JPH06111083A - Video id photosystem - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a system for ID card issuance with easy operation and high efficiency. CONSTITUTION:This system is comprised of a photographic means 101 which converts by photographing a face image to image data(GDT), an image data base(DB) 106 which preserves the GDT as a face image data base under correspondence with an ID number(IDN), an input means 112 which inputs the ID list of a person scheduled to be photographed or printed, a second data base(DB) 107 which retrieves by holding the IDN and name information in accordance with the IDN, a means 109 which obtains the name information from the DB 107 based on the IDN list and displays it on a display part 111, a control means 109 provided with a first control function to preserve the GDT obtained at the photographic means 101 in the DB 106 under correspondence with the IDN selected on the IDN list in a photographic mode, and an image processing function to perform image synthesis with an ID card base image by reading out the GDT in accordance with the IDN and character data in sequence of the list in a print mode, and to obtain the ID card image, and a print means 115 which prints an obtained ID card image.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a video ID photo system for making ID cards.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Image information has a large amount of information as compared with character and numerical information, so that there are many restrictions on the storage capacity, processing time, etc., and therefore its use is limited. . However, in recent years, such restrictions have been removed with the progress and development of image information devices.

By the way, one of the fields in which an image plays an important role is an ID (identification) field. Particularly in the field of personal identification, the importance of facial photographs has long been recognized, and there is a history of using them for ID purposes such as silver lead photographs and instant photographs.

However, in the information of such printing paper,
The information exists only in the print itself, and it cannot be converted into an electronic file, processed, or duplicated, and its application is extremely limited.

In order to eliminate such a problem, it is known to convert facial photograph information into an electric signal and handle it. For example, FIG. 39 is cited from Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 63-316275.

FIG. 1 shows an ID card producing device,
In this device, the subject 1 is imaged by the color TV camera 2,
The image signal thus obtained is converted into a digital multi-gradation signal by the A / D conversion circuit 3 and temporarily recorded in the frame memory 4.

FIG. 1 shows an ID card producing device,
In this device, the subject 1 is imaged by the color TV camera 2,
The image signal thus obtained is converted into a digital multi-gradation signal by the A / D conversion circuit 3 and temporarily recorded in the frame memory 4.

Reference numeral 5 denotes an image signal processing circuit, which performs calculations for removing color turbidity due to an incorrect spectral absorption element of a color material applied to a full-color video printer. 6 is a controller for controlling the operation of the entire apparatus, 7 is an input keyboard, and 8 is a full-color video printer unit.

The keyboard 7 is operated, whereby the controller 6 generates a graphic image or a character image, which is combined with the human image of the subject 1 stored in the frame memory 4 and edited to create a screen of an ID card. After being converted into a TV image signal, it is displayed on a CRT and converted into an optical image, which is imaged on a color photographic paper by an optical system and exposed. Then, the exposed printing paper is developed and printed out.

According to this system, a subject image can be processed, edited and printed together with character information, and the necessary information including the subject image can be printed on one card to form an ID card.

By the way, in another example of using a face photograph,
There is a database for managing the information of members who belong to organizations such as companies and schools. As an example of such a database system, the one shown in FIG. 40 is known.

According to this apparatus, an image signal obtained from a video image pickup apparatus 10 such as a still video recording player, a video camera, a still video camera or a video presentation camera is taken in via an image processor 11 and displayed on a monitor 12. Also, it can be recorded in the data file 13 for later retrieval and display, or can be printed out by the video printer 14.

As described above, in order to obtain an ID image, each person is photographed by using a color video camera, a still video camera or the like, and is recorded and stored as a face image database.

At that time, an ID number is keyed in at the same time as the person is photographed, and the ID number is recorded as the image data file name.

Further, in the print for the ID card, the card image data is transferred to the frame memory in advance, and 1
By entering the ID number for each person,
The face image data of each person having the file name of the number is read from the face image database and transferred so as to be applied to the predetermined face image portion of the ID card to create an image of one face image-containing ID card. After that, the data in the frame memory is converted into a video signal, transferred to a video printer, and printed out.

[0016]

When a large number of people, such as a company or a school, are to be photographed, even though the person to be photographed is decided in advance, the I of each person to be photographed
Since I was shooting after I entered the D number and name, I recorded it on the data of another person who was already entered by mistake due to a trouble that the shooting operation was complicated and took time, and an input error. It may be done. Also,
There is a risk that it will be recorded as an incorrect file name because you entered with an incorrect ID number or name. In such a case,
There is a problem that it becomes difficult to use because the recorded information is unknown.

Also, when printing for issuing an ID card, the operator manually inputs the ID numbers of the people who are to issue the ID card. However, since the print processing time for each person is about several tens of seconds, when issuing a card for a large number of people, the work has to be completed and the work is difficult.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to prevent an input error of information and to issue an ID card in a short time without trouble. (EN) It is possible to provide a video ID photo system which enables a simple operation and is highly efficient.

