JP4962503B2 - Image recording apparatus, image recording method, and program - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus, an image recording method, and a program suitable for use in a digital camera.

  Conventionally, in a digital camera that captures and records a subject with an image sensor such as a CCD or a CMOS sensor, a technology that makes it possible to retroactively capture a photo opportunity even when a photo opportunity is missed or the shutter timing is incorrect. Has been proposed by the present applicant (see Patent Document 1 below).

  In such a technique, in a shooting standby state, subject images taken at regular intervals are temporarily stored (circulated) while sequentially updating a predetermined number of images in a buffer such as a semiconductor memory. For example, when the shutter timing is incorrect, the user is caused to perform a switching operation to the shutter chance retroactive mode. In this mode, the buffer memory is displayed on the monitor screen that displays the through image of the subject in the shooting standby state. A series of subject images that are temporarily stored are sequentially displayed in accordance with a key operation, and the user is allowed to select an image at any desired past imaging timing. Thereafter, the selected image is recorded as a captured image on an image recording medium such as a memory card.

  On the other hand, recent digital cameras generally have not only a still image shooting function but also a movie shooting function, and the captured moving image is converted into various movie formats such as Motion JPEG (Joint Photographic coding Experts Group) format. Many video data can be recorded as moving picture coding experts group (MPEG) format.

JP 2000-78452 A

  By the way, as described above, a series of subject images that are circulated and stored in the semiconductor memory in a digital camera that enables retroactive photo opportunity can be used as images constituting a moving image. Therefore, even in a digital camera equipped with a moving image shooting function, for example, during standby for shooting, a predetermined number of subject images captured at a predetermined interval are temporarily stored in a semiconductor memory, so that recording by shutter operation or the like is possible. At the time when the save instruction is given, it is possible to record a past moving image with the subject image taken immediately before that as the end. However, in this case, the user cannot know the content of the moving image that is actually recorded and the accumulation status of the subject images that make up the moving image until the user actually performs a shutter operation or the like. There has been a problem that it is difficult to determine the timing of the shutter operation or the like when recording.

The present invention has been made in view of such a conventional problem, and in accordance with a recording / saving instruction, a timing for performing a recording instruction in a configuration in which a series of a plurality of images for a predetermined time acquired immediately before is recorded. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image recording apparatus and an image recording method capable of accurately determining the above , and a program used for realizing the image recording apparatus .

An image recording apparatus according to the present invention includes an image acquisition unit that continuously acquires a plurality of images at a predetermined time interval, and an image that is displayed while sequentially updating an image newly acquired by the image acquisition unit on a display screen. In a temporary storage area capable of storing a predetermined amount of a plurality of images with a display means, a plurality of images continuously acquired by the image acquisition means at predetermined time intervals are overwritten and stored cyclically. Temporary storage means, recording / saving means for recording a plurality of images stored in the temporary storage area in a storage memory in response to a recording / saving instruction, and storage in the temporary storage area by the temporary storage means The stored amount of the plurality of images is displayed on a part of the display screen as time information indicating a recording time corresponding to the certain time interval in which the image acquisition unit continuously acquires the plurality of images. Comprising a display control unit that, the, the display control means, until the storage amount of the plurality of images stored in the temporary storage area is the same amount of storage as the storable predetermined amount in the temporary storage area The time information indicating the remaining time is visually displayed in a predetermined display form so that the change per second can be seen .
According to another aspect of the image recording apparatus of the present invention, an image acquisition unit that sequentially acquires a plurality of images at a constant time interval, and an image newly acquired by the image acquisition unit are sequentially displayed on a display screen. An image display means for displaying while updating, and a temporary storage area capable of storing a plurality of images by a predetermined amount, while circulating a plurality of images continuously acquired by the image acquisition means at regular time intervals. A temporary storage means for storing the data, a recording storage means for recording a plurality of images stored in the temporary storage area in a storage memory in response to a recording storage instruction, and the temporary storage means by the temporary storage means The display screen uses the storage amount of a plurality of images stored in the temporary storage area as time information indicating a recording time corresponding to the certain time interval in which the image acquisition unit acquires a plurality of images continuously. Display control means for displaying on a part of the display storage means, wherein the display control means has a storage amount of the plurality of images stored in the temporary storage area equal to a predetermined amount that can be stored in the temporary storage area Time information indicating the remaining time until the storage amount is reached, a plurality of numerical information indicating different remaining times, and visual information corresponding to each numerical information are arranged side by side on the display screen, and the temporary storage The display form of visual information corresponding to any numerical information is changed according to a change in the storage amount of a plurality of images stored in the region.

