Abstract:
It is an object of the present invention to provide an imaging apparatus for simultaneously taking a still image and a moving image that hardly causes a fail in taking a moving image. The imaging apparatus is characterized by including an imaging means capable of taking a subject image and generating still image data and moving image data, a first storage means capable of temporarily storing the still image data and the moving image data generated by the imaging means, a second storage means, a transfer means capable of reading the still image data and the moving image data stored in the first storage means and transferring them to the second storage means, and a control means for controlling the transfer means so that any one of the still image data and the moving image data is transferred to the second storage means according to a status of use of the first storage means.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus, specifically to an imaging apparatus which is capable of simultaneously taking still images and moving images. 
         [0002]    Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2007-251414) discloses an imaging apparatus which is capable of simultaneously taking moving images and still images. In this imaging apparatus, when a flash lamp emits light during taking a moving image, a frame included in a moving image file to which the strobe light is emitted from the flash lamp is related to light emitting information (strobe light emitting flag), and the frame related to the light emitting information is extracted from the moving image file. 
         [0003]    In this imaging apparatus, a still image imaging process during taking a moving image can be achieved by a process which is simpler than a conventional process, thereby it can be possible to take a still image without missing a shutter opportunity and to take a moving image with continuity being maintained, according to the Patent Document 1. 
         [0004]    However, the imaging apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1 only extracts one frame as a still image file from a moving image file. Further, the Patent Document 1 does not disclose a technique for generating still image data separately from moving image data. 
         [0005]    As is well known, when moving images are took by the imaging apparatus which is capable of simultaneously taking moving images and still images, it is very important to maintain continuity of recording of moving image data obtained by taking moving images regardless of the still image imaging process during taking the moving images. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The object of the present invention is to provide an imaging apparatus which is capable of simultaneously taking still images and moving images, wherein the imaging apparatus hardly causes a failure in taking a moving image (namely, a situation such that the continuity of recording of moving image data is deteriorated). 
         [0007]    Therefore, an imaging apparatus according to the present invention is characterized by including an imaging means for capable of taking a subject image and generating still image data and moving image data, a first storage means capable of temporarily storing the still image data and the moving image data generated by the imaging means, a second storage means, a transfer means capable of reading the still image data and the moving image data stored in the first storage means and transferring them to the second storage means, and a control means for controlling the transfer means so that any one of the moving image data and the still image data is transferred to the second storage means according to a status of use of the first storage means. 
         [0008]    In the imaging apparatus according to the present invention, the first storage means may include a moving image data storage means for temporarily storing the moving image data, and a still image data storage means for temporarily storing the still image data. 
         [0009]    Also, in the imaging apparatus according to the present invention, when a used amount of the first storage means is equal to or more than a predetermined amount, the control means may control the transfer means so that the still image data stored in the first storage means is not transferred to the second storage means but the moving image data is transferred to the second storage means. 
         [0010]    In this case, when the used amount of the first storage means is less than the predetermined amount, the control means may permit the transfer of the still image data to the second storage means. 
         [0011]    Further, the imaging apparatus according to the present invention may be configured so that it further includes an accepting means for accepting an instruction for taking a still image from a user, and a display means for starting display indicating that the still image is being took according to the acceptance of the instruction for taking the still image from the user by the accepting means, and periods for displaying the indication that the still image is being took on the display means may vary in accordance with the status of use of the first storage means. 
         [0012]    In this case, as the used amount of the first storage means is larger, the period for displaying indication that the still image is being took on the display means may be made to be longer. 
         [0013]    According to the present invention, it is possible to provide with an imaging apparatus that simultaneously takes still images and moving images and hardly causes a failure in taking moving images. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]    The present invention is described in more detail below with reference to accompanying drawings. 
