Apparatus for recording and/or reproducing a video signal

In a video signal recording apparatus, a continuous video signal picked-up by a camera is sequentially recorded in a video signal area of a tape as a real moving picture and a frame of the video signal indicated at an arbitrary time is recorded in a digital audio signal area of the tape as a still image signal of high resolution. The real moving picture and the still image can be recorded simultaneously. Still image signals for a plurality of still images picked-up successively at arbitrary times are stored in a video memory and then recorded successively in the digital audio signal area of the tape. Furthermore, an identifying signal is recorded together with each still image signal so that the ending portion of the still image signal can be detected with ease.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention generally relates to apparatus for recording and/or 
reproducing a video signal and, more particularly, is directed to an 
apparatus for recording and/or reproducing a video signal for use with a 
video tape recorder having a built-in camera. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
As a recording apparatus for recording a still image as an electrical video 
signal, a so-called electronic still camera has been developed to record a 
still image on a magnetic disc as a video signal. With this electronic 
still camera, processing such as development or the like is not required, 
unlike a standard camera using a halide film. The electronic still camera 
can reproduced a picked-up still image immediately merely by connecting it 
to a television receiver. 
However, a still image picked-up by such electronic still camera is poor in 
resolution as compared with a still image picked-up by a standard camera 
using halide film and therefore it has been proposed that an electronic 
still camera capable of picking up a still image of high resolution be 
developed. Since the magnetic disc provided as a recording medium has 
restrictions on its size and so on, the resolution can not be improved as 
desired so long as the magnetic disc is utilized. 
To obviate the aforementioned problem, an electronic still camera utilizing 
a semiconductor memory as a recording medium has been developed, in which 
a video signal of a picked-up still image is converted into a digital 
signal and the resultant video signal is stored and recorded in the 
semiconductor memory, thereby obtaining a still image of high resolution. 
This type of electronic still camera needs a semiconductor memory of large 
storage capacity and the recording medium becomes very expensive, so that 
this electronic still camera is utilized only as a professional electronic 
still camera. 
On the other hand, as a consumer video apparatus, a video tape recorder 
(VTR) is now widely available on the market and it has been suggested that 
an image of high resolution can be recorded by utilizing this consumer 
video tape recorder (VTR). In this case, however, it takes a lot of time 
to record and process a still image of high resolution, and as a 
consequence, it is impossible to record a plurality of still images which 
are picked-up successively. 
To solve this problem, the assignee of the present application has 
previously proposed a record and/or reproducing apparatus in which a 
digital video signal of one field or frame is recorded on a pulse code 
modulated (PCM) audio data recording portion of a data format of a video 
tape recorder, such as an 8-mm video tape recorder (see Japanese Patent 
Application No. 2 -46816). In that case, the digital video signal of one 
field or one frame is recorded in the PCM audio data recording portion of 
several tens to several hundreds of tracks. Since the digital video signal 
is recorded as described above, a still image of high resolution can be 
recorded efficiently. 
The digital video signal for one still image is recorded over a plurality 
of tracks as described above, so that, when a video signal of a new still 
image is recorded on the tape on which the video signal of the first still 
image is already recorded, an ending portion of the first recorded video 
signal must be detected and the video signal of the new still image must 
begin at this ending portion. If the video signal of the new still image 
is not positioned as described above, then the new video signal may be 
recorded on a track in which the video signal of the first still image is 
already recorded. There is then the problem that the previously-recorded 
signal is erased unintentionally. 
If the ending portion of the first still image signal recorded over several 
hundreds of tracks is searched for in a normal playback mode, then it 
takes a large amount of time to detect this ending portion of the first 
still image signal. 
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an 
improved video signal recording and/or reproducing apparatus in which the 
aforementioned shortcomings and disadvantages encountered with the prior 
art can be eliminated. 
More specifically, it is an object of the present invention to provide an 
improved video signal recording and/or reproducing apparatus of relatively 
simple arrangement which can successively record a plurality of still 
images of high resolution. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide a video signal 
recording and/or reproducing apparatus in which an ending portion of a 
recorded still image signal can be detected with ease. 
As a first aspect of the present invention, a video signal recording 
apparatus is comprised of means for providing still image data 
representing a respective still image; memory means for storing the still 
image data for a plurality of still images and which are sequentially 
derived from the means for providing still image data at arbitrary times; 
memory control means for controlling read out of the stored still image 
data from the memory means; and means for sequentially recording on a 
record medium the still image data read out from the memory means for the 
plurality of still images. 
