Display control device and method for controlling the device

Abstract

Display control device with a procurement unit for the procurement of image data acquired by an imaging unit, an acceptance unit for accepting a recording instruction, a switching unit configured to switch between a first recording mode, in which the image data acquired by the procurement unit before the recording instruction is accepted is recorded on a recording medium, and a second recording mode, in which the image data acquired by the procurement unit after the recording instruction is accepted is recorded on the recording medium, and a display control unit for carrying out a control such that accompanying information relating to the image data to be recorded on the recording medium is displayed, wherein the display control unit performs a control such that the accompanying information is displayed in such a way that an amount is increased over time in the first recording mode, and accompanying information is displayed in such a way that the amount is decreased over time in the second recording mode.

Description

BACKGROUND Area of ​​Revelation

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a display control device that displays accompanying information about image data to be recorded, and a method for controlling the display control device. Description of the related technique

[0002] Triggers for instructing high-speed recording (capturing an image of an object that is changing at high speed and recording the captured image) include a trigger used when a recording instruction is given before a phenomenon to be recorded and a trigger used when the recording instruction is given after a phenomenon to be recorded. Japanese patent disclosure JP 2004-254073 A discloses a pre-release (or start release) given immediately before the start of a phenomenon to initiate the storage of a captured image, and a final release, which, after capturing a phenomenon, moves the last image temporarily stored to a recording medium. Furthermore, in the case of recording for which a recording time is predetermined, a method is proposed for indicating to a user that the recording time is limited.Japanese patent disclosure JP 2005 - 20484 A discloses a method for counting a predetermined time, such as 20 seconds, at the start of a recording and a gradual shortening of a period with which a recording lamp flashes, according to the remaining time of the recording.

[0003] In the method disclosed in Japanese patent publication JP 2004-254073 A, the user cannot know how long the recording lasted when the end trigger was activated. Since in the method disclosed in Japanese patent publication JP 2005-20484 A, the user is not notified when no recording is started, the user cannot know the extent of the recording before it begins.

[0004] In the electronic device disclosed in US 2016 / 0 191 818 A1, the user can easily recognize, during the recording of a film to which a predetermined effect is to be applied, the point in time at which a part applied to the effect begins or ends.The electronic device comprises an image acquisition control unit configured to perform control for recording a film which includes at least a first recording period for applying a specific effect and a second recording period to which the specific effect is not applied, and the second recording period within a recording period being a period adjacent to the first recording period, and a display control unit configured to display an information display during the recording of the film which relates to a time at which the first recording period transitions into the second recording period or to a time at which the second recording period transitions into the first recording period during the recording of the film.

[0005] In US 2006 / 0132636A1, object images captured over a specific period before the shutter release is pressed are stored in a buffer. During this period, past object images, captured every second, are read from the buffer. These images are displayed in predefined areas within a continuous frame, and the images within those areas are updated. When the shutter release is pressed, a continuous frame is generated from the object images stored in the buffer for the specified period. This allows for precise timing of the capture and storage command in a digital camera that records images for a predetermined period, using images captured as a continuous frame shortly beforehand. SUMMARY

[0006] The present disclosure provides a display control device that enables a user to receive accompanying information about image data to be recorded during the recording of the image data.

[0007] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a display control device is provided, comprising a procurement unit for acquiring image data acquired by an imaging unit, an acceptance unit for accepting a recording instruction, a switching unit configured to switch between a first recording mode in which the image data acquired by the procurement unit before acceptance of the recording instruction is recorded on a recording medium, and a second recording mode in which the image data acquired by the procurement unit after acceptance of the recording instruction is recorded on the recording medium, and a display control unit for performing control such that accompanying information regarding the image data to be recorded on the recording medium is displayed in accordance with the recording instruction.The display control unit performs a control such that the accompanying information is displayed in such a way that an amount is increased over time in the first recording mode, and the accompanying information is displayed in such a way that the amount is decreased over time in the second recording mode.

[0008] Further features of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following description of the exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1A and Fig. Figure 1B shows external views from a digital camera. Fig. Figure 2 shows a block diagram of an example configuration of the digital camera. Fig. 3A and Fig. 3B shows flowcharts illustrating an example recording mode process and an example normal recording process. Fig. Figure 4 shows a flowchart of an example start trigger process. Fig. Figure 5 shows a flowchart of an example final trigger process. Fig. 6A and Fig. Figure 6B shows flowcharts of an exemplary center-trigger process. Fig. 7A illustrates a settings screen for a high frame rate, and Fig. 7B and Fig. 7C illustrates examples of a display during the normal recording process. Fig. 8A to Fig. Figure 8D illustrates examples of a display on a display unit during the start trigger process. Fig. 9A to Fig. Section 9C illustrates examples of a display on the display unit during the final trigger process. Fig. 10A to Fig. Figure 10D illustrates examples of a display in the display unit during the center release process. Fig. 11A to Fig. Section 11G illustrates further examples of an advertisement. DESCRIPTION OF THE EXAMPLES OF EXECUTION

[0009] Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are described below with reference to the drawings.

[0010] Fig. 1A and Fig. Figure 1B shows external views of a digital camera 100, which represents an example of a display control device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The digital camera 100 is mainly formed from a main unit 203 and a grip unit 202. Fig. Figure 1A shows an external view of the digital camera 100 when one side of a display unit 28 is viewed. Fig. Figure 1B shows an external view of the digital camera 100 when one side of an imaging optic 103 is viewed.

[0011] The display unit 28 is contained within the main unit 203. An image and / or a variety of information is displayed on the display unit 28. An interactive control panel 70A, capable of detecting touch input, is positioned so that it is superimposed on the display unit 28.

[0012] A trigger 61 contained in the grip unit 202 is a control unit (a shooting instruction unit) used to issue a shooting instruction. A mode selector switch 60 is a control unit used to switch between different modes. A control unit 70 is formed from control elements, such as various switches, buttons, and an interactive control panel, which accept various operations from a user. A rotary dial 73 is a control element contained in the control unit 70 and can rotate. An arrow key 82 is provided in four directions on the rotary dial 73, and pressing an up button 82a, a down button 82b, a right button 82c, and a left button 82d of the arrow key 82 allows a selected element to be moved in the corresponding direction.An adjustment button 83, located in the center of the control dial 73 and the arrow button 82, is a control unit used to adjust a selected element. Pressing a menu button 84 displays a menu screen on the display unit 28. Settings relating to recording and switching the recording mode can be made on the menu screen. An on / off switch 72 is a push button used to switch between on and off. A recording medium 200 is a recording unit, such as a memory card or a hard disk. The recording medium 200 is loaded into a recording medium slot 201. The recording medium 200 loaded into the recording medium slot 201 can communicate with the digital camera 100 for recording and playback. Fig. Figure 1 shows a state in which the cover of the recording medium slot 201 is open and part of the recording medium 200 protrudes from the recording medium slot 201, so that it is positioned opposite the recording medium slot 201. The imaging optics 103 are used to capture an image of an object.

[0013] Fig. Figure 2 shows a block diagram of an exemplary configuration of the digital camera 100 according to this embodiment.

[0014] Referring to Fig. The imaging optics 103 is a lens group with a zoom lens and a focusing lens. A shutter 101 has an aperture function. An imaging unit 22 is an imaging device that converts an optical image into an electrical signal and is formed, for example, from a charge-coupling device (CCD) or a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS). An analog-to-digital (A / D) converter 23 converts an analog signal into a digital signal. The A / D converter 23 is used to convert an analog signal output from the imaging unit 22 into a digital signal.