           [0015]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating a constitution of a digital video camera  100 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is a flowchart illustrating an operation flow for recording moving images; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is a schematic drawing illustrating a memory constitution in a memory  290 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is a flowchart illustrating an operation flow for recording still images during recording of moving images; 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is a flowchart illustrating an operation flow for transferring data from the memory  290 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  is a schematic drawing illustrating transitions of amounts of moving image data and still image data accumulated in the memory  290  in the digital video camera  100  when a still image is recorded during the recording of a moving image; 
           [0021]      FIG. 7  is a flowchart illustrating a screen display flow during the recording of a still image; 
           [0022]      FIG. 8  is a schematic drawing illustrating a screen display on a liquid crystal monitor  270 ; and 
           [0023]      FIG. 9  is a schematic drawing illustrating a transition of an amount of moving image data accumulated in the memory  290  in a temporary example. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0024]    Preferred embodiments of the present invention are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
       1. First Embodiment  
     &lt;1-1. Outline&gt; 
       [0025]    A digital video camera  100  according to a first embodiment has imaging functions for both a still image and a moving image. Further, this digital video camera  100  can accept an instruction for taking a still image during recording of a moving image in principle. 
         [0026]    Particularly the digital video camera  100  is configured so that it can realize a function for accepting the instruction for taking a still image during recording of a moving image in principle, and hardly cause a failure in taking a moving image. 
       &lt;1-2. Constitution&gt; 
     &lt;1-2-1. Electrical Constitution&gt; 
       [0027]    An electrical constitution of the digital video camera  100  according to the first embodiment will be explained with reference to  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating a constitution of the digital video camera  100 . In the digital video camera  100 , a CCD image sensor  180  takes a subject image formed by an optical system composed of a zoom lens  110  and the like. Moving image data generated by the CCD image sensor  180  is subject to various processes in an image processing section  190  and stored in a memory card  240 . Further, the moving image data stored in the memory card  240  can be displayed on a liquid crystal monitor  270 . The constitution of the digital video camera  100  will be explained in detail below. 
         [0028]    The optical system of the digital video camera  100  includes a zoom lens  110 , an optical image stabilizer (OIS)  140 , and a focus lens  170 . The zoom lens  110  is capable of enlarging or reducing a subject image by moving along an optical axis of the optical system. The focus lens  170  moves along the optical axis of the optical system so as to adjust a focus of a subject image. 
         [0029]    The OIS  140  has a correction lens that can move in a plane vertical to the optical axis. The OIS  140  drives the correction lens to a direction where a shake of the digital video camera  100  is cancelled, so that a shake of a subject image can be reduced. 
         [0030]    A zoom motor  130  drives the zoom lens  110 . The zoom motor  130  may be realized by a pulse motor, a DC motor, a linear motor or a servo motor and the like. The zoom motor  130  may drive the zoom lens  110  via a mechanism such as a cam mechanism or a ball screw. A detector  120  is for detecting a position on the optical axis where the zoom lens  110  is present. The detector  120  outputs a signal relating to the position of the zoom lens by means of a switch such as a brush type according to a movement of the zoom lens  110  to the optical axis direction. 
         [0031]    An OIS actuator  150  is to drive the correcting lens in the OIS  140  in the plane vertical to the optical axis. The OIS actuator  150  can be realized by a planar coil, an ultrasonic motor or the like. Further, the detector  160  is for detecting a travel distance of the correcting lens in the OIS  140 . 
         [0032]    The CCD image sensor  180  takes a subject image formed by the optical system composed of the zoom lens  110  or the like and generates moving image data. The CCD image sensor  180  performs various operations such as exposure, transfer, and electronic shutter. 
         [0033]    An image processing section  190  can execute various processes on the moving image data generated by the CCD image sensor  180 . The image processing section  190  executes a process on the moving image data generated by the CCD image sensor  180 , so as to generate moving image data for displaying on the liquid crystal monitor  270  or generate moving image data for restoring in the memory card  240 . 