[0019]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is configured as follows. That is, a face image capturing means that captures a face image and converts it into image data, an image database that stores this image data as a face image database in correspondence with an ID number, and an ID number of a person who plans to capture or print. A second database for holding and inputting a list, an ID number and name information corresponding to this ID number, and obtaining and displaying name information from the second database based on the above ID number list And a first control function for storing the image data obtained from the face image photographing means in the photographing mode in the image database in association with the selected ID number on the ID number list. In print mode, the image data and character data corresponding to the ID number are listed in the order of the ID numbers listed above. Out control means and an image processing function to obtain an ID card image by image synthesis with the ID card base image, and more configuration and printing means for outputting printing the ID card image combined by the control means.

[0020]

The present system having such a structure has a second database which holds and retrieves the ID number and the name information corresponding to this ID number. Then, when the input means is operated to previously create and input the prospective person list by the ID number, the second database searches for the name information corresponding to this ID number, and the display unit displays it. To do. Therefore, the person who wants to photograph can be designated from the list of prospective persons displayed on the display unit, and when this designation is performed and the face image of that person is photographed by the face image photographing means, the face image is image data. And the control means stores the image data of this face image in the image database in correspondence with the ID number.

When printing, a list of prospective persons by ID number is given, so that the second database searches the name information corresponding to this ID number and gives them as character information to the control means. The control means is I
The image data corresponding to the ID number is read in the order of the D number, and the process of obtaining the ID card image by performing image composition on the ID card base image together with the character data is sequentially performed. The printing means sequentially prints out the ID card images synthesized by the control means.

In this way, the ID number list data of the person who is going to be photographed is created, and the face images are photographed in order according to the ID number list. Can be collected in a database, and when the ID number list data of the prospective ID card issuer is created and given, an ID card image including the corresponding face image, ID number and individual name is created in accordance with the ID number list and printed. As a result, it is possible to provide a highly efficient video ID photo system that is simple in operation, such as preventing input mistakes of information and being able to issue an ID card in a short time without any trouble.

[0023]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

First, an example of the overall configuration of an apparatus to which the present invention is applied will be shown.

(Overall Configuration Example) The overall configuration of the system of the present invention is as shown in FIG. That is, in FIG. 1, 101 is a color video camera, 102 is an A / D converter, 103 is a frame memory, 104 is a D / A converter,
Reference numeral 105 is an image display unit, 106 is an image database serving as a face image database, 107 is a character database, 10
Reference numeral 8 is a card image memory with format data. 1
A processor 09 includes a controller 109a, an image processing unit 109b, a search processing unit 109c, and a list processing unit 1.
09d, the layout processing unit 109e. Reference numeral 111 is a character display unit, 112 is a keyboard, 114 is a binary image memory, and 115 is a video printer.

Of these, the color video camera 101
Is for capturing the image of the upper half of the person, and the A / D converter 102 is the color video camera 1.
This is for converting the analog signal RGB of the image, which is the output signal from 01, into a digital signal.

The frame memory 103 is for temporarily storing the signal data output from the A / D converter 102 as a frame image, and the D / A converter 104 stores the digital signal output from the frame memory 103. It is for converting into an analog video signal and outputting.

The image display unit 105 has a function of receiving the output signal of the D / A converter 104 and converting it into an NTSC signal, for visualizing and displaying as an image.

The image database 106 is a face image database in which the face image data of a person recorded in the frame memory 103 can be recorded and saved as an image database, and the character database 107 can be read. Character data such as number, name, affiliation, gender, date of birth, date of employment is held as a data file, and the card image memory with format data 108 holds image data as a base image of the ID card. It is for.

The processor 109 plays a central role in controlling the apparatus of the present invention, and is a controller 10 that controls various controls.
Under the control of 9a, various controls and processes for implementing the present invention are executed. The details of the image processing unit 109b in the processor 109 will be described later in each embodiment. However, a character image creation processing function, an image cutout processing function, an image combination processing function, a reduction list processing function, a face color conversion processing function, a face color extraction processing function. And so on. Further, the search processing unit 109c in the processor 109 uses various databases 106 to 10
8, the list processing unit 109d is a functional unit that performs necessary processing according to the list, and the layout processing unit 109e is a functional unit that performs necessary layout processing. .

The character display unit 111 has a function of receiving the character data output from the processor 109 and converting the character data into, for example, an NTSC signal, and is used for visualizing as a character image. It is used to input the ID number data of a person into the system and to input instructions for system control.

The video printer 115 is also for color-printing the image output from the D / A converter 104 on a sheet and outputting it.

