JP2730150B2 - Camera with voice recording function - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a camera having a voice recording function.

2. Description of the Related Art In a camera having a recording function such as a still video camera, sound is usually stored in association with video. Also,
Still cameras have been proposed that have a recording function and allow the user to select either a single shooting mode for shooting video of one screen or a continuous shooting mode for shooting video of multiple screens continuously ( JP-A-61-278279).

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in this prior art, the timing for recording is the same in both the single shooting mode and the continuous shooting mode, and it is not easy to use.

An object of the present invention is to apply a still camera having a recording function and a single shooting mode and a continuous shooting mode, in which a single shooting / continuous shooting mode and a timing for recording are appropriately set. I do.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to achieve the above object, the present invention mainly provides a method in which, when a single-shot mode is selected by a selection means, a sound of a sound recording means is recorded after a picture of one screen is shot by a video shooting means. When the recording is started and the continuous photographing mode is selected by the selecting means, the video photographing means and the audio recording means are controlled so that the sound recording by the sound recording means is performed during the photographing of a plurality of screens by the video photographing means. Control means.

[Operation] In the above configuration, when the single shooting mode is selected, the sound recording is started after capturing one screen of video, and when the continuous shooting mode is selected, the voice recording is performed during the video shooting of a plurality of screens.

[Effect of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, a single camera / continuous shooting mode and recording timing for recording are appropriately set, so that a very easy-to-use still camera can be realized.

Embodiment FIG. 1 shows a block configuration according to an embodiment of a still video camera equipped with the audio recording device of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a central processing unit (hereinafter, referred to as a CPU) that controls the entire camera, 2 denotes a group of various switches for inputting command information and the like to the CPU (details will be described later), and 3 denotes a power supply circuit unit. It comprises a main battery 4, a booster circuit 5 for obtaining a power source for a CCD described later, a backup battery 6, a regulator 7 for obtaining a power source for a CPU and a general circuit.

Reference numeral 8 denotes an automatic focus (AF) circuit, which includes an AF circuit 9 for outputting focusing and distance information to the CPU 1, a lens extension motor 10, a lens stop magnet 11, and a lens position detection encoder 12. 13 is a lens switching / barrier opening / closing circuit, and 14 is its motor.For example, when the motor 14 rotates forward, the lens is sequentially switched between standard and close-up, and is located in front of the lens when reversely rotating and has the function of an optical path shielding plate. The opened and closed barriers are opened and closed.

Reference numeral 15 denotes a circuit unit for automatic exposure (AE). The circuit unit 15 includes a spot metering circuit 16 which receives a detection signal of a metering element SP for metering a subject brightness at a central spot of the shooting screen, and a peripheral portion of the shooting screen. The photometric circuit 17 receives the detection signal of the photometric element AVE for photometry of the subject brightness, and outputs these detection data to A /
A / D conversion circuit 18 that performs D conversion
Serial communication interface 1 for Syria communication with 1
9, a weighting circuit 20, which weights the detection data as described below, so as to obtain an appropriate exposure based on a command from the CPU 1 input via the interface 19, 20 outputs and interfaces
It comprises a level shift circuit 21 for shifting the level of a signal based on a command from the CPU 1 via the intermediary 19.

Reference numeral 22 denotes a circuit unit for controlling the actual closing timing of the CCD shutter based on the output from the AE circuit unit 15. It comprises a switch 26 for breaking the short circuit, and comparators 27 and 28 for comparing the potential V at the connection point between the capacitor 25 and the output section of the level shift circuit 21 with reference reference potentials V0 and V1.

23 opens the CCD shutter based on a release signal for photographing and a pulse signal from the CCD driver 32, and closes when a predetermined exposure is obtained by the output of the comparator 28 of the circuit unit 22 or the forced close signal from the CPU 1. The control circuit outputs a signal for opening and closing the shutter to the CPU 1 and the CCD driver 32.

Reference numeral 24 denotes a gain control discriminating circuit. When a predetermined exposure (exposure amount smaller than the appropriate exposure by a predetermined amount) is not obtained even when the camera shake limit time is exceeded, based on an output of the comparator 27 and a closing signal from the shutter control circuit 23. For example, a signal for electrically controlling the gain of the video recording image signal is given to the CPU 1.

29 is a microphone for recording, 30 is an audio circuit that operates upon receiving a recording control signal from the CPU 1, and this audio circuit
The output of 30 is provided to a video recording circuit 34 described later.

