WO2001033294A1

WO2001033294A1 - Positioning unit for a person whose photograph is being taken by means of a picture recording device, especially a photographing machine

Info

Publication number: WO2001033294A1
Application number: PCT/DE2000/003813
Authority: WO
Inventors: Michael Jaeger
Original assignee: Michael Jaeger
Priority date: 1999-11-03
Filing date: 2000-10-29
Publication date: 2001-05-10
Also published as: DE19952895A1

Abstract

The aim of the invention is to produce a positioning unit (1) for persons (15, 16) whose photograph is being taken by means of a picture recording device. The persons (15, 16) can easily be positioned for effect photography by means of the inventive device which can be inserted into photographing machines (18) and can easily be operated by the persons (15, 16) themselves whose photograph is being taken. According to the invention, a positioning unit (1) is provided which has at least two positioning elements (2, 3) that are designed for positioning the persons (15, 16) whose photograph is being taken. The spatial position of said elements can be changed in relation to each other. The invention also relates to a photographing machine (18) which contains such a positioning unit (1).

Description

Positioning unit for with an image recording device. especially a photo printing machine. people to be photographed

The present invention relates to a positioning unit for people to be photographed with an image recording device, in particular an automatic photographing machine. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a device equipped with a positioning unit according to the invention

Fotografierautomaten.

Positioning unit in the sense of the present invention are all those objects which are suitable for positioning photographing people in front of image recording devices.

The applicant has developed a photographing method in which two people are positioned in front of an image recording device, for example the lens of a photo camera, in such a way that their faces overlap in the image plane in a manner to be described below. One person turns his face to the image recording device essentially frontally, another turns his face essentially in profile. The person whose face is facing the image pickup device is now moved in front of the camera and positioned so that when viewed from the viewpoint of the image pickup device, the two faces appear to be shifted in one plane, with one half of the face of the person, the looks head-on in the direction of the receiving device, half of which is covered by the face in the profile. This allows images to be generated with an exact arrangement with the recording device, which give the impression that the two shown Facial halves, one in profile, the other in frontal view, merge into a single "double portrait".

Such portraits have so far been produced in the applicant's studio in elaborate manual work, the positioning of the two people to be photographed being carried out in a cumbersome manner and requiring a high level of professional qualification.

Proceeding from this, the present invention is based on the object of creating a positioning unit for persons to be photographed with an image recording device, with which the persons can be easily positioned for the purpose of effect photography and which can be used in photographing machines.

For the technical solution to this problem, the invention proposes a generic positioning unit which has at least two positioning elements designed for positioning the people to be photographed, the spatial position of which can be changed relative to one another.

Furthermore, an automatic photographing machine is proposed which contains a positioning unit according to the invention.

In this context, positioning elements are understood to be objects which are suitable for positioning the people to be photographed in the desired manner in front of the image recording device.

This makes it easy to position people for the purpose of artistic or effect photography, for example to take the "double portraits" described above.

At least one relative vertical height difference of the positioning elements can advantageously be changed. A further advantage is obtained if the positioning elements can be adjusted relative to one another either exclusively or in addition to the height adjustability in relation to a vertical plane. Gives a lot of freedom when positioning one if the positioning elements are adjustable in their position in relation to the vertical plane along two linearly independent directions.

Depending on the application, it can be advantageous if one of the positioning elements assumes a fixed, unchangeable position in space, whereas the other positioning elements can be variably positioned relative to it, or if all positioning elements are in their position in a surrounding space and in their position are mutually changeable. The positioning elements can be connected to one another, it proving to be advantageous if these connections are movable.

Another advantage is obtained if the positioning elements are formed by seat elements, one of which has a height-adjustable seat. The at least one height-adjustable seat can advantageously be adjusted in a height of 40 cm to about 70 cm.

It has proven to be an advantageous embodiment that a seat element is fixed in its position with respect to a vertical plane and a further seat element is connected to it via a pivotable support arm running in the vertical plane. This support arm can advantageously be adjustable in length. A further advantage is obtained if the pivotable support arm has an angular pivoting range symmetrical to a line which is given by the connecting axis between the seat element fixed with respect to the vertical plane and a receiving unit arranged opposite this. This swivel range can be formed on both sides of the connecting axis at an angle of up to 90 °, with particular advantage at an angle of up to 15 °.

However, the positioning elements can also be formed, for example, by adjacent, height-adjustable plates.

To facilitate exact positioning, the positioning elements can be moved relative to one another via an automatic drive. This drive can be provided, for example, by electric motors, stepper motors, pneumatic cylinders, hydraulic cylinders or the like. In order to enable people to be photographed to take portraits or similar effect photographs outlined above in addition to professional photographers' studios, it is advantageous to arrange a positioning unit according to the invention in a photographing machine.

Automatic photographers, as they are generally known, typically include a cabin provided with an access opening which is suitable for receiving the people to be photographed.

At least one image recording unit is arranged in this cabin in such a way that the people in the cabin can be photographed with it. Furthermore, such machines generally include an image output unit, which outputs the image recorded with the image recording unit in the form of a printout on photo paper or the like. Automatic payment machines can be arranged in the photographing machines to pay for the image recordings. These generally only release the actual image acquisition process after payment has been made.