In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, a video signal 
recording apparatus in which a continuous video signal is recorded in 
first portions of successive tracks on the recording medium, and the data 
for each of the still images is derived still images from the continuous 
video signal at respective arbitrary times and is recorded in second 
portions of respective groups of tracks along with respective 
identification signals indicating tracks adjacent an end of the respective 
group is further comprised of means for detecting said identification 
signals recorded in tracks of the groups of tracks having respective still 
image data recorded therein, and control means for causing the recording 
on the record medium of still image data for a new still image only after 
detecting of the identification signals identifying the end of the group 
of tracks in which the still image data was last recorded.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
The video signal recording and/or reproducing apparatus of the present 
invention is applied to a video tape recorder which is in accordance with 
the standard format for an 8-mm video tape recorder, and therefore the 
standard of this 8-mm video tape recorder will be described initially. 
In accordance with this 8-mm video tape recorder standard, signals are 
recorded and/or reproduced by a pair of rotary heads mounted on a rotary 
head drum at an angular extent of 180 degrees and a tape is wrapped around 
the head rotating circumferential surface of the rotary head drum over an 
angular range of 221 degrees. In an interval of 180 degrees of the angular 
range of 221 degrees, the video signal is recorded and in another interval 
of 36 degrees, a digitized (PCM) timebase-compressed audio signal is 
recorded. 
FIG. 1 shows an example of a format of a recorded track formed on a tape 
according to the above-mentioned standard. As shown in FIG. 1, this track 
format is composed of a PCM audio signal portion having at the head 
thereof a tracing start area 51 of rotational angle at 2.94 degrees of a 
head from the right hand side from which the head starts tracing the tape. 
This tracing start area 51 is followed by a clock run-in area 52 of 2.06 
degrees. The 2.06 degrees correspond to three horizontal periods (3 H) of 
the video signal and this clock run-in area 52 is synchronized with PCM 
data which will be described later. The clock run-in area 52 is followed 
by a PCM data area 53 for recording of a timebase-compressed audio signal 
of 26.32 degrees, and this PCM data area 53 is followed by a back margin 
area 54 of duration of 2.06 degrees (3 H as earlier noted). This back 
margin area 54 is used to compensate for the displacement of the recording 
position or the like in the so-called after-recording mode. The back 
margin area 54 is followed by a guard band area 55 of 2.62 degrees between 
a video signal area and the preceding PCM data area. The guard band area 
55 is followed by a video signal area 56 of one field of 180 degrees and 
the video signal area 56 is followed by a head detaching area 57 of 5 
degrees. 
According to the above-mentioned standard, a video signal of one field is 
recorded on and/or reproduced from the video signal area 56, while a PCM 
audio signal of 1/60 second is error-corrected, timebase-compressed, and 
recorded on and/or reproduced from the PCM data area 53. This recorded 
track is obliquely formed in the longitudinal direction of the tape 
sequentially after a preceding track, thereby the consecutive video signal 
and audio signal being recorded for subsequent reproduction. 
In the above-mentioned standard, if the video signal portion of 180 degrees 
is divided into five equal portions, then one divided video signal portion 
has 36 degrees. The portions of the audio signal area, namely 26.32 
degrees of the PCM data portion 53, 5 degrees of the tracing start area 51 
and clock run-in area 52, 2.06 degrees of the succeeding back margin area 
54 and 2.62 degrees of the guard band area 55, have a duration of exactly 
36 degrees. Accordingly, on the basis of the apparatus according to the 
above-mentioned standard, it is proposed to construct an apparatus for 
recording and/or reproducing only an audio signal. 
FIG. 2 shows an example of a format of the recording track for each 
recording and/or reproducing apparatus. 
As shown in FIG. 2, the recording track format from the tracing start area 
51 in which the head starts tracing the tape to the guard band area 55 is 
the same as that of the above-mentioned standard and this interval is 
utilized as the first segment. Then, at the starting portion of the 
conventional video signal portion 56, the first segment is followed by a 
tracing start area 61, a clock run-in area 62, a data area 63, a margin 
area 64 (not shown) and a guard band area 65 (not shown) of the same 
arrangement, and this interval is utilized as the second segment. Further, 
the same arrangement as that of the second segment is repeatedly provided 
at every 36 degrees of the video signal portion 56 and these areas are 
utilized as third to sixth segments. The sixth segment is followed by the 
head detaching area 57 of 5 degrees. 