Reference numeral 31 denotes a CCD image sensor (hereinafter, referred to as a CCD), which is a solid-state image sensor that converts optical image information into an electric signal. Reference numeral 32 denotes a CCD3.
This CCD driver 32 drives the above CCD.
The output of the shutter control circuit 23, the ISO sensitivity switching signal from the CPU 1, the synchronization signal PG generated in synchronization with the rotation of the floppy
It operates in response to such.

Reference numeral 34 denotes a video recording circuit for magnetically recording images and sounds on a floppy disk, and 35 denotes a magnetic head of the video recording circuit. In addition to the image signal from the CCD 31 and the audio signal from the audio circuit 30, an image screen is provided. And receives a date information signal (year, month, day, track number, etc.) displayed simultaneously with the image, a gain control output, and a synchronization signal PG.

Reference numeral 36 denotes a spindle motor driver for driving the floppy to rotate at a constant speed in accordance with a command from the CPU 1, and 37 denotes a spindle motor.

Reference numeral 38 denotes a stepping motor driver for moving the magnetic head 35 in accordance with a command from the CPU 1, and 39 denotes a stepping motor.
The movement of the magnetic head 35 is controlled to a predetermined track position of the floppy. Reference numeral 40 denotes a head holding plunger for setting the head at a predetermined position during recording (writing).

41 is a flash that emits light when the exposure amount during shooting is insufficient, etc.It has a built-in charging circuit and booster circuit for light emission,
The boosting operation is started by the boosting signal from the CPU1, and a charge completion signal is output to the CPU1 when the charging is completed by the charge completion monitor signal from the CPU1. In addition, the flash is fired by the light emission trigger signal from the CPU 1. 42 is a reset circuit to prevent abnormal operation when the power supply drops, 43
Is used to blink the CCD shutter when the camera is in the self-timer mode.
LED, 44 is a buzzer that generates a sound to warn the user when the deck lid of the floppy insertion section is left open, etc., 45 is activated by the output of CPU 1 and various camera information, settings This is a display unit for displaying a mode or the like on an LCD or the like.

The components of the switch group 2 include a main switch S0 and a switch S for performing photometry and distance measurement prior to photographing.
1. Release switch S2 for performing shooting operation, Recording switch S3 for selecting whether to record or not, Continuous shooting for taking a single picture (S, this is the standard mode) and multiple pictures continuously. A switch S4 for switching between each mode of a photograph (C) and a self (SELF) for photographing using a self-timer, a date information switch S5, a date information correction switch S6, a switch S7 for detecting the open / close state of the deck lid, A switch S8 for detecting the insertion state of the floppy, a switch S9 for detecting the presence or absence of a write-protection claw of the floppy,
Switch S1 that detects the open and closed positions of the barrier
0, S11, switch S12 for detecting the initial position of the lens, lens changeover switch S13 for bringing the lens into the close-up state during close-up, detecting the close-up lens entrance position (close-up state) and exit position (standard state), respectively Switches S14 and S15, and a switch S16 for detecting the initial position of the magnetic head.

Here, the CPU 1 has various functional configurations such as a self-timer unit and a sequence control unit described later.Setting information such as a recording switch S3 and a mode changeover switch S4 is input by a user before shooting, and a memory in the CPU 1 is provided. The CPU 1 executes a predetermined program operation based on the memory information, and performs camera operations such as video recording and audio recording.

In particular, in the present invention, when the self-mode is selected and set by the mode change switch S4, recording is performed during the self-timer count before photographing an image, while when the self-mode is not selected, recording is performed after photographing is completed. The sequence is automatically switched by CPU1.

Hereinafter, the operation of the camera will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS.

FIG. 2 shows a main flowchart. In the figure, when power is supplied to CPU1, CPU1 is reset (#
1), the reset flag is set to “1” (# 2),
Initialization of RAM and initialization of setting the lens and the magnetic head 35 to the initial position are performed (# 3). If the reset flag remains "1", it means that the date has not been corrected as described later, and such date information is not recorded on the floppy.
A warning is issued by blinking a part of D or the like. Next, the presence or absence of a battery is checked (# 4). If there is no battery, a battery removal routine is processed (# 5). If there is a battery, the state of the main switch S0 is checked (# 6).