Payment can be made in cash in the form of coins and / or notes, EC and / or credit cards or special prepaid cards or chips, which can be offered by the machine operator / manufacturer via various sales channels.

Such a photographing machine can have a photochemical or an electronic image recording device. In both cases, it is advantageous if the people to be imaged can control their respective position in relation to the receiving device. In the case of the photochemical recording device, mirrors arranged close to a light input opening of the image recording device can serve this purpose. In the case of an electronic image recording device, in addition to the mirrors mentioned above, this can also be performed by a control monitor which then displays the image seen by the image recording device.

For easier adjustment, position markings can advantageously be provided on the positioning elements themselves or also on boundary walls of the cabin of the photographing machine, for example also in the form of seat recesses and the like. It is also advantageous if, in an automatic photographing machine with a positioning unit according to the invention, a user can determine the triggering time for the image recording unit himself. Thus, the user (s) can first carry out the exact positioning and then, when this has been reached, trigger the image recording unit. In this case, triggering of the image recording unit is advantageously possible without changing the position. For example, a trigger switch can be arranged in the vicinity of or on the positioning unit so that it lies outside the image section. This can be operated with the foot of a user, for example. Voice-controlled triggering (possibly with a time delay) can also be used here. The possibility of being able to trigger the image recording unit without changing the position assumed by means of the positioning unit ensures that the desired recording is also carried out in accordance with the position previously assumed.

Appropriate lighting can be provided inside the booth of the photographing machine to support artistic effects and to apply accentuating light effects. A further artistic design can be provided by mechanically attachable, in the case of the electronic image recording device also electronically faded in, selectable background motifs. In the simplest case, such background motifs consist of colored areas which, in the case of mechanically attachable background motifs, can be formed, for example, from colored curtains. However, background motifs are also conceivable, in which patterns, color gradients, landscape scenes or the like are shown.

Images taken with the photographing machine can advantageously be output in different, selectable formats. However, it is also conceivable to place the images directly on everyday objects such as Key rings, postcards, cups, pins, textiles such as T-shirts or shopping bags made of fabric and similar items.

Finally, it is advantageous that the positioning unit according to the invention is moved automatically. Here, a previously recorded, electronically stored standard feature for a desired positioning as Control variable for an electronically controlled automatic positioning of the people to be photographed.

However, it is also within the scope of the invention to provide an image processing unit in the case of automatic photographers with electronic image recording device and digital image processing, which combines stored individual images, which may also have been taken one after the other, in such a way that the result is a “double portrait” or similar effect photo virtual shifting and / or overlaying occurs.

Further features and advantages of the present invention will become clear in connection with the exemplary embodiments described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Here show:

1 is a side view of a positioning unit according to the invention,

2 is a plan view of the positioning unit from FIG. 1,

3 a is a top view of people positioned with the help of the positioning unit according to the invention,

3 b is a side view of the person shown in FIG. 3 a against the direction shown in FIG. 3 a,

3 c shows a side view analogous to FIG. 3 b in a different arrangement of the people to be photographed,

Fig. 4 is a schematic plan view of a photographing machine with a positioning unit according to the invention while leaving out the upper cabin cover and

FIG. 5 shows a side view of the photographing machine from FIG. 4 below

Elimination of the side wall shown in this figure. 1 shows a positioning unit 1 in which the positioning elements are formed in the form of stools 2, 3. The stool 2 shown on the right in the figure consists of a base sheet 4, a tubular support element 5 arranged perpendicular to the base plate 4, in which an internal thread (not shown here) is attached in the upper section, into which a threaded piece 6 engages, with which upper section a seat 7 is firmly connected. The seat height h of the stool can be adjusted by rotating the seat 7 and thus the threaded piece 6 connected to it. Depending on the direction of rotation, the seat height h is reduced or increased. In the lower region of the tubular support element 5 of the stool 2, a pivotable support arm 9 is connected to the tubular support element 5 via a movable connection 8. This runs essentially in the horizontal direction. The second stool 3 is molded onto the end of the pivotable support arm 9 which is arranged opposite the movable connection 8. This is formed by a substantially vertically extending, tubular support element 10 which is fixedly connected to the pivotable support arm 9 and, analogously to the support element 5, has an internal thread (not shown here), a threaded piece 11 which engages with this internal thread, and one at the upper end of the Threaded piece 11 arranged, with this firmly connected seat 12. The seat height h 'of the second stool 3 can be adjusted analogously to the seat height h of the first stool 2. In addition, it is possible to make the length I of the support arm 9 adjustable by means of suitable means, not shown here.

In the plan view of the positioning unit 1 from FIG. 1 shown in FIG. 2 it is clear that the support arm 9 and thus the stool 3 connected to it can be pivoted in a pivoting region 13 by means of the movable connection 8. This swivel area 13 encloses an angle α, which is symmetrically divided by the connecting line 14 between the central longitudinal axis of the stool 2 and the receiving device, not shown here.