An image recording method according to the present invention includes an image acquisition step of continuously acquiring a plurality of images at a constant time interval, and an image that is displayed while sequentially updating an image newly acquired by the image acquisition step on a display screen. In a temporary storage area capable of storing a predetermined amount of a plurality of images in a display step, a plurality of images acquired continuously at regular time intervals by the image acquisition step are overwritten and stored cyclically. A temporary storage step, a recording / storing step for recording a plurality of images stored in the temporary storage region in a storage memory in response to a recording / storing instruction, and a storage in the temporary storage region by the temporary storage step. The stored amount of the plurality of images is displayed on a part of the display screen as time information indicating a recording time corresponding to the certain time interval in which the image acquisition step continuously acquires the plurality of images. Comprising a display control step that, a, wherein the display control unit, until the storage amount of the plurality of images stored in the temporary storage area is the same amount of storage as the storable predetermined amount in the temporary storage area Time information indicating the remaining time, and a plurality of numerical information indicating different remaining times and visual information corresponding to each numerical information are arranged side by side on the display screen and stored in the temporary storage area. The display form of visual information corresponding to any numerical information is changed according to the change in the storage amount of the plurality of images .

The program according to the present invention is configured to sequentially acquire, on a display screen, an image acquisition unit that continuously acquires a plurality of images at a predetermined time interval, and an image newly acquired by the image acquisition unit. An image display means for displaying while updating, and a temporary storage area capable of storing a plurality of images by a predetermined amount, while circulating a plurality of images continuously acquired by the image acquisition means at regular time intervals. A temporary storage means for storing the data, a recording storage means for recording a plurality of images stored in the temporary storage area in a storage memory in response to a recording storage instruction, and the temporary storage means by the temporary storage means Time information indicating the storage time of the plurality of images stored in the temporary storage area, the recording time corresponding to the predetermined time interval in which the image acquisition means acquires the plurality of images continuously; Te, the display control means for displaying on a part of the display screen, a program for causing to function by the display control means, the plurality of images stored in the temporary storage area The time information indicating the remaining time until the storage amount becomes the same storage amount as the predetermined amount that can be stored in the temporary storage area is visually displayed in a predetermined display form in which a change per second can be seen. It is characterized by that.

According to the present invention, in a configuration in which a series of a plurality of images for a predetermined time acquired immediately before is recorded in accordance with a recording / saving instruction, it is possible to accurately determine the timing for performing the recording / saving instruction. .

It is a block diagram of the digital camera common to each embodiment concerning the present invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the memory space of a built-in memory. It is a flowchart which shows the content of the video recording process by a past movie. It is a figure which shows the change of the display screen of LCD during video recording. It is a flowchart which shows the content of the video recording process by the past movie in 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the change of the display screen of LCD during video recording.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a digital camera common to each embodiment of the present invention. In addition to the general still image mode and moving image mode as shooting modes, this digital camera records moving images for the past with the subject image stored immediately before the shutter operation being performed. It has a PAST movie mode that can be used, and has the following configuration.

