FR2689984A1 - Automatic camera system for taking passport photographs - includes video camera forming image which is reproduced on sensitive film for chemical processing. - Google Patents

Abstract

The system includes a video camera (19) and a processor (17) connected to the video camera. An exposure unit (22) comprises a storage reel (7), and a transport mechanism (4), image forming objective lens (3) and cutter (5) for the photosensitive paper (6). A screen (2) forms a negative of the required image, which is then focussed on to the paper. The paper passes into a chemical processing unit (1) comprising a series of tanks. The exposure unit is formed as a cassette which may attach to the chemical processing unit. ADVANTAGE - Improved quality identity card photos taken by video camera prior to selecting pose for printing.

Description

INSTAL ON POIJR THE PRINT OF PHOTOGRAPHS
The invention relates to an improved installation for taking photographs, and more specifically identity photographs. This installation is more particularly intended to make it possible, from an existing automatic photographic printing unit, to adapt a particular photographic printing system.

 Many independent photographers have a facility for taking identity photos. Such an installation comprises in particular an exposure area of the subject to be photographed, and a camera of the instant development and printing type, provided with four objectives, and thus capable of obtaining four simultaneous exposures of said subject. However, such installations have notable drawbacks, among which on the one hand, the general poor quality of the photographs obtained by such instantaneous printing and developing apparatuses, and on the other hand and above all, the fact that the printing obtained, independently The quality of the photo is rarely of satisfactory quality for the subject, who is generally not very satisfied with the artistic rendering, and in general with the overall impression.

 For several years now, automatic processing units have been developed for the printing of photographs, consisting of a plurality of juxtaposed chemical treatment baths, provided with an automatic transfer member for the paper exposed in the different baths. Such installations thus make it possible to proceed to the printing of photographs on the spot, without further calling on specialized laboratories, making it possible to achieve a significant saving of time, and also a substantial saving in cost price.

 The object of the invention is to provide an installation, capable of allowing the adaptation to a chemical processing unit of the aforementioned type, of a system temporarily storing visual signals in the form of photos taken on photosensitive paper. exposed.

This installation includes:
- an acquisition unit comprising:
. a video camera associated with a charge transfer device,
intended to film the subject of which one wishes to take a photograph,
. a processing unit, connected to said video camera, and
intended to realize a graphic card of the image acquired by the
camera, digitize this graphics card and subject the card
graphic thus digitized video reversal processing;
- an exposure unit comprising:
. a device for storing, scrolling and exposing a paper
reversible photo-sensitive, intended to be exposed by signals
luminous;
. a screen, connected to said processing unit, intended for
materialize in negative the image to be produced, and thus constitute the
photo-sensitive paper exposure light source
reversible;
- And, a chemical processing unit, consisting of a plurality of juxtaposed baths, and further having a member intended to ensure the drying of the plate thus obtained after printing.

The invention is characterized in that the exposure unit comprises in
in addition to a retractable, light-tight cassette, intended for storing the
insulated photo-sensitive paper, capable of reversibly adapting to
the chemical processing unit for the photographic printing of the plates
realized.

In other words, the invention consists, from an installation for
taking photographs based on a video camera, to allow
temporary storage of reversible photo-sensitive paper after sunstroke, then,
to draw the paper thus exposed at an installation
including a traditional chemical processing unit.

 According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the acquisition unit also comprises a screen, connected to the video camera via the processing unit which is associated with it, and intended to allow simultaneous viewing by the subject and / or by the photographer, of the frozen image, perceived by the camera.

 This image being based on digital signals, is frozen in memory of the processing unit and is therefore erasable at any time without, however, causing the loss of consumable.

 According to another advantageous characteristic of the invention, the processing unit also comprises an associated memory, in which are stored in the form of digital signals, backgrounds, such as in particular a background, a foreground, etc. ., capable of being integrated into the image perceived by the camera, so as to obtain a photograph reproducing this background at the choice of the subject.