[0015] An image processor 24 performs scaling, such as specific pixel interpolation or reduction, or color conversion, of data supplied by the A / D converter 23 or by a storage control unit 15. Furthermore, the image processor 24 performs some arithmetic processing using captured image data, and a system control unit 50 performs exposure control and range control based on the result of the arithmetic processing. As a result, through-the-lens (TTL) autofocus (AF), automatic exposure (AE), and pre-flash (EF) are performed. Additionally, the image processor 24 performs some arithmetic processing using captured image data and performs automatic TTL white balance (AWB) based on the result of the arithmetic processing.

[0016] The data output from the A / D converter 23 is written to a memory 32 via the image processor 24 and the memory control unit 15, or directly via the memory control unit 15. The memory 32 stores image data acquired by the imaging unit 22 and converted into digital data by the A / D converter 23, as well as image data to be displayed on the display unit 28. The memory 32 has a storage capacity sufficient for storing a certain number of still images or for storing film and audio over a specific period of time.

[0017] Memory 32 also functions as an image display memory (video memory). A digital-to-analog (D / A) converter 13 converts the image display data stored in memory 32 into an analog signal and feeds the analog signal to the display unit 28. The image data written to memory 32 for display is shown on the display unit 28 via the D / A converter 13 in the manner described above. The display unit 28 performs a display corresponding to the analog signal from the D / A converter 13 on a display, such as a liquid crystal display (LCD).The digital camera 100 can operate as an electronic viewfinder for performing a lens image display (live image display) by performing the digital-to-analog conversion of the digital signals in the D / A converter 13, which have undergone analog-to-digital conversion in the A / D converter 23 and which are accumulated in the memory 32, sequentially transmitting the analog signals to the display unit 28 and displaying the analog signals on the display unit 28.

[0018] A non-volatile memory 56 is an electrically erasable, writable memory, wherein, for example, an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM) is used as the non-volatile memory 56. Constants for operating the system control unit 50 and programs are stored in the non-volatile memory 56. The programs are computer programs used to execute the processes in the various flowcharts of this embodiment described below.

[0019] The system control unit 50 is a processor that controls the entire digital camera 100. The system control unit 50 executes the programs stored in the non-volatile memory 56, as described above, to implement the processes of the present embodiment described below. Random access memory (RAM) is used as system memory 52. ​​The constants for operating the system control unit 50, variables, programs read from the non-volatile memory 56, etc., can be stored in the system memory 52. ​​The system control unit 50 also controls the memory 32, the D / A converter 13, the display unit 28, etc., to perform display control. The system control unit 50 can be implemented by one processor or by many processors.Alternatively, the functions of many control devices, such as the system control device 50, the storage control device 15, the image processor 24, a recording system signal processor 40, a playback system signal processor 41 and a recording medium control device 42, can be implemented by a processor.

[0020] A System Timer 53 is a time measurement unit that measures times used in a variety of controllers and the time of a clock contained in the System Timer 53.

[0021] The mode selection switch 60, the trigger 61 and the operating unit 70 are operating units used to input various operating instructions into the system control unit 50.

[0022] The mode selector switch 60 switches the operating mode of the system control unit 50 to a still image mode, movie mode, playback mode, or the like. The still image mode includes an automatic shooting mode, an automatic scene selection mode, a manual mode, various scene modes set for shooting scenes, a program AE mode, an adjustment mode, etc. The user can switch the operating mode directly to one of these modes, which are contained in the menu button, using the mode selector switch 60. Alternatively, after temporarily switching to the menu button using the mode selector switch 60, the user can switch the operating mode to one of these modes, which are contained in the menu button, using another control. Similarly, the movie mode can contain many modes. A first release switch 62 is activated while the shutter release 61 of the digital camera 100 is operated, i.e.,in a state where the shutter release button 61 is half-pressed (a pre-capture instruction) to generate an initial release signal SW1. Upon response to this initial release signal SW1, an operation such as autofocus (AF), automatic exposure (AE), automatic white balance (AWB), or pre-flash (EF) is initiated.

[0023] A second release switch 64 is activated when the operation of the release switch 61 is completed, i.e., in a state where the release switch 61 is fully pressed (the recording instruction), in order to generate a second release signal SW2. In response to the second release signal SW2, the system control unit 50 initiates a series of recording operations (recording control), from reading a signal from the imaging unit 22 to writing image data to the recording medium 200.

[0024] A power supply control device 80, for example, comprises a battery detection circuit, a DC-DC converter, and a circuit that switches the power-supplied block and detects whether the battery is inserted, the battery type, and the remaining battery level. Based on the detection results and an instruction from the system control device 50, the power supply control device 80 controls the DC-DC converter to supply a required voltage to each block, including the recording medium 200, for a required period of time. The on / off switch 72 assumes a switching between turning the power supply on and off, and the power supply control device 80 controls the power supply to the digital camera 100 according to the on or off assumption made by the on / off switch 72.

[0025] A power supply unit 30 consists of a primary battery, such as an alkaline or lithium battery, a secondary battery, such as a NiCd, NiMH, or Li battery, an AC adapter, etc. A recording medium interface (-IF) 18 is an interface with the recording medium 200, such as a memory card or a hard disk. The recording medium 200 is, for example, a memory card for recording a captured image and consists of a semiconductor memory, an optical disk, a magnetic disk, or the like.

[0026] Signal processing for recording is performed by the recording system signal processor 40, and signal processing for playback is performed by the playback system signal processor 41. The recording system signal processor 40 performs video compression on a video signal supplied by the image processor 24. The compressed video is temporarily stored in a temporary recording medium 43 and then supplied to the recording medium 200 via the recording medium control unit 42 for recording. The recording medium control unit 42 (the temporary recording medium 43) can be connected to the recording medium 200 via the I / F 18.The temporary recording medium 43 is a buffer, for example, a dynamic RAM (D-RAM) or a static RAM (S-RAM), and must perform high-speed read and write operations for the temporary recording of a video. However, since the recording capacity of the temporary storage medium 43 is less than the upper limit of the recording capacity of the recording medium 200, it is possible that the recording will stop when the amount of data recorded on the temporary recording medium 43 reaches its recording capacity, even if recording capacity remains on the recording medium 200. The recording medium 200 is, for example, a hard disk, a Digital Versatile Disc (DVD), or flash memory, and a video signal is recorded on the recording medium 200 under the control of the system control unit 50.When the recorded video signal is played back in response to operation via the control unit 70, it is read into the recording medium control unit 42 and displayed on the display unit 28 via the playback system signal processor 41.

[0027] Fig. 3A and Fig. Figure 3B shows flowcharts of an example recording mode process and an example normal recording process. The flowchart in Fig. 3A is started when the digital camera 100 is switched on and is in a state where recording to the recording medium is enabled. The flowchart in Fig. 3B is used in step S303 in Fig. 3A started. These processes are implemented by the system control unit 50, which executes the programs recorded in the non-volatile memory 56, which may be contained in the system memory 52.

