JP2008090186A - Automatic photograph creation device, and automatic photograph creation method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an automatic photograph creation device using a required number of flashes, at shorter intervals, in limited power source capacity, and allowing a user to enjoy more the effects of consecutive photographing. <P>SOLUTION: The present invention comprises: cameras 6 and 7 for photographing a subject; an illumination means having two or more flashes that emit light, so as to illuminate the subject, when photographing the subject with the cameras 6 and 7; a selective charging means 35 that operates, to charge electric power from a power source to a specified capacitor of the capacitors provided to the respective flashes and the discharged capacitors; and a photographing control device 30 for controlling the photographic operation by the cameras 6 and 7, illumination operation by the illumination means, and charging operation by the selective charging means. The photographic control device 30 sequentially selects each of the groups of flashes, and makes the flashes emit light in accordance with the photographic timing, when the subject is to be photographed continuously using the cameras 6 and 7. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an automatic photo creation apparatus and an automatic photo creation method for photographing a subject including a user with a camera and outputting the photographed image as a printed photograph.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an automatic photo creation device for a game that outputs a photographed image of a user photographed by a camera as a printed photograph has been installed in a game center or other amusement facilities.
In such an automatic photo creation device, usually, according to the user's preference, shooting conditions such as zoom selection of the camera and image selection of the user background, image selection such as a stamp image to be combined with the shot image, An editing condition such as designation of a composite part in the photographed image of the image and a printing condition such as allocation of the photographed image after the editing work to a printing mount can be selected.

Patent 3493456

  By the way, in the above-described automatic photo creation device, it is preferable to use a large number of flashes (electric flashes) in order to obtain good shooting results. In this case, however, the power capacity that can be allocated is limited. Therefore, it is difficult to charge capacitors (capacitors) for emitting the flashes in a short time. That is, the power supply capacity that can be used in the entire apparatus is normally equivalent to 15 A, and the capacitor is charged by the power supply capacity that can be allocated to the lighting device including the flash. In this case, all capacitors are charged. It takes about 3 to 4 seconds to charge, and it is not possible to continuously shoot at intervals within that time. For this reason, when taking continuous pictures when the user is dancing, it is not possible to take pictures at appropriate time intervals, and the effect of the continuous pictures cannot be fully enjoyed by the user. Currently.

  Therefore, the present invention provides an automatic photo creation device that enables a necessary number of flashes to be used at shorter intervals within a limited power source capacity, and allows the user to enjoy the effects of continuous photography. The purpose is to provide.

In order to achieve the above object, the automatic photo creating apparatus of the present invention comprises:
Photographing means for photographing a subject including a user;
Printing means for printing an image of a subject photographed by the photographing means on a print medium;
Illuminating means having two or more flashes that emit a flash to illuminate the subject when the photographing means shoots the subject;
In order to supply electric power for emitting the flash, a capacitor provided for each flash,
A power source for supplying power stored in the capacitor;
Among the capacitors that have been discharged using the corresponding flash, a charge control means that controls the specified number of capacitors to be charged with power from the power source,
A photographing control means for controlling a photographing operation by the photographing means, a lighting operation by the lighting means, and a charging operation by the charging control means,
The illuminating means includes one or a plurality of sets of the flashes, each of which includes a plurality of flashes that can emit light independently of each other.
When the photographing control means continuously shoots the subject using the photographing means and the photographing interval is shorter than the charging period of the capacitor, the one or a plurality of sets of flashes are set as the one set. The electric storage device corresponding to each flash is prepared by being sequentially charged by the charge control means so that photographing can be executed using each flash sequentially.
With the above-described configuration, it is possible to continuously perform photographing by sequentially repeatedly using a plurality of flashes that can emit light independently of each other. This is usually required to charge these capacitors using the number of flashes required to obtain good imaging results, regardless of the limited capacity that can be allocated to the illumination means. Continuous shooting can be performed at intervals shorter than the time. Therefore, it becomes possible for the user to enjoy the effects of continuous photography.

Here, it is preferable that each of the flashes in the set is arranged so as to emit a flash in substantially the same direction from substantially the same position.
Thereby, it is also possible to produce an effect of taking a picture without making the user aware of the fact that the flash is switched every time the picture is taken.

At this time, the photographing means includes two or more cameras having different installation positions, and each set of flashes is provided in association with each camera,
It is preferable that the photographing control means performs photographing using the respective cameras sequentially.
As a result, it is possible to continuously take pictures with the cameras having different installation positions, and the user can enjoy more various effects.

Further, the photographing means comprises a single camera,
The photographing control means may be configured to photograph with the one camera by sequentially using each of the pair of flashes.
If it is the said structure, it will become possible to image | photograph the continuous photograph with a short imaging | photography space | interval by the same camera.