Thus, the first to sixth segments are defined. In these segments, the 
rotational angle position of the rotary head is detected and the PCM data 
is output thereto and recorded during a time corresponding to a desired 
segment (interval) of 36 degrees from the head tracing starting point. 
Then, the reproduced signal is gated during the above time and reproduced, 
whereby the respective segments can be recorded and/or reproduced 
independently. If the signal is recorded on a tape that has been used once 
(in the after-recording mode) and if a flying erase head is driven only 
during the period in which the head is brought in contact with the tape in 
the desired segment interval, then only that interval can be selected and 
erased for re-recording. 
In this fashion, a PCM audio signal can be recorded and reproduced in 6 
intervals at every width division (track) of the tape, whereby the PCM 
audio signal can be recorded on and/or reproduced from a tape capable of 
recording of, for example, 4 hours 30 minutes in a standard format (FIG. 
1) or 27 hours in the proposed format (FIG. 2). That is, the proposed 
recording format yields a recording duration which is 6 times as long as 
the recording time of the above-mentioned standard format. 
In this embodiment, the present invention is applied to the video tape 
recorder whose standard conforms to one of the 8-mm video tape recorder 
standards shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 3 shows in block form an example of 
such 8-mm video tape recorder. 
Referring to FIG. 3, a charge coupled device (CCD) imager 1 is provided as 
a solid state image pickup element, and this CCD imager 1 is of the 
so-called full-pixel readout type in which an image signal of pixels of 
odd-numbered horizontal lines and an image signal of pixels of 
even-numbered horizontal lines can be read out independently (see Japanese 
Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 1-188179). The CCD imager 1 of the 
full-pixel, read-out type includes a color filter array composed of 494 
(vertical direction).times.768 (horizontal direction) color filters such 
as a yellow Ye, a green G, a cyan Cy or the like as, for example, shown in 
FIG. 4. The respective color filters of this color filter array are 
associated with light receiving elements disposed in front of the CCD 
imager 1 and signal charges based on the colored light passed through the 
respective color filters are stored in the respective light receiving 
elements. 
Referring back to FIG. 3, the signal charges stored in the light receiving 
elements of the odd-numbered horizontal lines and the signal charges 
stored in the light receiving elements of the even-numbered horizontal 
lines are output to different shift registers 1a and 1b and outputs of the 
shift registers 1a and 1b are supplied to output circuits 2 and 3, 
respectively. In the output circuits 2 and 3, these signals are sampled 
and held and video signals from the output circuits 2 and 3 are supplied 
to analog-to-digital (A/D) converters 4 and 5, in which they are converted 
into digital video signals, respectively. The digital video signals from 
the A/D converters 4 and 5 are supplied to each of video signal processing 
circuits 6 and 7 and these video signal processing circuits 6 and 7 each 
extract luminance component and color difference component signals from 
the video signals supplied thereto. In this case, assuming that n is the 
number of horizontal lines of the video signal, then the video signal 
processing circuit 6 extracts a luminance signal component Y.sub.n and 
color difference signals (R-Y).sub.n, (B-Y).sub.n and the video signal 
processing circuit 7 extracts a luminance component Y.sub.n+ and color 
difference signals (R-Y).sub.n+263 and (B-Y).sub.n+263, respectively. That 
is, the video signal processing circuits 6 and 7 simultaneously derive 
signals which are displaced in time by 263 horizontal lines which 
correspond to one field. As a consequence, when the video signal 
processing circuit 6 derives the luminance component and the color 
difference components of the video signal for each line of an odd-numbered 
field, the video signal processing circuit 7 derives the luminance 
component and the color difference components of the video signal for each 
line of a next even-numbered field. Conversely, when the video signal 
processing circuit 6 derives the luminance component and the color 
difference components of the video signal of an even-numbered field, the 
video signal processing circuit 7 derives the luminance component and the 
color difference components of the video signal of a next odd-numbered 
field. 