  That is, the digital camera includes a camera body 1 and a recording medium 20 that can be attached to and detached from the camera body 1. The camera body 1 is provided with an optical system 2 including a zoom lens and a focus lens and a CCD 3. The CCD 3 is an image pickup means of the present invention and is driven by a drive signal sent from the timing generator 7 to photoelectrically convert a subject light image and output it as an image pickup signal. The output signal of the CCD 3 is subjected to correlated double sampling and gain adjustment by the CDS circuit 4 and converted to a digital signal by the A / D conversion circuit 5. The A / D-converted image signal is input to the DSP unit 6 and subjected to processing such as pedestal clamping, and then converted into a luminance (Y) signal and a color difference (UV) signal by a luminance / color difference matrix circuit in the block. The Note that the DSP unit 6 also performs processing for improving image quality such as auto iris, auto white balance, and edge enhancement.

  The YUV data converted by the DSP unit 6 is converted to a preset image size by the resolution conversion block 8, and then one frame of data is sequentially stored in the built-in memory 14 (for example, SDRAM). The YUV data for one frame stored in the built-in memory 14 is sent to the display controller 11 where it is converted into a video signal and then displayed on the LCD (liquid crystal display) 12 as a through image, that is, a moving image. The DSP section 6 and the resolution conversion block 8 are the image generation means of the present invention, and the LCD 12 is the moving image display means of the present invention.

  One frame worth of YUV data stored in the built-in memory 14 at the time of shooting in the still image mode is encoded after being compressed by the data compression / decompression block 9 using the JPEG method or the like, and then filed in the built-in memory 14. Then, it is recorded as still image data (still image file) through the media controller 10 on the recording medium 20 which is the recording storage means of the present invention.

  The YUV data stored in the built-in memory 14 at the time of moving image shooting is sequentially sent to the data compression / decompression block 9, and after being compressed by a codec of a predetermined moving image recording method (for example, Motion-JPEG or MPEG), it is coded, and finally. Is recorded on the recording medium 20 through the media controller 10 as a moving image file. The frame rate for moving image shooting is determined by the timing signal generated by the timing generator 7, and the compression rate of the encoded data is determined by the quantization table value in the data compression / decompression block 9.

  Further, the data compression / decompression block 9 decompresses still image or moving image data read from the recording medium 20 during reproduction of a still image or moving image, and expands it in the built-in memory 14 as still image data or moving image frame data. . The developed image is sent to the display controller 11 where it is converted into a video signal and then displayed on the LCD 12 as a reproduced image. The LCD 12 displays not only a through image and a reproduced image, but also a menu screen and a setting screen for selecting and setting various functions in the digital camera as necessary.

  The voice processing block 15 converts voice input to the microphone 16 built in the camera body 1 into a digital signal at the time of moving image shooting, and sends it to the built-in memory 14 as audio data after data compression. The audio data sent to the built-in memory 14 is sequentially written to the recording medium 20 as stream data together with the frame data. The audio processing block 15 decodes the audio data sent from the built-in memory 14 and converts it into an analog audio signal, and then outputs the sound from the built-in speaker 17 built in the camera body 1 when reproducing the moving image.

  The key input block 18 includes a plurality of operation keys such as a power key, a mode switching key, a shutter, a MENU key, and a set key, and outputs a key input signal corresponding to the key operation by the user to the CPU 13. The shutter key is used for a shooting instruction in the still image mode, is used for a recording start / end instruction in the normal moving image mode, and is used for a recording / saving instruction in a PAST movie.

  Each block described above is controlled by the CPU 13, and programs and data required for the CPU 13 to control each block are stored in a program memory 19 which is a rewritable nonvolatile memory such as an EEPROM or a flash memory. The CPU 13 functions as the selection means, display control means, and determination means of the present invention by operating based on the program and key input signals. The program memory 19 also stores setting data related to the system and each function set by the user.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2A, the built-in memory 14 includes an image data work area 14a in which data for one frame displayed as a through image is updated and stored, and a working memory of the CPU 13. As a result, a general-purpose work area 14b is secured. Further, at the time of shooting in a PAST movie mode, which will be described later, as shown in FIG. 4B, frame data for a plurality of frames constituting a moving image for a recordable moving image time (5 seconds in the present embodiment). The buffer area 14c for temporarily storing (still image data) is secured, thereby functioning as temporary storage means of the present invention.