The photographing control means may control the charging amount of each capacitor different for each group of the flash.
As a result, it is possible to create a photo with different brightness for each shooting, and a variety of effects can be enjoyed by the user.

When the shooting control unit sets the shooting interval so as to be gradually shortened and the set shooting interval is shorter than the charging period of the capacitor, the one or more sets of flashes are set as the one set. You may make it perform imaging | photography using each flash sequentially.
With the above configuration, by gradually shortening the shooting interval, it is possible to give the user an appropriate tension and not to get tired of the shooting operation itself.

Also provided with music playback means for playing and outputting music,
The shooting control means may set the shooting interval in accordance with the music played back by the music playback means.
If it is the said structure, it will become possible to image | shoot a continuous photograph at a more suitable space | interval, such as when dancing according to music, for example by setting an imaging | photography space | interval according to the rhythm and tempo of music.

In addition, a background image composition means for compositing a background image with an image photographed using the photographing means,
The photographing control means may set the photographing interval in accordance with the movement of a specific subject in the background image synthesized by the background image synthesizing means.
As a result, it is possible to take continuous pictures at intervals associated with the movement of a specific subject in the background image, and it is possible to take continuous pictures with more diverse contents.

In addition, the photographing control unit sequentially charges the storage battery of each set of flashes in the one or a plurality of sets of flashes by the charge control unit, and the use order in each of the set of flashes is 2. The automatic photo creation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control is performed so that the subject is continuously photographed by using each of the flashes in a set sequentially from immediately before the last flash is charged.
According to the above-described configuration, it becomes possible to take continuous photographs with very short shooting intervals as many as the number of flashes set as one set. For example, if the user is instructed to pose for each shooting, Appropriate tension can be given to the user. When the user can pose as instructed and obtain a good photographing result, the user feels satisfied with that. In this way, the user can enjoy shooting itself.

In addition, the automatic photo creation method of the present invention is
Photographing means for photographing a subject including a user;
Printing means for printing an image of a subject photographed by the photographing means on a print medium;
Illuminating means having two or more flashes that emit a flash to illuminate the subject when the subject is photographed by the photographing means;
In order to supply electric power for emitting the flash, a capacitor provided for each flash,
A power supply for supplying electric power to be stored in the capacitor, and the lighting means includes a plurality of flashes that can emit light independently of each other, and includes one or a plurality of sets of flashes. An automatic photo creation method of a photo creation device,
When the subject is continuously photographed using the photographing means, if the photographing interval is shorter than the charging period of the capacitor, the one or more sets of flashes are used sequentially. A shooting step for performing shooting,
A charging step of sequentially charging the storage battery corresponding to each of the set of flashes by the charging control means;
It is characterized by that.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to continuously take pictures at shorter intervals, and therefore it is possible to take continuous pictures of various actions of the user at more appropriate intervals. Therefore, it is possible to make the user enjoy the effect of continuous photography.

  BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The best mode of a gaming machine according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the specific modes described below, so long as it does not depart from the gist of the present invention. The design may be changed as appropriate.

1 and 2 are a plan view and a side view, respectively, of an automatic photo creation apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 1, the automatic photo creation device 1 of the present embodiment is disposed adjacent to the shooting booth 2 and a shooting booth 2 having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape for shooting subjects such as users W1 and W2. An edit space 3 (3 ₁ , 3 ₂ ) and a payout unit 4 for printing an image edited in the edit space 3 and paying it out to the users W1 and W2 are provided.

The shooting booth 2 has a flexible resin curtain-like member (not shown) partitioned at both sides, and the users W1 and W2 turn the member in and out, and the user W1. , W2 is arranged on the front side of the inside of the apparatus to be directly opposed. The creation device main body 5 incorporates a shooting control device 30, a print control device 50, a printer 8, a charging control unit 36, a power supply device 11, a music playback device, and the like, which will be described later, and a user W1 of a housing that houses them. The front camera 6, the first front flash 9A, the second front flash 9B, the third front flash 10A, and the fourth front flash 10B that illuminate the front upper part of the users W1 and W2 at the time of photographing are attached to the surface that should face W2. Has been. In addition to this, a main operation touch panel 12, a remote controller 13 and a coin insertion unit 14 are provided on the surface of the casing that should face the users W1 and W2.
Although not shown, the photographing booth 2 is provided with a speaker for playing music reproduced by the music reproducing device.