Then, the outputs Y.sub.n, (R-Y).sub.n and (B-Y).sub.n from the video 
signal processing circuit 6 are respectively supplied to digital-to-analog 
(D/A) converters 8, 9 and 10, in which they are converted into analog 
signals and then fed to a video signal processing circuit 11. In the video 
signal processing circuit 11, the video signal supplied thereto as a 
luminance component and color difference components is converted into a 
video signal of the predetermined recording standard. This video signal is 
supplied through a radio frequency (RF) circuit 12 to a magnetic head 13 
mounted on a rotary head drum, and recorded on the video signal area 56 of 
a track formed on a video tape 14 according to the standard shown in FIG. 
1. In this case, a video signal of one field is recorded on each track. 
Further, a video signal reproduced from the video tape 14 by the magnetic 
head 13 is supplied through the RF circuit 12 to the video signal 
processing circuit 11 and a reproduced video signal from the video signal 
processing circuit 11 is supplied to an output terminal 15. 
In this embodiment, an audio signal picked-up by a microphone (not shown) 
is supplied through an input terminal 21 to a noise reduction circuit 22, 
in which it undergoes noise reduction processing. Then, the audio signal 
from the noise reduction circuit 22 is supplied to an A/D converter 23 and 
converted to a digital audio signal. The digital audio signal from the A/D 
converter 23 is supplied to a first fixed contact 24a of a change-over 
switch 24. The change-over switch 24 connects its movable contact 24m to 
the first fixed contact 24a when the digital audio signal is recorded 
and/or reproduced. A signal developed at the movable contact 24m is 
supplied to a digital data processing circuit 25. This signal is then 
processed by the digital data processing circuit 25 in a predetermined 
processing fashion such as the addition of an error correcting code or the 
like and supplied through the RF circuit 12 to the magnetic head 13, and 
recorded on the PCM data area 53 of the standard format shown in FIG. 1 
which is formed on the video tape 14. 
The digital audio signal reproduced from the video tape 14 by the magnetic 
head 13 is supplied through the RF circuit 12 to the digital data 
processing circuit 25. This reproduced digital audio signal is 
error-corrected in the digital data processing circuit 25 and supplied 
through the change-over switch 24 to a D/A converter 26. This digital 
audio signal is converted into an analog audio signal by the D/A converter 
26 and undergoes noise reduction processing by noise reduction circuit 22. 
The thus processed audio signal is delivered to an output terminal 27. 
Though not shown, the audio signal is frequency multiplexed with an 
FM-modulated video signal and a digital audio signal may optionally be 
recorded. 
In this embodiment, instead of the digital audio signal, a digital video 
signal of a still image can be recorded in the PCM data area 53 (see FIG. 
1) in which the digital audio signal is recorded. This kind of apparatus 
for recording a digital video signal has been previously proposed by the 
assignee of the present application (see Japanese Patent Application No. 
2-46816). 
Referring to FIG. 3, when the video signal recording and/or reproducing 
apparatus is in the recording mode for a still image, the luminance 
components and the color difference components (digital signals) of the 
video signals from the video signal processing circuits 6 and 7 are 
supplied to the bit reduction circuit 31, in which they are compressed to 
several tenths of their original number of bits and are then supplied to 
and written in a plural frame memory 32, hereinafter referred to as the 
frame memory 32, at a predetermined write timing. The luminance component 
Y and the color difference components (R-Y) and (B-Y) are written in the 
frame memory 32 independently. In this case, the frame memory 32 has a 
storage capacity sufficient for storing a video signal of 3 frames, 
corresponding to three still images. The write and read operations for 
frame memory 32 are controlled by a memory controller 33 so that, each 
time a still image recording switch 42 of the video camera is depressed, a 
video signal of one frame is stored in the frame memory 32. Consequently, 
when the still image recording switch 42 is depressed successively, then a 
video signal provided by three depressions of the still image recording 
switch 42, i.e., a video signal of at most three frames, is stored in the 
frame memory 32. 
The video signals displaced by one field are output from the video signal 
processing circuits 6 and 7; added and then merged into a video signal of 
one frame and written in the frame memory 32. Further, in the bit 
reduction circuit 31, only the number of bits is reduced but the 
information content of the video signal is not changed. 
