JP4333223B2 - Automatic photographing device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an automatic photographing apparatus that automatically performs photographing.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a method for automatically photographing one or a plurality of subjects, a method for photographing with a camera having a delay shutter mechanism (so-called self-timer mechanism) is widely known.
Also, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-40550, before shooting in a photo box, the shooting state is displayed to the shooting subject and information is given to the shooting subject so that natural shooting is performed. There are known automatic photography devices to provide.
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-40550
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the automatic photography apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-40550 is premised on the position and size of the photographer being set in advance, and is in a general environment such as outdoors. In the automatic photographing for one or a plurality of subjects, photographing by a self-timer mechanism of the camera is generally used.
[0005]
When shooting with this camera's self-timer mechanism, use a tripod or other device in advance to place the camera in a predetermined location so that the subject can look into the viewfinder and take a picture of himself / herself or at the same time. After confirming the shooting state, the camera position and the position of the person to be photographed are adjusted, and then the delay shutter mechanism is operated to return to the position as the person to be photographed and perform desired photographing.
[0006]
However, in this method, the person who operates the camera must assume the place where he / she is located in the shooting state and return almost exactly to that position. difficult.
In addition, even when multiple people are photographed, it is impossible to know what kind of shooting state the subject person is in the whole and how to maintain the positional relationship with neighboring people. difficult.
[0007]
Furthermore, when multiple people are photographed at the same time, it is preferable that everyone's face is in a position facing the camera at the moment of photographing. You may not be able to take a photo.
In other words, with the conventional camera self-timer mechanism, there is no means for the photographer to check the shooting state immediately before the camera shutter is released. When the subject is off or there are a plurality of subjects, there is a problem that preferable photographing cannot be performed because the face and part of the body are unnaturally hidden by overlapping each other.
[0008]
In addition, it has been difficult to reliably realize shooting in a state where the face positions of a plurality of people who are simultaneously shot face all to the camera.
The present invention has been made to solve such a conventional problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide an automatic photographing apparatus capable of automatically photographing a photograph in which an unnatural chip or the like does not exist on a face or a part of a body. And
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
An automatic photographing apparatus according to claim 1 is a camera for automatically photographing a subject, a subject detection means for detecting the subject from an input image to the camera, and photographing by the camera. A shooting state determining unit that determines whether the shooting state is good or bad from a position state of the subject within a frame; and a shooting unit that performs shooting by the camera when the shooting state determined by the shooting state determining unit is good. The photographed person detecting means includes face image extracting means for extracting face images of all the photographed persons from the input image, and the shooting state determining means is configured to detect the face image when the face images do not overlap. When it is determined that the shooting state is good, and the shooting state determination means determines that the shooting state is bad, the correction position to be taken by the person to be photographed in order to improve the bad state, or correction Suitable transfer Correction instruction means for indicating a direction, wherein the correction instruction means is configured such that when the defective state is a state in which faces of a plurality of subjects are overlapped, the faces of a plurality of subjects are not overlapped. The correction position or the movement direction is indicated .
[0017]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0018]
(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the automatic photographing apparatus of the present invention.
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 11 indicates a camera 11 that automatically captures a subject.
The camera 11 is a digital camera, for example, and also serves as a monitor camera for inputting a shooting state.
[0019]
The camera 11 is installed on the top surface of the camera platform 13.
The pan head 13 is provided with a control device 15 having a control means described later.
The pan head 13 is held by a tripod 17.
In this embodiment, an image display device 19 that displays a shooting state, that is, an input image G to the camera 11, is disposed on the front surface of the camera platform 13.
[0020]
In addition, an audio notification device 21 including a speaker for notifying the person to be imaged with information about the shooting state is disposed above the image display device 19 of the camera platform 13.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the automatic photographing apparatus of this embodiment.
In this embodiment, a camera 11, an image display device 19, and a sound notification device 21 are connected to the control means 23 of the control device 15.
[0021]
The control means 23 is connected to a subject detection means 25 and a shooting state determination means 27.
The camera 11 outputs the input image G currently input to the camera 11 to the control means 23.
[0022]
The photographed person detection means 25 automatically detects the photographed person M from the input image G to the camera 11.
This person-to-be-photographed detection means 25 is composed of a known image processing means.
In this embodiment, the subject detection unit 25 includes a face image extraction unit 29 and a contour extraction unit 31.
[0023]
The face image extraction unit 29 automatically extracts the face image of the subject M from the input image G, and the contour extraction unit 31 captures the subject from the face image of the subject M extracted by the face image extraction unit 29. The outline of the person M is automatically extracted.