[0028] According to Fig. 3A determines the system control unit 50 in step S301 whether the current recording mode is set to high frame rate (HFR) recording, which is a high-speed recording mode. High frame rate recording can be set on a standby screen of the recording mode (in a state where a live view (LLV) image is displayed and recording to the recording medium 200 is not in progress). Pressing the menu button 84 on the standby screen displays a high frame rate setting screen, such as setting screen 701 in Fig. 7A, displayed on the display unit 28. On the settings screen 701, an element 702 is used to set HFR recording. Setting the settings screen 701 to ON disables HFR recording. An element 703 is used to set the HFR recording mode to an end-trigger or a start-trigger. An element 704 is used to set the frame rate for HFR recording. In this example, the frame rate of the Digital Camera 100 can be set to 120 frames per second (fps), 240 fps, 480 fps, and 960 fps.If the frame rate of the 100 digital camera is set to 120 fps when HFR recording is enabled in element 702, the recording process is performed in HFR mode just like normal recording, without the recording time being limited by the restrictions imposed at 240 fps (although the recording time is limited by the available space on the recording medium and the remaining battery charge). This is because, since the recording process at 120 fps is carried out without significant delay in the amount of recorded data, there is no need to impose restrictions on the recording time and speed. In contrast, if the frame rate of the 100 digital camera is set to 240 fps or higher (480 fps or 960 fps), the recording process will take some time.Accordingly, the recording time is set to fall within a predetermined time, such as 10 seconds, to prevent the recording from being rendered ineffective due to the slow recording process. Setting the recording time in this manner allows the user to obtain a desired moving image within the set recording time without having to stop the recording midway or interrupt it due to the slow recording process. The process proceeds to step S302 if the system control unit 50 determines that the current recording mode is set to HFR recording (YES in step S301), and otherwise, the process proceeds to step S303 (NO in step S301).

[0029] In step S302, the system control unit 50 determines whether the HFR recording mode is set to the end-of-time release. HFR recording includes both the end-of-time release and the start-of-time release, and the recording time is limited for both. Because, as described above, the amount of recording data is increased, and processing takes time during HFR recording due to a high frame rate, such as 240 fps, the recording data is temporarily stored on the temporary recording medium 43, acting as a buffer, and then recorded on the recording medium 200. With the end-of-time release, a continuous high-frame-rate video clip is recorded on the temporary recording medium 43, acting as a buffer, at each predetermined time, such as 10 seconds, and the recorded video is discarded (deleted) after the predetermined time has elapsed without user instruction.Updating the video data on the temporary recording medium 43 at each predetermined time in the manner described above does not fill the temporary recording medium 43, even at a high frame rate such as 240 fps, thus allowing a recording instruction to be accepted at any time. If the recording instruction is given by the user before the predetermined time has elapsed, the video footage recorded in the buffer from 0 seconds until the time the recording instruction is given will be recorded on the recording medium 200.With the start trigger, continuous recording to the temporary recording medium 43, such as a buffer, is not performed. Recording in the buffer is started in response to a recording instruction from the user, and recording from the buffer to the recording medium 200 is performed after a predetermined time, such as 10 seconds, or in response to a recording stop instruction from the user. Whether the HFR recording mode is set to the end trigger or the start trigger can be set via the setting screen 701 described above in step S301, and the HFR recording mode can be set to the end trigger or the start trigger using item 703 on the setting screen 701.The process proceeds to step S305 if the system control unit 50 determines that the HFR recording mode is set to the end-trigger (YES in step S302), otherwise the process proceeds to step S304 (NO in step S302). Normal recording and the start and end triggers for HFR recording do not need to be set on the menu screen, but can be set by responding to a pre-assigned button operation.

[0030] In step S303, the system control unit 50 performs the normal recording process. The normal recording process is described below with reference to the flowchart in Fig. 3B described.

[0031] In step S304, the system control unit 50 executes a start trigger process. The start trigger process is described below with reference to a flowchart of the start trigger process in Fig. 4 described.

[0032] In step S305, the system control unit 50 performs an end-trigger process. The end-trigger process is described below with reference to a flowchart of the end-trigger process in Fig. 5 described.

[0033] In step S307, the system control unit 50 determines whether to end the recording mode. The recording mode ends when the digital camera 100 switches to playback mode or is turned off. The process in Fig. 3A is terminated if the system control unit 50 determines that the recording mode should be terminated (YES in step S307), otherwise the process returns to step S301 (NO in step S307).

[0034] Now the normal recording process will proceed according to Fig. 3B described. The normal recording process starts in step S303 in Fig. 3A. The normal recording process is implemented by the system control unit 50, which executes the programs recorded in the non-volatile memory 56, which may be contained in the system memory 52.

[0035] According to Fig. 3B provides the system control unit 50 in step S310 with a ready indicator on the display unit 28, as shown on the ready screen 705 in Fig. Figure 7B illustrates this. The readiness indicator displays an accompaniment 706, which indicates a readiness state (a state in which a recording start is acceptable).

[0036] In step S311, the system control unit 50 determines whether a recording start instruction has been issued. The recording start instruction is issued by pressing the trigger 61 (the recording instruction is acceptable). The process proceeds to step S313 if the system control unit 50 determines that the recording start instruction has been issued (YES in step S311), and otherwise the process proceeds to step S312 (NO in step S311).

[0037] In step S312, the system control unit 50 determines whether the normal recording process should be terminated. The normal recording process is terminated in response to a switch to HFR recording, a transition to playback mode, or a power-off of the digital camera 100. The normal recording process is terminated if the system control unit 50 determines that the normal recording process should be terminated (YES in step S312), and otherwise (NO in step S312), the process returns to step S311.

[0038] In step S313, the system control unit 50 starts counting a normal recording timer. That is, in step S313, the system control unit 50 starts counting a recording time (recording timer) in the system timer 53 as a normal recording timer in response to the recording start instruction specified in step S311. A film is recorded in the system memory 52 to update the data in the system memory 52 after each unit of time has elapsed following the start of the counting in step S313 (for example, every second).

[0039] In step S314, the system control unit 50 starts recording the film on the temporary recording medium 43. The display on the display unit 28 switches from the indicator 706, which shows the ready state, to an indicator 707, which shows that a film is being recorded, as shown on a recording screen 709 in Fig. 7C is shown. Additionally, a message 708 is displayed on display unit 28, indicating the recording time. When recording starts, the message 708 is set to zero seconds.

[0040] In step S315, the system control unit 50 determines whether, since the start of the count or since the determination in the previous S315 was confirmed, the normal recording timer, whose counting is started in step S313, has been incremented by one second, which is the unit time. The unit time is the time when the elapsed time display in the normal recording timer is updated, and in this embodiment, the time display in the normal recording timer is updated every second. The process proceeds to step S316 if the system control unit 50 determines that the normal recording timer has been incremented by one second, which represents the unit time (YES in step S315), and otherwise (NO in step S315), the process proceeds to step S318.

[0041] In step S316, the system control unit 50 counts up the display of the normal recording timer by one second to update the normal recording timer and records the display of the normal recording timer in the system memory 52.

[0042] In step S317, the system control unit 50 updates the display of the elapsed time in the normal recording timer, which is recorded in the system memory 52. ​​Since the accompanying 708 in Fig. If 7C is set to two seconds, the accompaniment 708 switches to three seconds when one second, which is the unit time, elapses. The display indicating the recording time segment is updated as described above each time the unit time expires. If the unit time is one second, the recording time display is updated every second, one second, two seconds, three seconds, and so on.

[0043] In step S318, the system control unit 50 performs a recording from the temporary recording medium 43 to the recording medium 200. That is, the recording data accumulated in the buffer is moved to the recording medium 200, which is a non-volatile recording medium. Step S318 does not need to be performed every second and can be performed intermittently, for example, every few seconds.

[0044] In step S319, the system control unit 50 determines whether recording can continue on the temporary recording medium 53. Although recording from the temporary recording medium 43 to the recording medium 200 is performed in step S318, the recording capacity of the temporary recording medium 43 becomes full when the recording rate to the temporary recording medium 43 exceeds the recording rate from the temporary recording medium 43 to the recording medium 200. If the recording capacity of the temporary recording medium 43 is full, the recording process may not be able to continue. That is, in step S319, the system control unit 50 determines whether it is still possible to record the recording data on the temporary recording medium 43.The process proceeds to step S320 if the system control unit 50 determines that recording can continue on the temporary recording medium 43 (YES in step S319), and otherwise (NO in step S319) the process proceeds to step S322.

