GB2260620A

GB2260620A - Instant photography unit

Info

Publication number: GB2260620A
Application number: GB9221269A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Frank Bergauer; Eberhard Wiedemuth; Armin Glaser; Gunter Strelow
Original assignee: OPPACH SCHALTELEKTRONIK
Current assignee: OPPACH SCHALTELEKTRONIK
Priority date: 1991-10-16
Filing date: 1992-10-09
Publication date: 1993-04-21
Also published as: DE4134263A1; GB9221269D0

Abstract

An instant photographic cabin employs an automatic video printer unit for taking portraits. The cabin is of modular construction with an equipment module (1) and a studio module (2) connected together by quick-release fastening devices. In a wall (9) between the modules there are transparent windows (7) for a camera (4). a monitoring screen (5). and light sources (6) continually switched on during use. Further light sources (6) are disposed in the studio module (2). A height-adjusting bucket seat (10) has control keys disposed on the arms of the seat to assist in altering the pose adopted by the subject (8). A control panel on the wall (9) also permits the subject to initiate a control sequence. <IMAGE>

Description

1 Instant Photography Unit 0 - 12 1) G1 6 1.3 A- - The present invention

relates to an instant photography recording unit with a cabin which enables a subject to photograph himself usually after inserting one or more coins or tokens. One problem encountered with conventional photographic equipment with flash light - is the phenomenon known as illumination of the subject "red-eye". Normal cabins have side walls and a roof and access for a subject is through one of the sidewalls usually through a curtain.

A photographic recording unit comprising a cabin-like housing is known, in which portraits can be taken by means of a vertically disposed video camera via a reflecting mirror (DE 3929273 Al). The person to be photographed stands in front of an internal wall of the cabin and is subjected to undefined background radiation. A semitransparent mirror serves, on the one hand, as a window for the camera and, on the other hand, as a monitoring screen for the person photographed, but therefore absorbs a light fraction of 50%.

Another photographic unit consist of a cabin, inside which the person to be photographed sees a left-to-right correct image through two deflecting mirrors and one semitransparent mirror (DE 3809168 AI). Here again the semitransparent mirror reduces the passage of light.

2 ) 0, There is no information about illumination of the subject.

In an analogous document DE 8901776 Ul and the analogous PCT Application WO 89/08865, it is described that a fluorescent tube disposed about along and behind a surface-structured pane serves for illuminating the cabin and further flash lamps behind this pane and at the back of the screen are switched on during photography. A system of master and supplementary flashes does indeed alleviate the serious problem of red-eye, but monitoring of the illumination of the subject under flash light conditions before photographing is impossible.

The disadvantage of light attenuated by a semitransparent mirror is avoided by a device for taking portraits in which a mirror having a hole for the camera is used (DE 8427441 Ul). Both are mounted vertically disolaceable in a frame. The subject to be photographed sits freely in front and must, when viewing the mirror image, accept the circular camera aperture. Freely mounted illuminating sources are individually controlled and assure satisfactory results but at high expense.

A general object of the invention to provide an easily transported cabin for instant photography which provides optimum illumination of the subject to the photographed which illumination can be monitored before photography and, if necessary, can be corrected by individual adjustment of the head and/or body. The use of semitransparent mirrors is to be avoided because of light 3 loss.

According to the invention there is provided an instant photography unit comprising a cabin composed of an equipment module and a studio module detachably fitted together with the aid of releasable fastening devices. The equipment module contains a camera and a monitor disposed to photograph a subject in the studio module and to provide the subject with a reproduction of the photographic image which is created. A protective viewing wall between the equipment module and the studio module confronts the subject to be photographed in the studio module. Transparent windows in the protective wall correspond to the camera and to the monitor and to a number of light sources which are energised during operation to illuminate the subject in the field of view of the camera and the monitor. Further light sources -are provided in the studio module. At least one of the further light sources is disposed in an upper region for general illumination and one or more of the further sources serve to provide back illumination to eliminate shadows.

The advantages achieved by the invention consist, in particular, in that the cabin is of modular construction. The equipment module which can also be individually usable operated contains the main illuminating sources and the subject to be photographed is able to adopt the most advantageous position on the monitoring screen, taking into account the illumination 4 conditions during photography. An individually adapted illumination of the subject is decisive for the success of a photograph.

Preferably at least some of the light sources are 'cold' type light sources. Cold light sources prevent energy losses and dangerous heatingup of the cabin components. A programme- control led method of operation of the lighting equipment also helps in energy saving.

Preferably the studio module has inner wall surfaces with a matt-like finish and include a sliding door for permitting access for the photographic subject. The wall matt finish and sliding door instead of a curtain also serve for improving the illumination conditions.

The studio module may employ a bucket seat which is adjustable in height in order to provide a portrait photograph of the subject.

The use of a bucket seat with push-button raising and lowering on the arm rest permits reproducible illumination conditions at the centre point of the subj ect.