A video signal of one frame temporarily stored in the frame memory 32 is 
read out therefrom at a relatively slow transmission rate, conforming to 
the transmission rate of the above-mentioned audio signal, under the 
control of a memory controller 33 and then fed to parallel-to-serial 
converting circuit 34, in which it is converted into serial data. The 
serial data from the parallel-to-serial converting circuit 34 is supplied 
to a second fixed contact 24b of the change-over switch 24. In this 
embodiment, as mentioned, up to three frames of a digital video signal of 
the still image can be stored in the frame memory 32. When a video signal 
of 2 frames or 3 frames is stored in the frame memory 32, under the 
control of the memory controller 33, the video signals are read out from 
the frame memory 32 at the relatively slow transmission rate conforming to 
the transmission rate of the digital audio signal in the sequential order 
of the old video signal. 
While the video signal is read out from the frame memory 32, the movable 
contact 24m of the change-over switch 24 is connected to the second fixed 
contact 24b and the serial data from the parallel-to-serial converting 
circuit 34 is supplied to the digital data processing circuit 25. In the 
digital data processing circuit 25, this serial data is processed by 
addition of an error-correcting code or the like similarly to the 
recording mode of the digital audio signal and then fed through the RF 
circuit 12 to the magnetic head 13, whereby the video signal of one frame 
is recorded on the video tape 14 in its PCM data area 53 according to the 
standard shown in FIG. 1 as the still image signal. 
In this case, since the PCM data area 53 of one track has small capacity 
relative to the capacity required to record a field of a video signal, the 
video signal of one field is recorded on a group of tracks. For example, 
let it be assumed that the digital audio signal is recorded on the PCM 
data area 53 of one track at a transmission rate of 500 kBPS (i.e., 500 
kbits per second) and also that the video signal of one frame produced 
from the video signal processing circuits 6 and 7 has 7.6 Mbits including 
the luminance component and the color difference components. Then, when 
the digital signal is compressed to 1/4 of its original number of bits by 
the bit reduction circuit 31, the frame memory 32 stores 1.9 Mbits as the 
video signal of one frame. If the signal of 1.9 Mbits is recorded at the 
transmission rate of 500 kBPS, then 1900.div.500=3.8 and therefore the 
video signal of one frame is recorded on a plurality of the PCM data areas 
53 in 3.8 seconds. The duration of time of 3.8 seconds corresponds to a 
group of 228 tracks. 
As mentioned, in this embodiment, the frame memory 32 can store a video 
signal of three frames. Thus, when a video signal of, for example, 3 
frames is recorded in the frame memory 32, the video signal can be read 
out from this frame memory 32 during a period of 3.8.times.3=11.4 seconds. 
When the video signal of one frame which has been recorded on the PCM data 
area 53 of each of a plurality of tracks as the still image signal is 
reproduced, then the digital video signal reproduced from the video tape 
14 by the magnetic head 13 is supplied through the RF circuit 12 to the 
digital data processing circuit 25. The digital video signal, after being 
error-corrected by the digital data processing circuit 25, is then 
supplied through the change-over switch 24 to the serial-to-parallel 
converting circuit 34 and parallel data is written in the frame memory 32 
under the control of the memory controller 33. 
At that point, the video signal of one frame is reproduced from the video 
tape 14 during the same duration of time (e.g., 3.8 seconds) as that 
required in the recording mode. 
When the video signal of one frame is written in the frame memory 32, then 
the video signal is read out to the bit reduction circuit 31 from the 
frame memory 32 under the control of the memory controller 33 and then 
reconverted into the digital signal of the original number of bits by the 
bit reduction circuit 31. At that time, the video signals for 2 fields 
constituting the video signal of one frame are alternately read out of the 
frame memory 32 in a real time fashion, that is, the video signal of one 
frame is repeatedly read out from the frame memory 32 at the cycle of 
one-thirtieth of a second. Then the luminance signal Y and the color 
difference signals (R-Y) and (B-Y) of the reconverted video signal are 
respectively supplied to the D/A converters 35, 36 and 37 and converted 
into an analog luminance signal and color difference signals by the D/A 
converters 35, 36 and 37, respectively. The analog luminance signal and 
color difference signals are supplied to an encoder 38, in which they are 
converted into a composite video signal, and this composite video signal 
is supplied through an output terminal 39 to a monitor receiver (not 
shown) or the like. Also, the analog luminance signals and analog color 
difference signals from the D/A converters 35, 36 and 37 are supplied to a 
matrix circuit 40, in which they are converted into three primary color 
signals R, G and B. These primary color signals R, G and B are supplied 
through output terminals 41R, 41G and 41B to a monitor receiver (not 
shown) or the like. 
