JP2003233872A - Photograph automatic vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a photograph automatic vending machine for making it possible for widely ranged users to use. <P>SOLUTION: A photograph photographing device 1 of a photograph automatic vending machine is provided with a microphone 40 constituted of an upper microphone 40a and a lower microphone 40b for accepting the input with a user's voice of his or her intentions such as various instructions. Thus, it is possible to estimate the time or frequency direction of the voice information of an input noise by providing a plurality of microphones, and to remove any band where any user's voice does not exist from the actually inputted voice information to let the voice information inputted by the user stand out, and to obtain a voice signal. Thus, it is possible for the user to easily input the various operation instructions or information without performing any input by the contact of his or her hands or the other sites by providing such input means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

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, and more particularly to a photo vending machine which can be used by a wide range of users.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A photo vending machine that automatically takes and prints a photograph of a user by inserting coins or the like, and a photographed image of the user and an image stored in advance. 2. Description of the Related Art A photo vending machine that prints a photo that is combined with an image selected by a user is widely known.

In such a general vending machine for photographs, a user obtains a desired photograph by operating it with an input device such as a pen type or a controller.
Also, a desired photograph can be obtained by touching the touch panel type display with a hand or an input device.

[0004]

However, when using such a conventional photo vending machine, the user must
There is a problem that it is difficult to use the photo vending machine when it is necessary to perform an input operation with a hand or other part, and when such an input operation is not desired or when such an input operation is impossible. .

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a photo vending machine which can be used by a wider range of users.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, according to one aspect of the present invention, a vending machine for photography includes a photographing means for photographing a subject and generating a plurality of photographed images.
A photo vending machine comprising a display unit for displaying a captured image, an input unit for accepting an intention of a user, and a printing unit for printing a captured image, wherein the input unit receives a sound emitted by the user. To do.

Further, it is desirable that the automatic vending machine be operated by the sound received by the above-mentioned input means.

[0008] Further, the photo vending machine is second from the user.
The image forming apparatus further includes a second image input unit that receives an image input and a combining unit that combines the second image and the captured image, the display unit displays the combined second image and the captured image, and the printing unit , It is desirable to print the combined image.

Further, it is desirable that the above-mentioned second image input means converts the sound received by the input means into text information and receives it as a second image.

Further, it is desirable that the above-mentioned second image input means converts the sound received by the input means into image information and receives it as a second image.

Further, it is desirable that the vending machine for photograph further comprises moving means for moving the photographing means by a sound from the user, which is accepted by the input means.

Further, it is desirable that the above-mentioned input means is composed of a plurality of voice input devices.

[0013]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same parts and components are designated by the same reference numerals.
Their names and functions are also the same. Therefore, detailed description thereof will not be repeated.

FIG. 1 is a view showing a concrete example of the external appearance of the vending machine for photographs according to the present embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 1, in the photo vending machine according to the present embodiment, like a general photo vending machine,
The photographing device 1 is provided inside the housing 3, and the subject 90
Is opposed to the user 9. For convenience of description, the side of the housing 3 facing the user 9 is referred to as the front surface. That is,
Regarding the housing 3 in FIG. 1, the left side of the drawing is the front side of the housing 3, and the right side is the rear side of the housing 3. Although any object can be selected as the subject 90, in the present embodiment, the user 9 is assumed to be selected.

Behind the subject 90, a curtain 2 used as a background during photographing is provided. The curtain 2 is placed in a state of being suspended from a curtain rail (not shown) provided on the upper portion of the housing 3. Alternatively, it is provided in a form that can be wound on a roll. The position to be provided may be near the center of the housing 3, or may be provided to a position where it can be moved to a position where it is photographed as a background at the time of photographing. Further, a plurality of curtains 2 may be provided. Further, it does not matter even if the curtain 2 is not provided. When a plurality of curtains 2 are provided, the user 9 can select the desired curtain 2 as the background. When the curtain 2 is not provided, the inner wall at the rear of the housing 3 becomes the background at the time of shooting.

The color of the inner wall behind the curtain 2 and the housing 3,
Alternatively, the pattern is not limited as long as the shooting is effectively performed. Specifically, when chroma key composition is performed, blue is applied. In addition, white may be applied in order to bring out the effect of indirect illumination, or pink, red, yellow, etc. may be applied in consideration of the influence of color (color fog) on the subject 90.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a specific example of the external appearance of the photographic apparatus 1 shown in FIG. Referring to FIG. 2, an upper camera 10a and a lower camera 10b are provided on the front surface of the photographing apparatus 1, and a user 90 inserts a consideration (coin) into a coin insertion slot 50 so that the subject 90 is brought to the front. And shoot from above.

A speaker 70 provided on the front surface of the photographing apparatus 1 outputs sound information such as BGM and various instructions.