  In addition, an upper camera 7 and an upper camera preview are provided on the front oblique upper portion 15 provided obliquely as viewed from the users W1 and W2 inside the photographing booth 2 (hereinafter, the same applies to the directions in the photographing booth 2). Provided are a first oblique upper front flash 9C, a second oblique upper front flash 9D, a third oblique upper front flash 10C, and a fourth oblique upper front flash 10D that illuminate the display device 16 and upper front surfaces of the users W1 and W2 at the time of photographing. It has been. In addition, a rear upper right portion 17 provided on the diagonally upper right side on the rear side inside the photographing booth 2 includes a first oblique upper right rear flash 9E and a second oblique light that illuminate the right rear portion of the users W1, W2 during photographing. An upper right rear flash 10E is provided, and a rear upper left portion 18 provided on an obliquely upper left side on the inner rear side is provided with a first oblique upper left rear flash 9F for illuminating the left rear portions of the users W1, W2 at the time of photographing. A second oblique upper left rear flash 10F is provided. Further, a rear portion 19 provided on the rear side inside the photographing booth 2 so as to face the backs of the users W1, W2 is provided with a first rear flash 9G that illuminates the upper back of the users W1, W2 during photographing. A back flash 9H, a third back flash 10G, and a fourth back flash 10H are provided. The front lower portion 20 provided obliquely below the front side of the interior is provided with a first front lower flash 9I and a second front lower flash 10I that illuminate the lower front portions of the users W1 and W2 from below during photographing.

  Among the above flashes, the first front flash 9A and the third front flash 10A, the second front flash 9B and the fourth front flash 10B, the first oblique upper front flash 9C and the third oblique upper front flash 10C, 2 diagonal upper front flash 9D and fourth diagonal upper front flash 10D, first diagonal upper right rear flash 9E and second diagonal upper right rear flash 10E, first diagonal upper left rear flash 9F and second diagonal upper left rear flash 10F The first back flash 9G and the third back flash 10G, the second back flash 9H and the fourth back flash 10H, the first front lower flash 9I and the second front lower flash 10I are respectively directed from substantially the same position in the same direction. A set of flashes is arranged to emit a flash. In other words, in the embodiment, there are nine sets of a plurality of flashes arranged so as to emit flash light from substantially the same position in the same direction.

Further, a light (not shown) for illuminating the users W1, W2 from above is provided on the ceiling portion of the photographing booth 2.
FIG. 3 shows details of the touch panel 12 for main operation. The main operation touch panel 12 includes a touch panel display such as a liquid crystal tablet, and is provided in the vicinity of the front camera 6, for example, immediately below it. The main operation touch panel 12 includes a main preview monitor 91 as display means for displaying subjects including the users W1 and W2 captured by the front camera 6 in real time, a remaining time timer 92 for displaying the remaining shootable time, and a user. W1 and W2 include a reference moving image display unit 93 that displays a moving image that serves as a reference for the pose, and a display unit of captured image thumbnails 94, 94,... For listing each captured image. The main operation touch panel 12 displays a message for instructing the users W1 and W2 to select a shooting mode, a shooting course, and the like, and a selection screen.

  The main preview monitor 91 makes it easy to see the current state of the users W1 and W2 who are shooting, that is, the through image (moving image) captured at each time by each camera and the captured image (still image) with the through image fixed. To display. In addition, the main preview monitor 91 displays a composite image obtained by combining a background image with the captured images of the users W1 and W2 including the through image at the time of shooting operation by each camera. This synthesized image is generated, for example, by photographing the users W1 and W2 with a blue background and synthesizing the background image with the captured image in chroma key.

  The coin insertion unit 14 inserts a prescribed coin as a consideration for use of the automatic creation apparatus 1, and the coin insertion unit 14 captures a coin detection signal when detecting that a prescribed coin has been inserted. Output to the control device 30.

Next, the editing space 3 will be described. The editing space 3 is provided outside the front side of the shooting booth 2 and is entirely surrounded by a curtain 3a that can be opened and closed, and the interior is partitioned in half by a partition 21, and two independent editing spaces 3 ₁ , 3 _{2 are provided.} It is said that. In each editing space 3 ₁ , 3 ₂ , editing devices 23 are arranged back to back with a partition 21 in between. Each user who has photographed at the photographing booth 2 is supposed to perform editing work by handwritten input on the photographed image in any of the editing spaces 3 ₁ , 3 ₂ . Thus, by providing a plurality of editing booths 3 ₁ , 3 ₂ for _one shooting booth 2, it is possible to lengthen the time during which each user can edit without reducing the operating rate of the shooting booth 2. can do.

  FIG. 4 shows an outline of the editing apparatus. The editing device 23 includes a vertically placed substantially rectangular parallelepiped base portion 23a and an upper portion 23c having an operation surface 23b made of a slope. The operation surface 23b has a handwriting input screen (doodle screen) 24 and a right side thereof. A right touch pen 25 disposed on the left side and a left touch pen 26 disposed on the left side.