[0045] In step S320, the system control unit 50 determines whether the recording stop instruction has been issued. The recording stop instruction is issued by pressing the trigger 61. The process proceeds to step S321 if the system control unit 50 determines that the recording stop instruction has been issued (YES in step S320), and otherwise (NO in step S320) the process returns to step S315.

[0046] In step S321, the system control unit 50 determines whether stopping the recording is enabled. In this embodiment, the recording data for a specific recording duration (0.5 seconds) is recorded as a video. That is, recording data for short recording durations, such as 0.1 seconds or 0.2 seconds, is not recorded as a video. Therefore, stopping the recording is disabled if the elapsed time since the start of the recording, measured by the system timer 53, is less than 0.5 seconds, and stopping the recording is enabled if the elapsed time is equal to or greater than 0.5 seconds. The process proceeds to step S322 if the system control unit 50 determines that stopping the recording is enabled (YES in step S321), and otherwise (NO in step S321), the process returns to step S315.

[0047] In step S322, the system control unit 50 stops the recording on the temporary recording medium 43.

[0048] In step S323, the system control unit 50 stops the counting of the normal recording timer, stops the counting in the system timer 53 and resets the counted time to zero seconds.

[0049] In step S324, the system control unit 50 switches off the display of the accompaniment 708, which indicates the recording time and is displayed on the display unit 28.

[0050] In step S325, the system control unit 50 performs a recording from the temporary recording medium 43 to the recording medium 200.

[0051] In step S326, the system control unit 50 determines whether the recording in step S325 is complete. The process returns to step S310 if the system control unit 50 determines that the recording from the temporary recording medium 43 to the recording medium 200 is complete (YES in step S326), and otherwise (NO in step S326) the process returns to step S325.

[0052] As described above, in this embodiment the user can select either HFR recording or normal recording. In the normal recording process, the recording data captured from the time the recording start instruction is given until the recording end instruction is given can be recorded.

[0053] Now the in Fig. The start trigger process is described in section 4. The start trigger process begins in step S304. Fig. 3A. The start trigger process is implemented by the system control unit 50, which executes the programs recorded in the non-volatile memory 56, which may be contained in the system memory 52.

[0054] According to Fig. 4. In step S401, the system control unit 50 provides a ready indicator on the display unit 28, as shown on the ready screen 801 in Fig. Figure 8A illustrates this. The ready indicator displays an accompaniment 802, indicating the ready state (the state in which starting a recording is acceptable). Additionally, in step S401, an element 804a, indicating 240 fps, which is a recording frame rate, and an element 804b, indicating that the current HFR recording setting is the start trigger, are displayed.

[0055] In step S402, the system control unit 50 initializes a start recording timer and records the start recording timer in the system memory 52. ​​The start recording timer indicates the recording time recorded as an HFR recording. Since the maximum recording time of the HFR recording is 10 seconds in this embodiment, the start recording timer is set to 10 seconds in step S402.

[0056] In step S403, the system control unit 50 displays the start recording timer, which indicates the recording time, as shown by an accompanying 803 on the ready screen 801 in Fig. Figure 8A illustrates this. Since this embodiment allows recording of up to 10 seconds as HFR recording, the start recording timer indicates 10 seconds.

[0057] In step S404, the system control unit 50 determines whether the recording start instruction has been issued. If the start trigger is present, recording is initiated on the temporary recording medium 43 upon response to the recording start instruction. The recording start instruction is issued by pressing the trigger 61 (the recording instruction is accepted). The process proceeds to step S406 if the system control unit 50 determines that the recording start instruction has been issued (YES in step S404), and otherwise the process proceeds to step S405 (NO in step S404).

[0058] In step S405, the system control unit 50 determines whether the start-trigger process should be terminated. The start-trigger process is terminated in response to a switch to normal recording, a switch to the end-trigger, a transition to playback mode, or a power-off of the digital camera 100. The start-trigger process terminates if the system control unit 50 determines that the start-trigger process should be terminated (YES in step S405), and otherwise (NO in step S405), the process returns to step S404.

[0059] In step S406, the system control unit 50 begins counting the start recording timer, which was initialized in step S402, because the recording start instruction was issued in step S404. That is, in step S406, the system control unit 50 begins counting the recording time (of the recording timer) in the system timer 53 as the start recording timer in response to the recording start instruction specified in step S404. The counting of the recording time in the system timer 53 is started in step S406 in response to the recording start instruction specified in step S404; the remaining recording time is updated at each unit time until the elapsed time of 10 seconds, and the remaining recording time is recorded in system memory 52.

[0060] In step S407, the system control unit 50 starts recording an image captured by the imaging unit 22 in the temporary recording medium 43. The display on the display unit 28 switches from the accompaniment 802, which indicates the ready state, to an accompaniment 807, which indicates that a film is being recorded, as shown on a recording screen 805 in Fig. 8B illustrates this.

[0061] In step S408, the system control unit 50 determines whether one second, which in this embodiment represents the unit time, has elapsed in the start recording timer, the counting of which was started in step S402. The unit time is the time when the display of the elapsed time in the start recording timer is updated, and the display of the time in the start recording timer is updated every second in this embodiment. The process proceeds to step S409 if the system control unit 50 determines that one second, representing the unit time, has elapsed in the start recording timer (YES in step S408), and otherwise (NO in step S408), the process proceeds to step S412.

[0062] In step S409, the system control unit 50 counts down the start recording timer display by one second to update the start recording timer and records the start recording timer display in system memory 52. ​​That is, in step S409, the start recording timer time, which is initialized to 10 seconds in step S402, is decremented by one second from 10 seconds, and the decremented time is recorded in system memory 52. ​​The remaining time available for recording as an HFR recording is recorded in system memory 52 in the manner described above.

[0063] In step S410, the system control unit 50 updates the display of the start recording timer. Since an accompanying 806 in Fig. If 8B indicates seven seconds, the accompanying 806 switches to six seconds when a second, representing the unit time, elapses. The display indicating the recording time segment is updated for each unit time.

[0064] In step S411, the system control unit 50 determines whether the start recording timer stored in system memory 52 has decreased to zero seconds. The process proceeds to step S414 if the system control unit 50 determines that the start recording timer has decreased to zero seconds, i.e., that the time recordable as an HFR recording has elapsed (YES in step S411); otherwise (NO in step S411), the process proceeds to step S412.

[0065] In step S412, the system control unit 50 determines whether the recording stop instruction has been issued. The recording stop instruction is issued by pressing the trigger 61. The process proceeds to step S413 if the system control unit 50 determines that the recording stop instruction has been issued (YES in step S412); otherwise (NO in step S412), the process returns to step S408.

[0066] In step S413, the system control unit 50 determines, as in step S321, whether stopping the recording is enabled. The process proceeds to step S414 if the system control unit 50 determines that stopping the recording is enabled (YES in step S413); otherwise (NO in step S413), the process returns to step S408.

[0067] In step S414, the system control unit 50 stops the recording on the temporary recording medium 43. An accompanying 810 in Fig. 8C displays zero seconds when the start recording timer has decreased to zero seconds and recording has stopped; otherwise, it displays the start recording timer at that time.

[0068] In step S415, the system control unit 50 stops the counting of the start recording timer and stops the counting in the system timer 53. If the determination in step S411 is an acknowledgment, a message is displayed on the recording stop screen 809. Fig. 8C displays illustrated instruction 808. Instruction 808 indicates that recording has stopped because HFR recording cannot resume, and recording itself is locked in standby mode. The recording stop screen 809 is displayed when recording stops because the start recording timer has dropped to zero seconds. If recording is stopped in response to a user operation, a procedure described below will be displayed. Fig. 8D illustrated screen displayed, and not the screen in Fig. 8C.