If the switch S0 is ON, it checks whether the deck cover is open or closed, whether or not there is a floppy disk, whether or not there is a recording prohibiting claw, and whether or not the deck cover has just been opened and closed (# 7 to # 7).
# 10) If it is immediately after the deck lid is closed, the head of the unrecorded track on the floppy is searched in the initial loading routine, and the magnetic head 35 moves to that position (# 11).

Thereafter, if the determination of # 10 is NO, then the state of the photometering / ranging switch S1 is checked (# 12). If it is turned from OFF to ON, the metering / ranging, exposure, and various subsequent steps are performed. S1 sequence (shown in FIGS. 3 and 4)
Is processed (# 13, # 14). If the switch S1 is OFF or remains ON before, the process does not proceed to the S1 sequence, but checks the state of the lens close-up switch S13 (# 15).
16) Process.

Next, check the state of the mode switch S4 (# 1
7) When this is turned on, the date flag is set to "0", and if the mode is the date switching correction mode, the process exits from this correction mode (# 18) and the mode change routine (# 19) is processed. By this mode change processing, any of the single, continuous shooting, and self shooting modes is stored in the memory as described above. Next, go to the state of the recording switch S3 (#
20) When this is turned on, the date flag is similarly set to “0”.
If it is the date switching correction mode, the process exits from this correction mode (# 21) and the recording switching routine (# 2
2) Process.

The close-up switch S13, the mode changeover switch S4, the recording switch S3, and the like shift to different states each time they are pressed (turned on), and return to the original state when the number of existing states is pressed.

Then, check the status of the date switch S5 (# 2
3) When this is turned on, the date flag is set to "1" to enter the date switching correction mode (# 24), and the reset flag is set to "0" to enable recording of date information (# 2).
5) After a lapse of a predetermined time, a date timer for exiting the switching correction mode is started (# 26), and a date switching routine (# 27) is processed. Next, the date flag is checked (# 28). If this is "1" and the date correction switch S6 is turned on, the date timer is newly started (# 29, # 30), and the date correction routine (# 29) is started. Process # 31). If the date correction switch 36 is OFF and the date timer time has elapsed (YES in # 32), the date flag is set to "0"(# 33), and the process exits from the date switching correction mode. As will be described later in the S1 sequence,
Even when the distance measurement switch S1 is turned on, the camera escapes from the date switching correction mode.

Thereafter, it is determined whether or not boosting of the charging circuit of the flash 41 is necessary (# 34). If boosting is required, it is determined whether or not charging is completed (# 35). If not, boosting is started (# 35).
36), and return to the step # 4. Further, when the main switch S0 is OFF in # 6, if the boosting is not necessary in # 34 and # 35, or if charging is completed, the boosting is stopped (#
37), start a first timer for counting the no-operation state (# 38), and until a predetermined time has elapsed (NO in # 39),
Looking at the open / close state of the deck lid (# 44), the switches S0, S1, S1 and S2 are closed until a predetermined time by a second timer described later elapses (NO in # 45) even if the deck lid is closed or open.
It is checked whether there is a change in the state of S3, S4, S5, S6, the deck lid, etc. (# 47). If there is a change, the process returns to # 4, and if there is no change, the process returns to # 39.

When the predetermined time by the first timer has elapsed in # 39, the setting mode is checked (# 40), and if the mode is the self or continuous shooting mode, the mode is changed to the standard single mode (# 41). Further, the state of the lens is checked (# 42). If the lens is in the close-up state, it is changed to the standard (# 43), and the process proceeds to # 44. When the predetermined time by the second timer has passed in # 45, the user is notified of the buzzer 44.
Then a warning is issued (# 46). As is clear from this flowchart, when the deck lid is open, no input is accepted, and only date correction is possible.

If the deck lid is open in # 7, the process proceeds to # 48, and if it is immediately after the door is closed to open, the second timer is started (# 49). When there is no floppy in # 8 and # 9 and when there is no claw (that is, when recording is prohibited), the boosting is stopped (# 5
1), without looking at the state of switch S1 etc., # 23 above
Then, if a predetermined time of the second time has elapsed, a warning is issued in the same manner as described above (# 52). When the deck lid is closed, the warning is stopped (# 53).

Next, one embodiment of the S1 sequence of # 14 will be described with reference to FIG. In this example, recording is prohibited during continuous shooting, and recording is performed after continuous shooting. When the self mode is selected, recording is performed during the self-timer.