This apparatus is roughly classified into a photographing function, a search function,
It can be divided into print functions. The function of the image processing unit 109b, which is the function of the processor 109, is an important function in the present invention, and various other functions are provided, but basically, a character image creation processing function, an image cutout processing function, The image synthesis processing function, the reduced list image creation processing function, the facial color conversion processing function, and the facial color extraction processing function are provided.

In the device of the present invention, a database is utilized to realize a convenient system, but face image data is stored in the (face) image database memory 106, and
The personnel information data is stored in the character database memory 107, and the ID card base image data, characters, and face image layout format data necessary for printing are stored in the formatted card image data memory 108. It can be recorded and stored in an external memory such as a magneto-optical disk and can be read out.

Search processor 10 in processor 109
With the function of 9c, it is possible to search the name from the ID number using the database and to search the ID face images of a plurality of people or one person from each personnel information item. By the function of the processor 109, the character display unit 111 can display the condition list of the search keyword, the information including the name of the search result, and the ID number and the name at the time of the list processing, which facilitates the search and the matching. I have to.

List processing unit 109d of processor 109
By providing the list, it is possible to perform shooting by the list and print processing by the list, which can contribute to automation of the work and labor saving of the work. Further, by providing the layout correspondence processing unit 109e, the ID
When creating a card image, it is possible to easily perform layouts that correspond to the desired layout of characters and face drawings, which is one of the factors that contribute to improving workability.

The binary image memory 114 has an ID for printing.
This is a memory used for character font expansion processing in the card image.

Details will be described in detail in the following embodiments. In this system, "normal photographing", "normal printing", "list-based photographing", "list-based print processing", and "complex face color" Face color conversion processing for saving and printing in various colors "," Keyword copying function for facilitating input operation for search "," Reduced list image that makes it easy to pick up and use necessary information " Each function such as "display", "a processing function capable of quickly generating image data of a print image at the time of printing an ID card", and "a function of creating image data for an ID card with good character quality" is realized.

Next, photographing (file filing) will be described. (First Embodiment) FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing, in the configuration of FIG. 1, the elements necessary for photographing, which are shown in broken lines in the block diagram of FIG. Blocks are the blocks required here, except for. Further, FIG. 3 is a diagram showing in detail the list processing unit 109d.

That is, 101 is a color video camera for photographing the upper half of a person, and 102 is an analog signal R of an image which is an output signal from the color video camera 101.
A / D converter for converting GB into a digital signal, 103
Is a frame memory for temporarily storing the signal data output from the A / D converter 102 as a frame image, 1
Reference numeral 04 denotes a D / A converter for converting a digital signal output from the frame memory 103 into an analog video signal and outputting the analog video signal. Reference numeral 105 denotes an output signal of the D / A converter 104. An image display unit (T which has a function of converting into a signal, and which is visualized as an image.
V monitor, color liquid crystal display, etc.).

Reference numeral 106 denotes a face image database in which the face image data of the person recorded in the frame memory 103 is recorded and can be stored and read out as an image database. The list processing unit 109d is divided into the following three units: 109d1 is a list processing control unit that performs list processing, 109d2 is a list memory unit that stores ID number data of prospective photographers in order, and 109d3 is this list memory unit 109d2. This is a list data file memory that can save and save the data of as a file, and read and use it at any time.

Reference numeral 107 denotes a database, which stores personal information such as ID number, name, affiliation name, job title, and date of birth as a character database, which can be read out for retrieval or extraction for use. Database.

Reference numeral 110 is a display for changing the display color of the information of the name and character read from the database 109 so that the operator can visually distinguish whether the person is a facial image photograph updater or a new photographer. A conversion unit 111 includes a function of receiving the character data and converting it into, for example, an NTSC signal, and a character display unit 112 for visualizing it as a character image, and 112 when an operator inputs ID number data of a person who is going to shoot into the system. It is a keyboard used for inputting instructions to control the system.

Further, the processor 109 performs control of the entire system such as a list work function, name display control, image data transfer photographing support control, and arithmetic processing. They are connected as shown in the figure.

Next, the operation will be described.

First, "normal shooting", which is a basic shooting, will be described.

The color video camera 101 photographs the upper body including the face of a person. Adjust the white balance, lens aperture, and focus of the camera beforehand. The analog video signal RGB output from the color video camera 101 is converted into a digital signal by the A / D converter 102 and sequentially written in the frame memory 103. The digital data written in the frame memory 103 is sequentially read while being synchronized so that it can be output as a video signal.

The read digital data is D /
The A converter 104 converts the analog signal into an NTSC signal (which may be an RGB signal), and the image display unit 10
It is displayed in 5. As a result, the image display unit 105 can monitor the upper half-body image of the person.