[0069] In step S416, the system control unit 50 switches off the display of the accompaniment 810, which indicates the recording time and is displayed on the display unit 28.

[0070] In step S417, the system control unit 50 performs a recording from the temporary recording medium 43 to the recording medium 200. If the number of frames per second in HFR recording is 240 fps in this example, the number of frames in HFR recording is four times greater than 60 fps in normal recording. That is, since the recording capacity of data is four times higher than in normal recording, performing the recording from the temporary recording medium 43 to the recording medium 200 takes time. The recording itself takes time within a limited time of 10 seconds. The time required to perform step S417 can be twice the recording time. Step S417 involves compressing a film, generating a thumbnail, etc.A letter accompaniment 811, indicating that the recording is being carried out on the recording medium 200, is displayed in step S417 on the display unit 28 as shown in . Fig. Figure 8D illustrates this. The write accompaniment 811 indicates that the write is being performed from the temporary recording medium 43 to the recording medium 200, and also indicates the progress of the write.

[0071] In step S418, the system control unit 50 determines whether the recording in step S417 has ended. The process returns to step S401 if the system control unit 50 determines that the recording from the temporary recording medium 43 to the recording medium 200 has ended (for example, is complete) (YES in step S418), and otherwise (NO in step S418) the process returns to step S417.

[0072] As described above, in this embodiment, the start trigger process can be performed during HFR recording, and recording for up to 10 seconds (for example, playback time at 240 fps is 40 seconds) is enabled. Furthermore, the user can know that 10 seconds of HFR recording is possible before the instruction to start recording is given, and can know how long HFR recording is permitted during the recording process. Because another recording does not start immediately after the recording instruction is given, due to the large amount of recording data during HFR recording, the user might miss a recording if the recording time expires. However, the user can easily know when to start recording to make a desired recording and when to stop recording by referring to the specified recording time.

[0073] Now the in Fig. The final release process is described in step S305. Fig. 3A started. The end-trigger process is implemented by the system control unit 50, which executes the programs recorded in the non-volatile memory 56, which may be located in the system memory 52. ​​During the end-trigger process, an instruction is issued to the recording medium at a time different from that of the start-trigger process. Specifically, the temporary recording medium 43 is updated every 10 seconds, the HFR recording for up to 10 seconds is recorded on the temporary recording medium 43, and the recording data recorded on the temporary recording medium 43 is moved to the recording medium 200 upon response to the user instruction. That is, the recording data on the temporary recording medium 43 prior to the time of the user instruction can be recorded on the recording medium 200.With the end trigger, the length of the recording time recorded on the temporary recording medium 43 changes with the time of the instruction from the user.

[0074] According to Fig. In step S501, the system control unit 50 provides a ready indicator on the display unit 28, as shown, for example, on a ready screen 901 in Fig. Figure 9A illustrates this. The ready indicator displays an accompaniment 902, indicating the ready state (the state in which starting a recording is acceptable). Additionally, in step S501, an element 904a, indicating 240 fps, which specifies the recording frame rate, and an element 904b, indicating that the current HFR recording setting is the final trigger, are displayed.

[0075] In step S502, the system control unit 50 initializes an end-of-recording timer and records the end-of-recording timer in the system memory 52. ​​The end-of-recording timer indicates the recording time recorded as an HFR recording. The maximum recording time for the HFR recording is 10 seconds in this embodiment. The end-of-recording timer is set to zero seconds in step S502.

[0076] In step S503, the system control unit 50 displays the end recording timer indicating the recordable time, as shown by an accompanying 903 on the ready screen 901 in Fig. Figure 9A illustrates this. Since recording of up to 10 seconds as HFR recording is enabled in this embodiment, the end-record timer indicates a time from zero seconds to 10 seconds. For example, if the record start instruction in step S511 is issued when the end-record timer indicates 5 seconds, the recording data recorded on the temporary recording medium 43 for five seconds prior to step S511 will be recorded on the recording medium 200.

[0077] In step S504, the system control unit 50 starts counting the end-of-recording timer initialized in step S502. That is, in step S504, the counting of the end-of-recording timer initialized in step S502 is started in the system timer 53. Even without a recording start instruction from the user, counting continues after step S504; the end-of-recording timer is reset every 10 seconds, and the end-of-recording timer time is recorded in system memory 52.

[0078] In step S505, the system control unit 50 starts recording an image captured by the imaging unit 22 in the temporary recording medium 43. As shown on a ready screen 905 in Fig. As illustrated in Figure 9B, a message 906 is displayed on the display unit 28, indicating the recording time. The message 906 indicates the recording time of an HFR film currently being recorded on the temporary recording medium 43 and indicates that the HFR recording will be carried out over a period corresponding to the message 906 displayed when a recording start instruction is issued at that time.

[0079] In step S506, the system control unit 50 determines whether one second, representing the unit time, has elapsed in the end-recording timer, the counting of which is started in step S504. The unit time is the time when the elapsed time display in the end-recording timer is updated, and the time display in the end-recording timer is updated every second in this embodiment. The process proceeds to step S507 if the system control unit 50 determines that one second, representing the unit time in this example, has elapsed in the end-recording timer (YES in step S506), and otherwise (NO in step S506), the process proceeds to step S511.

[0080] In step S507, the system control unit 50 increments the end-of-record timer display by one second to update the end-of-record timer and records the end-of-record timer display in system memory 52. ​​That is, the end-of-record time, which is initialized to zero seconds in step S502, is incremented by one second from zero seconds, and the incremented time is recorded in system memory 52 in step S507. The time recorded as the HFR recording (the length of the current recordable time) is recorded in system memory 52 in the manner described above.

[0081] In step S508, the system control unit 50 updates the display of the end-of-recording timer. Since a companion 906 in Fig. If 9B indicates three seconds, the accompanying 906 switches to four seconds when a second, representing the unit time, elapses. The display indicating the recording time segment is updated for each unit time.

[0082] In step S509, the system control unit 50 determines whether the end-of-record timer recorded in system memory 52 indicates 10 seconds. The process proceeds to step S510 if the system control unit 50 determines that the end-of-record timer indicates 10 seconds, i.e., the maximum HFR recording time to be recorded on the temporary storage medium 43 has elapsed (YES in step S509), and otherwise (NO in step S509), the process proceeds to step S511. A companion 907 in Fig. 9C indicates that the end-of-recording timer is increased to 10 seconds. At this point, a display, such as an escort 908 in Fig. 9C, which indicates that the end-of-record timer is reset to zero seconds (the recording data is deleted) if the recording instruction is not given, is provided. When the end-of-record timer indicates zero seconds, the HFR recording data recorded on the temporary recording medium 43 is deleted, and recording is started, with the end-of-record timer being set to zero seconds.

[0083] In step S510, the system control unit 50 stops the counting of the end-of-recording timer. That is, the system control unit 50 stops the counting in the system timer 53. Then the process returns to step S501.

[0084] In step S511, the system control unit 50 determines whether the recording start instruction is issued. In the case of the end trigger, the HFR recording data recorded on the temporary storage medium 43 is recorded on the recording medium 200 upon response to the recording start instruction. In this embodiment, the recording start instruction is issued by pressing the trigger 61 (the recording instruction is accepted). The process proceeds to step S513 if the system control unit 50 determines that the recording start instruction is issued (YES in step S511), and otherwise (NO in step S511), the process proceeds to step S512.

[0085] In step S512, the system control unit 50 determines whether the end-release process should be terminated. The end-release process is terminated in response to a switch to normal recording, a switch to the start release, a transition to playback mode, or the power-off of the digital camera 100. The end-release process terminates if the system control unit 50 determines that the end-release process should be terminated (YES in step S512), and otherwise (NO in step S512), the process returns to step S506.