In FIG. 3, first, boosting for prohibiting charging during video recording is stopped (# 61), and the date flag is set to "0" (that is, the switch S1 is turned on to exit from the date switching correction mode) (# 62), it is checked whether the self mode is stored (# 63). If the self mode is not set, the spindle motor 37 for driving the floppy is turned on to immediately set the recording standby (# 64). During the counting of the self-timer, the spindle motor 37 is not turned on at this time to save power.

Next, after the distance measurement and the photometry / AE calculation routine (# 65, # 66) to be described later are processed, it is checked from the calculation result whether boosting is necessary (# 67). If not, the release switch S2 is turned on. (# 68). Switch S2
If it is turned on, it is checked whether or not the self mode is stored (# 69). If it is not in the self mode, it is immediately checked.
0), the spindle motor 37 is turned on (# 71), the barrier is opened (# 72), and the lens extending motor 10 is operated to extend the lens to the in-focus position (# 73). The routine (# 74) is processed, and an image is recorded on the floppy by a recording device such as the video recording circuit 34 (# 75). In this recording step, date information of the year, month and day and a track number are also recorded at the same time. In addition,
If the camera is not in the self mode, the recording is performed after the image is captured, so that the recording has not been performed at this time.

Thereafter, the magnetic head 35 is moved to the next empty track (# 76), the lens is reset (# 77), and it is determined whether the memory information of the mode selection is the continuous shooting mode (# 78). , Reset the continuous shooting flag 2 (# 7
9) When the image recording is completed, the spindle motor 37 is turned off (# 80), the barrier is closed (# 81), and the lens is returned to the standard. (# 82, # 83).

If the mode is not the self mode (NO in # 84), the memory information by the setting of the recording switch S3 is checked (# 85). The recordable timer time T of the audio memory is set to 9.6 seconds (s) (# 8
6) Start voice memory (# 87). Then, the timer counts down to see if T = 0 (# 88),
Before reaching that point, the metering / ranging switch S1 is turned on from OFF.
(# 89). Here, to indicate that the operator wishes to stop recording halfway, switch S1
Since it is set to turn off and on again, Y at # 89
In the case of ES, that is, when the recording is stopped, the S3 count described later is set to “0” (# 90), and the sound memory is ended (# 95).

If NO in # 89 above, the state of the main switch S0 is checked (# 91), and if this is turned off, the voice memory is reset as an intention to stop the current recording from the beginning (# 9).
2) The process proceeds to step # 4 in the main flowchart of FIG. 2 without performing the voice recording process. If the main switch S0 remains ON in # 91, then the recording switch S3
Is turned on from OFF (# 93).

This is because the intention to perform additional recording for one captured image is indicated by pressing the recording switch S3. That is, when the recording switch S3 is pressed once, the S3 count is incremented by one (#
94), returning to # 88. As the S3 count is incremented, the process returns from # 100 to # 86 via # 101 as described later, and the recording timer is set again to enable additional recording by the number of S3 counts.

When the timer reaches T = 0, the voice memory ends (# 9).
5) The spindle motor 37 is turned on (# 96), and voice recording is performed (# 97). Here, the track number and audio-compatible track number are recorded, and date information such as the date is not recorded. Next, the magnetic head 35 is moved to the next empty track (# 98), and the spindle motor 37 is turned off (# 99).
The count is checked (# 100). If the count is "0", if the mode is self-shot or continuous shooting, the mode is returned to the standard single mode (# 102, # 103), and then # 4 in the main flowchart.
Return to If the S3 count is not 0 at # 100, the S3 count is decremented by 1 (# 101).
Return to Thus, additional recording is performed.

If the recording mode is not set in # 85, the process proceeds to # 102 without performing the above-described recording operation steps.

If the continuous shooting mode is set in # 78 above,
The continuous shooting flag 2 is set to "1"(# 104), the process returns to # 65, and the above routine is circulated to execute continuous shooting. Here, recording was not performed during continuous shooting.