Since the video tape recorder of this embodiment is arranged as described 
above, a still image of high resolution can be recorded as a digital 
signal. That is, when the apparatus of this embodiment is in the recording 
mode for a still image, the digital audio signal is not recorded on the 
PCM data area 53 of each track but instead, the video signal of one frame 
digitized at an arbitrary time can be recorded. In that case, if the video 
camera, for example, is provided with the still image recording switch 42 
and if this still image recording switch 42 is depressed while the 
continuous analog video signal is being recorded on the video signal area 
56 of each track, then the frame of the continuous analog video signal 
provided at the instant this switch 42 is depressed is recorded as a 
digital signal of a still image. 
Let it now be assumed that, as for example, shown in FIG. 5, respective 
tracks T.sub.1, T.sub.2, T.sub.3, . . . , are sequentially formed on the 
video tape during recording of the normal analog video signal and that the 
still image recording switch 42 is operated at the time in which recording 
is performed on the track T.sub.3. Then, the recording of the same frame 
of the digital video signal as is recorded as the analog video signal on 
the video signal area 56 of the track T.sub.3 is started in the PCM data 
portion 53. It is to be appreciated that the digital signal recording 
commences after a delay time of several tracks due to the processing speed 
of the circuit. In this case, the video signal of one frame is recorded on 
the PCM data area 53 over 228 tracks up to the track T.sub.230 as shown by 
the hatched portion in FIG. 5, and the recording of the next still image 
digitized again at an arbitrary time may start after the next track 
T.sub.231. 
In this embodiment, since a video signal of three frames can be stored in 
the frame memory 32, the successively-digitized still images can be 
recorded on 684 tracks (228 tracks.times.3) when the still image is 
picked-up at three successive times. That is, as shown in FIG. 6, assuming 
that the still image recording switch 42 is depressed at a certain time to 
perform the still image shooting 1, then the video signal derived from the 
CCD imager 1 is written in the frame memory 32 and the recording which 
will continue over the next 228 tracks on the PCM data area 53 of the 
video tape 14 is started (still image recording 1). If the still image 
recording switch 42 is depressed two more times to perform the still image 
shootings 2 and 3 before the recording over 228 tracks on the PCM data 
area 53 is ended, then the frame of the video signal derived from the CCD 
imager 1 at the respective times of the shootings 2 and 3 is written in 
the frame memory 32. Then, when the still image recording 1 is ended, the 
video signal written in the frame memory 32 at the shooting 2 is read out 
therefrom and recorded on the video tape 14 (still image recording 2). 
Further, when this still image recording 2 is finished, then the video 
signal written in the frame memory 32 at the shooting 3 is read out 
therefrom and recorded on the video tape 14 (still image recording 3). 
In this case, at the timing point in which the recording of the respective 
video signals on the video tape 14 is finished and the frame memory 32 
becomes empty, the next still image can be picked-up. For example, when 
the still image recording switch 42 is depressed while the still image 
recording 2 is carried out, (i.e., a shooting 4 in FIG. 6), the resultant 
video signal is written in the frame memory 32 at the address utilized for 
the shooting 1 and then recorded on the video tape 14 after the still 
image recording 3 is finished (still image recording 4). 
Since the still image thus recorded is a high resolution digitized audio 
signal of one frame, the output of the CCD imager 1 is recorded without 
substantial deterioration. Thus, a still image of high resolution can be 
recorded as compared with the prior art such as when a still image is 
reproduced on the basis of the analog video signal of each field recorded 
on the video signal area 56 or when an analog video signal of one field is 
recorded by the conventional electronic still camera. If the reproduced 
signal of this still image is supplied to a video printer, then a hard 
copy of the still image of high resolution can be obtained. In this case, 
since the digital video signal is recorded by effectively utilizing the 
area in which the PCM audio signal of a video camera according to the 8-mm 
video tape recorder standard is recorded, the digital video signal can be 
recorded by adding only a few circuits such as a frame memory or the like 
and therefore the recording and/or reproducing apparatus can be simplified 
in arrangement. Further since a sub area of the video tape, which is not 
utilized for recording the video signal as it is designed, is utilized, 
efficient recording can be effected. 
In this embodiment, since the field memory 32 for the still image recording 
is arranged so as to store a video signal of three frames, the video 
signal which results from successively shooting three still images can be 
recorded so that these still images can be continuously picked-up 
similarly to the standard still camera, although recording of the first 
still image may not yet be completed. 
