GB2276060A - Selection facilitation apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

Apparatus for use by opticians to enable their customers to select suitable spectacle frames includes a cabinet (10) containing a camera for taking a series of photographs of a customer when wearing different spectacle frames, a computer for storing the pictures and a visual display unit (15) for displaying the stored pictures as either a split screen display or individually. A hard copy facility is provided. <IMAGE>

Description

SELECTION FACILITATION APPARATUS Field of the Invention This invention relates to selection facilitation apparatus and, in particular, to apparatus for use by opticians and the like to facilitate the selection by their customers of suitable spectacle frames.

Traditionally, opticians have had a stand on which a range of frames are displayed; the customer has tried on potentially suitable frames in a mirror and has then selected whatever frame is considered to be most suitable.

This selection procedure does, of course, have a number of drawbacks, one of which is that the frames which the customer is trying on do not contain the correct lenses for that customer. The selection of new frames is thus carried out using defective vision so that, if the customer is, for example, very short-sighted, the selection procedure will be very hit and miss.

Another drawback is that it is very difficult for the customer to effect a realistic comparison of the visual effects of two or more different frames.

In addition, if the customer is alone, it is not possible for him to obtain a second opinion except from the optician or his assistant, who may not be totally unbiassed! It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a novel form of selection facilitation apparatus for use by opticians and the like.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a new procedure whereby the customers of opticians and the like can select suitable spectacle frames.

Summary of the Invention According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided selection facilitation apparatus for use by opticians and the like to facilitate the selection by their customers of suitable spectacle frames, said apparatus comprising: a) a camera in front of which a customer will, in use of the apparatus, be located, b) control means whereby the camera will take a plurality of pictures of the customer, with the pictures being taken at a number of different times and the operation of the camera being controlled so as to enable the customer to be wearing different spectacle frames when successive pictures are taken, and c) display means for displaying the pictures taken by the camera.

The term "pictures" as used herein is be be understood as including not only "still" pictures of the customer but also video pictures.

The control means preferably includes a computer or image storage system, access to which is available to the optician or his assistant, but not to the customer.

The display means is preferably such that a plurality of different pictures are displayed simultaneously. The pictures may also be displayed individually. The display means is preferably a visual display unit (v.d.u.).

The display means may be programmed to carry out an advertising or similar function when not displaying pictures of the customer.

The camera may be programmed to take four different pictures of the customer, which pictures are then displayed simultaneously by the v.d.u. The apparatus also includes the facility to display individual full-screen images if required.

The camera is preferably located behind a two-way mirror so that the customer will sit in front of the mirror while his or her picture is being taken and the customer may control operation of the camera so that, after one picture has been taken, he can take off one spectacle frame and put on another before the next picture is taken. The means for controlling operation of the camera may be a simple switch operable by the customer.

A facility may also be provided whereby a displayed image has superimposed on it a simulation of a range of tinted lenses and/or available lens prescriptions so that the customer is able to see not only the effect of the chosen frames but also of the available tints and prescriptions.

Provision is preferably made whereby, if a customer is still undecided as to which of the frames is the most suitable for him or her, even after looking at the displayed pictures, he or she can have a print of the displayed pictures. The computer is thus preferably linked to a printer which, on receipt of the appropriate signal, will produce a print-out corresponding to the displayed pictures.

The customer will thus be able to obtain a second opinion, from "senior management" or otherwise, as to the particular frame which is the most aesthetically acceptable.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a procedure to be carried out by an optician or the like to facilitate the selection by his customers of suitable spectacle frames, said procedure comprising: a) positioning the customer in front of a camera, b) providing for operation of the camera on a number of occasions so as to take pictures of the customer wearing different spectacle frames, and c) displaying the pictures to the customer in such manner that at least two pictures are displayed simultaneously so that the customer can compare the effects of wearing different spectacle frames.

The term "pictures" is to be interpreted as defined above and the apparatus for use in carrying out the procedure is preferably as defined above.

The procedure in accordance with the present invention has the advantage of being user-friendly and enables the customer to look at pictures of himself or herself wearing the proposed new frames and reach a leisurely decision as to the frame he or she wishes to purchase. For the optician, it has the important advantage that the customer will, in almost all cases, choose one or other frame which he or she has tried and will not put off buying some new spectacles merely because he or she cannot decide which frame is most suitable.

The procedure also has the advantage for the optician that the customer can take his or her time selecting the most appropriate frame without requiring constant attendance by the optician or his assistant while the selection is being made.

Brief Description of the Drawing The single figure of the accompanying drawing is a diagrammatic perspective view of apparatus for use by an optician to facilitate the selection, by the opticians customers, of suitable spectacle frames.

Description of the Preferred Embodiment The apparatus shown in the drawing is for use in an optician's shop and includes a cabinet 10 in the form of a free-standing unit intended to be located at a suitable position within an optician's shop. A computer is located within the cabinet 10 and has controls (not shown) to enable it to be accessed by the shop operatives only. The computer may have a standard disc drive and also a CD drive to facilitate metered advertising. The computer has an image storage system in the form of, for example, a magnetic fixed disc, a magnetic cartridge disc or an ISO optical disc.