         [0034]    For example, the image processing section  190  executes various processes such as gamma correction, white balance correction and scratch correction on the moving image data generated by the CCD image sensor  180 . Further, the image processing section  190  compresses the moving image data generated by the CCD image sensor  180  according to a compressing format based on an H.264 standard and an MPEG 2 standard. The image processing section  190  can be realized by a digital signal processor (DSP) or a microcomputer. 
         [0035]    A controller  210  is a control means for controlling the entire digital video camera. For example, the controller  210  has a moving image data writing block  300 , a still image data writing block  305 , a card writing block  310  and a check block  320 . 
         [0036]    The moving image data writing block  300  is a function block for writing the moving image data generated by the image processing section  190  into a memory  290 . Further, the still image data writing block  305  is a function block for writing the still image data generated by the image processing section  190  into the memory  290 . The card writing block  310  is a function block for reading the moving image data and the still image data from the memory  290  and writing them into the memory card  240 . The check block  320  is a function block for checking a capacity of the moving image data or the still image data accumulated in the memory  290 . 
         [0037]    The controller  210  can be realized by a semiconductor integrated circuit or the like. The controller  210  may be constituted only by hardware or may be realized by combining hardware and software. The controller  210  can be realized by a microcomputer or the like. 
         [0038]    A memory  200  functions as a work memory capable of temporarily saving data of the image processing section  190  and the controller  210 . The memory  200  can be realized by a DRAM, a ferroelectric memory or the like. 
         [0039]    The liquid crystal monitor  270  can display an image represented by the moving image data generated by the CCD image sensor  180  or an image represented by the moving image data read from the memory card  240 . 
         [0040]    A gyro sensor  220  is composed of an oscillating material such as a piezoelectric element and the like. The gyro sensor  220  oscillates the oscillating material such as the piezoelectric element at a constant frequency and converts a force obtained by a Coriolis force into a voltage so as to obtain angular velocity information. The angular velocity information is obtained from the gyro sensor  220  and the correcting lens in OIS is driven in a direction where the oscillation is cancelled, so that the digital video camera  100  corrects a user&#39;s camera shake. 
         [0041]    The memory card  240  can be attached to and detached from a card slot  230 . The card slot  230  can be mechanically and electrically connected to the memory card  240 . The memory card  240  includes a flash memory or a ferroelectric memory and the like, and can store data therein. 
         [0042]    An internal memory  280  is composed of a flash memory or a ferroelectric memory and the like. The internal memory  280  stores a control program or the like for controlling the entire digital video camera  100 . 
         [0043]    The memory  290  is a buffer memory for, when moving image data is generated, temporarily accumulating the generated moving image data before the moving image data is written into the memory card  240 . 
         [0044]    An operating member  250  is a generic name of a member that accepts user&#39;s operations such as the imaging instruction. A zoom lever  260  is a member for accepting an instruction for changing a zoom magnification from a user. 
       &lt;1-2-2. Correspondence to the Present Invention&gt; 
       [0045]    The constitution including the optical system (the zoom lens  110 , the OIS  140 , the focus lens  170 ), the CCD image sensor  180  and the image processing section  190  is one example of an imaging means of the present invention. The memory  290  is one example of a first storage means of the present invention. The memory card  240  is one example of a second storage means of the present invention. The card writing block  310  is one example of a transfer means of the present invention. A shutter button in the operating member  250  is one example of an accepting means of the present invention. The check block  320  is one example of a control means of the present invention. The liquid crystal monitor  270  is one example of a display means of the present invention. 
       &lt;1-3. Operation&gt; 
     &lt;1-3-1. Operation for Recording Moving Images&gt; 
       [0046]    An operation for recording moving image data in the digital video camera  100  according to the embodiment will be explained with reference to  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 2  is a flowchart illustrating an operation flow for recording moving images in the digital video camera  100 . 
         [0047]    A user operates a mode selection dial in the operating member  250 , and can set the digital video camera  100  into an imaging mode (step S 100 ). 