When the still image recording switch 42 is successively depressed more 
than three times in a very short period of time, all still images cannot 
be recorded because the quantity of video signals to be stored exceeds the 
storage capacity of the frame memory 32, which fact may be displayed on a 
viewfinder or the like. 
Further, since the digital video signal is compressed in number of bits by 
the bit reduction circuit 31 and then recorded on video tape 14, the data 
amount of one field is small and the still image can be efficiently 
recorded in a relatively short period of time. Alternatively, the above 
bit reduction may be performed by the frame memory 32. 
While the analog video signal is continuously recorded as a real moving 
picture, the digital video signal is also recorded as a still image, as 
described above, but when only a digital video signal is to be recorded as 
a still image, a dummy video signal (e.g., a signal having no video 
information and which is composed of only a synchronizing signal) is 
recorded on the video signal area 56 of the video tape 14. 
In this case, if continuous still image shooting exceeding the storage 
capacity of the field memory 32 is performed, then an analog video signal 
may be recorded on the video signal area 56. As an example, if the still 
image recording switch 42 is continuously depressed four times within, for 
example, 3.8 seconds, then the video signal is recorded in the field 
memory 32 for one frame at each of the first three frames at which the 
still image recording switch 42 is depressed and then sequentially 
recorded in a plurality of the PCM data areas 53. However, when the still 
image recording switch 42 is depressed last, i.e., the fourth time, the 
storage capacity of the field memory 32 is fully occupied. If at the 
fourth depression, an analog video signal of one field or one frame is 
written in the video signal area 56 by utilizing a recording system 
circuit of the standard real moving picture, then the fourth still image 
can be recorded although its resolution is deteriorated. For example, when 
a digital video signal is recorded on the PCM data area 53 of the tracks 
T.sub.3 to T.sub.230 while the storage capacity of the field memory 32 is 
fully occupied as shown in FIG. 7 and when the still image recording 
switch 42 is depressed just before the digital video signal is recorded on 
the track T.sub.228, then one field of the analog video signal that is 
then picked-up is recorded on the video signal area 56 of the track 
T.sub.228. At that time, special ID (identifying) data is recorded on the 
PCM data area 53 of the track T228 so that the still image based on this 
analog recording can be searched for with ease. 
Alternatively, by utilizing the multi-segment PCM standard of the 8-mm 
video tape recorder shown in FIG. 2, only digital video signals 
representing still images can be recorded. In this case, the 1st and 6th 
segments may be utilized as separate channels in which the still images 
are recorded independently, or alternatively, a digital video signal of 
one frame may be recorded in a shorter period of time by sequentially 
utilizing the 1st to 6th segments. 
Since the CCD imager 1 which can derive a video signal of all the pixels of 
one frame during one field period is utilized as the image pickup means of 
the video camera in the above embodiment, a video signal of one frame can 
be obtained with ease and then digitized and recorded. If an image pickup 
means which can derive only an imager signal of one field is utilized, a 
video signal of only one field may be recorded as the still image signal. 
In this case, since the memory 32 has a storage capacity of 3 frames (6 
fields), six still images can be recorded and the continuous still image 
shooting of up to six still images can be effected. 
In the case of field recording, the vertical resolution of such a recorded 
video signal is lowered to one half of that of a recorded video signal in 
the case of frame recording. 
While a memory which can store video signals of 3 frames is utilized as the 
memory 32 for the still image recording, continuous still image shooting 
can be effected if the memory has a storage capacity of at least two still 
pictures. It is also possible that a memory storage capacity of more than 
3 frames can be utilized. 
Further, while the video signal picked-up by the video camera is recorded 
as the digital video signal, a variant is also possible in which a video 
signal of one frame or one field supplied from other video apparatus such 
as a video tape recorder or the like can be recorded. 
According to the above embodiment of the present invention, a video signal 
of a still image is simultaneously recorded with a video signal of a real 
moving picture and the still image can be recorded efficiently by the 
above described simplified arrangement. In this case, the still images 
successively picked-up can be recorded and the still images can be 
picked-up successively at arbitrary times. 
Another embodiment of the present invention will be described below and in 
this case, a video signal of one frame is assumed to be recorded over 228 
tracks. 