 By "video reversal processing" is meant processing capable of transforming a positive color or black and white image, into a negative color or black and white image, at least in the sense that it is understood in the field of photography. , and with the appropriate chromatic adjustments.

 In the same way, a "reversible" photo-sensitive paper is, in known manner, capable of restoring a positive image from an exposure by light signals coming from a negative image.

 The manner in which the invention can be implemented and the advantages which ensue therefrom will emerge more clearly from the example of embodiment which follows, given by way of indication and without limitation in support of the single appended figure, which is a schematic representation of the installation according to the invention.

 According to the invention, and as can be seen in FIG. 1, the installation basically comprises three units, respectively a traditional chemical treatment unit (1), comprising a plurality of juxtaposed chemical treatment tanks (8 to 12), an acquisition unit (17,19,20), and an exposure unit (22).

 The acquisition unit is intended to allow on the one hand, the actual acquisition of the signals representative of an image, and on the other hand, to possibly correct or modify the perceived image according to the wishes of the subject or of the professional ensuring the taking of the photograph. This acquisition unit basically comprises a video camera (19) fitted with a charge transfer device, capable of picking up video signals, and of transferring them to a central unit (17), intended in particular to ensure the scanning, that is to say the transformation of the image according to a graphics card, which is then digitized at the same central unit, the digitization consisting in a known manner of carrying out the transformation of the analog signals picked up by the camera into signals The digital signals thus obtained, representative of the image, are stored in a memory associated with said central unit (17), the latter being typically constituted by a microcomputer.

 Thus, the photographer proceeds to frame the subject by means of the camera, the latter being able advantageously to view the image frozen by the camera, and possibly processed by the central unit (17) at the level of a screen (20), pivoting, so that it can be viewed by the photographer, in order to improve the framing and on the other hand, by the subject, in order to be able to give his opinion on the frozen image thus materialized on the screen. In fact, this screen (20) is connected not to the camera, but to the processing unit (17).

 In addition, and according to an advantageous variant of the invention, it is possible, at the level of the central unit (17) to undergo a mixing treatment under the guidance of the photographer, or of the user, consisting for example in integrate the photo taken in a given context, that is to say in a background, previously stored in the memory associated with the central unit (17). In the same way, it is also possible to integrate a text in this photo, this being introduced for example by a keyboard (not shown) connected to the central unit.

 This acquisition phase being completed, the digital signals thus processed at the level of the central unit (17) undergo video inversion processing, that is to say transformation of the image thus acquired into a negative image, all at least in the sense that we hear it in photography.

Typically, this video reversal processing is carried out using appropriate software. This, from the digitized image, whose signals for each of the pixels correspond to the intensity in each of the basic colors, namely red, green and blue, the intensity I ranging between 0 and 255 , (corresponding to the 256 possible levels of each pixel) and consists in inverting these values, replacing the value I of the intensity for each of the values by the value 255 - I. This processing is also accompanied by chromatic adjustments, in order to take into account on the one hand, the interdependence of the colors between them, on the other hand, the perception of these by the human eye, and finally, the more or less selective sensitivity of the photosensitive paper compared to the colors.

 Once these treatments have been completed, still at the level of the central unit (17), all the digital signals are switched over to a screen (2), installed in a light-tight enclosure (22), an exhibition enclosure and sunstroke. In fact, the signals appearing on the screen (2) are negative signals as described above, and the image thus materialized on the screen (2) acts as a source of exposure, and via an objective (3), a photo-sensitive reversible paper (6) is exposed, stored in a known manner in the form of a reel (7). This objective (3) allows on the one hand, to project the materialized image on the screen (2), and on the other hand, to adapt its format to the level of said photo-sensitive paper exposure area ( This is cut by means of motor rollers and pressers (4), before being cut by a shear (5) in the desired format. One can also provide several lenses, or a single lens capable of moving laterally, or even zoom, when one wishes to make simultaneous prints, or portraits.

