Information input apparatus

Abstract

An electronic camera records pictures and sound associated with the picture images, and enables reproduction of selected picture images. When one of the picture images of a range of continuously-shot picture images is reproduced, the sound corresponding to the entire range of continuously-shot picture images is reproduced.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An information input apparatus, comprising: 
 imaging means for imaging a picture image;    sound input means for inputting sound;    a memory for storing the picture image imaged by the imaging means and the sound corresponding to the picture image input by the sound input means, and for storing a continuously shot picture image comprising a plurality of picture images imaged continuously in a predetermined time period by the imaging means and sound corresponding to the continuously shot picture image input by the sound input means;    picture image reproduction means for reproducing the picture images stored in the memory;    sound reproduction means for reproducing the sound stored in the memory;    selection means for selecting among the picture images stored in the memory; and    control means for controlling the picture image reproduction means to reproduce the selected picture image and the sound reproduction means to reproduce the sound corresponding to the continuously shot picture image containing the selected picture image, if the selected image is one image of the continuously shot picture image.    
     
     
         2 . The information input apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the sound is stored in the memory with an association to each of the picture images that comprise the continuously shot picture image.    
     
     
         3 . The information input apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the control means accomplishes control so that when one of the picture images that comprise the continuously shot picture image is selected by the selection means, the sound reproduction means reproduces the sound corresponding to the entire continuously shot picture image.    
     
     
         4 . The information input apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the control means accomplishes control so that when one of the picture images other than the first picture image of the continuously shot picture image is selected by the selection means, the sound corresponding to the continuously shot picture image from the middle of the continuously shot picture image is reproduced.    
     
     
         5 . The information input apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the memory stores predetermined information indicating whether or not a picture image is a picture image comprising a continuously shot picture image.    
     
     
         6 . The information input apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 display means for displaying the picture images imaged by the imaging means and the picture images reproduced by the picture image reproduction means; and    sound output means for outputting the sound input by the sound input means and the sound reproduced by the sound reproduction means.    
     
     
         7 . The information input apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising illumination means for emitting illuminating light toward the object.  
     
     
         8 . An information input apparatus, comprising: 
 an imaging unit for imaging picture images;    a microphone for inputting sound;    a memory for storing the picture images and the sound associated with the picture images, the memory adapted to store a range of continuously shot picture images and the sound associated with the range of continuously shot picture images;    a reproduction unit for reproducing the picture images and the sound stored in the memory;    a user interface for allowing selection of the picture images to be reproduced; and    a controller responsive to the user interface for controlling the reproduction unit to reproduce the selected picture image and the sound associated with the picture image, and, if the selected picture image is one of the range of continuously shot picture images, reproducing the selected picture image and the sound associated with the entire range of the continuously shot picture images.    
     
     
         9 . The information input apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein: 
 the sound is stored in the memory with an association to each of the picture images that comprise the continuously shot picture image.    
     
     
         10 . The information input apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein: 
 the controller accomplishes control so that when one of the picture images other than the first picture image of the range of continuously shot picture images is selected, the sound corresponding to the range of continuously shot picture images is reproduced, beginning with the picture image in the range where audible sound is first recorded.    
     
     
         11 . The information input apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein: 
 the memory stores predetermined information indicating whether or not a picture image is one of a range of continuously shot picture images.    
     
     
         12 . The information input apparatus of  claim 8 , further comprising: 
 a display for displaying the picture images imaged by the imaging unit and the picture images reproduced by the reproduction unit; and    a speaker outputting the sound input by the microphone and the sound reproduced by the reproduction unit.    
     
     
         13 . The information input apparatus of  claim 8 , further comprising a strobe for emitting illuminating light toward the object.  
     
     
         14 . The information input apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein said apparatus is an electronic digital camera, and said imaging unit includes a lens and a photoelectric conversion device.  
     
     
         15 . A method for recording and reproducing picture images, comprising the steps of: 
 imaging a plurality of picture images during a predetermined period;    recording sound associated with the picture images during the predetermined period;    storing the picture images and the sound associated with the picture images;    selecting among the stored picture images to be reproduced; and    reproducing the selected picture image and the sound recorded during the predetermined period in which the selected image was recorded.    
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein: 
 the sound is stored with an association to each of the picture images recorded during the predetermined period.    
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the sound corresponding to the entire predetermined period in which the selected picture image was recorded is reproduced.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the sound corresponding to the predetermined period in which the selected picture image was recorded is reproduced beginning at the point in which audible sound is first recorded.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising the step of imaging a single image during a second predetermined period.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein: 
 the storing step includes storing information indicating whether a picture image is one of a plurality of picture images recorded during the predetermined period or a single picture image recorded during the second predetermined period.    
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising: 
 displaying the picture images and outputting the recorded sound.    
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising: 
 emitting illuminating light toward an object to be imaged.    
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said steps are performed by an electronic digital camera.