A swivel range 13 with the angle α of approximately 20 ° -30 °, ie approximately 10 ° -15 ° to each side of the connecting line 14, is generally sufficient for the “double portraits” described above with a positioning unit according to the invention. The heights h and h 'should be adjustable in the range of approximately 40 cm to approximately 70 cm. FIGS. 3 a to 3 c show possible arrangements of two people 15 and 16 for taking “double portraits”. Here, FIG. 3 a shows a top view of two people 15, 16 positioned by means of the positioning unit 1 according to the invention. The arrow labeled 17 shows 3 b shows the two persons 15 and 16 from FIG. 3 a positioned with the positioning unit 1 in a side view opposite to the direction indicated in FIG. 3 a by 17. FIG 3 c, the two persons 15 and 16 can be seen in a side view from the same direction, however the pivotable support arm 9 has been pivoted into a different position of the pivoting region 13 and the person 15 has rotated their sitting position on the stool by 180 ° "Double portrait" can be created, in which the other on the "double portrait" recorded with the arrangement shown in FIG. 3b the invisible halves of the faces of persons 15 and 16 are shown.

FIGS. 4 and 5 each show a top view and a side view in a schematic representation of an automatic photographing machine 18 with a positioning unit 1 according to the invention. The positioning unit 1 is arranged opposite an image recording device 19 which records the images to be recorded either photochemically or electronically. Further configurations of the photographing machine 18, such as, for example, lighting units, background motifs or the like, are not shown in these schematic drawings.

LIST OF REFERENCES

1 positioning unit 18 photographing machine

Stool 19 image recording device

stool

baseplate

tubular support element

threaded piece

seat

movable connection

swiveling support arm

0 tubular support element

1 threaded piece

2 seats

3 swivel range

4 connecting line h seat height

5 person h "seat height

6 person length

7 direction α angle

Claims

claims

1. Positioning unit (1) for people (15, 16) to be photographed with an image recording device, in particular an automatic photographing machine (18), characterized in that the positioning unit (1) has at least two positioning elements designed for positioning the people to be photographed (15, 16) (2, 3), the spatial position of which can be changed relative to one another.

2. Positioning unit according to claim 1, characterized in that a relative vertical difference in height of the positioning elements (2, 3) can be changed.

3. Positioning unit according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the positioning elements (2, 3) are adjustable relative to each other in their position relative to a vertical plane.

4. Positioning unit according to claim 3, characterized in that the positioning elements (2, 3) are adjustable in position relative to the vertical plane along two linearly independent directions.

5. Positioning unit according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that one of the positioning elements (2, 3) assumes a fixed, unchangeable position in space, whereas the other positioning elements (2, 3) can be variably positioned relative thereto.

6. Positioning unit according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that all positioning elements (2, 3) can be changed in their position in a space surrounding them and in their position relative to each other.

7. Positioning unit according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the positioning elements (2, 3) are interconnected.

8. Positioning unit according to claim 7, characterized in that the connection (8) is movable.

9. Positioning unit according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the positioning elements (2, 3) are formed by seat elements (2, 3), at least one of which has a height-adjustable seat surface (7, 12).

10. Positioning unit according to claim 9, characterized in that the height-adjustable seat (7, 12) at a height (h, h ') of about 40 cm to about 70 cm can be adjusted.

11. Positioning unit according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that a seat element (2) is fixed in its position with respect to a vertical plane and a further seat element (3) is connected to this via a pivotable support arm (9) extending in the vertical plane.

12. Positioning unit according to claim 11, characterized in that the length (I) of the support arm (9) is variable.

13. Positioning unit according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that a pivoting region (13) of the pivotable support arm (9) is provided in the form of an angle (α) which is symmetrical to a line through the connecting line (14) between the given with respect to the vertical plane seat element (2) and a receiving unit arranged opposite this.

14. Postioning unit according to claim 13, characterized in that the swivel area (13) extends on both sides of the connecting line (14) at an angle of up to 90 °.

15. Positioning unit according to claim 14, characterized in that the pivoting area (13) extends on both sides of the connecting line (14) at an angle of up to 15 °.

16. Positioning unit according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the positioning elements (2, 3) are adjacent, height-adjustable base plates.

17. Positioning unit according to one of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that the positioning elements (2, 3) can be moved relative to one another via an automatic drive.

18. Photographing machine (18), characterized in that it contains a positioning unit (1) according to one of claims 1 to 17.

19. photographing machine (18) according to claim 18, characterized by an image recording device (19) with photochemical image capture.

20. photographing machine (18) according to claim 18, characterized by an image recording device (19) with electronic image capture.

21. photographing machine (18) according to any one of claims 18 - 20, characterized in that a control option for the optical control of the positioning of the people to be photographed is provided.

22. photographing machine (18) according to any one of claims 18 - 21, characterized in that different background motifs can be selected for taking an image.

23. photographing machine (18) according to any one of claims 18 - 22, characterized in that the positioning of the positioning unit is carried out automatically, a reference feature stored in a controller serving as a control variable.

24. photographing machine (18) according to any one of claims 18 - 23, characterized by an image output, which outputs the recorded images in different, selectable formats. Photographing machine (18) according to any one of claims 18-24, characterized by an image output which transfers the recorded images to everyday objects.