[0086] In step S513, the system control unit 50 determines whether recording is allowed to start. The recording data is not recorded as a movie if the recording time is too short, as described above in steps S321 and S413. Accordingly, the recording process is not performed during a short recording time immediately after the end-recording timer starts counting in step S504. In this example, recording is blocked when the end-recording timer indicates a time less than 0.5 seconds, which represents the predetermined time, and recording is allowed to start when the end-recording timer indicates a time greater than or equal to 0.5 seconds in step S513. In this embodiment, starting the recording in the end-trigger process in Fig. Step 5 starts recording the captured data to the recording medium 200 and does not mean recording an image captured after the recording start instruction is given. The process proceeds to step S514 if the system control unit 50 determines that starting the recording is allowed (YES in step S513), and otherwise (NO in step S513), the process returns to step S506. Before step S513, the recording start instruction may not be accepted until the predetermined time has elapsed.

[0087] In step S514, the system control unit 50 stops the recording on the temporary recording medium 43.

[0088] In step S515, the system control unit 50 stops the counting of the end-of-recording timer. That is, the system control unit 50 stops the counting in the system timer 53.

[0089] In step S516, the system control unit 50 switches off the display of the accompaniment 906, which indicates the recording time and is displayed on the display unit 28.

[0090] In step S517, the system control unit 50 performs a recording from the temporary recording medium 43 to the recording medium 200. The write accompaniment 811, which indicates that the recording is being performed on the recording medium 200, is displayed on the display unit 28 in step S517, as described above in the start trigger process.

[0091] In step S518, the system control unit 50 determines whether the recording in step S517 has ended (for example, is complete). The process returns to step S501 if the system control unit 50 determines that the recording from the temporary recording medium 43 to the recording medium 200 has ended (YES in step S518), and otherwise (NO in step S518) the process returns to step S517.

[0092] As described above, in this embodiment, the user can be aware of the amount of recording available during HFR recording in each recording mode. Specifically, the user can be aware of the remaining recording time available when the start trigger is used, and can be aware of the last number of seconds of recording data to be recorded when the instruction is given at that time when the end trigger is used. Because the start trigger initiates recording for 10 seconds after the time the instruction is given by the user, the countdown display allows the user to be aware of the remaining recordable time.Since, in the case of the end-time trigger, the recording data accumulates on the temporary recording medium 43 without user instruction, the user can be aware of the remaining recording time via the count-up display. Because the recording data is deleted after 10 seconds with the end-time trigger, a desired frame can be captured if the recording start instruction is given before the 10-second mark. For example, if a scene is to be captured in which a batter begins running to first base a few seconds after the batter has swung a bat in a baseball game, the recording should be started when the recording time is nine seconds. If, on the other hand, the recording time is around three seconds, the scene when the batter swings the bat will not be missed, even if the recording continues for a while.Displaying the recording time at the end trigger prevents the user from accidentally losing the recorded data that has been acquired. Further example

[0093] The following describes a center-trigger process with reference to the flowcharts in Fig. 6A and Fig. Figure 6B describes a further embodiment. In the center-release process, the recording data recorded on the temporary recording medium 43 immediately before activation of the shutter release is recorded on the recording medium 200 in response to a user instruction, as in the end-release process. Additionally, the recording of the image on the temporary recording medium 43 is started for a predetermined time after the shutter release during the recording process, and then the image on the temporary recording medium 43 is recorded on the recording medium 200, as in the start-release process. That is, the recording data before and after the user's recording instruction is recorded in the center-release process. The center-release process can be selected as a recording mode for HFR recording.The center release process is implemented by the system control unit 50, which executes programs recorded on the non-volatile memory 56, which may be contained in the system memory 52.

[0094] According to Fig. 6A, the system control unit 50 in step S601 displays a ready indicator, such as that shown on a ready screen 1001 in Fig. As illustrated in Figure 10A, the display unit 28 is ready. The ready indicator shows an accompanying element 1002, indicating the ready state (the state in which starting recording is acceptable). Additionally, in step S601, element 1004a, indicating 240 fps, which specifies the recording frame rate, and element 1004b, indicating that the current HFR recording setting is center-triggered, are displayed.

[0095] In step S602, the system control unit 50 initializes the end-of-recording timer and the start-of-recording timer and records the end-of-recording timer and the start-of-recording timer in the system memory 52. ​​The end-of-recording timer and the start-of-recording timer each indicate the recording time recorded as an HFR recording, and the maximum recording time of the end-of-recording timer and the start-of-recording timer is five seconds in this example. In step S602, the end-of-recording timer is set to zero seconds, and the start-of-recording timer is set to five seconds.

[0096] In step S603, the system control unit 50 displays the end recording timer (an accompaniment 1003a) and the start recording timer (an accompaniment 1003b), which indicate the recordable times, as shown by an accompaniment 1003 on the ready screen 1001 in Fig. Figure 10A illustrates this. Since this embodiment allows recording of up to 10 seconds as HFR recording, the end recording timer counts up from zero seconds to five seconds, and the start recording timer counts down from five seconds to zero seconds.

[0097] In step S604, the system control unit 50 starts counting the end-of-recording timer initialized in step S602. The end-of-recording timer is automatically counted every five seconds without a recording start instruction from the user, and the end-of-recording timer is recorded in system memory 52 in step S604.

[0098] In step S605, the system control unit 50 starts recording an image captured by the imaging unit 22 onto the temporary recording medium 43. As shown on a ready screen 1005 in Fig. As illustrated in Figure 10B, a recording time indicator 1006 is displayed by the display unit 28. This indicator 1006 specifies the recording time of an HFR film currently being recorded on the temporary recording medium 43 and indicates that the HFR recording will be carried out using the end-release trigger for a time corresponding to the recording start instruction given at that time. That is, when the recording instruction is issued at the time indicated by the recording time indicator 1006... Fig. 10B, the recording is carried out for one second before the instruction and five seconds after the instruction, as indicated by an accompaniment 1006a and an accompaniment 1006b respectively.

[0099] Steps S606 to S608 are the same as steps S506 to S508 in Fig. 5.

[0100] In step S609, the system control unit 50 determines whether the end-of-record timer stored in system memory 52 indicates five seconds. The process proceeds to step S610 if the system control unit 50 determines that the end-of-record timer indicates five seconds, meaning the maximum HFR recording time to be recorded on the temporary recording medium 43 has elapsed (YES in step S609). Otherwise (NO in step S609), the process proceeds to step S611. If the end-of-record timer indicates five seconds, the HFR recording data stored on the temporary recording medium 43 is erased, and recording is started by setting the end-of-record timer to zero seconds. The same process as the end-trigger process is repeated until the recording instruction is given by the user during the mid-trigger process.

[0101] In step S610, the system control unit 50 stops the counting of the end recording timer and stops the counting in the system timer 53.

[0102] In step S611, the system control unit 50 determines whether the recording start instruction has been issued. In the case of the center trigger, the HFR recording data recorded on the temporary recording medium 43 is recorded on the recording medium 200 in response to the recording start instruction, and the recording data acquired after the instruction is also recorded. The recording start instruction is issued by pressing the trigger 61. The process proceeds to step S613 if the system control unit 50 determines that the recording start instruction is issued (YES in step S611), and otherwise (NO in step S611), the process proceeds to step S612.

[0103] In step S612, the system control unit 50 determines whether the center-release process should be terminated. The center-release process is terminated in response to a switch to normal recording, switching to the start or end release, entering playback mode, or turning off the digital camera 100. The center-release process terminates if the system control unit 50 determines that the center-release process should be terminated (YES in step S612), and otherwise (NO in step S612), the process returns to step S606.