The shooting state determination unit 27 determines the quality of the shooting state from the position state of the person M to be shot within the shooting effective frame S of the camera 11.
[0024]
In this embodiment, first, the photographing state determination means 27, as shown in FIG. 3, the face image K and the contour L of the person M to be photographed with respect to the photographing effective frame S are not less than preset distances L1, L2. A first determination as to whether or not the user is away is performed based on data from the face image extraction unit 29 and the contour extraction unit 31.
Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the shooting state determination means 27 determines whether or not the face image K does not overlap and the overlapping region R of the contour L of the person M to be photographed is within a preset area range. The determination of 2 is performed.
[0025]
When the first determination and the second determination are satisfied, that is, the face image K and the contour L of the subject M are within a predetermined region with respect to a predetermined position of the shooting effective frame S. In addition, when the face image K does not overlap and the overlapping region R of the contour L of the subject M is within a preset range, it is determined that the shooting state is good.
When the photographing state determination unit 27 determines that the photographing state is good, the photographing unit 33 in the control unit 23 automatically operates the camera 11 to perform photographing.
[0026]
On the other hand, when the shooting state determination unit 27 determines that the shooting state is defective, that is, when at least one of the first determination and the second determination is not satisfied, the notification in the control unit 23 is performed. The means 35 notifies the subject M of the defective state.
In this embodiment, for example, as shown in FIG. 3 or FIG. 4, the notification unit 35 blinks and displays the position where there is a defect (the hatched portion in the figure) on the screen of the image display device 19.
[0027]
Further, in this embodiment, the notification unit 35 transmits the defect state or the position where the defect exists to the photographed person M by voice using the voice notification device 21.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the automatic photographing apparatus of this embodiment.
First, in step S1, the camera 11 and the control device 15 are turned on by pressing a start button (not shown) of the control device 15.
[0028]
Next, in step S2, the input image G of the camera 11 is captured by the control means 23, and the captured image is displayed on the image display device 19 in step S3.
Next, in step S4, the person M to be photographed in the photographed image is automatically recognized using the captured image.
[0029]
This recognition is performed using the face image extraction means 29 and the contour extraction means 31 of the subject detection means 25.
That is, first, a human face is detected from the image by the face image extraction means 29, and then the contour L of the person is extracted by the contour extraction means 31, and the subject M is recognized.
Next, in step S5, the shooting state determination unit 27 analyzes the position state of the person M to be photographed in the image.
[0030]
That is, as shown in FIG. 3, the shooting state determination unit 27 determines whether the face image K and the contour L of the subject M are separated from the shooting effective frame S by a predetermined distance or more. Judgment is made.
Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the photographing state determination unit 27 determines whether or not the face image K does not overlap and the overlapping region R of the contour L of the subject M is within a preset area range. A second determination is made.
[0031]
When the first determination and the second determination are satisfied, that is, the face image K and the contour L of the subject M are within a predetermined region with respect to a predetermined position of the shooting effective frame S. In addition, when the face image K does not overlap and the overlapping region R of the contour L of the subject M is within a preset area range, it is determined that the shooting state is good.
When the shooting state determination unit 27 determines that the shooting state is good, the camera 11 is automatically operated by the shooting unit 33 in the control unit 23 to perform shooting in step S6, and shooting is performed in step S7. Is terminated.
[0032]
On the other hand, when the shooting state determination unit 27 determines that the shooting state is defective, that is, when at least one of the first determination and the second determination is not satisfied, the control unit in step S8. The notification means 35 in 23 analyzes the defect content and the defective part.
And the alerting | reporting means 35 presents malfunction content to the to-be-photographed person M in step S9.
[0033]
That is, the notification unit 35 blinks and displays the position where the defect exists on the screen of the image display unit as shown in FIG. 3 or FIG.
Next, the alerting | reporting means 35 transmits the malfunction content to the to-be-photographed person M by an audio | voice in step S10.
That is, the notification means 35 transmits the defect state or the position where the defect exists to the photographed person M by voice using the voice notification device 21.
[0034]
In the automatic photographing apparatus described above, the photographed person detection means 25 detects the photographed person M from the input image G to the camera 11, and the position state of the photographed person M within the photographing effective frame S of the camera 11. Since the camera 11 is used to determine whether the shooting state is good or not, and when the shooting state determined by the shooting state determination unit 27 is good, there is no unnatural chip in the face or part of the body. A photograph can be taken automatically with certainty.