In step # 68, if the release switch S2 remains OFF or turns OFF, the continuous shooting flag 2 is checked. If the continuous shooting is not being performed, the open / close state of the deck cover, the main switch S0
And the state of the photometering / ranging switch S1 are checked (# 106 to # 108), and if they are closed, ON, and ON, # 66
Returning to step # 4, if it corresponds to any of open, OFF and OFF, the process proceeds to step # 4 in the main flowchart. On the other hand, if the continuous shooting flag 2 is "1" in # 105, the continuous shooting operation is stopped and the process proceeds to # 79.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step # 67 that boosting is necessary, it is determined whether charging is completed (# 109).
However, if charging is not completed, it is checked whether or not the backlight is bright (# 110). As a result, if there is a bright backlight and the release switch S2 is turned on (Y in # 111)
ES), the process proceeds to step # 69. Otherwise, the process goes to a continuous shooting flag 2 indicating whether continuous shooting is in progress (# 112).
Here, if continuous shooting is being performed, a so-called uncharged lock (which occurs when darkening occurs during continuous shooting) is established, and continuous shooting is stopped, and the process proceeds to step # 79. If continuous shooting is not being performed, the spindle motor 37 is turned off to save power during charging (# 113), and boosting is started (# 114). Then check if charging is complete (# 1
15) If the charging is completed, the boosting is stopped (# 116), and it is checked again whether or not there is backlight (# 117). If YES, the spindle motor 37 is turned on (# 118) and the above-mentioned # 66 Return to If NO, the process returns to # 4 of the main flow.

If charging is not completed in # 115 above, the deck lid,
Check the status of the main switch S0 and the photometry / ranging switch S1 (# 119 to # 121). If each is closed, ON, or ON, check whether the backlight is bright. If the backlight is bright, check the status of the release switch S2. (# 123), if this is ON, the boosting is stopped without waiting for the charging to be completed (# 124), the spindle motor 37 is turned on (# 125), and the photographing is started (proceed to # 69). When the determination in # 122 is NO, that is, when the image is dark, or when the release switch S2 is OFF in # 123, the process returns to # 115. If the deck lid is open, the main switch S0 is OFF, and the photometry / ranging switch S1 is OFF in steps # 119 to # 121, the process exits from the S1 sequence and proceeds to step # 4 in the main flowchart.

When the self mode is stored and the sequence (# 70) of the same mode is processed, since the recording has already been completed, the process proceeds directly from # 84 to # 96.

The S1 sequence shown in FIG. 3 is an embodiment in which recording is performed after continuous shooting (however, recording is performed during the self-timer count as described later). An example will be described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 4, in the present embodiment, in the continuous shooting mode,
The process proceeds from # 78 to # 104, and the recording operation is performed after the continuous shooting flag 2 is set to "1". That is, the timer T = 9.6 seconds (s) is set (# 201), and the voice memory is started (# 2).
02), the flow returns from # 203 to # 65 until T = 0, and thereafter, this routine is circulated to perform continuous shooting and recording. When T = 0, the voice memory is terminated (# 204), the continuous shooting flag 2 is set to "0"(# 205), and the barrier is closed (# 2).
06) After returning the lens to the standard (# 207, # 20)
8) Skip the recording and other routines and proceed to # 97 to record audio.

If the continuous shooting flag 2 is "1" from # 68, the continuous shooting flag 2 is set to "0"(# 209) because the continuous shooting is determined to be stopped (# 209). OFF
Then (# 210), the barrier is closed (# 211), the lens is returned to the standard (# 212, # 213), and the process proceeds to # 88. Thereafter, recording is continued for the remaining time of the timer. Also, when the continuous shooting flag 2 is "1" even when the process proceeds to # 112 with the uncharged lock, similarly to the above-mentioned # 209 to # 213, # 214 to # 213 are performed.
In step # 218, a process for canceling continuous shooting is performed, and the flow advances to step # 88.

In this embodiment, additional recording cannot be performed after the end of recording in 9.6 seconds in continuous shooting, and if continuous shooting ends (switch S2 is turned off or not charged) before 9.6 seconds elapses,
Additional audio recordings are available. In addition, according to the S1 sequence shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the barrier is kept open to reduce the time lag during continuous shooting. Further, the corresponding video track number of the audio during the continuous shooting can be made to correspond to the first (first row of the continuous shooting) track number or to all the track numbers.

Next, the sequence of the self mode in # 70 is described as the fifth sequence.
This will be described with reference to the drawings.

The timer T is set to 9.6 seconds (s) (# 301), and the voice memory and self-counting are started (# 302, # 303),
While the timer is counting, the LED is blinked to indicate that self-counting or recording is in progress (# 305).
If the deck lid is opened at # 306 or # 308 or the main switch S0 is turned off during recording, the voice memory is reset assuming that the self-cancellation will stop recording from the beginning (# 308). Return to the main flowchart. When the recording is performed up to the count up of the timer (YES in # 304), the voice memory is terminated (# 309), and the process proceeds to # 71 of the S1 sequence.