The captured image of the subject 90 is displayed on the upper display 30a and the lower display 30b. Further, the user 9 can take a favorite pose while looking at the captured image displayed on the upper display 30a provided on the front surface.

Further, the photographic device 1 in the present embodiment is provided with a microphone 40, which is composed of an upper microphone 40a and a lower microphone 40b, on the front surface thereof, which receives an input by a voice of the intention of the user 9 from the user 9. And The user's 9 intention corresponds to various instructions and selection results. The user 9 uses the microphone 40 to input various instructions and determine a print image by voice with respect to the options and instructions displayed on the lower display 30b. Further, it is possible to write a character in the image displayed on the lower display 30b and draw an arbitrary figure. In the following description, it is assumed that only the above-described microphone 40 is provided as an input device and all voice input is performed, but together with the microphone 40, a pen-shaped input device or a button is used as an input device. Other types of input devices such as a flat input device and a controller type input device may be provided. Further, the lower display 30b may be a touch panel type input device.

The photographed image is printed on a print medium such as a card such as paper or plastic or a metal accessory according to an instruction from the user 9 input from the above-mentioned input device, and the exit 6
It is provided to the user 9 by being discharged from 0.

The photographic device 1 is not limited to the above-mentioned form, and may have various other functions.

Further, FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing the structure of the photographing apparatus 1 shown in FIG.

Referring to FIG. 3, the photographing apparatus 1 includes a control unit 101 for controlling the entire photographing apparatus 1.
The control unit 101 controls the voice information processing unit 111 to control the microphone 4
Various operation signals obtained by processing voice information input from 0 are received. Further, a coin detection signal is received from the coin detection unit 51 provided inside the coin slot 50.

The voice information processing unit 111 processes the voice information input from the microphone 40 and converts it into an operation signal. Specifically, so-called noise such as sound outside the photo vending machine or contact sound of the body or clothing is removed from the voice information input from the microphone 40, and the voice information input from the user 9 is separated. A process for recognizing a voice signal is performed.

Various processing methods are known for such speech recognition processing. For example, there is also a method in which the voice signal of a specific user is input and set in advance, and the voice information of the user is extracted from the voice information of other noise and converted into a voice signal. When this method is adopted in the photo vending machine according to the present embodiment, the user 9 inputs a voice from the microphone 40 and sets a voice signal unique to the user 9 before using the photo vending machine. There is a need to.

As described above, in the photo vending machine in the environment used by an unspecified user, it is necessary to set the audio signal before each use by the user 9. Therefore, in the present embodiment, As shown in FIG. 2, it is desirable to adopt a method of performing voice recognition by inputting voice information with a plurality of microphones 40.

The above-mentioned processing method executed by the voice information processing unit 111 is a method generally used for a car navigation system or the like, and therefore a detailed description thereof will be omitted here, and only an outline will be given. Describe. That is, each microphone 40 (in the present embodiment, the upper microphone 40a
And the direction of the time and frequency of the voice information of noise input from the lower microphone 40b) is estimated, and a filter in the frequency band in which the voice of the user 9 does not exist is created. Then, by using the filter, the band in which the voice of the user 9 does not exist is removed from the actually input voice information.
The voice information input by can be highlighted. By converting the voice information obtained in this way, the voice signal input from the user 9 is recognized.

Subsequently, the storage unit 102 stores a plurality of image data and sound data. The image data stored in the storage unit 102 includes a demonstration image (hereinafter referred to as a demo image), a plurality of decoration images to be printed on the surface of the print medium, and the like. Also,
The storage unit 102 stores a program executed by the control unit 101. Further, the storage unit 102 includes the control unit 1
It also serves as a temporary storage area when the program is executed at 01.

The graphic I / F (interface) circuit 103 reads out the image data stored from the storage unit 102, converts it into a predetermined stored image signal, and sends it to the image composition unit 106 and the display selection circuit 107.

The sound I / F circuit 104 includes the storage unit 10.
The stored sound data is read out from No. 2, converted into a predetermined sound signal, and transmitted to the speaker 70.

Upper camera 10a and lower camera 10b
The image signal of the subject 90 transmitted from the camera 10 including the image correction unit 105 is received by the image correction unit 105.
Corrects the image of the subject 90. The image correction unit 105 performs necessary processing such as image distortion correction, color tone correction, image deformation, rotation, and inversion. The image signal of the subject 90 corrected by the image correction unit 105 is the image synthesis unit 106.
Sent to.

The direction and position of the camera 10 are
It is controlled by a driving unit (not shown).

The image synthesizing unit 106 receives the image signal of the subject 90 as the first image signal and the image signal of the stored image transmitted from the graphic I / F circuit 103 as the second image signal. Then, the first image and the second image are combined. The image synthesizing method in the image synthesizing unit 106 includes utility model registration No. 3043855 and utility model registration No. 30.
Since it is described in detail in Japanese Patent No. 51776, etc., its detailed description is omitted here. It is preferable that the image composition unit 106 includes a plurality of composition methods and that an optimal composition method is selected by a control signal from the control unit 101. The combined image is transmitted to the display selection circuit 107 and the printer 61.