  Next, an operation when the PAST movie mode is selected by the user at the time of shooting in the digital camera having the above configuration will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the contents of the PAST photographing process executed by the CPU 13 at that time.

  When the PAST shooting process is started, the CPU 13 drives the CCD 3 at a cycle corresponding to the frame rate of the moving image recorded in the PAST movie mode, captures the subject image into the image data work area 14a of the built-in memory 14, and the LCD 12 Display of the through image is started (step SA1). Then, still image data of a size for a PAST movie (hereinafter referred to as frame data) is generated from the subject image data captured in the image data work area 14a, and is stored in the buffer area 14c (step SA2).

  Thereafter, the processes in steps SA1 and SA2 are repeated every time according to the frame rate, and the update of the through image and the generation and storage of frame data are continued. However, in step SA2, the frame data is cyclically stored up to the recordable moving image time (5 seconds) of data. That is, once the data for the shootable time is stored, the process of erasing the oldest data and storing new frame data is repeated thereafter.

  In the meantime, every time the display timing of the past image arrives (here, every second) (YES in step SA3), the second position from the buffer area 14c every second, that is, the past 5 seconds before, 4 seconds. Previously,..., Frame data recorded one second before is read (step SA4), and a frame image (still image) based on the frame data is determined corresponding to each second position in the through image being displayed. Overwrite the existing composite area and display it (step SA5).

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the state. FIG. 4A shows one second of a plurality of frame images corresponding to the frame rate that is sequentially captured and circularly stored in the buffer area 14c. The frame images a, b,... At intervals are the examples of the through image 101 in which the frame images a, b,. In the present embodiment, the synthesis regions for synthesizing the frame images are five regions G1 to G5 arranged along the upper side of the through image 101, and each is located at the second position from the past 5 seconds to the past 1 second from the left end side. It corresponds. It should be noted that since the frame data is not stored in the buffer area 14c until the elapse of 5 seconds from the start of the storage of the frame data, the interval is acquired at that time. Only the frame image is displayed in the corresponding synthesis area. Further, after 5 seconds have elapsed since the start of storing frame data, as shown in FIGS. 4B to 4D, the frame images displayed in the regions G2 to G5 are displayed every second. The region G1 to the region G4 are moved to, and a new frame image is displayed in the region G5.

  Then, while repeating the above-described update of the through image, the cyclic storage of the frame data in the buffer area 14c, and the display (update) of the frame image at each display timing of the past image, the record storage instruction (shooting end instruction) by the shutter key is repeated. ) (YES in step SA6), the frame data stored in the buffer area 14c at that time is read, and a moving image file based on them is generated (step SA7). Thereafter, the generated moving image file is recorded and saved in the recording medium 20 (step SA8), and the PAST photographing process is terminated.

  As described above, during moving image shooting in the PAST movie mode, the frame image for the past 5 seconds is displayed together with the through image 101, so that the user can always record a moving image that can be recorded at the current time from the frame image for the past 5 seconds. Can be known simultaneously with the through image, that is, the current movement of the subject. Therefore, it is possible to accurately determine the shutter timing necessary for recording the moving image intended by the user. Therefore, for example, when the recordable moving image time is relatively short as in the present embodiment, the leading portion of the moving image is lost due to the delay of the shutter timing, and an important moment intended by the user is detected. Although there are concerns about situations in which shooting is missed, the occurrence of such a situation can be prevented in advance.