         [0048]    When the digital video camera  100  is set into the imaging mode, the controller  210  determines whether the recording of a moving, image is instructed according to whether a moving image imaging button in the operating member  250  is turned ON (step S 110 ). When the controller  210  determines that the recording of a moving image is instructed (YES at step S 110 ), the controller  210  controls the image processing section  190  so that encode of an input video is started (step S 120 ). When the determination is made that the recording of a moving image is not instructed (NO at step S 110 ), the determining step S 110  is continuously repeated. 
         [0049]    When the encode of the input video is started (step S 120 ), the moving image data writing block  300  in the controller  210  starts to accumulate the encoded moving image data in the memory  290  (step S 130 ). 
         [0050]    When the accumulation of the moving image data in the memory  290  is started, the card writing block  310  in the controller  210  determines whether moving image data equal to or more than a predetermined amount (X) is accumulated in the memory  290  (step S 140 ). When the determination is made that the moving image data equal to or more than the predetermined amount (X) is accumulated in the memory  290  (YES at step S 140 ), the card writing block  310  reads the moving image data accumulated in the memory  290 , and writes the moving image data into the memory card  240  (step S 150 ). 
         [0051]    Thereafter, while the recording of a moving image continues, the card writing block  310  repeats steps S 140  to S 150 . 
         [0052]    The above operations realize the recording of the moving image data into the memory card  240 . 
         [0053]    When the user turns OFF the moving image imaging button in the operating member  250  to stop the imaging of a moving image or the memory card  240  runs out of the residual capacity, the recording of the moving image data into the memory card  240  is stopped. 
         [0000]    &lt;1-3-2. Operation in the Case where the Imaging of 
         [0054]    Still Image is instructed during the Recording of Moving Image&gt; 
         [0055]    Next, an operation in the case where the imaging of a still image is instructed during the recording of a moving image will be explained below. A memory structure in the memory  290  will be first explained with reference to  FIG. 3 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the memory  290  includes therein a moving image region  292  where moving image data are recorded, and a still image region  294  where still image data are recorded. Moving image data imaged continuously are sequentially input into the moving image region  292 . The input moving image data are sequentially recorded into the memory card  240  via the card slot  230 . The still image region  292  is a data region whose data capacity is set for storage of still image data of one page or a plurality of pages (for example, 2 or 3). Imaged still image data of one or a plurality of pages are also input into the still image region  292 . The input still image data are recorded in the memory card  240  via the card slot  230 . 
         [0056]    In an example of  FIG. 3 , the memory  290  is constituted so that the moving image region  292  and the still image region  294  are separated as regions having one group of addresses respectively. However, the structure of the memory  290  is not necessarily limited to the structure where the regions are separated. For example, the addresses of the moving image region  292  and the addresses of the still image regions  294  may be mixed if, for example, they are easily managed as a matter of logic. Also, the moving image region  292  and the still image region  294  may be constituted as individual memories. 
         [0057]    The operation in the case where the imaging of a still image is instructed during the recording of moving image data in the digital video camera  100  will be explained with reference to  FIGS. 4 ,  5  and  6 .  FIG. 4  is a flowchart illustrating an operation flow of the recording of a still image during the recording of a moving image.  FIG. 5  is a flowchart illustrating an operation flow of data transfer from the memory  290 .  FIG. 6  is a schematic drawing illustrating transitions of amounts of moving image data and still image data accumulated in the memory  290  in the digital video camera  100 . 
         [0058]    The operation for recording a still image during the recording of a moving image will be first explained with reference to the flowchart in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0059]    The user can take a moving image using the digital video camera  100  according to the procedure described in item &lt;1-3-1&gt; (step S 200 ). 
         [0060]    During the recording of moving image data in the memory card  240 , the controller  210  determines whether the user instructs the imaging of a still image, according to whether the still image imaging button is turned ON (step S 210 ). 