The display selection circuit 107 includes an image composition section 106.
And the graphic I / F circuit 103
From the control unit 101, selects one of the image signals and transmits it to the display 30 including the upper display 30a and the lower display 30b. The display 30 is
An image signal is received from the display selection circuit 107 and an image is displayed.

The printer controller 109 includes the control unit 1
The printer 61 is controlled based on the control signal from 01. Under the control of the printer controller 109, the printer 61 receives the composite image signal from the image composition unit 106, generates print image data based on the composite image data, and prints the print image on a predetermined print medium.

The illumination control unit 108 synchronizes with the photographing means by the camera 10 and the upper illumination 20a and the lower illumination 20b.
The lighting 20 is synchronously controlled so that the lighting 20 is composed of.

The counter 110 counts and displays the number of coins inserted. In the vending machine for photographs provided with such a photographing device 1, the following operations are usually performed. That is, until the user 9 inserts a coin, the display selection circuit 1 is based on the control signal from the control unit 101.
07 selects the graphic I / F circuit 103 side. Therefore, the demo image data stored in advance in the storage unit 102 is transferred to the graphic I / F circuit 103, and the demo image is displayed on the display 30.
Also, the BGM sound data stored in advance in the storage unit 102 is transferred to the sound I / F circuit 104,
BGM is played from the speaker 70.

When the user 9 inserts a coin and a detection signal is transmitted from the coin detecting unit 51 to the control unit 101, the control signal from the control unit 101 causes the predetermined image data stored in the storage unit 102 and The sound data is read, and the graphic I / F circuit 103 and the sound I / F
It is transmitted to the F circuit 104. And the display 30
Then, the speaker 70 appropriately gives an instruction to the user 9 by the display and the voice, and the following operation is performed.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a process executed in the photo vending machine of the present embodiment, which is equipped with the photo-taking device 1. The processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. 4 is realized by the control unit 101 of the photographic apparatus 1 executing a program stored in the storage unit 102.

Referring to FIG. 4, first, when the user 9 receives the required number of coins while the demo screen is displayed, the coin detecting unit 51 detects insertion of coins (S101). The control unit 101 receives the detection signal from the coin detection unit 51 and reads out the predetermined image data and sound data stored in the storage unit 102. The read image data and sound data are transmitted to the graphic I / F circuit 103 and the sound I / F circuit 104. Then, an instruction is appropriately output to the user 9 by the display from the display 30 and the voice from the speaker 70.

Then, the selection of the desired photographing method from the user 9 is accepted (S103). In the photography device 1 of the present embodiment, photography can be performed multiple times in one process. For example, the upper camera 10a can be used for face-up photography, and the lower camera 10b can be used for full body photography. It is possible to preset a plurality of shooting methods in consideration of such variations, and display the shooting methods on the display 30 to allow the user 9 to make a selection. The user 9 can input a desired photographing method by selecting with a touch pen (not shown) or the like.

In addition, in the selection of the photographing method accepted in step S103, in addition to the selection of the photographing method by the camera 10 described above, the way of illuminating may be appropriately combined and selected.

In the selection in step S103,
When a cursor or the like is moved to the option displayed on the display 30 to make a selection, the operation of moving the cursor is
From the microphone 40, sounds such as “up”, “down”, “right”, and “left” can be received from the user 9. Further, operations such as determination and cancellation can be accepted from the user 9 through the microphone 40 with sounds such as “determination” and “cancel”.

When the photographing method selected in step S103 is determined, the subject 90 is photographed by the camera 10 (S105). The shooting process in step S105 is
It may be performed a plurality of times a predetermined number of times. Further, it may be repeated a plurality of times within the time limit. At this time, camera 1
When 0 is movable, an instruction to move the camera 10 can be received from the microphone 40. That is, the user 9 can receive an instruction to move the camera 10 by voice such as “zoom”.

When the photographing in step S105 is completed, the photographed image is displayed on the display 30. Then, the user 9 receives the input of the second image on the screen (S107). Second in step S107
Image input can be accepted until a predetermined time limit is reached. As a tool used for inputting the second image on the display 30, a pen, a stamp, a background, a color, a line type, a pattern, and the like are displayed.
Accept tool selection from. Then, the input of the second image such as an arbitrary image or text using the selected tool is accepted. These selections and inputs are performed by the voice input from the microphone 40. That is, user 9
The input of more "Hello", etc. By receiving the microphone 40, creates a text such as "Hello", can be entered as the second image. Also, by accepting input such as "glitter", select the star-shaped stamp image,
It can also be input as the second image. Furthermore, an input of an abstract expression such as “war”, “ky”, “cute”, “scary”, etc. may be accepted, and an image that causes them to be input may be input as the second image. Further, the selection of the image color, the thickness of the text, the brightness, and the color tone of the second screen which has received the input as described above is also received from the microphone 40. The microphone 40 also receives instructions for adjusting the color tone, redoing the input, and ending the input.