In this embodiment, of the 228 tracks constituting the video signal of one 
frame, an ID signal (hereinafter referred to as a start point ID) 
indicative of the starting point is recorded on the initial 20 tracks and 
an ID signal (hereinafter referred to as an end point ID) indicative of 
the ending point is recorded on the last 20 tracks. 
More specifically, as shown in FIG. 8, if the video signal of one frame is 
recorded on the PCM data area 53 in a range of from track t.sub.1 to track 
t.sub.228, the start point ID is recorded on the first 20 tracks ranging 
from tracks t.sub.1 to t.sub.20 and the end point ID is recorded on the 
last 20 tracks from tracks t.sub.209 to t.sub.228. 
The reason that the start point ID and the end point ID are each recorded 
on each of 20 tracks is to facilitate detection of these IDs in a high 
speed search mode (fast forward mode with a tape speed, for example, 
twenty times as high as the normal 3 tape speed, or a search in the rewind 
mode). 
Also in this embodiment, track number data are sequentially added to video 
data recorded on the respective tracks t.sub.1 to t.sub.228 as sub codes 
and the track number data are recorded together with the digital video 
signal. 
If a digital video signal of a new still image is to be recorded on a video 
tape on which the digital video signal of one frame is already recorded on 
the PCM data area 53 of tracks t.sub.1 to t.sub.228, then the video signal 
of one frame picked-up by the CCD imager 1 is temporarily stored in the 
frame memory 32 and then the end point ID recorded together with the 
digital video signal on the tracks t.sub.209 to t.sub.228 is searched for 
in the high speed search. 
In this case, if the track scanned, for example, by the magnetic head in 
the camera mode is the track (i.e., any one of the tracks t.sub.1 to 
t.sub.228) in which the data is already recorded on its PCM data area 53, 
the end point ID is searched for by a fast forward search. If the above 
track scanned is the track (i.e., track after the track t.sub.229) in 
which data is not recorded on the PCM data area 53, the end point ID is 
searched for by a rewind search. 
On the basis of the detection of this end point ID, the track t.sub.229 
next to the last still image recording track t.sub.228 is scanned by the 
magnetic head to thereby record a video signal of one new frame stored in 
the frame memory 32 over 228 tracks from the above track t.sub.229. 
Further, ID signals such as the start point ID, the end point ID or the 
like and sub code information such as the track number data or the like 
included in the reproduced data are supplied from the serial-to-parallel 
converting circuit 34 to the memory controller 33, whereby various 
controls such as the control of the reproducing track or the like can be 
performed by the memory controller 33 on the basis of the sub code 
information. 
In this embodiment, the end point ID is recorded on the last 20 tracks from 
t.sub.211 to t.sub.230 as described above so that, when only the still 
image is recorded, the starting track t.sub.231 of the recorded track in 
which the still image is not recorded can be searched for with ease. Thus, 
by recording the next still image from the above track t.sub.231, the 
digital video signal of the still image can be successively recorded on 
the tracks formed on the video tape. 
In accordance with this embodiment, since the non-recorded track can be 
detected with ease by utilizing the end point ID, the digital video signal 
of the still image can be successively recorded effectively and 
efficiently. Also, a new digital video signal can be prevented from being 
unintentionally recorded on a track in which a digital video signal of the 
still image is already recorded, thus avoiding unintentional erasure. 
Further, since the still images are successively recorded as described 
above, upon reproduction, the recorded still images can be successively 
searched for by reproducing the tape from the tape starting end, thus 
making it possible to efficiently reproduce the still images. 
Further, while the last track is determined on the basis of the end point 
ID as described above in the second embodiment, the last track may be 
determined by detecting the track number data recorded on each track 
together with the digital video signal of the still image. In the high 
speed search mode, the last track can be detected more easily by using the 
ID signal rather than using the track number data. 
According to the second embodiment of the present invention, the video 
signal of the still image can be simultaneously recorded with the video 
signal provided as the real moving picture and the non-recorded portion of 
the still image recording area can be detected with ease in the search 
mode or the like. Thus, the still image signal can be effectively recorded 
on the record medium and therefore the recording of the still image can be 
efficiently done by this simple arrangement. 
Having described the preferred embodiments of the invention with reference 
to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is 
not limited to those precise embodiments and that various changes and 
modifications thereof could be effected by one skilled in the art without 
departing from the spirit or scope of the novel concepts of the invention 
as defined in the appended claims.