         [0061]    When the determination is made that the imaging of the still image is instructed (YES at step S 210 ), the check block  320  in the controller  210  determines whether the still image region  294  of the memory  290  has a free space (step S 220 ). In this embodiment, the data capacity of the still image region  294  in the memory  290  is set to a capacity corresponding to the still image data of one page. Instead of this, the data capacity may be set to a capacity corresponding to the still image data of a plurality of pages. 
         [0062]    When the determination is made that the still image region  294  in the memory  290  has a free space (YES at step S 220 ), the controller  210  accepts the instruction for taking a still image. And, the controller  210  controls the image processing section  190  so that an input video is converted into still image data. The still image data writing block  305  in the controller  210  records the generated still image data in the still image region  294  of the memory  290  (step S 230 ). On the other hand, when the determination is made that the still image region  294  of the memory  290  does not have a free space (NO at step S 220 ), the controller  210  prohibits the imaging of a still image (step S 240 ). 
         [0063]    Next, the operation of the data transfer from the memory  290  will be explained below with reference to the flowchart in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0064]    The transfer of image data from the memory  290  to the memory card  240  is carried out by the card writing block  310 . Both moving image data and still image data are transferred to the memory card  240  via the same card slot  230 . 
         [0065]    In transferring image data from the memory  290  to the memory card  240  (step S 300 ), the check block  320  in the controller  210  first determines whether the still image region  294  in the memory  290  has a free space (step S 310 ). When the check block  320  determines that the still image region  294  a free space (YES at step S 310 ), the card writing block  310  in the controller  210  preferentially transfers the moving image data to the memory card  240  (step S 320 ). 
         [0066]    On the other hand, when the check block  320  determines that the still image region  294  in the memory  290  does not have a free space (NO at step S 310 ), the check block  320  in the controller  210  determines whether a data accumulation amount of the moving image region  292  in the memory  290  is equal to or more than a predetermined amount (Y) (step S 330 ). When the check block  320  determines that the data accumulation amount of the moving image region  292  in the memory  290  is equal to or more than the predetermined amount (Y), the card writing block  310  in the controller  210  prohibits the transfer of the still image data and preferentially transfers the moving image data to the memory card  240 , from a viewpoint of securely maintaining continuity of the moving image data (step S 340 ). On the other hand, when the check block  320  determines that the data accumulation amount of the moving image region  292  in the memory card  290  does not reach the predetermined amount (Y) (NO at step S 330 ), the card writing block  310  transfers the still image data to the memory card  240  (step S 350 ). 
         [0067]    The “predetermined amount (Y)” is one of thresholds relating to the data accumulation amount of the moving image region  292  in the memory  290 , and it is determined in view of a given safety factor with respect to a maximum data capacity of the moving image region  292 . 
         [0068]    The situations in which the instruction for taking a still image is accepted and the situations in which the instruction for taking a still image is not accepted will be concretely explained with reference to  FIG. 6 . Further, the prohibition and the permission of the transfer of moving image data and still image data will be explained with reference to  FIG. 6 . A period indicated by a symbol ( 1 ) in  FIG. 6  is a period for which a moving image is being normally recorded. In this case, since the still image region  294  in the memory  290  has a free space, the controller  210  accepts the instruction for taking a still image. 
         [0069]    A period indicated by a symbol ( 2 ) is a period for which a still image is recorded ( 2   a ) and the still image data is transferred ( 2   b ). Therefore, the controller  210  does not accept a next instruction for taking a still image in the period indicated by symbol ( 2 ). Further, the controller  210  cannot transfer moving image data in the period ( 2   b ) for which the still image data is transferred. Therefore, the accumulation amount of moving image data in the moving image region  292  of the memory  290  continues to increase for the period indicated by symbol ( 2 ). 
         [0070]    When the period for the transfer of the still image data ( 2   b ) ends, the controller  210  become able to transfer the moving image data. As a result, the accumulation amount of moving image data in the moving image region  292  of the memory  290  reduces (periods indicated by symbols ( 3 ) and ( 4 )). 
