Image signal recording/reproduction apparatus, method employed therein, and image signal recording apparatus

Abstract

A dynamic image recording button and a still image recording button are provided at the main unit of a movie camera. A magneto-optical recording medium is loaded in a slot. If the dynamic image recording button or the still image recording button is operated during a reproduction operation, the reproduction operation is interrupted in a state in which the mechanical drive (rotation) of the magneto-optical recording medium is sustained. At this point, a dynamic image signal or a still image signal obtained through a photographing operation performed at the camera unit is temporarily recorded in a buffer memory, and is written in the magneto-optical recording medium when a write in the magneto-optical recording medium becomes enabled. Instructions to record dynamic images and to record still images can be issued to the movie camera through a touch-panel provided on the screen of a liquid crystal display unit. Even when operation cannot be performed through the touch-panel, the instructions can be issued through the dynamic image recording button or the still image recording button.

What is claimed is;  
     
         1 . An image signal recording/reproduction apparatus comprising: 
 an imaging apparatus that captures an image of a subject to be taken;    a generating apparatus that generates a dynamic image signal or a still image signal of the subject captured by said imaging apparatus;    an operation apparatus that is operated to start recording of the dynamic image signal or the still image signal generated by said generating apparatus;    a recording apparatus that records the dynamic image signal or the still image signal into a recording medium through mechanical drive;    a reproduction apparatus that reproduces the dynamic image signal or the still image signal recorded at said recording medium through mechanical drive; and    a control apparatus that implements control so that said mechanical drive is sustained if said operation apparatus is operated while the dynamic image signal or the still image signal is being reproduced by said reproduction apparatus and so that said recording apparatus records the dynamic image signal or the still image signal in said recording medium.    
     
     
         2 . An image signal recording/reproduction apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said control apparatus interrupts reproduction if said operation apparatus is operated while the dynamic image signal or the still image signal is being reproduced by said reproduction apparatus.    
     
     
         3 . An image signal recording/reproduction apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said recording medium is a magneto-optical disk, and said mechanical drive includes a rotational drive of said magneto-optical disk.    
     
     
         4 . An image signal recording/reproduction apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a temporary storage device that temporarily stores the dynamic image signal or the still image signal until recording of the dynamic image signal or the still image signal in said recording medium by said recording apparatus is enabled.    
     
     
         5 . An image signal recording/reproduction apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a control apparatus that updates contents of said temporary storage device if said temporary storage device becomes full.    
     
     
         6 . An image signal recording/reproduction apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said control apparatus alternately implements reproduction of the dynamic image signal or the still image signal by said reproduction apparatus and recording of the dynamic image signal or the still image signal by said recording apparatus through time-sharing, if said operation apparatus is operated while the dynamic image signal or the still image signal is being reproduced by said reproduction apparatus.    
     
     
         7 . An image signal recording/reproduction apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said control apparatus simultaneously implements reproduction of the dynamic image signal or the still image signal by said reproduction apparatus and recording of the dynamic image signal or the still image signal by said recording apparatus, if said operation apparatus is operated while the dynamic image signal or the still image signal is being reproduced by said reproduction apparatus.    
     
     
         8 . An image signal recording/reproduction apparatus according to  claim 4 , further comprising: 
 a stop operation apparatus that is operated to stop recording of the dynamic image signal or the still image signal generated by said generating apparatus, wherein: 
 said control apparatus, in response to an operation of said stop operation apparatus, stops recording in said recording medium of the dynamic image signal or the still image signal newly generated by said generating apparatus after said stop operation apparatus has been operated and then records the dynamic image signal or the still image signal stored in said temporary storage device in said recording medium in succession.  
   
     
     
         9 . An image signal recording/reproduction apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein: 
 said control apparatus records the dynamic image signal or the still image signal in such a manner that during a reproduction operation, the dynamic image signal or the still image signal recorded in said recording medium after said stop operation apparatus has been operated is reproduced prior to reproduction of the dynamic image signal or the still image signal recorded in said recording medium before said stop operation apparatus has been operated.    
     
     
         10 . A method of image signal recording/reproduction employed in an image signal recording/reproduction apparatus comprising: 
 an imaging apparatus that captures an image of a subject;    a generating apparatus that generates a dynamic image signal or a still image signal of the subject captured by said imaging apparatus;    an operation apparatus that is operated to start recording of the dynamic image signal or the still image signal generated by said generating apparatus;    a recording apparatus that records the dynamic image signal or the still image signal generated by said generating apparatus into a recording medium through mechanical drive; and    a reproduction apparatus that reproduces the dynamic image signal or the still image signal recorded at said recording medium through mechanical drive, that includes;    a step in which the mechanical drive is sustained if said operation apparatus is operated while the dynamic image signal or the still image signal is being reproduced by said reproduction apparatus; and    a step in which the dynamic image signal or the still image signal is recorded in said recording medium by said recording apparatus.    
     
     
         11 . An image signal recording apparatus comprising: 
 an imaging apparatus that captures an image of a subject;    a generating apparatus that generates a dynamic image signal or a still image signal of the subject captured by said imaging apparatus;    a display apparatus that displays information;    a first instruction device provided on said display apparatus screen, that issues an instruction to start recording a dynamic image signal or a still image signal generated by said generating apparatus; and    a second instruction device provided at a position other than the position at which said first instruction device is provided, that issues an instruction to start recording a dynamic image signal or a still image signal generated by said generating apparatus.    
     
     
         12 . An image signal recording apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein: 
 said instruction to start recording can be issued by said second instruction device regardless of whether or not said first instruction device has issued an instruction to start recording.    
     
     
         13 . An image signal recording apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein: 
 said generating apparatus is capable of generating a dynamic image signal and a still image signal; and    said second instruction device is provided; with    a third instruction device that issues an instruction to start recording of the dynamic image signal and a fourth instruction device that issues an instruction to start recording of the still image signal.    
     
     
         14 . An image signal recording apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein: 
 if said instruction to start recording is issued by said third instruction device while an instruction to start recording cannot be issued by said first instruction device, a still image signal is first recorded and then a dynamic image signal is recorded.    
     
     
         15 . An image signal recording apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein: 
 said first instruction device issues an instruction to start recording either the dynamic image signal or the still image signal; and    said second instruction device issues an instruction to start recording an image signal other than the image signal specified by said first instruction device