  FIG. 5 shows details of the operation surface of the editing apparatus. The handwriting input screen 24 is divided into two input screens 24R and 24L arranged on the right and left sides with the central display unit 28 in between so that two people can input independently. Each input screen 24R, 24L displays a captured image to be edited. The central display unit 28 displays a timer for displaying the remaining editing time and a thumbnail of each photographed image so that the photographed image to be edited can be selected. In addition, an operation button group 27 for performing settings related to handwriting input operations is provided on the outer side of the input screens 24R and 24L. Also, below each input screen 24R, 24L, an editing material display for displaying editing materials corresponding to each editing mode such as “pen input mode”, “stamp image insertion mode”, “frame composition mode”, and “background composition mode”. A section 29 is provided, and a mode selection button group 61 for selecting the editing mode is provided on the inner side of the editing material display section 29. Further, a tab 62 for switching the display page is provided at the top of each editing material display section 29. The editing material displayed on the editing material display unit 29 is selected by the user W1 or W2 pressing with a finger or the like and inserted or synthesized into the editing target image.

In addition, each touch pen 25, 26 can input a drawing of characters, figures, etc. by bringing the pen tip into contact with the surface of the input screen 24R, 24L, and is thus handwritten (so-called “doodle”). The images and the various images stored in advance in the hard disk drive 33 of the imaging control device 30 are combined with the captured images of the users W1 and W2 captured by the cameras and displayed on the input screens 24R and 24L. It has become. In addition, a speaker (not shown) is installed at an appropriate position in front of the editing device 23. The input procedure to the input screens 24R and 24L is guided by voice, music is played, and the like. The players W1 and W2 can smoothly operate the automatic photo creation apparatus 1 and can enjoy and play.

  The printer 8 constitutes a printing unit that prints a photographed image or a photographed image after editing processing on a print medium, and performs a printing operation based on an instruction signal from the print control device 50. Further, in this printer 8, printing conditions such as frame allocation of photographed images and the like are changed in accordance with the input instructions of the users W1 and W2 notified by the instruction signal. Printed photos that match your preferences are printed. Then, the printed photograph or the like is sent from the printer 8 to the payout unit 4 and provided to the users W1 and W2.

  FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a control system of the automatic photo creation apparatus according to the present embodiment. The automatic photo creation device 1 includes a photographing control device 30, a handwriting input (graffiti) control device 40, and a print control device 50 that are connected to each other.

The imaging control device 30 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 31, a memory 32 as a main storage device of the CPU 31, a program executed by the CPU 31 so that the imaging control device 30 performs various processes, and background A hard disk drive 33 for storing image data, music playback software, music data to be played back, frame-like image data, and the like, and an I / O control unit 34 for performing processing for transmitting and receiving data to and from external devices Including sound board. The I / O control unit 34 is connected to a data line (not shown) such as a telephone line, so that the automatic photo creating apparatus 1 can perform two-way data communication with a network such as the Internet (including a mail transmission / reception function). Is included).
The photographing control device 30 is connected to a front camera 6, an upper camera 7, a main preview monitor 13, a main operation touch panel 12, and an illumination device 38 including the flashes.

The handwriting input control device 40 stores a CPU 41, a memory 42 as a main storage device of the CPU 41, a program executed by the CPU 41 so that the handwriting input control device 40 performs various processes, image data for editing material, and the like. And a hard disk drive 43 that performs processing for transmitting / receiving data to / from an external device.
The handwriting input control device 40 is connected to a first editing touch panel and a second editing touch panel.

The print control device 50 includes a CPU 51, a memory 52 as a main storage device of the CPU 51, a hard disk drive 53 that stores programs executed by the CPU 51 so that the print control device 50 performs various processes, and external devices. And an I / O unit 54 that performs processing for transmitting and receiving data.
A printer is connected to the print control apparatus 50.

  In the illustrated example, the imaging control device 30 and the printing control device 50 are directly connected to the handwriting input control device 40, and the imaging control device 30 and the printing control device 50 are indirectly connected via the handwriting input control device 40. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the control devices may be connected in a star shape using a hub.

  FIG. 7 shows details of the lighting device. The illumination device 38 includes the flashes 9A to 9I, 10A to 10I, a capacitor (capacitor) 22 provided for each flash, and a charge control unit 36. The charge control unit 36 includes a switch group 35 (35 </ b> A, 35 </ b> B) made of, for example, semiconductor elements provided on a connection line between the power supply 11 and each battery 22, a switch control unit 37, and a current control unit 39. In the embodiment, the switch control unit 37 switches each switch 35A (35a, 35b, 35c, 35d,...), 35B (35e, 35f, 35g, 35h,...) According to an instruction from the imaging control device 30. Turn on and off, select one of the flashes 9A to 9I for the front camera 6 and each of the flashes 10A to 10I for the upper camera 7, and operate to charge the capacitor 22 of each selected flash Is done. The current control unit 39 includes a step-up transformer, a rectifier circuit, and the like, and controls the current supplied from the power supply 11 to each capacitor 22 so as to give a predetermined amount of charge to each capacitor 22 according to an instruction from the imaging control device 30. To do. At this time, the charge applied to the battery 22 may be changed between the flashes 9A to 9I for the front camera 6 and the flashes 10A to 10I for the upper camera 7. Thereby, it is possible to change the photographing brightness by the cameras 6 and 7. In the figure, a switch mechanism using a semiconductor element is schematically shown as a mechanical switch.