In the self-mode, the recording on the floppy disk of the audio memory is performed after the recording of the image (# 75 in FIGS. 3 and 4).
Performed at # 97. In addition, the LED flashes during self-counting and is used to indicate that self-counting and recording is in progress. However, during recording during normal shooting (for example, single mode), the self-use LED is also used for recording. May be displayed.

Next, the photometric / AE calculation sequence of # 66 in the S1 sequence will be described with reference to FIG.

First, photometry is performed by the photometry elements SP and AVE and the photometry circuits 16 and 17 (# 401), and the photometry analog data is converted by the A / D conversion circuit 18.
A / D-converted and loaded into CPU 1 (# 402 to # 404). Next, it is determined whether the switch S1 is in the AF lock state without releasing the switch (# 405). If NO, the central (spot) luminance photometric value Bv1 is subtracted from the surrounding (abbe) luminance photometric value Bv2 to determine the luminance difference. ΔBv is obtained (# 406), a main object brightness BvS is obtained by subtracting a predetermined correction value α according to ΔBv from the photometric value Bv1 of the spot (# 407), and the Abbe photometric value Bv2 is obtained.
Is set as the background, that is, the sub-subject luminance BvA (# 408). Also,
If the AF lock is set in step # 405, the process proceeds to step # 408 without performing steps # 406 and # 407. Here, AF lock at # 405 is only performed when the photometry / AE calculation is performed from # 108 to # 66 in the S1 sequence of FIGS. 3 and 4.

Next, it is determined whether the lens is in a close-up state (# 409).
The difference between vA and the main subject luminance BvS, that is, the degree of backlight ΔBvS is determined (# 410), and this value is compared with the backlight detection level δ (# 411). If ΔBvS is smaller than δ, the degree of backlight is small (direct light) ), The weighted main subject luminance Bv
As s', 1 / 8BvS + 7 / 8BvA is used (# 412). on the other hand,
If ΔBvS is larger than δ in # 411, the degree of backlight is large (backlight) and the backlight flag is set to “1” (# 41).
5), BvS is set to Bvs'(# 416). The weighting is performed by the weighting circuit 20 (FIG. 1).

Subsequently, when the process of # 412 is performed, it is checked whether or not Bvs' is equal to or higher than the luminance BvH of the camera shake limit (# 41).
4) If this is YES, it is determined that it is brighter than the camera shake limit brightness, and the camera enters the natural light shooting mode. If NO, it is determined that it is dark and the camera enters the dark flash shooting mode. Also, # 416
Is performed, it is checked whether the value obtained by subtracting the backlight detection level δ from the slave subject brightness BvA is equal to or higher than the camera shake limit brightness BvH (# 417). Is set to "1"(# 418) to enter the backlight flash photography mode. On the other hand, if NO, it is backlight, but enters the dark flash photography mode because the background is dark.

Here, the natural light shooting mode will be described first. In this mode, the initial setting ISO sensitivity Sv0 determined by the CCD 31 corresponding to the film is set as the sensitivity value Sv (# 419),
The maximum brightness BvM that can control the proper exposure when the subject brightness is extremely bright is determined by the maximum shutter speed TvM, the value Av corresponding to the lens aperture, and the value Sv corresponding to the sensitivity of the CCD (both apex values). = TvM + Av-Sv (# 420).

Next, the magnitude of Bvs 'obtained in # 412 is compared with the magnitude of BvM (# 421). If Bvs' is larger than BvM, Sv0-1 is used as sensitivity value Sv because it is too bright (# 422). , Bv
If s' is not larger than BvM, the step # 422 is not performed and the step-up is not required (# 423), and the sequence proceeds to the S1 sequence.

Next, the dark flash photography mode will be described. In this mode, the main subject brightness BvS plus 1Ev is compared with the camera shake limit brightness BvH (# 424), and BvS + 1
Is not smaller than BvH, a value obtained by adding 1Ev to the main subject luminance BvS is set as the control luminance value BvT (# 425).
This allows the main subject to be 1E from an appropriate value with only natural light.
It will be shot under v only. On the other hand, BvS + 1
Is smaller than BvH, the main subject is dark, so the control brightness value B
The camera shake limit luminance BvH is set as vT (# 426).