         [0071]    When the period indicated by symbol ( 2 ) ends, the still image region  294  in the memory  290  becomes to have a free space. As a result, the controller  210  can accept a next instruction for taking a still image. In this example, after the period indicated by symbol ( 3 ), the imaging of a still image is started in the period indicated by symbol ( 4 ), and the still image is recorded in a period indicated by symbol ( 4   a ). At the time when the recording of the still image is ended, moving image data of equal to or more than the predetermined amount (Y) are still accumulated in the moving image region  292  of the memory  290 . Therefore, the controller  210  cannot transfer the still image data recorded in the still image region  294  of the memory  290  to the memory card  240  until the amount of the moving image data becomes less than the predetermined amount (Y) (a period indicated by a symbol ( 4   c )). 
         [0072]    Only when the accumulation amount of the moving image data in the moving image region  292  of the memory  290  reduces to less than the predetermined amount (Y), the controller  210  become able to transfer the still image data recorded in the still image region  294  of the memory  290  to the memory card  240 . That is to say, the controller  210  transfers the still image data recorded in the still image region  294  of the memory  290  to the memory card  240  in a period indicated by a symbol ( 5 ). The controller  210  cannot transfer moving image data to the memory card  240  for the period ( 5 ) for which the still image data is transferred. Therefore, the accumulation amount of moving image data in the moving image region  292  of the memory  290  continues to increase. When the period ( 5 ) for transferring the still image data ends, the controller  210  restarts the transferring of the moving image data. As a result, the accumulation amount of the moving image data in the moving image region  292  of the memory  290  reduces (periods indicated by symbols ( 6 ) and ( 7 )). 
         [0073]    As explained above, in the digital video camera  100  according to the embodiment, when the instruction for taking a still image is accepted during the recording of a moving image, a determination is made whether the transfer of the still image data is permitted or prohibited according to a status of use of the memory  290 . More concretely, the digital video camera  100  determines whether the transfer of still image data is permitted or the transfer of the moving image data is carried out, depending on the accumulation amount of the moving image data in the moving image region  292  of the memory  290  at the time when the transfer of the still image data to the memory card  240  is started. The reason for this will be explained below. 
         [0074]    A case where if the instruction for taking a still image is accepted during the recording of a moving image, the transfer of the still image data is always permitted will be explained with reference to  FIG. 9 .  FIG. 9  is a schematic drawing illustrating a transition of an amount of the moving image data accumulated in the memory  290  in a case where the transfer of the still image data is always permitted when the instruction for taking the still image is accepted during the recording of the moving image. 
         [0075]    In  FIG. 9 , a period indicated by a symbol ( 11 ) is a period for normal recording of a moving image. For this period, the controller  210  accepts the instruction for taking a still image. A period indicated by a symbol ( 12 ) is a period for the recording of a still image. Therefore, in this period, the controller  210  does not accept a next instruction for taking a still image. A period indicated by a symbol ( 13 ) is a period for which the recording of the still image data into the memory card  240  is completed. Therefore, the controller  210  accepts a next instruction for taking a still image. A period indicated by a symbol ( 14 ) is a period for next recording of a still image (in this case, the check block  320  shown in  FIG. 1  is not provided, and the determination step S 330  in the flowchart of  FIG. 5  is not provided). 
         [0076]    Since the check block  320  is not provided and thus the determination step S 330  is not provided, the controller  210  always preferentially transfers the still image data recorded in the still image region  294  in the memory  290  to the memory card  240 . Therefore, in a state that the accumulation amount of the moving image data in the memory  290  is large (periods indicated by symbols ( 13 ) and ( 14 )), when the controller  210  preferentially transfers the still image data recorded in the still image region  294  in the memory  290  to the memory card  240 , the amount of the moving image data accumulated in the moving image region  292  in the memory  290  exceeds the memory capacity during next recording of a still image (period indicated by symbol ( 14 )). That is to say, the continuity of the recording of moving image data is deteriorated and destroyed. 
