JP2001169145A - Person-photographing apparatus and picture print game device provided with the apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To photograph a user in his natural posture, regardless of his height by enabling the user to confirm a monitor, without averting his eyes from a camera, even when case that the vertical position of the camera is changed in a person photographing device at the time of photographing. SOLUTION: A camera 2, a display device 3, a half mirror 4, etc., are supported integrally on an elevating part 7 as a single body and are synchronously moved vertically by a ball thread 8 and a slide guide 11. Thus the relative positional relation of the display device 3 and the half mirror 4 to the camera 2 will not vary, even if the vertical position of the camera 2 is changed, and the state is kept that the user can confirm a display screen on the display device 3 in sight to the camera 2.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a person photographing apparatus and a video print game apparatus having the same, and more particularly to a technique for moving a photographing camera or the like up and down according to the height of a user as a subject. is there.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been known a person photographing apparatus that photographs a user as a subject and prints the photographed image on a mount or a sticker. For example, JP-A-10-5
Japanese Patent Publication No. 5018 proposes an ID photographing apparatus in which a height position of an upper end portion of a head of a subject is measured and a photographing means is moved to a height position of an eye of the subject. Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 85718/1996 proposes a photographing apparatus in which a camera and a television camera can be moved up and down.
Furthermore, the camera is configured to be movable up and down so that the camera can be photographed by moving to a height position that matches the height of the subject, and the user can check the photographed subject image on the monitor display. A photographing device is also known. For example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 10-239760, a camera can be swung up and down and left and right and a height position can be changed, and a user can confirm a photographed image of the camera on a CRT. Meanwhile, there has been proposed a photo production apparatus capable of changing a camera angle and a height position to determine a desired composition.

[0003]

However, the conventional apparatus as described above has the following problems. Generally, when displaying images taken by a camera on a monitor,
By arranging the monitor on the line of sight of the camera, the user can check the monitor (display of the captured image) without moving the line of sight from the camera. When you move the camera up and down,
The line of sight of the user with respect to the camera and the line of sight with respect to the monitor no longer match, making it difficult to perform a task of determining a desired composition while viewing the monitor display. In particular, if the line of sight to the camera and the line of sight to the monitor deviate greatly, a situation may occur in which the monitor display cannot be viewed. Also, even if only the camera is moved up and down during shooting, if the lighting equipment does not move up and down,
The way of lighting depends on the height of the user, and the way of casting shadows changes, so that it may not be possible to shoot with appropriate lighting.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the above-described problem. Even if the height of the camera is changed at the time of photographing, the user's line of sight to the camera coincides with the line of sight to the monitor. A person photographing apparatus which enables a user to check a monitor without moving his / her eyes from a camera and which can take a photograph in a natural posture regardless of a height difference, and a video print game apparatus having the same. The purpose is to provide.

[0005]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a photographing means for photographing a user located in front of the apparatus main body as a subject, and a photographing means for photographing the user by the photographing means. Display means for displaying an image, wherein the photographing direction of the photographing means and the display direction of the display means are set to be substantially the same direction, and a person photographing apparatus having a function of printing and supplying a photographed image And a supporting means for integrally guiding and supporting the photographing means and the display means so as to be vertically movable, and a moving means for vertically moving the photographing means and the display means in accordance with the height of the user.

In this configuration, since the support means integrally supports the photographing means and the display means, the photographing means and the display means are synchronized by the moving means, that is, while maintaining the relative positional relationship between the two. It can be moved up and down. Therefore, even if the height position of the photographing means with respect to the subject is changed, the height position of the display means also changes accordingly. Therefore, regardless of the user's height difference, the display means is displayed to the photographing means for the user. The state in which the display can be confirmed is maintained.

[0007] The invention described in claim 2 is the first invention.
Wherein the display means comprises an image display device, and a half mirror for reflecting an image displayed by the display device in the direction of the subject, and the photographing means includes a half mirror and the subject. It is located on the opposite side.

In this configuration, by arranging the photographing means behind the half mirror, the photographing direction of the photographing means and the direction of reflecting the display image on the display device by the half mirror are substantially the same. Can be configured.

[0009] The invention described in claim 3 is the first invention.
Or the human photographing device according to claim 2, further comprising a detecting means for detecting a height position of the subject, wherein the moving means is detected by a driving source for moving the photographing means and the display means up and down, and detected by the detecting means. And a control unit for controlling the operation of the driving source based on the height information of the subject.

In this configuration, the control section controls the operation of the driving source based on the height information of the subject obtained from the detecting means, and moves the supporting means to a height position corresponding to the height of the subject. Even if the user does not perform an operation for changing the height position of the photographing means and the display means, the photographing means and the display means automatically move to a position corresponding to the height position of the subject.

The invention described in claim 4 is the first invention.
4. The person photographing apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising an illuminating means for illuminating a subject, wherein the illuminating means is also supported by the supporting means so as to be vertically movable integrally with the photographic means and the display means. Is what it is.

In this configuration, the illumination means also moves up and down in synchronization with the photographing means, the display means and the reflection means.
Even if the height position of the photographing means with respect to the subject changes, the manner in which the subject hits the illumination is kept equal.

The invention described in claim 5 is the first invention.
A video print game apparatus incorporating the person photographing apparatus according to any one of claims 4 to 6, having a function of synthesizing a subject image photographing a user with a frame background image, printing the image on a sticker, and outputting it. Things.

With this configuration, the same operation as that of the first aspect can be obtained in performing the video print game.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A person photographing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a video print game apparatus in which a person photographing apparatus is incorporated, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the apparatus from above. The video print game apparatus 1 captures a user as a subject, combines the subject image with an arbitrarily selectable frame background image, prints it on a sticker, and provides it to the user. The video print game apparatus 1 has a camera (photographing means) 2 composed of a CCD or the like for photographing a subject located on the front surface of the apparatus main body, a display for notifying a user of the timing of photographing by the camera 2, and a photographed image by the camera 2. (Display means) 3 comprising a CRT or the like for displaying a subject image and the like, and a half mirror 4 for reflecting the subject image displayed on the screen of the display 3 toward the subject. Further, the video print game apparatus 1 has a pair of infrared sensors (detection means) 5 for detecting the height position of the upper end of the head of the user, and an illumination device (illumination means) 6 for illuminating the user. have. The camera 2, display 3, half mirror 4, infrared sensor 5, and illumination device 6 are integrally supported by an elevating unit (supporting means) 7 that is vertically movable. The elevating unit 7 is configured to move up and down by a ball screw (drive source) 8 that is rotated by a driving force from a drive motor 18 (drive source, moving means). Is engaged. The vertical movement of the elevating unit 7 is controlled by a slide guide (support means) 11 provided in the housing 10 of the apparatus 1.
And a gripper (supporting means) 12 provided on the back surface of the elevating unit 7 for gripping the slide guide 11. In addition, a front panel 13 made of transparent acrylic or glass is provided between the half mirror 4 and the user to protect equipment provided in the apparatus.

The camera 2 is disposed at a position in front of the user and on the back side of the half mirror 4 so that the user can photograph the user when the user stands on the front of the apparatus main body. The height position of the camera 2 is set to be the eye position of the user when the lifting unit 7 moves to the height position where the infrared sensor 5 detects the upper end of the user's head. I have. The display 3 is provided below the half mirror 4 with the screen facing upward so that the screen is displayed right above. The half mirror 4 is provided at a predetermined angle capable of reflecting the screen of the display 3 toward the user, and the user can visually recognize the screen of the display 3 reflected on the half mirror 4.
For example, the half mirror 4 is attached at an angle of approximately 45 degrees with respect to the display screen of the display 3, and is configured such that the display screen of the display 3 on the half mirror 4 is reflected in the horizontal direction toward the position of the user. ing. The half mirror 4 reflects light from an image displayed on the screen of the display 3 on the front surface side, and transmits light on the back surface. Thus, the camera 2 disposed on the back side of the half mirror 4 can shoot a user's subject image through the half mirror 4. The half mirror 4 and the camera 2 are arranged so that the user can check the screen display of the display 3 on the line of sight to the camera 2. Also, on the front of the video print game device 1,
An operation in which the user sets the camera 2 at a desired height position,
An operation button 14 for selecting a print pattern and the like is provided.

The infrared sensor 5 includes a light-emitting sensor 5a and a light-receiving sensor 5b. The infrared sensor 5a uniformly emits infrared light in the horizontal direction toward the user, and the light-receiving sensor 5b receives the infrared light reflected by the user. Is detected, the presence of the user is detected. The height position of the upper end of the user's head is detected as follows. The user's view of the height position of the elevating unit 7 before the start of shooting, with the height position of the camera 2 being about 180 cm tall (a height slightly higher than the average height of the user, which can be changed as appropriate). Set so that the height of. The detection by the infrared sensor 5 is started in a state where the elevating unit 7 is in this position, the elevating unit 7 is lowered until the user is detected, and the descent of the elevating unit 7 is stopped when the user is detected. If you do this,
When the infrared sensor 5 detects the upper end of the user's head, the elevating unit 7 stops, so that it is possible to take a picture at a camera position that matches the height of the user.

FIG. 3 shows an electric block configuration of the video print game apparatus 1. As shown in FIG. The video print game apparatus 1 includes a control unit (moving means) 15 that controls the operation of the entire apparatus. The operation program is stored in the ROM 16. When a coin insertion is detected by the coin counter 17, the control unit 15 controls operations of the camera 2, the display 3, the infrared sensor 5, the illumination device 6, the drive motor 18, and the like to execute shooting of a subject. . The control unit 15 is connected to a RAM 19 for storing a plurality of image data of a subject photographed by the camera 2, and stores desired image data selected by the user through the operation of the operation unit 14.
The data is read from M19 and output to the printer 20. This image data is printed out by the printer 20. The control unit 15 also controls the drive motor 18 based on a detection signal indicating the upper end of the user's head by the infrared sensor 5.
In addition to the operation control, the operation of the drive motor 18 is also controlled based on an instruction from the operation unit 14, and the camera 2 is moved to a user's desired height position.

Referring to FIG. 4, a description will be given of a moving operation when the elevating unit 7 automatically moves up and down in accordance with the height of the user. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing when the elevating unit 7 is automatically moved up and down. When the photographing operation is started in the video print game apparatus 1, the detection of the height position of the upper end of the user's head by the infrared sensor 5 is started (S1), and the drive motor 18 is driven to lower the elevating unit 7. (S2). If the height position of the upper end of the user's head is detected (YES in S3), the drive of the drive motor 18 is stopped, and the lifting unit 7 is set to the current height position (S4). Due to the movement of the elevating unit 7, the display 3, the half mirror 4, and the illumination device 6 move in synchronization with the camera 2. Then, the user (subject) is photographed by the camera 2 at the height position (S5).

Next, as another embodiment, a moving operation of the elevating unit 7 based on a user's operation instruction will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing when the elevating unit 7 is moved up and down. When the photographing operation is started in the video print game apparatus 1, the user operates the operation unit 14 and if there is an instruction of the height position of the camera 2 from the operation unit 14 (YES in S <b> 11), the drive motor 1
8 is driven (S12), and the lifting unit 7 is moved. By the movement of the elevating unit 7, the display 3 together with the camera 2,
The half mirror 4 and the illumination device 6 also move synchronously.
Then, when the elevating unit 7 moves by the instructed amount (S1).
(YES in 3), the drive motor 18 is stopped (S14), and the user (subject) is photographed by the camera 2 at the height position (S15). Further, when the photographing operation is started, if there is no instruction of the height position of the camera 2 from the operation unit 14 (NO in S11), the photographing of the user (subject) is immediately performed without moving the elevating unit 7 up and down. Perform (S15).

As described above, according to the video print game apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the elevating unit 7 integrally supports the display 3, the half mirror 4, and the illuminating device 6 together with the camera 2, so that the user can enjoy it. When the camera 2 is moved up and down in accordance with the height, the display 3, the half mirror 4, and the illumination device 6 also move up and down in synchronization. Therefore, camera 2
When the height position of the camera 2 is changed, the relative height position of the camera 2 with respect to the display 3 and the half mirror 4 does not change.
The state in which the screen display can be confirmed is maintained. Therefore, even when the user changes the height position of the camera 2, the user can easily check the display on the display 3 (the subject image captured by the camera 2) without distracting the line of sight from the camera 2 during shooting. be able to. In addition, the lighting device 6
Is also supported by the elevating unit 7, and moves up and down in synchronization with the camera 2. Therefore, even when the height position of the camera 2 is changed according to the height of the user, the way of illumination of the user is the same. Is kept.

The present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above-described embodiment, and various modifications are possible. For example, in the above embodiment, the height of the camera 2 is automatically changed based on the detection of the upper end of the user's head by the infrared sensor 5, and the operation of the operation unit 14 by the user. Although the height position of the camera 2 (elevation unit 7) can be changed, the operation unit 1 is operated following the detection operation by the infrared sensor 5.
4 according to the user's preference
The height position of the (elevating unit 7) may be finely adjusted. Further, in the above embodiment, the infrared sensor 5 including the light emitting sensor 5a and the light receiving sensor 5b is provided to detect the upper end of the user's head, but a sensor is provided above the user instead. It is also possible to detect the height position (the user's height) of the user's head upper end by emitting infrared light from this sensor and measuring the distance between the user's head upper end and the sensor. Further, as long as it detects the height position of the user, it is not limited to the one that detects the upper end of the head of the user. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the video print game apparatus 1 is an apparatus which captures a user as a subject, combines the image with an arbitrary frame background image, and prints it on a sticker, but the present invention is not limited to this. Instead, it may be a person photographing device such as a photographing device for an ID photograph, not a game device.

[0023]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to change the height position of the photographing means with respect to the subject while maintaining the relative positional relationship between the photographing means and the display means. Since it is possible, even if the height position of the photographing means is changed according to the height of the user, the user can confirm the display of the display means on the line of sight to the photographing means. For this reason, the user can easily confirm the subject image displayed on the display means without distracting the line of sight from the photographing means. Therefore, it is possible to easily perform a work of determining a desired composition while watching the monitor display, and it is possible to eliminate a situation in which the photographing is performed in a state where the eyes do not coincide with the photographing means. This makes it possible to take pictures in a natural posture.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, with a simple configuration, the photographing direction of the photographing means and the direction of reflecting the display image on the display device by the half mirror are substantially the same direction. Can be set.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the user moves the photographing means to a height position suitable for the height without performing any operation for changing the height of the photographing means. This makes it possible to easily perform optimal shooting corresponding to the height.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the illumination means also moves up and down in synchronization with the photographing means and the display means, so that even if the height position of the photographing means relative to the subject changes.
In synchronization with this, the height of the illuminating means also fluctuates, and the way of illuminating the subject is kept the same as before the height position was changed. Thereby, regardless of the height of the user, it is possible to make shadows on the subject the same during shooting.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the same effects as those of the first aspect of the present invention can be obtained in playing a video print game.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of a video print game apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view from above of the video print game apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the video print game apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a flow of a process for automatically moving the elevating unit of the video print game apparatus up and down.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a flow of a process of moving the elevating unit of the video print game apparatus up and down according to an operation by a user.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 video print game device 2 camera (photographing means) 3 display (display means) 4 half mirror 5 sensor (detection means) 6 lighting device (illumination means) 7 elevating section (supporting means) 8 ball screw (drive source) 10 drive motor ( Drive source, moving means) 11 slide guide (supporting means) 12 gripping part (supporting means) 15 control part (moving means)

Claims (5)

[Claims] A photographing means for photographing a user as a subject positioned at the front of the apparatus main body; and a display means for displaying a subject image photographed by the photographing means. The photographing direction of the photographing means and the display means are provided. The display direction of the person is set to be substantially the same direction, and a person photographing apparatus having a function of printing and supplying a captured image, a support for guiding and supporting the photographing means and the display means integrally and vertically movable. And a moving means for moving the photographing means and the display means up and down in accordance with the height of the user. 2. The display means comprises an image display device and a half mirror for reflecting an image displayed by the display device in the direction of a subject, and the photographing means is on the opposite side of the half mirror from the subject. The person photographing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the person photographing apparatus is arranged at a position where the photographing apparatus is located. A detecting unit for detecting a height position of the subject; a moving source for moving the photographing unit and the display unit up and down; and height information of the subject detected by the detecting unit. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a control unit configured to control the operation of the driving source based on the control information. 4. The lighting device according to claim 1, further comprising: an illuminating unit for illuminating a subject, wherein the illuminating unit is supported by the supporting unit so as to be vertically movable integrally with the photographing unit and the display unit. The person photographing device according to claim 3. 5. A person photographing device according to claim 1, which has a function of synthesizing a subject image photographing a user with a frame background image, printing the image on a sticker, and outputting it. A video print game machine characterized by the following.