[0104] In step S613, the system control unit 50 determines whether recording is allowed to start. Recording is blocked if the end-of-record timer indicates a time less than 0.5 seconds, which is the predetermined time, and recording is allowed if the end-of-record timer indicates a time greater than or equal to 0.5 seconds in step S613. The process proceeds to step S614 if the system control unit 50 determines that recording is allowed to start (YES in step S613), and otherwise (NO in step S613), the process returns to step S606.

[0105] In step S614, the system control unit 50 stops the counting of the end-recording timer started in step S604. At this point, the display on the display unit 28 switches from the ready-state indicator 1002 to an indicator 1007, which indicates that a film is being recorded, as described in Fig. 10C is illustrated. If the recording start instruction is given in step S611 when the end recording timer indicates three seconds, recording is enabled for up to eight seconds, which results from adding the three seconds of the end recording timer (an accompaniment 1008a) to the five seconds of the start recording timer (an accompaniment 1008b), as indicated by an accompaniment 1008 in Fig. 10C is illustrated.

[0106] According to Fig. 6B starts the system control unit 50 in step S615 to count the start recording timer initialized in step S602.

[0107] Steps S616 to S623 are the same as steps S408 to S415 in Fig. 4.

[0108] In step S624, the system control unit 50 switches off the display of the recording time indicator 1008, which is shown on the display unit 28. Additionally, for example, a recording stop screen 1011 is displayed. Fig. 10D illustrated accompanying text 1009. This text indicates that recording has stopped because HFR recording cannot be resumed, and recording is locked because the digital camera 100 is in standby mode.

[0109] Steps S625 to S626 are the same as steps S417 to S418 in Fig. 4. However, both the recording data obtained in steps S605 to S614 and the recording data obtained in steps S615 to S622 are recorded.

[0110] In the center-trigger process described above, the user can be aware of the scope of a recording during HFR recording, which includes the scope of the recording at the end trigger and the scope of the recording at the start trigger.

[0111] Although in the example described in the preceding embodiments, where the length of time is displayed directly, the time of the HFR recording is, for example, a few seconds, a display can be performed in which the user intuitively grasps the length of time. Fig. 11A to Fig. 11G shows further display examples. Fig. 11A and Fig. 11B are variations of how the recording time is displayed when the start trigger is activated. The amount of recording time relative to the maximum recording time (amount of recording data) is shown in Fig. 11A and Fig. 11B illustrates this. In the modification in Fig. In 11A, a bar indicating the recording time is displayed in white when the start recording timer indicates 10 seconds, and the bar's display mode gradually changes from left to right in response to the user's recording start instruction, as specified by display mode 1101. The start recording timer then counts down, and the entire bar is displayed in black, as in display mode 1102, when the start recording timer indicates zero seconds. In the modification in Fig. In 11B, instead of a bar, many elements are arranged, and the elements change one after the other over time (the elements change sequentially according to the recording time). All four elements are displayed in white when the start recording timer indicates 10 seconds, two of them are displayed in black, as in display mode 1103, when five seconds have passed, and all elements are displayed in black when the start recording timer indicates zero seconds.

[0112] Fig. Figure 11C shows an example of how the recording time is displayed when the end-of-travel timer is triggered. The display mode of a circle changes over time. Fig. 11A to Fig. 11C can be used for both the start trigger and the end trigger.

[0113] Fig. 11D and Fig. 11E are variations of how the recording time is displayed at the start and end triggers. In the variation in Fig. In 11D, the display mode of the bar changes over time in response to the user's recording start instruction, and an element 1104 moves to the position where the display mode changes. Element 1104 indicates that the recording stop has been accepted. Fig. Figure 11E shows a variation in the end-of-record timer. If the end-of-record timer indicates 10 seconds in one instance, then, if the record instruction has not been issued, when the end-of-record timer indicates nine seconds, element 1104 is displayed in a light color to indicate that the recording data recorded on the temporary recording medium 43 is to be erased. If the record instruction is issued by the user when the end-of-record timer indicates five seconds, the length of the recording time is displayed, as illustrated by element 1105.

[0114] Fig. Figure 11F shows a variation in how the recording time is displayed when recording from the temporary recording medium 43 to the recording medium 200. The variation in Fig. 11F indicates that the recording data on the temporary recording medium is gradually being moved to the recording medium 200.

[0115] Fig. 11G shows a variation of how the recording time is displayed when using the center shutter release. The display mode of the bar is the same as in the variation in Fig. 11A changes over time. At (g-1) in Fig. 11G, a vertical line is drawn in the bar at the time the recording instruction is issued, and the display mode is changed by the line by the amount corresponding to the elapsed time of the start recording timer. At (g-2) in Fig. 11G displays the time corresponding to the recording data recorded on the temporary recording medium at the time the recording instruction is issued, and the display mode changes from the center line position by the amount corresponding to the elapsed time of the start recording timer. The user can access the information in Fig. 11G illustrated display also has knowledge of the time of the end recording timer and the time of the start recording timer at the center trigger.

[0116] Instead of the in Fig. 11A to Fig. 11G illustrated display examples can show the recording size in percent, which indicates the ratio of the recording size to the maximum recording time of 10 seconds, or the recording size can be shown in bytes or sectors.

[0117] As a variation on the time display, the start trigger can specify that the maximum recording time is 10 seconds, and the recording time can count up for display purposes (indicating the length of the recording). Similarly, the recording time can count down for the end trigger (indicating the time remaining until the recording stops).

[0118] Although the preceding embodiments use HFR recording as an example, they are applicable to recordings with a limited recording time, such as audio recording, continuous recording, or recordings with high image quality and high recording capacity. Furthermore, the embodiments are applicable to recordings other than HFR recording, as long as either the end-time or start-time release can be selected during recording.

[0119] During a period when the recording time is short and starting or stopping the recording is locked, the indicator showing the recording time may be grayed out, or an indicator may be displayed stating that recording is locked. If the recording is stopped when the maximum recording time has expired, a message may appear to the user indicating that the recording will stop in a few seconds.

[0120] The durations for HFR recording are not limited to those specified above in the preceding embodiments. The duration when HFR recording is enabled can be a time such as five seconds or 15 seconds, depending on the temporary recording medium 43 and the recording medium 200, and the recording time required for a movie can be a time such as one second or 0.3 seconds instead of 0.5 seconds. If, at the end-release, video data of a certain time is continuously recorded on the temporary recording medium 43, the recording time corresponding to the elapsed time need not be displayed. Furthermore, the unit time at which the elapsed time is updated need not be one second, but can be, for example, 0.5 seconds or 0.1 seconds.

[0121] The variety of controls performed by the system control unit 50 in the preceding embodiments can be implemented by a single piece of hardware. Alternatively, multiple hardware units can share the processing required to control the entire device.

[0122] Although the embodiments of this disclosure have been described using specific examples, the present disclosure is not limited to these specific embodiments and examples, and it is evident that modifications and variations can be made without departing from the idea and scope of this disclosure. The embodiments described above are merely examples and can be suitably combined.

[0123] Although the foregoing embodiments cite the case in which the present disclosure is applied to digital camera 100 as an example, the present disclosure is not limited thereto and can be applied to a recording control device that can record the recording data before the recording instruction is given. The present disclosure is applicable, in particular, for example, to a mobile phone, a mobile image viewing device, a printer equipped with a viewfinder, a digital photo frame, a music playback device, a game console, or an electronic book reader. Other examples of implementation

[0124] Some embodiments of the present disclosure are realized by carrying out the foregoing processes. In particular, software realizing the functions of the foregoing embodiments can be made available to a system or device via a network or various recording media, and a computer or computers (or a central processing unit (CPU) or a microprocessing unit (MPU)) in the system or device can read program codes for execution. In this case, the programs and a non-volatile recording medium that stores the programs constitute some embodiments.