         [0077]    In the digital video camera  100  according to the embodiment, any one of the moving image data and the still image data recorded in the memory  290  is transferred to the memory card  240  according to the use condition of the memory  290 . As a result, a possibility that the continuity of the recording of moving image data is deteriorated and destroyed can be effectively reduced. 
         [0078]    More concretely, in the digital video camera  100 , when the accumulation amount of the moving image data in the moving image region  292  of the memory  290  at the time when the transfer of the still image data to the memory card  240  is started exceeds the predetermined amount (Y), the transfer of the still image data is prohibited depending on said accumulation amount of the moving image data in the moving image region  292 . As a result, the possibility that the continuity of the recording of the moving image data is deteriorated and destroyed can be effectively reduced. 
         [0000]    &lt;1-3-3. Screen Display during Recording of Still Image&gt; 
         [0079]    The screen display during the recording of a still image will be explained with reference to  FIGS. 7 and 8 .  FIG. 7  is a flowchart illustrating a screen display flow during the recording of a still image in the digital video camera  100 .  FIG. 8  is a schematic drawing illustrating the screen display on the liquid crystal monitor  270 . 
         [0080]    Icons to be displayed on the liquid crystal monitor  270  will be first explained with reference to  FIG. 8 . A moving image recording display icon  330  indicates whether a moving image is being recorded. The moving image recording display icon  330  is displayed in red while a moving image is being recorded and in green while the moving image is not being recorded. A still image recording display icon  340  indicates whether a still image is being recorded. The still image recording display icon  340  is displayed in red while a still image is being recorded and in green while a still image is not being recorded. 
         [0081]    A user can take a still image by means of the digital video camera  100  according to the procedure described in item &lt;1-3-2&gt; (step S 400 ). 
         [0082]    When the controller  210  accepts the instruction for taking a still image via the shutter button in the operating member  250  from the user, the controller  210  controls the liquid crystal monitor  270  so that the display of the still image recording display  340  is changed into red (step S 410 ). 
         [0083]    When the indication of the still image recording display  340  is changed into red, the controller  210  determines whether the transfer of the still image data to the memory card  240  is completed after the recording of the still image is completed (step S 420 ). Periods indicated by symbols ( 2   b ) and ( 5 ) in  FIG. 6  are the periods for determining that the transfer of the still image data to the memory card  240  is not completed (NO at step S 420 ). 
         [0084]    The period required for the starting of the transfer of the still image data to the memory card  240  to the completion of said transfer depends on an accumulation amount of the moving image data in the moving image region  292  of the memory  290  at the time when the transfer is started. The larger a degree at which the accumulation amount exceeds the predetermined amount (Y) becomes, the longer the period required for the transfer becomes. 
         [0085]    When the determination is made that the transfer of the still image data to the memory card  240  is completed (YES at step S 420 ), the controller  210  controls the liquid crystal monitor  270  so that the red of the still image recording display  340  is changed into green (namely, the display that the still image is being recorded is stopped) (step S 430 ). This corresponds to a transition to the periods indicated by symbols ( 3 ) and ( 6 ) in  FIG. 6 . 
         [0086]    As explained above, in the digital video camera  100  according to the embodiment, after the display of the still image recording display  340  is changed into red (the display representing that the still image, is being recorded), even if the recording of the still image data into the memory.  290  (namely, to the still image region  294 ) is completed, the display of the still image recording display  340  is not changed into green (the display representing that the still image is not recorded) until the transfer of the still image data to the memory card  240  is completed. That is to say, in the digital camera  100  according to the embodiment, the period for displaying the still image recording display  340  in red is not fixed. 
         [0087]    As a result, even when a still image is not took regardless of pressing-down of the shutter button, the previous imaging of the still image is pretended to continue for the user. That is to say, even when a period for which the still image data recorded in the still image region  294  is not transferred to the memory card  240  is generated like the period indicated by symbol ( 4   c ) in  FIG. 6 , the still image recording display  340  can be displayed in red until a next still image can be took. As a result, a situation that the user misunderstands that the device malfunctions can be avoided. 