Hereinafter, the operation of the present apparatus will be described with reference to FIGS.
First, main processing executed by the imaging control device 30 will be described.
When the apparatus is turned on, a predetermined initialization process is performed (step S1). In this initialization process, display of a message prompting the user to insert coins or a demonstration video is started on the main operation touch panel 12 so as to indicate that the present apparatus can be operated. Next, when the shooting control device 30 detects that the prescribed coins are inserted into the coin insertion unit 14 by the users W1 and W2, the shooting control device 30 starts counting the remaining shootable time (step S3) and selects the shooting mode. A button for performing the selection is displayed on the main operation touch panel 12 (step S4). Here, the above-described shooting modes include a remote control operation mode in which the users W1 and W2 manually perform shooting, a commitment mode in which images are retaken again and again until a desired image is obtained, and an automatic connection. There is a copy mode.

  Next, it is determined which shooting mode has been selected (step S5), and if the selected shooting mode is the remote control operation mode, the process proceeds to step S23 (FIG. 9), and the shooting course selection button is pressed on the main operation touch panel. 12 and a photographing brightness selection button is displayed on the main operation touch panel 12 (step S24). Here, when one of the shooting courses (overseas travel, visiting the ruins, etc.) is selected by the users W1 and W2, the order of displaying a series of background images in accordance with the theme of the shooting course is displayed. A pose to be taught to the users W1 and W2 is set for each background image.

  Next, the remote controller 13 determines which of the front camera button 71, the upper camera button 72, and the simultaneous shooting button 73 is pressed (step S26), and if the front camera (A camera) 6 is selected (step S26). S27), instructing the charging controller 37 to charge the capacitors 22 of the flashes 9A to 9I of the front camera 6 (step S28). Shooting is possible when charging is completed, and shooting is performed in accordance with instructions from the users W1 and W2 (step S29).

When one shooting is completed, the process proceeds to step S30, and it is determined whether or not the remaining shooting time timer has expired (step S30). If there is a remaining time, the process returns to step S26, and if there is no remaining time, the process proceeds to step S13 in FIG.
If the upper camera (B camera) 7 is selected in step S26 (step S31), the charging controller 37 is instructed to charge the capacitors 22 of the flashes 10A to 10I of the upper camera 7 (step S31). S32). When the charging is completed, it becomes possible to take a picture, and the picture is taken according to the instructions of the users W1 and W2 (step S33), and the process proceeds to the processes after step S30.

  If simultaneous shooting is selected in step S26, the flashes 9A to 9I and 10A to 10I of the cameras 6 and 7 are used in order to perform shooting using the front camera 6 and the upper camera 7 in this order. The charge control unit 37 is instructed to charge in this order (step S34). Immediately before charging of the capacitors of the flashes 10A to 10I of the upper camera 7 to be used later is completed, the front camera 6 is used for photographing (step S35), and the upper camera 7 is photographed after a short time. Is performed (step S36). At this time, an appropriate tension can be given to the user by instructing the user to pose for each shooting. When the user can pose as instructed and obtain a good photographing result, the user feels satisfied with that. In this way, the user can enjoy shooting itself.

  When the sticking mode is selected in step S5, the process proceeds to step S6, and a selection button for selecting a camera for each photographing is displayed as a predetermined number (for example, three) of images is photographed (step S6). ), A background image selection button for each shooting is displayed (step S7), and a shooting brightness selection button for each shooting is displayed (step S8). When all of these are selected, the selected background is displayed. Photographing is executed by a predetermined charging / photographing process (step S10) while sequentially using the images. Next, it is determined whether or not the predetermined number (three) of images have been taken (step S11). If the predetermined number of images has not been taken, the process returns to step S9. Proceed to determine if there is remaining shooting time. Here, if there is a remaining time, the processing from step S6 is repeated, and if there is no remaining time, the process proceeds to step S13.