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, since the oldest frame image of 5 seconds before the plurality of frame images to be displayed together with the through image 101 is displayed, the user can determine the shutter timing by knowing the head portion of the recordable moving image. It is possible to judge more accurately. Further, since the plurality of frame images to be displayed together with the through image 101 are images at intervals of one second, that is, the recording time of the moving image is divided into equal intervals, the contents of the entire change of the moving image can be notified. it can. In addition, the frame image displayed in the region G2 to the region G5 moves to the region G1 to the region G4 every second, and a new frame image is displayed in the region G5. It is possible to easily grasp the contents of a recordable moving image.

  In this embodiment, the recordable moving image time is 5 seconds, and frame images at intervals of 1 second are selected and displayed in the areas G1 to G5. However, both times are necessary. It may be changed as appropriate, and the update interval of the frame image to be displayed is 1 second, but it can also be changed as appropriate. For example, by matching the update interval of the frame image with the update interval of the through image 101, moving images of different periods may be displayed in the regions G1 to G5. Further, for example, from a series of frame images stored in the buffer area 14c, an image with a large change in image content between the immediately preceding image in time series order is selected (extracted), and these are selected as the areas G1 to G1. You may make it display on G5. In this case, the user can more accurately determine the shutter timing by knowing the characteristic part of the recordable moving image content.

  (Embodiment 2)

  Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The present embodiment is a digital camera having the above-described configuration, and the CPU 13 functions as the first determination means, the second determination means, the storage control means, the acquisition means, and the display control means of the present invention, so that the PAST movie mode is achieved. When is selected, the following PAST photographing process shown in FIG. 5 is executed.

  In other words, when the PAST shooting process is started, the CPU 13 drives the CCD 3 at a cycle corresponding to the frame rate of the moving image recorded in the PAST movie mode, and starts capturing the subject image into the image data work area 14a of the built-in memory 14. (Step SB1) In addition, the through image display on the display screen of the LCD 12 displaying the photographing amount indicator is started (Step SB2).

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the display screen 103 of the LCD 12 in a state where the shooting amount indicator 102 and the through image 101 are displayed. The shooting amount indicator 102 indicates the storage amount of the frame image in the buffer area 14c of the built-in memory 14, and in this embodiment, the five shooting gauges arranged side by side indicate the shooting amount in units of seconds. 102a and a caption ("1 second ago" to "5 seconds ago") 102b indicating the storage amount meant by each gauge 102a.

  Further, until the first operation (storage start instruction) of the shutter key after setting the PAST movie mode (NO in both steps SB3 and SB4), the processing in steps SB1 and SB2 is repeated to update the through image. When the shutter key is operated (step SB4), counting of the moving image storage time is started (step SB5), and generation of frame data and the above-described circular storage in the buffer area 14c of the built-in memory 14 are started. (Step SB6). In this embodiment, the amount of frame data that can be stored in the buffer area 14c, that is, the recordable moving image time is 5 seconds. Thereafter, since the result of the determination in step SB3 is YES, the update of the through image and the generation and storage of the frame data are continued.

  On the other hand, in the meantime, every time the photographing amount indicator 102 is updated (here, every second) (YES in step SB7), it is updated (step SB8). That is, as shown in FIGS. 6A to 6C, the five gauges 102a are sequentially changed to the lighting state (in the drawing, the filled state) one by one. Although not shown, since all the gauges 102a are turned on when the recording time has elapsed for 5 seconds, the processing of step SB8 is skipped thereafter.

  If the second operation of the shutter key (record storage instruction) is repeated during the above-described update of the through image, the circular storage of the frame data in the buffer area 14c, and the update of the shooting amount indicator 102 (in step SB9). YES), the frame data stored in the buffer area 14c at that time is read, and a moving image file based on them is generated (step SB10). Thereafter, the generated moving image file is recorded and saved in the recording medium 20 (step SB11), and the PAST photographing process is terminated.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, when shooting a moving image in the PAST movie mode, the shooting amount indicator 102 is displayed together with the through image 101. Therefore, the user can set the length of the moving image that can be recorded at the current time point. You can know the image, that is, the current movement of the subject at the same time. Therefore, it is possible to accurately determine the shutter timing necessary for recording the moving image intended by the user. For example, unlike this embodiment, even when a recordable moving image time is relatively long, when recording a moving image of a desired length, it is accurately determined at which point the shutter operation should be performed. be able to. Further, since the length of the moving image to be recorded is visually displayed by the shooting amount indicator 102, the user can instantly understand it.