[0035]
In the above-described automatic photographing apparatus, the face image K and the contour L of the subject M are within a preset region with respect to a predetermined position of the photographing effective frame S, and the face image K does not overlap. Since the shooting state determination means 27 determines that the shooting state is good when the overlapping region R of the contour L of the subject M is within a preset range, it can be applied to a part of the face or body. It is possible to automatically shoot a photograph without an unnatural chip or the like more reliably.
[0036]
Further, in the above-described automatic photographing apparatus, the image display device 19 that displays the photographing state is provided in the vicinity of the camera 11, so that the person M to be photographed can check the photographing state sequentially, and the own photographing position can be determined. It can be modified and put into a favorable state.
Further, when there are a plurality of subjects M, the image display device 19 can easily know the positional relationship between each other, and whether or not a part of the face or body is not unnaturally missing. Can be confirmed before shooting, and if there is a problem, the position can be easily corrected in the direction to be resolved.
[0037]
Further, at the time of shooting at a distance from the camera 11, it is difficult for the subject M to leave the screen of the image display device 19 and confirm the shooting state. Since the subject M is out of the effective shooting frame S and the undesired overlap or omission of a part of the face or body of the subject M is transmitted to the subject M by voice, the subject M M can be alerted with certainty.
[0038]
(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a second embodiment of the automatic photographing apparatus of the present invention.
In this embodiment, the same members as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.
In this embodiment, a correction instruction unit 37 is connected to the control unit 23 of the control device 15.
[0039]
The correction instructing means 37 is a correction position to be taken by the subject M or a moving direction suitable for correction when the shooting state determination means 27 determines that the shooting state is defective. Instruct.
That is, for example, as shown in FIG. 7, a part of the face image K and the contour L of the person M to be photographed is hidden behind an adjacent person and missing, and the photographing state determination unit 27 is in a poor photographing state. Assume a case where a judgment is made.
[0040]
In such a case, the correction instruction means 37 determines the positional relationship between the person whose face is hidden and the neighbor who is hiding the face, and in which direction the person whose face is hidden is corrected. Determine what to do.
Then, the correction instruction unit 37 displays this determination on the image display device 19 via the notification unit 35.
[0041]
As shown in FIG. 7, this display is performed by displaying a subject M to be photographed with a marker M1 and displaying a moving direction with a mark M2 such as an arrow on the image display device 19.
At the same time, the correction instruction unit 37 transmits this determination to the subject M via the notification unit 35 through the voice notification device 21.
[0042]
And the audio | voice alerting | reporting apparatus 21 notifies the person who becomes object, for example by the position, and also informs the contents of an improper state, and the direction of position correction by voice.
Specifically, for example, “second person from the right, face is hidden. Please move a little to the left.”
The automatic photographing apparatus of this embodiment can obtain substantially the same effect as the first embodiment, but in this embodiment, it is detected that the photographing state is not preferable due to the positional relationship of the person M to be photographed. When this is done, it becomes possible to instruct the subject M to correct the position of the subject M using the image display device 19 or the voice notification device 21, and the correction of the subject M position is completed, which is preferable. Automatic shooting can be performed by automatically confirming that the shooting state has been reached.
[0043]
(Third embodiment)
FIG. 8 shows a third embodiment of the automatic photographing apparatus of the present invention.
In this embodiment, the same members as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.
In this embodiment, the camera 11 is supported on the camera platform 13 so as to be rotatable in the vertical and horizontal directions.
[0044]
In other words, a pan / tilt drive mechanism 39 is disposed on the pan head 13, and the camera 11 can be driven to rotate in the vertical and horizontal directions by a motor (not shown). In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, the driving means 41, the calculating means 43, and the moving means 45 are connected to the control means 23 of the control device 15.
The driving means 41 operates a motor (not shown) of the pan / tilt driving mechanism 39 to rotate the camera 11 in the vertical and horizontal directions.
[0045]
When the shooting state determination unit 27 determines that the shooting state is defective, the calculation unit 43 automatically determines from the input image G the rotation direction and rotation position suitable for the correction that the camera 11 should take in order to improve the shooting state. Calculate automatically.
That is, for example, when the position of the face image K of the person to be photographed M protrudes upward from the effective shooting frame S as shown in FIG. By rotating, it is calculated whether the face of the person M to be photographed fits within the photographing effective frame S.
[0046]
Further, as shown in FIG. 10, when the position of the contour L of the subject M protrudes to the left from the photographing effective frame S, the subject 11 is rotated by rotating the camera 11 in the horizontal direction. It is calculated whether the contour L of M falls within the effective photographing frame S.