The sound received from the microphone 40 is not limited to standard Japanese, and may be Japanese including dialects, English, mimetic words, onomatopoeic words, or the like. Further, the input sound is not limited to the voice of the user 9 and may be other sounds such as a sound of clapping a hand and a sound of playing a musical instrument.

When the input of the second image is completed in step S107, the image obtained by combining the photographed image photographed in step S105 and the above-mentioned second image is displayed on the display 3
Display at 0. The captured image and the second image both have a plurality of images, and the display 30 displays a plurality of combined images. Then, the selection of the image to be printed is accepted from the user 9 (S109).

Further, the image to be printed selected in step S109 is displayed on the display 30 in association with the plurality of layouts stored in the storage unit 102. As a layout, a predetermined print medium size is divided into eight, and 1
There are 6 divisions, 24 divisions, and 32 divisions. Then, the user 9 receives the selection of a desired layout from the plurality of layouts displayed on the display 30 (S111).

When the acceptance of the layout selection is completed in step S111, the accepted layout and the step S
The image data of the image to be printed received in 109 is transmitted to the printer controller 109 as an instruction signal. Then, the printer 61 prints on the surface of a predetermined print medium (S113), and the printed print medium is discharged from the outlet 60 to be provided to the user 9.

With the above, the processing in the photo-taking device 1 is completed, and in the photo vending machine, BGM is flown and a demo image is displayed until the next coin is inserted, in the same manner as before coin insertion. .

The photo vending machine according to this embodiment is
By providing the above-mentioned voice input means, the user can easily input various operation instructions and information.
In addition, since input by touching hands or other parts is not required, if input by touching hands or other parts is not desired, or if input by touching hands or other parts is difficult due to obstacles, or Even if your child's height is too short for the input device, you can easily make various inputs.
A wider range of users can be used.

Further, the above-mentioned method of inputting information in the photo vending machine can be provided as a program. Such a program is a flexible disk attached to a computer, a CD-ROM, a ROM, a RAM.
Also, it can be recorded as a computer-readable recording medium such as a memory card and provided as a program product. Alternatively, the program may be provided by being recorded in a recording medium such as a hard disk built in the computer. Further, the program can be provided by downloading via the network.

The provided program product is installed and executed in a program storage unit such as a hard disk.

The program product includes the program itself and a recording medium on which the program is recorded.

The embodiments disclosed this time are to be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is shown not by the above description but by the claims, and is intended to include meanings equivalent to the claims and all modifications within the scope.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a specific example of the external appearance of a photo vending machine according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a specific example of the external appearance of the photographic device 1 shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing a configuration of the photography device 1 shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a process executed in the photo vending machine according to the present embodiment, which is provided with the photo taking device 1.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Photographing device, 2 Curtain, 3 Case, 9 User, 10 Camera, 10a Upper Camera, 10b Lower Camera, 20 Illumination, 20a Upper Illumination, 20b Lower Illumination, 30 Display, 30a Upper Display, 30b Lower Display, 40 Microphone , 40a
Upper microphone, 40b Lower microphone, 50 coin insertion slot, 51 coin detection section, 60 ejection slot, 61 printer, 70 speaker, 101 control section, 102 storage section,
103 graphic I / F circuit, 104 sound I
/ F circuit, 105 image correction unit, 106 image composition unit,
107 display selection circuit, 108 illumination control unit, 109
Printer controller, 110 counter, 111 voice information processing unit.

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A photographing means for photographing a subject to generate a plurality of photographed images, a display means for displaying the photographed images, an input means for accepting an intention of a user, and a printing means for printing the photographed images. A vending machine for photographs, wherein the input means receives a sound emitted by the user. 2. The vending machine according to claim 1, wherein operation is performed by a sound received by the input means. 3. A second image input means for receiving an input of a second image from the user, and a synthesizing means for synthesizing the second image and the photographed image, wherein the display means is the synthesized image. The second image and the photographed image are displayed, and the printing unit prints the combined image.
The photo vending machine according to claim 1. 4. The vending machine according to claim 3, wherein the second image input unit converts the sound received by the input unit into text information and receives it as a second image. 5. The vending machine according to claim 3, wherein the second image input unit converts the sound received by the input unit into image information and receives it as a second image. 6. The vending machine according to claim 1, further comprising a moving unit that moves the photographing unit according to a sound from a user who receives the image by the input unit. 7. The photo vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the input unit is composed of a plurality of voice input devices.