[0125] Some embodiments can also be implemented by a computer of a system or device that reads and executes computer-executable instructions (for example, one or more programs) recorded on a storage medium (which may also be more fully referred to as a "non-volatile, computer-readable storage medium") to perform the functions of one or more of the embodiments described above, and / or that contains one or more circuits (for example, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC)) to perform the functions of one or more of the embodiments described above.and by a method carried out by the computer of the system or device, for example by reading and executing the computer-executable instructions from the storage medium to perform the functions of one or more of the embodiments described above and / or by controlling one or more circuits to perform the functions of one or more of the embodiments described above. The computer may have one or more processors (for example, a central processing unit (CPU),The computer may include a microprocessing unit (MPU) and a network of separate computers or processors for reading and executing the computer's executable instructions. The computer's executable instructions may be provided to the computer, for example, from a network or the storage medium. The storage medium may include, for example, a hard disk and / or random access memory (RAM) and / or read-only memory (ROM) and / or distributed computing system memory and / or an optical disc (such as a compact disc (CD), digital versatile disc (DVD), or Blu-ray Disc (BD)™) and / or a flash memory device and / or a memory card, and the like.

[0126] Although the present disclosure is described by means of exemplary embodiments, it is evident that the patent claims are not limited to the disclosed embodiments. The scope of protection of the following patent claims is to be interpreted in the broadest possible way to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures and functions.

[0127] A display control device includes a recording control unit that controls recording data captured by a recording unit so that it is recorded on a first recording unit, an acceptance unit that accepts an instruction regarding a recording from a user, and a control unit that controls the recording data captured by the recording unit before acceptance of the instruction so that it is recorded when the instruction is accepted by the acceptance unit, and that controls a display corresponding to the amount of recording data to be recorded on the first recording unit such that it is displayed on a display unit before the acceptance unit accepts the instruction.

Claims

[1] Display control device with a procurement unit for the procurement of image data acquired by an imaging unit, an acceptance unit for accepting a recording instruction, a switching unit configured to switch between a first recording mode, in which the image data acquired by the procurement unit before the recording instruction is accepted is recorded on a recording medium, and a second recording mode, in which the image data acquired by the procurement unit after the recording instruction is accepted is recorded on the recording medium, and a display control unit for carrying out a control such that accompanying information relating to the image data to be recorded on the recording medium is displayed, wherein the display control unit performs a control such that the accompanying information is displayed in such a way that an amount is increased over time in the first recording mode, and accompanying information is displayed in such a way that the amount is decreased over time in the second recording mode. [2] Display control device according to claim 1, wherein the accompanying information relates to a set of image data to be recorded on the recording medium. [3] Display control device according to claim 1, wherein the accompanying information relates to a duration of the image data to be recorded on the recording medium. [4] Display control device according to claim 3, wherein the display control unit performs a control such that a time period which is counted up as time elapses is displayed as accompanying information in the first recording mode, and a time period which is counted down as time elapses is displayed as accompanying information in the second recording mode. [5] Display control device according to claim 1, wherein the first recording mode and the second recording mode are recording modes for recording the image data of a certain time. [6] Display control device according to claim 5, wherein the display control unit performs a control such that a duration of the image data to be procured by the procurement unit before the recording instruction is accepted is displayed as accompanying information in the first recording mode, and information about a duration until the completion of the procurement of the image data of the specified time is displayed as accompanying information in the second recording mode. [7] Display control device according to claim 5, wherein the display control unit does not change the accompanying information over time after a period of time of image data procured by the procurement unit before the recording instruction is accepted reaches the specified time in the first recording mode. [8] Display control device according to claim 5, wherein the display control unit changes a display mode of the accompanying information when a time of image data procured by the procurement unit before the recording instruction is accepted reaches the specified time in the first recording mode. [9] Display control device according to claim 5, wherein the display control unit terminates the display of the accompanying information upon acceptance of the recording instruction in the first recording mode, and terminates the display of the accompanying information upon expiry of the specified time since acceptance of the recording instruction and completion of the acquisition of the image data of the specified time in the second recording mode. [10] Display control device according to claim 5, further comprising a recording control unit for controlling the image data procured by the procurement unit in such a way that it is recorded on the recording medium, wherein the recording control unit controls the image data procured by the procurement unit before acceptance of the recording instruction for recording on the recording medium upon acceptance of the recording instruction in the first recording mode, and controls the image data of the specified time, procured by the procurement unit after acceptance of the recording instruction, for recording on the recording medium upon acceptance of the recording instruction in the second recording mode. [11] Display control device according to claim 5, wherein the display control unit starts the increase of the amount to be displayed as accompanying information when the acquisition unit begins to procure the image data to be recorded on the recording medium in the first recording mode, and starts the decrease of the amount to be displayed as accompanying information when the recording instruction is accepted in the second recording mode. [12] Display control device according to claim 1, further comprising a storage unit for the temporary storage of image data procured by the procurement unit, the accompanying information relates to the duration of the image data temporarily stored in the storage unit. [13] Display control device according to claim 1, wherein the first recording mode and the second recording mode are recording modes for recording image data captured at high frame rate. [14] Display control device according to claim 1, wherein the first recording mode and the second recording mode are recording modes for recording a film recorded at a high frame rate. [15] Display control device with a procurement unit for the procurement of image data acquired by an imaging unit, an receiving unit for accepting a recording instruction, a switching device configured to switch between a first recording mode in which the image data procured by the procurement unit before the recording instruction is accepted is recorded on a recording medium, and a second recording mode in which the image data procured by the procurement unit after the recording instruction is accepted is recorded on the recording medium, and a display control unit for carrying out a control such that accompanying information regarding the image data to be recorded on the recording medium is displayed, wherein the display control unit performs a control such that the accompanying information is displayed in the first recording mode before the recording instruction is accepted, and the accompanying information is displayed in the second recording mode upon acceptance of the recording instruction. [16] Display control device according to claim 15, wherein the display control unit performs a control such that the display of the accompanying information in the first recording mode is started from a standby state before the recording instruction is accepted, and the display of the accompanying information in the second recording mode is started upon acceptance of the recording instruction. [17] Method for controlling a display control device, with Obtaining image data acquired by an imaging unit, accepting a recording instruction, and Performing a display control such that accompanying information regarding the image data to be displayed on a recording medium is shown, In the display control, the accompanying information is shown in such a way that an amount increases over time when a first recording mode is set, in which the image data acquired before the recording instruction is accepted is recorded on the recording medium, and the accompanying information is shown in such a way that the amount decreases over time when a second recording mode is set, in which the image data acquired after the recording instruction is accepted is recorded on the recording medium. [18] Method for controlling a display control device, with Obtaining image data acquired by an imaging unit, Accepting a recording instruction, and Implementation of a display control such that accompanying information regarding the image data to be recorded on a recording medium is displayed, where, in the display control, the accompanying information is displayed before the recording instruction is accepted if a first recording mode is set, in which the image data acquired before the recording instruction is accepted is recorded on the recording medium, and the accompanying information is displayed when the recording instruction is accepted if a second recording mode is set, in which the image data acquired after the recording instruction is accepted is recorded on the recording medium. [19] Non-volatile computer-readable medium storing a program for causing a computer to carry out the method for controlling the display control device according to claim 17. [20] Non-volatile computer-readable medium storing a program for causing a computer to carry out the method for controlling the display control device according to claim 18.

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