Furthermore, to calculate the flash dimming correction value,
A value ΔEvN indicating how much the main subject is underappropriate when taken with natural light alone is determined from the difference between the main subject luminance BvS and the control luminance value BvT (# 427), and this value ΔEv
It is checked whether N is larger than −1Ev (# 428). If it is larger, ΔEvN is set to −1Ev (# 429), and then ΔEvN is −
It is checked whether it is 3 Ev or less (# 430). If YES, the correction value K is set to 0 (# 431). If NO, that is, ΔE
When vN is between -1 and -3, the correction value K is set to (1/2) ΔEvN +
(3/2) (# 432). Subsequently, it is checked whether the main subject distance is 5 m or more (# 433). If it is 5 m or more, the flash dimming correction value ΔEvFL is set to the above correction value K + 0.5 (# 434). Then, the tuning light correction value ΔEvFL is set as the correction value K (# 435).

Next, the initial setting ISO sensitivity Sv0 is set as the ISO sensitivity value Sv of the CCD 31 (# 436), and the maximum controllable brightness BvM at the highest brightness is calculated from the maximum shutter speed TvM, the aperture value Av of the lens, and the sensitivity value Sv. After setting BvM = TvM + Av−Sv (# 437), it is checked whether the control brightness value BvT is equal to or higher than the controllable maximum brightness BvM obtained above (# 4).
38). If the result of this comparison is YES, it is a bright time, and the IS0 sensitivity Sv is set to Sv0-1 (# 439), and then TvM + Av- is similarly set as the maximum controllable brightness BvM 'at this time.
Using Sv (# 440), it is checked again whether the control brightness value BvT is equal to or higher than the maximum controllable brightness BvM '(# 441), and if the comparison result is YES, the bright / reverse flag is checked (# 442). If BvS stands, the main subject brightness BvS is compared with the maximum brightness value BvM '(# 443). If BvS is larger than BvM', the brightness of the main subject is bright even if the subject is backlit, and a flash is not required. The flag is set to "0"(# 444), and the mode shifts to the natural light shooting mode.

When the comparison result of the above # 438, # 441 and # 443 is NO,
If the bright / reverse flag in # 442 is 0, the flow goes to # 445, and the flash emission timing Tv is set to the control brightness value BvT and ISO brightness.
From the sensitivity value Sv and the aperture value Av of the lens, Tv = BvT + Sv−Av. Further, it is checked whether or not the flash emission timing Tv is higher than the maximum shutter speed TvM (# 4).
46), if Tv is smaller than TvM, it is checked whether or not the same timing Tv is equal to or less than the limit shutter speed TvH (# 44).
7) If Tv is greater than TvH, a flag indicating the need for pressure increase is set with the Tv obtained in # 445 as it is (# 448), and S
Move to one sequence. If the determinations in # 446 and # 447 are YES, TvM (# 449), TvH
Set (# 450) and proceed to # 448.

Next, the backlight flash photography mode will be described. In this mode, the slave subject brightness BvA-1 is used as the control brightness value BvT (# 451). As a result, when the main subject is properly exposed, the background is photographed over 1Ev. After the process of # 451, the process proceeds to # 427, and thereafter, the same process is performed.

If the lens is in the close-up state in step # 409, the process proceeds to step # 452. In step # 452, the camera shake limit luminance value during close-up is BvCU, the camera shake limit shutter speed TvH, the aperture value AvCU at close-up, and the initial setting ISO. From the sensitivity Sv0, BvCU = TvH + AvCU−Sv0. Then, the camera shake limit luminance value BvCU and the sub-subject luminance
Compare with BvA (# 453), if BvA is greater than BvCU,
The slave subject brightness BvA + 0.75 is set as the control brightness value BvT (# 45
4), the flash emission timing Tv is set to Tv = BvT + Sv0−AvCU from the above BvT, the initial setting ISO sensitivity Sv0, and the aperture value AvCU at close-up (# 455), a boost is required (# 456), and the process returns to the S1 sequence. . If BvA is smaller than BvCU, the camera shake limit shutter speed TvHC at close-up is set as the flash emission timing Tv (# 457), and the process proceeds to # 456.

Next, the release sequence (# 74) in the S1 sequence will be described with reference to FIG. This release is controlled based on the result of the photometry / AE calculation.

If the lens is not in the close-up state and the strobe light is not required (NO in # 501 and # 502), natural light shooting is performed, and luminance data of the center spot (SP) and the periphery (AVE) of the light receiving section is used (# 503), weighting is applied by Bvs' obtained in # 412 of the photometry / AE calculation sequence (# 50)
Four). This is performed by the weighting circuit 20 based on a command from the CPU 1 shown in FIG. Then, the timer t1 is set to the camera shake limit time t _H , and light control (exposure) starts when the timer starts (# 505, # 506). Here, t _H = 2− ^TvH .