       2. Another Embodiment  
       [0088]    The first embodiment 1 was described above as the embodiment of the present invention. The present invention is not, however, limited to this. Therefore, another embodiment of the present invention will be explained here. 
         [0089]    The optical system and the driving system of the digital camera  100  according to the first embodiment are not limited to those shown in  FIG. 1 . For example,  FIG. 1  illustrates the optical system of the three-group constitution, but the lens constitution may be composed of another group constitution. Further, each of the lenses may be composed of one lens, or may be composed of a lens group including a plurality of lenses. 
         [0090]    In the first embodiment, the CCD image sensor  180  is illustrated as an example of the imaging means, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the imaging means may be constituted by a CMOS image sensor or an NMOS image sensor. 
         [0091]    In the first embodiment, the memory card  240  is illustrated as an example of the second storage means, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, an HDD or an optical disc such as BD, or a semiconductor memory such a flash memory and the like may be used. In other words, any device may be used as long as it can store data. 
         [0092]    In the first embodiment, the still image recording display  340  is displayed in red during the recording of the still image, and the still image recording display  340  is displayed in green when the still image is not recorded. However, the present invention is not necessarily limited to such a constitution. For example, the constitution may be such that the still image recording display  340  is displayed during the recording of a still image, but when a still image is not recorded, the still image recording display  340  itself is not displayed. In other words, any display may be preferable as long as the display shows that a still image is being recorded or a still image is not being recorded for the user. 
         [0093]    In the first embodiment, even after the period required for the recording of the still image data in the still image region  294  of the memory  290  (the period ( 2 ) in  FIG. 6 ) and for the transfer of the recorded still image data to the memory card  240  ends, when data still remains in the still image region  294  (at the end stage of the period indicated by symbol ( 5 ) in  FIG. 6 ), the display of the still image recording display  340  is not returned to green but still displayed in red. However, such a constitution is not always necessary. For example, the display of the still image recording display  340  may be returned to green, and another display such that the instruction for taking a still, image is not accepted may be shown separately from the still image recording display  340 . 
         [0094]    In the first embodiment, the check block  320  determines whether moving image data of equal to or more than the predetermined amount (Y) is accumulated in the memory  290 , but the constitution is not always limited to this. For example, the check block  320  may be configured to determine whether a free space of the memory  290  is less than the predetermined amount (Z). 
         [0095]    In the first embodiment, when the instruction for taking a still image is accepted during the recording of a moving image, a determination is made, according to the status of use of the memory  290 , which any one of the moving image data and the still image data recorded in the memory  290  is transferred to the memory card  240 . However, instead of this, when the moving image data of equal to or more than the predetermined amount (Y) is accumulated in the memory  290 , the instruction for taking a still image may not be accepted. The constitution is not always limited to this, and for example, even when the moving image data of equal to or more than the predetermined amount (Y) is accumulated in the memory  290 , the instruction for taking a still image may be accepted after the termination of the recording of a moving image is instructed from the user. This is because since the recording of a moving image ends in this case and moving image data is not further accumulated in the memory  290 , even if a still image is recorded and writing of the moving image data into the memory card  240  is held, the memory  290  does not overflow. 
         [0096]    For example, when moving image data of equal to or more than the predetermined amount (Y) is accumulated in the memory  290  and the user instructs to take a still image, still image data may generated and the generated still image may be stored in another memory. In this case, when the accumulation amount of the moving image data in the memory  290  reduces to less than the predetermined amount (Y), the controller  210  writes the still image data stored in another memory into the memory card  240 . As a result, a still image can be took during the recording of the moving image without worrying about the accumulation amount of the moving image data in the memory  290 . 
         [0097]    As explained above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments and modified examples, and it goes without saying that various changes can be made and the design can be improved without deviating from the gist of the invention. 
         [0098]    The present invention can be applied to digital video cameras, digital still cameras and mobile telephones with a camera function.