 In fact, and after insolation of the paper for a sufficient duration, it is cut by the shears (5), then supported by a device not shown, intended to convey it in a cassette (21), light-tight, in which it is temporarily stored, for example until said cassette (21) is full. Said cassette (21) is in this case positioned in a location (18) provided for this purpose at the level of the enclosure (22), which comprises, opposite the paper exposure area, a slot (24) sized according to paper size (6). This slot (24) is further intended to allow the introduction, inside the enclosure and facing the paper exposure area, of the lips materializing the entry of the cassette (21), and at which the insulated paper is introduced, which after exposure is stored in the dark directly in the cassette.

 The cassette (21) is retracted out of the location (18) and is then positioned in an appropriate receptacle (23), of the chemical treatment unit described below. As in the previous case, this receptacle also includes a slot (25) intended to allow the insertion inside the enclosure of the processing unit and in a light-tight manner the lips of the cassette (21) .Once the cassette (21) in place at the receptacle (23), an appropriate device (not shown) makes it possible to take one by one the pictures taken at the level of the exposure unit (22), and their subjecting the chemical treatment by successive passage in the various baths, in particular in the developer (8), the fixing bleaching bath (9) and three successive washing baths (10 to 12) before being dried, in particular by means of a fan (13) in a drying enclosure (14). Finally, the pictures taken (15) are sent to a receptacle (16) at which they are available.

 The operation of such a drawing installation proper is described in more detail in European patent 0 296 080 of the Applicant.

 Advantageously, the assembly constituted by the central unit (17), and typically the microcomputer, as well as the exposure unit (22) is integrated in the same light-tight element, on which the pivoting screen (20), allowing both the professional and the subject to view the image acquired by the camera (19).

 It is thus understood that, according to the operating principle of the invention, the photo printing devices as described in connection with the reference (1), can be used whatever the mode of acquisition of the photographs. To do this, the software managing the operation of this processing unit (I) is slightly modified, to avoid the exposure phase and in particular the activation of the light source which is necessary for the normal operation of this printing unit.

 This adaptability therefore makes it possible, from the same material, to process different types of photographs, which we could not do to date. It therefore generates significant savings in terms of cost.

Claims (4)

 1 / Installation for the printing of photographs comprising:  - an acquisition unit comprising:  a video camera (19) associated with a charge transfer device,  intended to film the subject of which one wishes to take a photograph,  a processing unit (17), connected to said video camera (19),  and intended to produce a graphic card of the image acquired by the  camera, digitize this graphics card and subject the card  graphic thus digitized video reversal processing;  - an exposure unit (22) comprising in a light-tight enclosure  a storage (7), scrolling (4), exposure (3) and  cutting (5) of a reversible photo-sensitive paper (6), intended to be  exposed by light signals;  a screen (2), connected to said processing unit (17), intended for  materialize in negative the image to be produced, and thus constitute the  reversible photo-sensitive paper exposure light source  (6);  - And, a chemical processing unit (1), consisting of a plurality of juxtaposed baths (8 - 12), and further having a member (13,14) intended to ensure the drying of the plate thus obtained after printing,  characterized in that the exposure unit (22) further comprises a cassette  retractable (21), light-tight, for storing photo paper  sensitive insole (6), and capable of reversibly adapting to the unit of  chemical treatment (1) for the photographic printing of the photographs taken.  2 / Installation according to claim 1, characterized in that the unit  also includes a screen (20), connected to the video camera  (19) via the processing unit (17) associated with it, and  intended to allow simultaneous viewing by the subject and / or by the  photographer, frozen image, seen by the camera.  3 / Installation according to claim 1, characterized in that the processing unit (17) of the acquisition unit also comprises an associated memory, in which are stored in the form of digital signals, funds, such as in particular a background, a foreground, capable of being integrated into the image perceived by the camera (19), so as to obtain a photograph reproducing this background.  4 / Installation according to one of claims I to 3, characterized in that the acquisition unit (22) and the chemical processing unit (1) each have a receptacle (18,23) provided with a slot (24,25), intended to receive the cassette (21) reversibly and in a light-tight manner.