  In the present embodiment, the length of a moving image that can be recorded at the current time point is notified. However, other than this, if it indicates the storage amount of frame data in the buffer area 14c, for example, The number of frame images (number of frames) constituting a moving image that can be recorded at the current time point may be displayed as the amount information of the present invention. Even in this case, the user can accurately determine the shutter timing necessary for recording the moving image intended by the user.

  Further, the recordable moving image length is visually displayed by the above-described photographing amount indicator 102. However, the recordable moving image length, the number of frame images constituting the recordable moving image, and the like May be visually displayed by other display forms. In that case, the length of the moving image and the number of frame images may be displayed stepwise like the shooting amount indicator 102, or may be displayed continuously using a band-shaped gauge, an annular gauge, or the like. Good. Further, the photographing amount indicator 102 is displayed along with the through image 101 and displayed on the display screen of the LCD 12. However, the photographing amount indicator 102 and the like are combined with the through image 101 and overwritten so that the through image 101 can be seen through, for example. You may make it display.

  Here, in each of the embodiments described above, the PAST movie mode records only the past moving images with the subject image stored immediately before that as the last when the shutter operation is performed. Although the case of the shooting mode has been described, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the above-described operation may be performed in the following shooting mode. For example, when a shutter operation is performed, a past moving image is recorded, and at the same time, a shooting mode in which normal still image shooting processing is performed, or a past moving image is recorded at the time a shutter operation is performed, and at the same time, The above-described operation may be performed in the shooting mode in which the moving image shooting process is performed. Furthermore, in the shooting mode in which normal movie shooting processing is performed simultaneously with the shutter operation, the past moving images before the shutter operation and the moving images shot according to the shutter operation are batched into a single movie file. It may be recorded and saved.

  In addition, although the present invention is applied to a digital camera having a moving image shooting function, the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention can be applied to a camera device built in a portable information terminal such as a cellular phone. it can. Furthermore, in addition to a device that records a moving image composed of still images (frame images) captured at regular intervals, the present invention also applies to a device that records a moving image composed of a series of image data sent by broadcast radio waves. Is applicable.

1 Camera body 3 CCD
6 DSP unit 8 Resolution conversion block 9 Data compression / decompression block 11 Display controller 12 LCD
13 CPU
14 Internal memory 14a Image data work area 14b General purpose work area 14c Buffer area 18 Key input block 19 Program memory 20 Recording medium

Claims (6)