To enable a pose made possible by automatic checking on the monitoring screen to be adopted without delay and unchanged, trigger buttons are incorporated on either side of the bucket seat, for example in the arm covers.

The invention may be understood more readily, and various other aspects and features of the invention may become apparent, from consideration of the following description.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:- Figure 1 is a lateral view of a cabin of a photographic unit constructed in accordance with the invention but with the sidewall and sliding door thereof omitted; Figure 2 is a an elevation of a viewing wall of the cabin but with a control panel thereof omitted; Figure 3 is a plan view of the cabin; and Figure 4 is an elevation of the control panel mounted onto the viewing wall.

As shown in the drawings an instant photography unit is composed of a cabin which consists of three modules, namely an equipment module 1, a studio module 2, and an advertising or publicity module 3. The module 1,2, 3 are interconnected by quick release fasteners. The equipment module and the studio module 2 are in the form of rectangular enclosures of substantially the same size which are mounted together with a protected viewing wall 9 separating the modules 1,2. The publicity module 3 extends over the upper region of the other modules 1,2. Each module 1,2,3 may be clad with appropriate sheeting or panes.

In the equipment module If there is provided inter alia a video camera 4, a monitor 5 and several light sources 6. A video printer (not shown) operates in conjunction with the video camera 4. All these devices are mounted 6 behind windows 7 in the wall 9 facing a subject 8 to be photographed. The camera 4 and the monitor 5 are preferably mounted directly adjacent to one another preferably in horizontal alignment and are surrounded by some of the light sources 6. A further light source 6 is additionally provided in the upper region of the wall 9.

Inside the studio module 2 there is a permanently mounted height-adjustable bucket seat 10 on which the subject 8 can be positioned. At the start of a control programme initiated for example, by means of one or more coins inserted into a slot, not illustrated, lighting is provided by the light sources 6. An additional light source 6 is provided on the ceiling 11 of the studio module 2 which has a window 7.Two additional light sources 6 are mounted above and below the subject 8 on a rear wall 12 of the studio module 2 and serve to prevent shadows. After the necessary tokens or coins have been inserted for example a programme selection can been made by pressing buttons or keys 14 according to symbols an a control panel 13 as shown in Figure 4. The subject 8 can position himself comfortably under the exact lighting conditions with the help of the adjustment of the seat height. The subject 8 can check and correct the result by means of the monitor 5. When the subject 8 is satisfied with the image he can initiate the operation of the camera 4 by means of a remote control (not shown) on the arm or arms of the seat 10. Thus a subject can reliably check his photographic reproduction before 91 7 printing out from the video printer. The lighting conditions are such that red-eye is precluded.

As mentioned, the subject 8 makes his programme selection by means of symbols on the control panel 13 and conveniently the symbols can be engraved onto the panel 13 on the wall 9. A number of modes and operations are selected by means of the keys 14 which may be luminous and in this way an uncomplicated guide is provided to the user without to much difficulty.

For ease of transportation the modules 1,2,3 can easily be separated from one another and if necessary the equipment module 1 can be used separately from the other modules.

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Claims

An instant photography unit comprising a cabin composed of an equipment module and a studio module detachably fitted together with the aid of releasable fastening devices,a camera and a monitor disposed in the equipment module to photograph a subject in the studio module and to provide the subject with the reproduction of the photographic image which is to be created, a protective viewing wall between the equipment module and the studio module for confronting the subject to be photographed in the studio module, transparent windows in the protective wall corresponding to the camera and to the monitor and to a number of light sources in the equipment module which are energised during operation to illuminate the subject in the field of view of the camera and the monitor and further light sources in the studio module at least one of which is disposed in the upper region for general illumination and one more light sources which serve to provide back illumination to eliminate shadows.
2. A cabin according to claim 1 wherein at least some of the light sources are of the "cold" type providing a uniform defined colour temperature.
3. A photographic cabin according to claim 1 wherein the light sources comprise four or five cold light sources or three large areas light emitters in the form of fluorescent tubes.

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4. A photographic cabin according to claim 1,2 or 3 wherein there are three cold light sources in the studio module.
5. A photographic cabin according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the light sources are energised and switched on and off in accordance with a control program.
6. A photographic cabin according to any one of the preceding claims in which the studio module has inner wall surfaces with a matt-like finish and includes a sliding door for permitting access for the photographic subject.
7. A photographic cabin according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the studio module employs a bucket seat which is adjustable in height in order to provide a portrait photograph of the subject.
8. A photographic cabin according to claim 7 wherein the control for the height adjustment of the seat and also for the initiation of the camera are provided as buttons or keys on the arm rest of the bucket seat.
9. A photographic cabin according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the equipment module is usable separately.
10. A photographic cabin according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the protective wall has a control panel with a number of symbols and control keys for operation by the subject.
11. A photographic cabin substantially as described with reference to, and as illustrated in, any one or more of the Figures of the accompanying drawings.