  When the automatic continuous shooting mode is selected in step S5, the process proceeds to step S16 to instruct the users W1 and W2 to display the shooting course selection button on the main operation touch panel 12 and select the shooting course. Then, the photographing brightness selection button is displayed on the main operation touch panel 12 to instruct the users W1 and W2 to select the photographing brightness (step S17). When all of these are selected, the selected background is selected. Photographing is performed by predetermined charging and photographing processing (step S20) while sequentially using the images. When a series of photographing is completed, the process proceeds to step S21, and it is determined whether there is a remaining photographing time. If the remaining shooting time is present, the process from step S20 onward is repeated, and if there is no remaining time, the process proceeds to step S13 onward.

  In step S13, the end of the current game (shooting) is displayed on the main operation touch panel 12, and the user W1, W2 is moved to one of the editing spaces 3 so as to edit the shot image. After instructing and waiting for a time sufficient for the users W1 and W2 to move (step S15), the process proceeds to the handwriting input process (FIG. 11).

Next, the charging / photographing process in steps S10 and S20 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 10, in the charging / photographing process, it is first determined by which camera the next photographing is performed (step S53). Here, when photographing is performed by the front camera 6, it is determined whether or not the capacitors of the flashes 9A to 9I of the front camera 6 have been charged (step S54). If not charged, charging is performed until the capacitors of the flash flashes 9A to 9I are fully charged (step S55). If charged, whether the capacitors of the flashes 10A to 10I of the upper camera 7 are charged. Is determined (step S56). Here, if the capacitors of the flashes 10A to 10I are not charged, charging of the capacitors of the flashes 10A to 10I is started (step S57), and then the process proceeds to step S58. If charged, the step S57 is skipped. Proceed to step S58.

  In step S58, it is determined whether or not the shooting timing of the front camera 6 (the shooting timing will be described separately) has arrived. If not, it is determined whether or not charging of the capacitors of the flashes 10A to 10I has been completed. (Step S59). If charging is not completed, the process returns to step S58. If completed, charging ends (step S60), and then the process returns to step S58. Thereby, until the photographing timing of the front camera 6 arrives, the capacitors of the flashes 10A to 10I of the upper camera 7 can be charged.

If the shooting timing of the front camera 6 has arrived at step S58, shooting by the front camera 6 is immediately executed (step S61), and the process returns to step S53.
In step S53, when the upper camera 7 performs shooting, it is determined whether or not the capacitors of the flashes 10A to 10I of the upper camera 7 have been charged (step S62). If not charged, charging is performed until charging of the flash flashes 10A to 10I is completed (step S63). On the other hand, if charged, it is determined whether or not the capacitors of the flashes 9A to 9I of the front camera 6 are charged. (Step S64). Here, if the capacitors of the flashes 9A to 9I are not charged, charging of the flashes 9A to 9I is started (step S65), and then the process proceeds to step S66. If charged, step S65 is skipped and step S66 is performed. Proceed to

  In step S66, it is determined whether or not the shooting timing of the upper camera 7 (the shooting timing will be described separately) has arrived. If not, it is determined whether or not the flashes 9A to 9I have been charged (step S66). S67). If charging is not completed, the process returns to step S66. If completed, charging is terminated (step S68), and then the process returns to step S66. Thereby, the capacitors of the flashes 9A to 9I of the front camera 6 can be charged until the shooting timing of the upper camera 7 arrives.

If the shooting timing of the upper camera 7 has arrived in step S66, shooting by the upper camera 7 is immediately executed (step S69), and the process returns to step S53.
By performing shooting by such charging / shooting processing, it is possible to perform shooting at an interval shorter than the normally required charging period of the battery, and in automatic continuous shooting mode (step S20), use is possible. When the persons W1 and W2 perform continuous shooting while dancing, the shooting can be performed at an appropriate interval. In the sticking mode, a larger number of images can be taken within a predetermined allowable shooting time.

Next, the handwriting input process executed by the process of the handwriting input control device 40 will be described.
In the handwriting input process, first, initialization processing of an editing apparatus to be used is performed (step S37), and then it is determined whether or not image data captured from the imaging control apparatus 30 has been transferred (step S38). Next, it is determined whether the users W1 and W2 have completed the movement from the shooting booth 2 to the editing space 3 and have started the operation of the editing apparatus (step S39). If the operation has been started, the image selection allowable time is determined. Is started (step S40), and the users W1 and W2 are instructed to select one of the images (step S41). Here, if any image is selected within the time, the selected image is designated as the image to be edited, and if there is no selected image, the randomly selected image is designated as the edit target.

Next, counting of the allowable edit time is started (step S42), and the users W1 and W2 are instructed to start editing (step S43).
It is determined whether or not there is an input with the right pen within the edit allowable time (step S44), and if there is an input, image processing corresponding to the input, specifically, a figure corresponding to the locus of the pen is inserted ( Step S51). Also, it is determined whether or not there is an input with the left pen within the edit allowable time (step S45). If there is an input, image processing corresponding to the input, specifically, a figure corresponding to the pen locus is inserted. (Step S52).