The cabinet 10 includes a platform or table 11 on which spectacle frames to be tried by a customer can be placed and there is a two-way mirror 12 mounted above the table 11. Behind the mirror 12, there is a camera (not shown) having a fixed focal length lens. The customer is seated on a chair 13 located at a fixed distance from the mirror 12 so that, when the customer is seated on the chair 13, his or her face will be in focus. The chair 13 can be adjustable in height by means of a gas lift control mechanism and the chair 13 is removable to enable a wheelchair to be used when required.

The camera may have a flash unit, operation of which provides an indication that a picture has been taken. The camera can be connected to the computer by means of an image digitisation adapter which, in effect, captures the picture which has been taken.

Four light-emitting diodes, t.E.D.'s may be carried by the mirror 12 and they may be controlled by the computer so that they are illuminated in sequence as four photographs of the customer are taken.

The rear of the two-way mirror 12 may be marked with vertical and horizontal indicators, with the images going to infinity, but positioned so that, when the customer is correctly positioned on the chair 13, his or her line of sight corresponds to the focal axis of the camera lens.

Operation of the camera is effected by means of a pushbutton-operated switch 14 mounted on the front of the table 11 so as to be readily accessible by the customer. The computer is linked to a low radiation, flicker-free visual display unit 15 mounted centrally of the cabinet 10 below the two-way mirror 12. The computer may also be linked (optionally) to a printer.

A speaker 16 is located adjacent to the top of the cabinet 10 and, when the switch 14 is first operated, this initiates operation of an audio system so that instructions are given to the customer via the speaker 16 as to the actions which he or she is required to take.

The computer software may comprise the following: a) OS/2 Operating System, b) DOS Operating System, c) Windows 3.1 Operating System, d) C + + Programming Language, and e) Toolkit Software for Image Manipulation.

Other software may, of course, be used depending on the degree of sophistication that is required and the nature of the computer.

The procedure whereby a customer can select a suitable spectacles frame is as follows: 1) the customer selects four potentially suitable frames from the displays in the showroom.

2) the customer sits on the chair 13 at the fixed distance from the mirror 12 and adjusts the height of the seat using, for example, the vertical and horizontal gradations in the two-way mirror 12.

3) the customer puts on the first of the frames and presses the control button or switch 14. The camera takes the picture, the image digitisation adapter "captures" the picture and transmits it to the computer. The customer may be made aware of the fact that the picture has been taken either by operation of the flash unit or as a result of instructions given through the speaker 16. Once the first picture has been taken, the next instruction will be given to the customer via the speaker 16.

4) the customer can then repeat the procedure outlined above wearing three further frames.

5) the customer then puts on his own spectacles to view the visual display unit 15 which displays the four images. The customer can thus compare the visual effects of the four different frames and select the appropriate frame.

6) if required, the printer can be operated to produce a print-out of the four displayed images.

7) if required, one or more of the four images may be displayed on its own - the full-screen view enabling the customer to examine each image in more detail.

8) the control button or switch 14 is activated again for the customer to try further frames or for the next customer to proceed.

When the apparatus is not in use, the visual display unit 15 may be covered or moved into a retracted position.

Alternatively, it may be used to display advertising. This may be facilitated through the CD or achieved using a conventional video and can be metered for each play.

As a further feature, the apparatus may be used as a security system. In such instance, the camera behind the twoway mirror 12 will be operated as part of a video system and pictures taken and stored during the time that the shop premises are not in use. Separate cameras installed at a distance from the apparatus may also be controlled by the computer software. The pictures taken on all cameras will be recorded on disc or video tape.

Claims (14)

Claims:

1. Selection facilitation apparatus for use by opticians and the like to facilitate the selection by their customers of suitable spectacle frames; said apparatus comprising: a) a camera in front of which a customer will, in use of the apparatus, be located, b) control means whereby the camera will take a plurality of pictures of the customer, with the pictures being taken at a number of different times and the operation of the camera being controlled so as to enable the customer to be wearing different spectacle frames when successive pictures are taken, and c) display means for displaying the pictures taken by the camera.

2. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, in which the control means includes a computer or other image storage system.

3. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, in which the display means is such that a plurality of different pictures can be displayed either simultaneously or individually.

4. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 3, in which the display means is a visual display unit.

5. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, in which the display means is programmed to carry out an advertising function when not displaying pictures of the customer.

6. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, in which the camera is programmed to take four different pictures of the customer, which pictures are then displayed simultaneously by the display means.

7. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, in which the camera is located behind a two-way mirror so that the customer can sit in front of the mirror while his or her picture is being taken.

8. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 7, in which means are provided whereby the customer can control operation of the camera so that, after one picture has been taken, he or she can take off one spectacle frame and put on another before the next picture is taken.

9. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 8, in which the control means includes a simple switch operable by the customer.

10. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, which includes a printer for providing a print or prints of the displayed pictures.

11. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, which includes a facility whereby the apparatus can be set to provide a security function.

12. Selection facilitation apparatus constructed and arranged to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawing.

13. A procedure to be carried out by an optician or the like to facilitate the selection by his customers of suitable spectacle frames, said procedure comprising: a) positioning the customer in front of a camera, b) providing for operation of the camera on a number of occasions so as to take pictures of the customer wearing different spectacle frames, and c) displaying the pictures to the customer in such manner that at least two pictures are displayed simultaneously so that the customer can compare the effects of wearing different spectacle frames.

14. A procedure as claimed in Claim 13, when carried out using apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 12.