim 1, further comprising

an image pickup instruction section that instructs to pickup a still picture,

wherein the interrupt processing section executes the still picture pickup processing when the image pickup instruction section instructs to pickup a still picture, and

the sound output section outputs a notice tone along with the still picture pickup processing.

4. An image pickup device comprising:

an imaging section that executes a moving picture pickup processing and a still picture pickup processing;

a voice recording section that executes a voice recording processing in parallel with the moving picture pickup processing;

an interrupt processing section that sequentially executes, during the moving picture pickup processing by the imaging section, a processing to suspend the moving picture pickup processing by the imaging section, a processing to pickup a still picture by the imaging section, and a processing to resume the moving picture pickup processing by the imaging section,

wherein the interrupt processing section continually executes the voice recording processing executed by the voice recording section in parallel with the moving picture pickup processing before the moving picture pickup processing is suspended, until the moving picture pickup processing is resumed;

a suspension instruction section that instructs to suspend the moving picture pickup processing by the imaging section,

an image pickup instruction section that instructs to pickup a still picture, wherein the interrupt processing section executes a processing to suspend the moving picture pickup processing by the imaging section when the suspension instruction section instructs to suspend the moving picture pickup processing, and then, executes a still picture pickup processing by the imaging section when the image pickup instruction section instructs to pickup a still picture;

a shutter button capable of depressing in two stages, wherein

the suspension instruction section instructs to suspend the moving picture pickup processing by the imaging section in response to a half depression operation of the shutter button, and

the image pickup instruction section instructs to pickup a still picture in response to a full depression operation of the shutter button; and

wherein the interrupt processing section executes at least one of an auto focus processing and an auto iris processing, when the suspension instruction section instructs to suspend the moving picture pickup processing.

5. An image pickup device according to claim 4, wherein the interrupt processing section executes a through picture display processing, when the suspension instruction section instructs to suspend the moving picture pickup processing.

6. An image pickup device according to claim 4, further comprising:

a resumption instruction section that instructs to resume the moving picture pickup processing by the imaging section, wherein the interrupt processing section executes a processing to resume the moving picture pickup processing by the imaging section, when the resumption instruction section instructs to resume the moving picture pickup processing by the imaging section after the still picture pickup processing is completed; and

wherein the resumption instruction section instructs to resume the moving picture pickup processing by the imaging section in response to releasing of a half depression operation of the shutter button.

7. A non-transitory computer readable medium containing a computer program product stored thereon, said computer program product controlling execution of a computer of an image pickup device with a function to pickup still pictures during a moving picture pickup operation, the computer program containing instructions for making the computer implement an imaging method, wherein the method comprises:

executing a moving picture pickup processing and a still picture pickup processing;

executing a voice recording processing in parallel with the moving picture pickup processing;

sequentially executing, during the moving picture pickup processing, an interrupt processing sequence including a processing to suspend the moving picture pickup processing, a processing to pickup a still picture, and a processing to resume the moving picture pickup processing,

wherein the interrupt processing sequence continually executes the voice recording processing in parallel with the moving picture pickup processing before the moving picture pickup processing is suspended, until the moving picture pickup processing is resumed;

outputting a notice tone before the still picture pickup processing, and

prohibiting a sound output section from outputting a notice tone when the image pickup device picks up a still picture in accordance with the interrupt processing and allows the sound output section to output a notice tone when the image pickup device picks up a still picture independently of the interrupt processing.

8. A non-transitory computer readable medium containing a computer program product stored thereon, said computer program product controlling execution of a computer of an image pickup device with a function to pickup still pictures during a moving picture pickup operation, the computer program containing instructions for making the computer implement an imaging method, wherein the method comprises:

executing a moving picture pickup processing and a still picture pickup processing;

executing a voice recording processing in parallel with the moving picture pickup processing;

sequentially executing, during the moving picture pickup processing, an interrupt processing sequence including a processing to suspend the moving picture pickup processing, a processing to pickup a still picture, and a processing to resume the moving picture pickup processing,

wherein the interrupt processing sequence continually executes the voice recording processing in parallel with the moving picture pickup processing before the moving picture pickup processing is suspended, until the moving picture pickup processing is resumed;

issuing a suspension instruction to suspend the moving picture pickup processing,

issuing an instruction to pickup a still picture, wherein the interrupt processing sequence executes a processing to suspend the moving picture pickup processing when the suspension instruction instructs to suspend the moving picture pickup processing, and then, executes a still picture pickup processing when the image pickup instruction instructs to pickup a still picture;

wherein the suspension instruction instructs to suspend the moving picture pickup processing in response to a half depression operation of a shutter button, and

the image pickup instruction instructs to pickup a still picture in response to a full depression operation of the shutter button; and

wherein the interrupt processing sequence executes at least one of an auto focus processing and an auto iris processing, when the suspension instruction instructs to suspend the moving picture pickup processing.