After the start of dimming, the reference potential V0 for setting appropriate exposure in the circuit 28 for controlling the opening time of the shutter shown in FIG. 1 is compared with the control potential V displaced according to the weighting, and V0 ≧ Exposure is terminated at the time when the voltage becomes V. (# 511). Before reaching V0 ≧ V, the timer t1 = 0
When the value becomes (YES in # 508), the reference potential V1 (> V0) is compared with the control potential V (# 509). If V is higher than V1 (NO in # 509), the camera shake limit time has elapsed. However, since the subject is dark and the exposure is still insufficient, the gain is increased by a predetermined amount in the gain control determination circuit 24 (# 522).
Exposure ends (# 511). If V1 is equal to or greater than V in # 509 (YES in # 509), the exposure is terminated without changing the gain (# 511). After the completion of the exposure, the process proceeds to step # 75 of the S1 sequence.

On the other hand, if strobe light emission is required (YES in # 502),
Using the luminance data of only the center spot (SP) of the light receiving section (# 512), the ΔEvFL, Sv obtained above is added as a correction value (# 513), and Bvs ′ obtained in # 416 described above is adopted (# 51
4) Checking whether the subject is backlit or not based on the above-mentioned light / reverse flag (# 51)
5) If not backlight (bright / reverse flag = 0), # 516 below
~ # 522 are processed, and if it is backlight (bright / reverse flag = 1),
Steps # 523 to # 527 are processed to complete the exposure (# 511).

In any of these processes, the timer t1 = t _A ,
To set the timer t2 = t _H + t _F. Here, a timing time to flash at _{^{tA = 2 -Tv, t H =}} 2 -TvH
In camera shake limit time, t _F is a flash light emission time. Then, natural exposure is started by a timer start, and t1 = 0.
At this point, dimming is started by flash emission.

Regarding the processing after the start of light control, when the backlight is not backlight, the timer t1 in the case of shooting only natural light described above is used.
In place of backlight, the same applies except that timer t2 is used.
When t2 = 0, the exposure is immediately terminated (# 511) without processing whether the gain is increased.

When the lens is in a close-up state,
The processing of 528 to # 536 is performed, and the exposure ends (# 511).
That is, in this process, as in the case of # 503, the brightness data of the center spot (SP) and the periphery (Ave) of the light receiving unit is used, and the correction of AvCU is added, so that Bvs' = (3/4) BvS + ( 1/4) Weighting of BvA is added (# 530), and thereafter, the same processing as in # 523 to # 527 at the time of backlight is performed. In addition, the camera shake limit time at the time of close-up is t _HC = 2− ^TvHC .

Further, in the above-described embodiment, weights are added in the case of the close-up mode and the natural light mode. However, weights may be added even in the case of backlight, or the values may be determined separately.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a still video camera according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a main flowchart showing the operation of the camera, FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of a sequence of a switch S1, and FIG. Is a flowchart showing another example of the sequence of the switch S1, FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a self-sequence, FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a photometry / AE calculation sequence, and FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a release sequence. 1 ... CPU, 29 ... Microphone, 30 ... Audio circuit, 31
... CCD, 32 ... CCD driver, 34 ... Video recording circuit,
35: Magnetic head, S3: Recording switch, S4: Continuous shooting mode switch.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on front page (72) Inventor Yoshihiro Tanaka 2-3-13 Azuchicho, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Osaka International Building Minolta Camera Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Nobuyuki Taniguchi Azuchi, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Osaka International Building Minolta Camera Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Shinji Tominaga 2-3-13 Azuchicho, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Kaisho 61-253981 (JP, A)

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A video shooting means for shooting video, an audio recording means for recording audio, a single shooting mode for shooting video of one screen by the video shooting means, and video shooting of a plurality of screens continuously. Selecting means for selecting any one of a continuous shooting mode, and when the single shooting mode is selected by the selecting means, starts sound recording by the sound recording means after photographing one screen of video by the video photographing means. Control means for controlling the video photographing means and the audio recording means so that when the continuous photographing mode is selected by the means, audio recording by the audio recording means is performed during photographing of a plurality of screens by the video photographing means. A camera characterized in that: