JP2003015212A - Photography vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a photography vending machine which carries out photographing without making a shadow behind a subject. SOLUTION: The photography vending machine to photograph the subject 2 including a user and sell a photography is provided with a camera 6 to photograph the subject 2 in a photographing region, a printer 9 to output an image photographed by the camera 6, a back screen unit 5 located in a region to be the background of the object, a casing side stroboscope 4 to illuminate the subject 2 from the casing side, and a back side stroboscope 46 to illuminate the subject 2 from the inside of the back screen unit 5. Because light is illuminated, at the same time, from the back and front of the subject 2 from both stroboscopes 4 and 46 by carrying out photographing by tuning light emission of both stroboscopes 4 and 46, the shadow of the subject 2 is hardly produced on the back screen unit 5 and the reflection of the shadow is prevented.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a photo vending machine which is installed in a game center or the like, photographs a subject including a user by inserting coins, and sells the photographed image as a photographic print.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a lot of photo vending machines for taking photographs and making sticker prints have been installed in game centers and the like. As such a photo vending machine, a photo vending machine as shown in FIG. 10 is generally used. In this device, a half mirror 53 is provided inside the main body 52 at an angle of about 45 °. This half mirror 53
A camera 55 for photographing the user 54 is provided in the back of the
Below the half mirror 53, a monitor 56 for displaying an image taken by the camera 55 is provided. In the figure, 51 is a controller, and 57 is a printer for printing a photographic print 58.

In the above photo vending machine, the image taken by the camera 55 through the half mirror 53 is displayed on the monitor 56, and the image displayed on the monitor 56 is reflected on the half mirror 53 and confirmed by the user 54. You can do it. Then, the user 54 takes a desired pose while confirming his / her appearance on the monitor 56, and operates the controller 51 at a favorite position to shoot a still image. Then, this still image is combined with an appropriate background image or the like and printed as a photographic print 58.

[0004]

Recently, as the photographic vending machine as described above, in order to illuminate the user 54 with bright light, as shown in FIG. 11, a strobe 61 is used to illuminate a subject 54. It has been put to practical use. However, in the above-described photo vending machine, the strong light of the strobe 61 causes a shadow S to appear on the screen 60 provided on the back of the subject 54. As described above, when the shadow S of the screen 60 is reflected, when combining with the background image,
There is a problem that the dark portion of the shadow S remains without being combined, resulting in a print that has unevenness in composition and does not look good.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a photographic vending machine capable of taking a photograph without creating a shadow on the back of a subject.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, a photographic vending machine of the present invention is a photographic vending machine that photographs a subject including a user and sells the photograph. A photographing means for photographing, an image outputting means for outputting a photographed image photographed by the photographing means, a back screen existing in an area serving as a back of the subject,
A first flash device that illuminates the subject from the housing side; and a second flash device that illuminates the subject from the back side,
The gist is that the first and second flash devices are made to emit light in synchronism to photograph.

That is, the photographic vending machine of the present invention comprises a first flash device for illuminating the subject from the housing side and a second flash device for illuminating the subject from the back side, and includes the first and second flash devices. It is designed to emit light in synchronization. Therefore, the first and second flash devices simultaneously irradiate light from the front and the rear of the subject, so that a shadow of the subject is unlikely to occur on the back screen, and the reflection of the shadow is prevented. Further, since the subject is illuminated with bright light from the flash device and the image is captured, the shutter speed can be increased to obtain a captured image with less blur. Further, it is possible to capture a clear image by narrowing the diaphragm to increase the depth of focus and making it easy to focus.

In the photo vending machine of the present invention, when the back screen is a screen for background composition and the image composition means for composing the background image and the subject image is provided, the transfer of the shadow can be prevented, When the subject image and the background image are combined, it is possible to prevent the combination unevenness in which a shadow is left in the combined image and obtain a beautiful combined image.

In the photo vending machine of the present invention, when the light amounts before and after the subject are set to be substantially equal to each other, the shadow of the subject is less likely to occur on the back screen, and the reflection of the shadow is effectively prevented. .

In the photographic vending machine of the present invention, when the back screen has a light-transmitting property and is illuminated by the second flash device from behind the back screen, the back screen itself becomes bright. , The shadow of the subject hardly appears on the back screen, and the reflection of the shadow is effectively prevented.

In the photographic vending machine of the present invention, when the light diffusing sheet is arranged behind the back screen and the second flash device illuminates the light diffusing sheet, the light diffusing sheet is used. Due to the diffused light, the entire back screen is evenly brightened, and the shadow of the subject is less likely to appear on the back screen, so that the reflection of the shadow is effectively prevented.

[0012]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a photo vending machine according to the present invention. This photographic vending machine is provided with a casing 1 in which various devices are provided inside and on the front surface, and a ceiling portion 3 protruding from above the casing 1 to reach the back of a subject 2.

A back screen unit 5 is provided at the tip of the ceiling portion 3 as a background for photographing, and the subject 2 is surrounded by the space surrounded by the housing 1, the ceiling portion 3 and the back screen unit 5. The shooting booth is formed, and the housing 1 constitutes a part of the shooting booth.

A camera 6 for photographing the subject 2 is provided inside the casing 1, and a transparent plate 10 is fitted on the surface of the casing 1 on the subject 2 side of the camera 6. In addition, on the front surface of the housing 1, at the upper and lower parts thereof,
A housing-side strobe 4 is provided to illuminate the subject 2 with flash light from the front.

The back screen unit 5 has a blue screen 45 arranged on the subject 2 side, a light diffusing plate 44 arranged behind the blue screen 45, and a diffuser behind the blue screen 45. Back side strobe 46 that irradiates a flash onto the board 44
And is configured.

The blue screen 45 is formed of, for example, a colored acrylic plate or the like, and has a certain degree of translucency.
The screen has a color (blue in this example) suitable for chroma key composition. The diffusion plate 44 is, for example, a sheet whose surface is formed as a white rough surface and which diffuses the irradiated light. The back-side strobe 46 is arranged in the upper part and the lower part in the back screen unit 5, and irradiates the surface of the diffusion plate 44 with flash light.

The housing-side strobe 4 and the back-side strobe 46 are adapted to emit light in synchronization with each other by a synchro control means 37 (see FIG. 2) described later. Then, the back-side strobe 46 irradiates the surface of the diffusion plate 44 with flashlight, and the light diffused by the diffusion plate 44 passes through the blue screen 45 and illuminates the back surface of the subject 2. . As a result, during shooting, the entire blue screen 45 becomes evenly bright, and the shadow of the subject 2 is unlikely to occur on the surface of the blue screen 45, and the reflection of the shadow is effectively prevented.

Further, inside the case 1, there is provided a computer device 7 which receives image data from the camera 6 and performs processing such as image composition. Further, on the subject 2 side of the casing 1, a display 8 is provided for receiving an image signal such as a composite image transmitted from the computer device 7 and displaying the image.

Further, inside the casing 1, there is provided a printer 9 which receives the image data transmitted from the computer device 7 and prints this image on the print medium 15. The print medium 15 printed by the printer 9 is sent out from an outlet 19 formed on the front surface of the housing 1, cut by a cutter 18 provided in the vicinity of the outlet 19 and discharged.

Further, an operation panel is provided on the front surface of the housing 1, and a controller 11 is provided on the operation panel. The controller 11 is a touch pen 12
The touch pen 1 is provided on the surface of the display 8 according to the operation instruction displayed on the display 8 by the user 2.
Various operation signals are sent to the computer device 7 by tapping (slightly tapping) with 2, and various operations such as shutter operation are performed.

The touch pen 12 is designed so that the tip of the touch pen 12 can be brought into contact with the surface of the display 8 to draw and input characters, figures, and the like. The image and the like are combined with the captured image of the subject 2 captured by the camera 6, displayed on the display 8, and printed on the print medium 15.

A coin insertion slot (not shown) for inserting coins as a consideration is provided on the front surface of the housing 1.
A coin detection unit 17 (see FIG. 2) that detects inserted coins and sends a detection signal to the computer device 7 is provided in a position adjacent to the coin insertion slot inside the housing 1.

On the front surface of the housing 1, a speaker 14 for receiving and outputting a sound signal from the computer device 7 is provided.
(See FIG. 2).

In this example, the image viewed by the user 2 on the display 8 and the image printed by the printer 9 are the photographed image of the subject 2, the background image, and the touch pen 1.
2 is a composite of the handwritten input image and the like according to 2.

Next, the system configuration of the computer device 7 will be described in detail.

As shown in FIG. 2, the computer device 7 uses the touch pen 12 to input the input unit 3 of the display 8.
The control means 31 receives various operation signals input to the controller 5 via the controller 11 and performs various controls according to the received operation signals. The control unit 31 receives the detection signal from the coin detecting unit 17,
Controls such as shooting and image composition are started.

The computer device 7 is provided with a sync control means 37. This synchro control means 3
Reference numeral 7 controls the chassis-side strobe 4 and the back-side strobe 46 to emit light in synchronization with the shutter timing of the camera 6. Further, the synchronization control means 3
7 is a flash light amount of the case-side strobe 4 and the back-side strobe 46 so that the amount of light of the case-side strobe 4 on the front side of the subject 2 is substantially equal to the amount of light on the back-side strobe 46 on the back side of the subject 2. To control.

That is, the flash light of the strobe 4 on the housing directly illuminating the front of the subject 2 is diffused by being reflected by the diffuser plate 44 and then transmitted through the blue screen 45 to illuminate the back of the subject 2. Back strobe 46
The illuminance is controlled to be almost the same as that of the flash.

A touch pen 12 is provided on the display 8.
Input unit 35 for inputting handwritten images and operation signals by
And a display unit 36 for displaying images and the like.
The handwritten image or the like input by the touch pen 12 is stored in the pen input image storage unit 32, and the data of the stored handwritten image or the like is sent to the image synthesizing unit 30 described later.
The operation signal input by the touch pen 12 is
It is sent to the control means 31 via the controller 11 and various controls are performed.

A background image storage unit 33 is provided in the computer device 7. The background image storage unit 33 stores a plurality of image data to be combined as a background with a subject image captured by the camera 6.

Further, the computer device 7 is provided with a timer 26 for measuring the input possible time of the pen input image by the touch pen 12. The timer 26 starts the measurement almost at the same time as displaying the instruction message for starting the handwritten image by the control means 31 on the display 8. When the time measured by the timer 26 reaches a preset possible input time (for example, 90 seconds), input of a handwritten image or the like is stopped and the next operation is started.

A fixed image storage section 38 is provided in the computer device 7 so that the picked-up image is fixed as a still image at a desired shutter timing by operating the touch pen 12 by the subject 2.

Further, the computer device 7 is provided with a counter 25 for counting the number of times of photographing by the camera 6 by the shutter operation. The counter 25 is reset by the first coin detection by the coin detection unit 17 and starts counting. Until the count of the counter 25 reaches a preset number of times (e.g. 4 times) that can be photographed in advance, photographing is repeated at a constant time interval to obtain a plurality of photographed images (still images).

The photographed image (still image) is displayed on the display section 36 of the display 8 so that the user 2 can confirm the preview. Then, on the display 8, a screen prompting the user to select whether or not he wants to retake the still image for which the preview has been confirmed is displayed.
When the user 2 wants to take another picture, the touch pen 1
In step 2, the cancel operation is performed and the shutter operation is performed again.

Further, the computer device 7 is provided with an image synthesizing means 30, and the still image fixed in the fixed image storage unit 38 is added to the background image in the background image storage unit 33 and the input unit of the display 8 by the touch pen 12. Three
5, the handwritten image such as characters and figures stored in the pen input image storage unit 32 is composed. The combined image combined by the image combining means 30 is displayed on the display unit 36 of the display 8.

Further, the computer device 7 is provided with a transmitting / receiving means 39. The transmitting / receiving means 39 is
For example, it is connected to a communication line (NET) such as the Internet, and shot images, composite images, questionnaire responses, etc. are output to the outside via the communication line, stored in an external server, or output to a terminal device or the like for display. It can be printed and printed.

The computer device 7 includes a speaker 1
An audio output circuit 29 is provided for outputting the audio reproduced from No. 4. Further, the computer device 7 includes a print control unit 34 that controls printing by the printer 9. The print control unit 34 controls to print the composite image on the print medium 15 according to a predetermined sheet layout.

An example of the operation of the above photo vending machine will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. here,
In FIG. 3, “S” means a step.

First, while the demo screen is displayed on the display 8, when the user 2 inserts the required coin into the coin insertion slot (S100), the display unit 3 of the display 8 is displayed.
A list of types of background images is displayed at 6, and a message prompting the user 2 to select a desired background image is displayed.

When the user operates the touch pen 12 to select a favorite background image (S110), the image pickup of the subject 2 by the camera 6 is started (S140), and the image pickup image is displayed on the display section 36 of the display 8 by the start of the image pickup. Is displayed in real time as a video.

Next, after the user 2 completes the position adjustment of the subject 2 while looking at the display image on the display 8, when the user inputs a shutter operation signal according to the instruction on the screen using the touch pen 12, the user 2 is informed. After instructing to take a pause and counting down for a predetermined time, the chassis-side strobe 4 and the back-side strobe 46 synchronously emit flash light and the shutter of the camera 6 is released (S16).
0).

At this time, since the housing-side strobe 4 and the back-side strobe 46 irradiate the flash light in synchronism with each other, the shadow of the subject 2 is less likely to be generated on the blue screen 45, and the reflection of the shadow is prevented.

Then, the imaged image at a predetermined moment is fixed in the fixed image storage section 38 (S180). At this time, the captured image at that time is displayed on the display 8 as a still image. Then, the fixed still image is displayed on the display unit 36 of the display 8 to allow the user 2 to confirm the preview, and the display 8 selects whether or not to retake the still image for which the preview has been confirmed. A message for prompting is displayed (S200).

In step 200, if the user 2 wishes to take another picture, it is confirmed whether or not the number of times of photographing of the counter 25 has reached the prescribed number of times of photographing (S).
220). If it is determined in step 220 that the prescribed number of possible shots has not been reached, the process returns to step 160 and again.
Imaging by the camera 6 and shutter operation are performed.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step 220 that the number of times of possible photographing has been reached, and in step 200
If the re-shooting is not performed in step S30, the shot image and the background image are synthesized by the synthesized image display means 30 (S230).

That is, as shown in FIG. 4, the subject image 23 is extracted by removing the background from the photographed image of the subject 2 photographed with the blue screen 45 as the background. Then, a portion of the background image 24 as shown in FIG. 5 corresponding to the subject image 23 is removed to form the background. Then, they are combined to generate a combined image 22 of the background image 24 and the subject image 23, as shown in FIG.

Next, the input of a handwritten image or the like by operating the touch pen 12 is started (S240). Here, an example of the input screen of the handwritten image is shown in FIG. In this handwritten image input screen, 21a, 21b, 21c
Is an icon tapped with the touch pen 12 when inputting a handwriting pen, a stamp image, and an alphabetic character, respectively.

When inputting a handwritten image, the handwriting pen icon 21a is tapped with the tip of the touch pen 12, and then the tip of the touch pen 12 is brought into contact with the composite image 22 displayed on the display 8 to draw an image. A handwritten image is input by drawing or a character.

When inputting the stamp image, the icon 21b of the stamp image is tapped with the tip of the touch pen 12 and then the tip of the touch pen 12 is brought into contact with the composite image 22 displayed on the display 8. ,
The stamp image is input.

When inputting alphabetic characters, tap the alphabetic character icon 21c with the tip of the touch pen 12 and then touch the tip of the touch pen 12 on the composite image 22 displayed on the display 8. , Alphabet characters are input.

In this way, as shown in FIG. 8, the handwritten image 27, the stamp image 28 and the like are input and combined on the displayed combined image 22.

The input of the handwritten image or the like is continued until the time measured by the timer 26 reaches a preset allowable input time (for example, 90 seconds) (S).
260). When the prescribed allowable input time is reached in step 260, input of a handwritten image or the like is stopped, and a sheet layout for printing is selected (S280).
The sheet layout is selected here by displaying a sheet layout sample screen on the display unit 36 of the display 8.
A desired sheet layout is selected by operating the touch pen 12.

Then, when the selection of the sheet layout is completed, the image data of the composite image is sent to the printer 9, and printing is started with the sheet layout selected in step 280 (S300). When printing is completed, the printed print medium 15 (photo print) is output.

Here, an example of the sheet layout is shown in FIG. In this example, a sticker print is output as a photographic print, where 41 is a sticker mount and 42 is a sticker.

Thus, according to the photo vending machine,
The two flashes 4 and 46 irradiate light from the front and the back of the subject 2 at the same time.
Is less likely to occur, and the reflection of the shadow is prevented. Since it is possible to prevent the reflection of the shadow, it is possible to prevent the shadow from remaining in the composite image 22 and the composite unevenness when the captured images are subjected to the chroma key composition.
Can be obtained.

Also, since the subject 2 is illuminated with bright light from the strobes 4 and 46 for photographing, a photographed image with less blur can be obtained by increasing the shutter speed. Further, it is possible to capture a clear image by narrowing the diaphragm to increase the depth of focus and making it easy to focus.

In the above embodiment, an example in which chroma key composition is used for image composition has been described. The present invention is not limited to this, and various image synthesizing methods can be applied. Further, in the above embodiment, instead of printing the composite image 22, the transmitting / receiving means 39 outputs the data to the outside via a communication line and stores it in an external server or outputs it to a terminal device or the like for display, or It can also be printed externally.

In the above embodiment, the printer 9 is of various types such as a sublimation printer, an ink jet printer, a laser printer, a thermal transfer printer, a fusion printer, a thermal printer, a photographic paper printer, an instant film printer, and the like. A printer can be applied and is not particularly limited.

Further, in the above embodiment, an example in which the photographic print to be output is a sticker print has been shown, but the present invention is not limited to this, and is intended to include what is output as a card, etc. It is not intended to limit the material or composition.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the shooting is started by inserting a coin, but the present invention is not limited to this, and bills such as banknotes, prepaid cards, medals, credit cards, cash cards, etc. can be used as a consideration for shooting. It is intended to include various aspects as long as payment is possible.
Further, these are intended to include not only the case of using them alone but also the case of using them in combination. Furthermore, it is also intended to include a mode in which shooting is performed without requesting compensation.

Further, in the above embodiment, the camera 6
There may be used a digital camera or a video camera, and it is not particularly limited as long as it can convert a captured image into an electric signal, and various kinds can be used. Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, an example in which one camera 6 is provided has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a plurality of cameras 6 may be provided.

In the above embodiment, the stamp image stored in the stamp image storage unit (not shown) is used, but the stamp image is not limited to this.
It is also possible to read and use image data stored in various storage media such as a floppy disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, and a magneto-optical disk.

[0064]

As described above, according to the photographic vending machine of the present invention, light is emitted from the front and the back of the subject at the same time by the first and second flash devices, so that the shadow of the subject hardly occurs on the back screen. Is prevented from being reflected. Also,
Since the subject is illuminated with bright light from the flash device and the image is taken, the shutter speed can be increased to obtain a taken image with less blur. Further, it is possible to capture a clear image by narrowing the diaphragm to increase the depth of focus and making it easy to focus.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing an embodiment of a photo vending machine of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a system configuration diagram of a computer device.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the operation of the photo vending machine.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a captured image.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a background image.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of an image obtained by combining the photographed image and a background image.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of an input screen of a pen input image.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a combined image obtained by inputting and combining handwritten input images.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a state in which a composite image is output on a sticker print.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a conventional example.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing another conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 case 2 subject 3 ceiling 4 Case side strobe 5 Back screen unit 6 cameras 7 Computer equipment 8 display 9 Printer 10 transparent plate 11 Controller 12 touch pen 14 speakers 15 print media 17 coin detector 18 cutter 19 exit 21a icon 21b icon 21c icon 22 Composite image 23 subject image 24 background images 25 counter 26 timer 27 Handwritten images 28 stamp images 29 Audio output circuit 30 image composition means 31 Control means 32 Pen input image storage 33 Background image storage unit 34 Print control unit 35 Input section 36 Display 37 Synchro control means 38 Fixed image storage unit 39 Transmission / reception means 41 sticker mount 42 seal 44 Diffuser 45 blue screen 46 Back strobe 51 controller 52 body 53 half mirror 54 subject 55 camera 56 monitor 57 Printer 58 photo prints 60 screen 61 Strobe

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) H04N 5/222 H04N 5/222 ZF term (reference) 2H104 AA19 BC48 5B057 AA20 BA11 BA23 CE08 CH01 CH11 5C022 AA13 AB15 AC78

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A vending machine for photographing a subject including a user and selling the photograph, the photographing means photographing a subject in a photographing area, and an image outputting a photographed image photographed by the photographing means. An output unit, a back screen that is present in a back area of the subject, a first flash device that illuminates the subject from the housing side, and a second flash device that illuminates the subject from the back side. A photographic vending machine, characterized in that the first and second flash devices are made to emit light in synchronism to shoot. 2. The photo vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the back screen is a screen for background composition, and is provided with an image composition means for composing a background image and a subject image. 3. The photo vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the quantity of light before and after the subject is set to be substantially equal. 4. The back screen has a light-transmitting property,
The photographic vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the second flash device is used to illuminate from behind the back screen. 5. The photographic vending machine according to claim 4, wherein a light diffusing sheet is arranged behind the back screen, and the light is diffused toward the light diffusing sheet by a second flash device.