The moving unit 45 inputs the upward rotation angle and the horizontal rotation angle of the camera 11 calculated by the calculation unit 43 and controls the driving unit 41 to drive by this angle.
[0047]
In the automatic photographing apparatus of this embodiment, when the photographing state determining unit 27 determines that the photographing state is defective, the calculating unit 43 causes the moving direction suitable for the correction to be taken by the camera 11 to improve the defective state. Alternatively, the correction position is automatically calculated from the input image G, and the camera 11 is moved by the driving unit 41 to the moving direction suitable for the correction to be taken by the camera 11 calculated by the calculation unit 43 or to the correction position. Since it did in this way, the photograph which does not have an unnatural chip | tip etc. in a part of a face or a body can be automatically image | photographed without bothering the to-be-photographed person M.
[0048]
In this embodiment, since the pan / tilt drive mechanism 39 of the camera 11 is used as the moving means 45, the apparatus can be configured at low cost.
In this embodiment, an example in which the pan / tilt drive mechanism 39 is used as the moving means 45 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment. For example, the camera 11 is provided with a drive wheel. The camera 11 may be moved by mounting on the apparatus main body and moving the apparatus main body.
[0049]
Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and is simply taken when the face image K of the subject M is within a preset region with respect to a predetermined position of the effective shooting frame S. You may make it determine with a state being favorable.
Alternatively, it may be determined that the shooting state is good when the face image K and the contour L of the subject M are within a predetermined area with respect to a predetermined position of the effective shooting frame S. .
[0050]
Furthermore, it may be determined that the shooting state is good when the face images K do not overlap.
Then, it may be determined that the photographing state is good when the face image K does not overlap and the overlapping region R of the contour L of the person to be photographed M is within a preset range.
[0051]
Further, the face image K of all the subjects M is analyzed, the face direction with respect to the camera 11 is determined from the positional relationship between both eyes, nose and mouth, and if there is a person whose face is facing sideways, a correction instruction You may be made to call attention so that it may face the front by a means.
Further, the luminance information of the face image K may be analyzed, the shadow of the face of the subject M may be determined from the luminance distribution, and the quality of the illumination state may be determined.
[0052]
In addition, when a zoom lens is used as the photographing lens of the camera 11, when it is determined that the photographing state is poor, the photographing magnification is changed using the zoom function of the zoom lens so that the photographing state is improved. You may make it change the magnitude | size of the to-be-photographed person M within the imaging | photography effective frame S. FIG.
[0053]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, in the automatic photographing apparatus of the present invention, the photographed person detecting means detects the photographed person from the input image to the camera, and from the position state of the photographed person within the camera frame. The camera is judged to be good or bad, and the camera is used to shoot when the shooting condition determined by the shooting condition determination means is good. This ensures that there are no unnatural defects in the face or part of the body. You can automatically shoot.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a first embodiment of an automatic photographing apparatus of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the automatic photographing apparatus of FIG.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a relationship between a person to be photographed and a photographing effective frame.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a relationship between a person to be photographed and a photographing effective frame.
5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the automatic photographing apparatus of FIG.
FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a second embodiment of the automatic photographing apparatus of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a relationship between a person to be photographed and a photographing effective frame.
FIG. 8 is an explanatory view showing a third embodiment of the automatic photographing apparatus of the present invention.
9 is a block diagram of the automatic photographing apparatus of FIG.
FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a relationship between a person to be photographed and a photographing effective frame.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Camera 15 Control apparatus 19 Image display apparatus 21 Audio | voice notification apparatus 23 Control means 25 Person to be photographed detection means 27 Shooting state determination means 29 Face image extraction means 31 Contour extraction means 33 Shooting means 35 Notification means 37 Correction instruction means 39 Pan / tilt Drive mechanism K Face image L Contour G Input image M Subject S Subject effective frame

Claims (1)

A camera that automatically shoots the subject,
A subject detection means for detecting the subject from an input image to the camera;
Shooting state determination means for determining pass / fail of the shooting state from the position state of the subject within the shooting frame of the camera;
Photographing means for performing photographing by the camera when the photographing state determined by the photographing state determining means is good,
The subject detection means includes face image extraction means for extracting a plurality of face images of all the subjects from the input image,
The shooting state determination means determines that the shooting state is good when the face images do not overlap ,
A correction instruction means for instructing a correction position to be taken by the person to be photographed or a moving direction suitable for correction when the shooting state determination means determines that the shooting state is defective; Have
The correction instruction means instructs the correction position or the moving direction so that the faces of the plurality of subjects do not overlap when the defective state is a state where the faces of the subjects are overlapping. An automatic photographing device characterized by that.

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