Image acquisition means for acquiring a plurality of images continuously at regular time intervals;
Image display means for displaying an image newly acquired by the image acquisition means while sequentially updating the image on a display screen;
Temporary storage means for cyclically storing a plurality of images continuously acquired by the image acquisition means at predetermined time intervals in a temporary storage area capable of storing a plurality of images by a predetermined amount while being overwritten. ,
In accordance with a record storage instruction, a record storage unit that records a plurality of images stored in the temporary storage area in a storage memory;
Time information indicating the storage time of the plurality of images stored in the temporary storage area by the temporary storage means, and the recording time corresponding to the fixed time interval at which the image acquisition means continuously acquires the plurality of images. Display control means for displaying on a part of the display screen;
With
The display control means includes time information indicating a remaining time until the storage amount of the plurality of images stored in the temporary storage area becomes the same storage amount as a predetermined amount that can be stored in the temporary storage area. An image recording apparatus characterized by visually displaying in a predetermined display form in which a change per second can be seen . Image acquisition means for acquiring a plurality of images continuously at regular time intervals;
Image display means for displaying an image newly acquired by the image acquisition means while sequentially updating the image on a display screen;
Temporary storage means for cyclically storing a plurality of images continuously acquired by the image acquisition means at predetermined time intervals in a temporary storage area capable of storing a plurality of images by a predetermined amount while being overwritten. ,
In accordance with a record storage instruction, a record storage unit that records a plurality of images stored in the temporary storage area in a storage memory;
Time information indicating the storage time of the plurality of images stored in the temporary storage area by the temporary storage means, and the recording time corresponding to the fixed time interval at which the image acquisition means continuously acquires the plurality of images. Display control means for displaying on a part of the display screen;
With
The display control means is time information indicating a remaining time until the storage amount of the plurality of images stored in the temporary storage area becomes the same storage amount as a predetermined amount that can be stored in the temporary storage area. A plurality of numerical information indicating different remaining times and visual information corresponding to each numerical information are arranged side by side on the display screen, and a change in the storage amount of the plurality of images stored in the temporary storage area An image recording apparatus characterized by changing a display form of visual information corresponding to any numerical information according to the above . The temporary storage means cyclically stores a plurality of images that are continuously acquired by the moving image acquisition means at regular time intervals in the temporary storage area in response to an instruction to start a temporary storage operation by a user. Start the movement
The display control means is configured to determine a storage amount of a plurality of images stored in the temporary storage area after the temporary storage means starts the cyclic storage operation in response to a temporary storage operation start instruction by a user. 3. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the acquisition unit displays time information indicating a recording time corresponding to the predetermined time interval in which a plurality of images are continuously acquired. 4. Imaging means for imaging a subject;
Image generating means for generating an image constituting a moving image based on the subject image imaged by the imaging means,
The image according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the image acquisition unit acquires a plurality of images constituting the moving image generated by the image generation unit continuously at a constant time interval. Recording device. An image acquisition step of acquiring a plurality of images continuously at regular time intervals;
An image display step for displaying the image newly acquired by the image acquisition step while sequentially updating on the display screen;
A temporary storage step of cyclically storing a plurality of images continuously acquired at a predetermined time interval by the image acquisition step in a temporary storage area capable of storing a plurality of images by a predetermined amount; ,
A recording and storing step of recording a plurality of images stored in the temporary storage area in a storage memory in response to a recording and saving instruction;
Time information indicating the storage time of the plurality of images stored in the temporary storage area by the temporary storage step and the recording time corresponding to the certain time interval in which the image acquisition step continuously acquires the plurality of images. As a display control process to be displayed on a part of the display screen,
Including
The display control step is time information indicating a remaining time until the storage amount of the plurality of images stored in the temporary storage area becomes the same storage amount as a predetermined amount that can be stored in the temporary storage area. A plurality of numerical information indicating different remaining times and visual information corresponding to each numerical information are arranged side by side on the display screen, and a change in the storage amount of the plurality of images stored in the temporary storage area An image recording method characterized by changing a display form of visual information corresponding to any numerical information according to the above . A computer included in the image recording apparatus,
Image acquisition means for acquiring a plurality of images continuously at regular time intervals;
Image display means for displaying an image newly acquired by the image acquisition means while sequentially updating the image on a display screen;
Temporary storage means for cyclically storing a plurality of images continuously acquired by the image acquisition means at predetermined time intervals in a temporary storage area capable of storing a plurality of images by a predetermined amount while being overwritten. ,
In accordance with a record storage instruction, a record storage unit that records a plurality of images stored in the temporary storage area in a storage memory;
Time information indicating the storage time of the plurality of images stored in the temporary storage area by the temporary storage means, and the recording time corresponding to the fixed time interval at which the image acquisition means continuously acquires the plurality of images. Display control means for displaying on a part of the display screen;
It is a program characterized by making it function,
The display control means includes time information indicating a remaining time until the storage amount of the plurality of images stored in the temporary storage area becomes the same storage amount as a predetermined amount that can be stored in the temporary storage area. A program characterized in that it is visually displayed in a predetermined display form so that a change per second can be seen .

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