  Next, it is determined whether or not the editable time has expired (step S46). If the time has not expired, the processing from step S44 is repeated. If the time is up, the user W1 and W2 are notified of this (step S47), and the user W1 and W2 are instructed to select whether or not to divide the image (step S48). The users W1 and W2 are instructed to go to the section 4 (step S49), the final image data is transferred to the print control apparatus 50 (step S50), and the process is terminated.

Next, the printing process executed by the process of the print control apparatus 50 will be described.
In the printing process, first, a printer initialization process is performed (step S70). When the initialization process is completed, it is determined whether or not the transfer of the print image data from the handwriting input control device 40 is completed (step S71). If the transfer is not completed, the process waits until the transfer is completed. Data printing is started (step S72). Next, it is determined whether or not printing of the image data has been completed (step S72). If it has not been completed, printing is continued until completion, and if it has been completed, the process returns to step S70.

  FIG. 14 conceptually shows a layer structure of a photograph finally created by the printing process. As shown in the figure, a photograph 80 includes an image 81 taken by the cameras 6 and 7, a selected background image 82 and a frame-shaped image 83, and a handwritten input image (doodle image) generated by handwriting input processing. Are formed as a superposition.

  Next, the charging / photographing process will be described more specifically with reference to a time chart. Here, a case will be described in which music is played back at the same time when shooting is performed seven times in the automatic continuous shooting mode, and the shooting interval is gradually shortened while gradually increasing the music tempo. The first three times have enough shooting intervals, and only the front camera 6 performs shooting, but the remaining four times the shooting interval is shorter than the charging period of the battery, so the front camera 6 and the upper camera 7 are alternately used. An example of using and photographing is shown.

  When the first shooting by the front camera 6 is started at time t0, first, the flashes 9A to 9I of the front camera 6 are charged so that shooting is performed by the front camera 6, and the flashes 9A to 9I of the front camera 6 are charged at time t1. When the charging of 9I is completed, charging of the flashes 10A to 10I of the upper camera 7 is started from that point. The first shooting is executed by the front camera 6 at time t2, and the second shooting is started at time t3, which is immediately after that. When the charging of the flashes 10A to 10I of the upper camera 7 is completed at the time t4, the charging of the flashes 9A to 9I of the front camera 6 is started from that point. When the charging of the flashes 9A to 9I is completed, the front camera 6 is started at the time t5. The second shooting is executed. Immediately after that, when the third shooting is started at time t6, charging of the flashes 9A to 9I of the front camera 6 is started. When charging of the flashes 9A to 9I is completed at time t7, the front camera 6 is started at time t8. The third shooting is performed. At this time, since the flashes 10A to 10I of the upper camera 7 have already been charged, no further charging is performed.

  The fourth shooting is started at time t9, and charging of the flashes 9A to 9I of the front camera 6 is started. However, since this charging is not completed by time t10 which is the current shooting execution time, the flashes 10A to 10A. Shooting is performed using the upper camera 7 whose charging of 10I has already been completed. Shooting using the upper camera 7 is performed at time t10, and the fifth shooting is started at time t11, which is immediately after that, and charging of the flashes 10A to 10I of the upper camera 7 is started. In the fifth shooting, shooting is performed at time t12 using the front camera 6 in which the flashes 9A to 9I are fully charged, and the sixth shooting is started immediately after time t13. When the charging of the flashes 10A to 10I of the camera 7 is completed, the charging of the flashes 9A to 9I of the front camera 6 is started.

  In the sixth shooting, shooting is performed at time t14 using the upper camera 7 in which the flashes 10A to 10I are fully charged, and the seventh shooting is started at time t15, which is immediately after that. When the charging of the flashes 9A to 9I of the camera 6 is completed, the charging of the flashes 10A to 10I of the upper camera 7 is started. In the seventh shooting, shooting is performed at time t16 using the front camera 6 in which the flashes 9A to 9I have been charged, and the flashes 10A to 10I of the upper camera 7 are immediately after the time t17. When the charging is completed, charging of the flashes 9A to 9I of the front camera 6 is started.

Embodiment 2
In the above-described embodiment, the case where each flash group is provided in association with each of the front camera 6 and the upper camera 7 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. It is also possible to perform continuous shooting while alternately using 10A to 10I.

Embodiment 3
In each of the above embodiments, the shooting interval is changed according to the music. However, a moving character (subject) is inserted into the background image to be combined with the shot image, and the shooting interval is changed according to the movement. Also good.

(Other matters)
In the above embodiment, various types of printing devices such as sublimation printers, ink jet printers, laser printers, thermal transfer printers, fusion printers, thermal printers, photographic paper printers, and instant film printers can be employed as printers. In particular, the model is not limited.
Further, the print medium is not limited to a general seal print, but includes a printout output as a hard card, and the material and structure of the print medium are not particularly limited.

  Moreover, although embodiment demonstrated the case where a coin was used as play consideration, various aspects, such as a banknote, a prepaid card, a medal, a credit card, a cash card, are included. Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, a digital camera or a video camera can be used as the camera. However, the camera is not particularly limited as long as the captured image can be converted into a digital signal.

FIG. 2 is a two-side view illustrating an outline of an automatic photo creation apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The schematic diagram which shows apparatus arrangement | positioning of the inside front side of a photography booth. The top view which shows the outline of a main operation panel. FIG. 2 is a two-side view illustrating an outline of the editing apparatus. The top view which shows the detail of the operation surface of an editing apparatus. The block diagram which shows the outline of a control system. The block diagram which shows the detail of a charge control part. The flowchart of a main process. The flowchart of remote control operation mode. The flowchart of a charge and imaging | photography process. The flowchart of a handwriting input process. 10 is a flowchart of print processing. Time chart of charging and shooting process in automatic continuous shooting mode. The conceptual diagram which shows the layer structure of the produced photograph.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Automatic photo production apparatus 2 Shooting booth 3 Editing space 4 Dispensing part 6 Front camera 7 Upper camera 9, 10 Flash 22 Capacitor 30 Photographing control apparatus 36 Charging control part

Claims (10)

Photographing means for photographing a subject including a user;
Printing means for printing an image of a subject photographed by the photographing means on a print medium;
Illuminating means having two or more flashes that emit a flash to illuminate the subject when the photographing means shoots the subject;
In order to supply electric power for emitting the flash, a capacitor provided for each flash,
A power source for supplying power stored in the capacitor;
Among the capacitors that have been discharged using the corresponding flash, a charge control means that controls the specified number of capacitors to be charged with power from the power source,
A photographing control means for controlling a photographing operation by the photographing means, a lighting operation by the lighting means, and a charging operation by the charging control means,
The illuminating means includes one or a plurality of sets of the flashes, each of which includes a plurality of flashes that can emit light independently of each other.
When the photographing control means continuously shoots the subject using the photographing means and the photographing interval is shorter than the charging period of the capacitor, the one or a plurality of sets of flashes are set as the one set. An automatic photo creation apparatus characterized in that a battery corresponding to each flash is prepared by being sequentially charged by the charge control means so that photographing can be performed using each flash in sequence.   2. The automatic photo creation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the flashes in the set is disposed so as to emit a flash in substantially the same direction from substantially the same position. The photographing means includes two or more cameras having different installation positions, and each set of flashes is provided in association with each camera.
3. The automatic photo creation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the photographing control means performs photographing using the respective cameras sequentially. The photographing means comprises a single camera,
3. The automatic photo creation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the photographing control means performs photographing using the one camera by sequentially using the set of flashes.   5. The automatic photo creating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the photographing control means controls the charge control means so that the charge amounts of the respective capacitors are different.   When the shooting control unit sets the shooting interval so as to be gradually shortened and the set shooting interval is shorter than the charging period of the capacitor, the one or more sets of flashes are set as the one set. 6. The automatic photo creating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein photographing is performed using each flash sequentially. It has music playback means to play and output music,
7. The automatic photo creation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the photographing control means sets the photographing interval according to the music reproduced by the music reproducing means. A background image synthesizing unit that synthesizes a background image with an image photographed using the photographing unit;
8. The automatic photo creation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the photographing control unit sets the photographing interval in accordance with a movement of a specific subject in the background image synthesized by the background image synthesizing unit. .   The photographing control means causes the charge control means to sequentially charge the flash capacitors in the one or a plurality of sets of flashes by the charge control means, and the use order is last in each of the sets of flashes. 6. The automatic photo creation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the flash photography device is controlled so that the subject is continuously photographed by using each of the flashes in a set immediately before the completion of charging of the flash capacitor. Photographing means for photographing a subject including a user;
Printing means for printing an image of a subject photographed by the photographing means on a print medium;
Illuminating means having two or more flashes that emit a flash to illuminate the subject when the subject is photographed by the photographing means;
In order to supply electric power for emitting the flash, a capacitor provided for each flash,
A power supply for supplying electric power to be stored in the capacitor, and the lighting means includes a plurality of flashes that can emit light independently of each other, and includes one or a plurality of sets of flashes. An automatic photo creation method of a photo creation device,
When the subject is continuously photographed using the photographing means, if the photographing interval is shorter than the charging period of the capacitor, the one or more sets of flashes are used sequentially. A shooting step for performing shooting,
A charging step of sequentially charging the storage battery corresponding to each of the set of flashes by the charging control means;
An automatic photo creation method characterized by that.