The lighting condition and the color video camera 101 are adjusted so that a face image can be properly captured while viewing this image.

To take a face image used as an ID image,
First, the image data being taken is captured in the frame memory 103. The image data in the frame memory 103 is sequentially rewritten at a speed corresponding to the scanning speed of the video camera 101, and is held as moving image data. Therefore, in order to freeze (freeze) the face image on the frame memory 103, the processor 109 outputs a freeze control signal to the frame memory 103.

In order to perform this operation, the operator can input a freeze command from the keyboard 112 at the moment when he wants to freeze, and the processor 10 receives this signal.
The memory address control 9 of the frame memory 103 stops the sequential write data address counter of the frame memory 103 to disable writing. As a result, the image data on the frame memory 103 is frozen to the image at the time of inputting the freeze command.

However, by allowing the processor 109 to continue the read data address control operation, the image data in the frame memory 103 is read out regardless of the presence or absence of the freeze operation, and the D / A converter 10 is read.
4 and can output as a video signal.

By displaying it on the image display unit 105, the freeze image is displayed, and not only the moving image of the camera image but also the still image can be viewed. After freezing the face image, by inputting an ID number from the keyboard 112 and inputting a save command, the processor 109 records this ID number as a file name and saves it in the face image database 106.

The basic filing of images has been described above. One of the objects of the present invention is to enable a large number of prospective ID card issuers to be photographed and ID cards to be issued with as little effort as possible. This point will be described.

The operation of photographing using the list is as follows. The operator sets the reservation input mode for the ID card photographer in advance and then sequentially inputs the ID number data of the ID card photographer in question from the keyboard 112.

As a result, the controller 109a sends the input ID number data to the list processing unit 109d, and the list processing unit 109d temporarily holds the ID number data. The controller 109a also stores information such as the name and affiliation of the person corresponding to this ID number in the character database memory 1
The search processing unit 109c is controlled to read from 07, and the search processing unit 109c reads information such as the name and affiliation of the person corresponding to this ID number from the character database memory 107. The read data is stored in the list processing unit 109d.
A predetermined format character display unit 111 processed by
To display.

Therefore, the operator sees this display and confirms that the ID number has been correctly input. If the operator is correct, the operator performs a confirming operation, and the controller 109a displays this in the reservation list of the person who will take the picture for the ID card. Register the ID number and wait for the input of the next ID number. The reservation list of the ID card photographer is stored in the list data file memory 109d3.

By repeating the above-mentioned operation, the ID numbers of the prospective persons are registered one after another, but if there is an error, it is possible to correct or delete it by performing a correction operation. When the ID number of the person who is going to shoot is registered, the shooting starts based on this.

The operator operates the keyboard 112 to set the system to the list photographing mode. Then, the list processing unit 109d of the processor 109 outputs the temporarily held list, and the controller 109a outputs the list.
11 is displayed.

Then, information such as the name and affiliation of the person corresponding to this ID number is displayed in the list data file memory 10
It is controlled to read in the order of input from 9d3 and sequentially recorded in the list memory unit 109d2 as shown in FIG. Although this list data is used as it is recorded in this portion, it is recorded and saved in the list data file memory 109d3 so that it can be used later when shooting at different dates and when performing ID card printing according to this list.

The character database 107 is searched for the name corresponding to the ID number list in the list data file memory 109d3 of the list processing unit 109d. The data arrangement in the character database 107 is shown in FIG.
Assuming that it is as in (b), the name corresponding to the ID number is retrieved from the database. Whether or not there is an image file having the file name of the ID number in the ID number list of the list processing unit 109d,
That is, the processor 109a determines whether or not the face image of the person having the ID number in the ID number list of the list processing unit 109d is already present in the image database 106.
Causes the search processing unit 109c to search.

As a result, if it exists in the image database 106, the processor 109a causes the list processing unit 109 to operate.
For d, an update mark is added as the determination data as the updater (a flag is set), and if there is no update mark, a new mark is added as the determination data as a new photographer, whereby the list processing unit 109d These discrimination data are recorded in the list in correspondence with the ID numbers. This is shown in FIG. For example,
In (a), it is shown separately as new and new.

Based on this list with discrimination data, the display conversion unit 110 performs conversion to change the display color. For example,
Controller 1 so that new is white and update is red
09a controls. As a result, the characters are displayed on the character display unit 111 as shown in FIG. 4C (here, for example, the characters surrounded by a frame and hatched are white display characters, and the other characters are red display characters. Yes, the operator can confirm whether the person is to be photographed, newly photographed, or updated photographed, and what the name of the person is by looking at the display of the character display unit 111.

These operations are configured to be automatically performed after the ID number is input. After this display, the operator performs the above-described basic photographing operation to sequentially photograph. The cursor moves in sequence in FIG. 4 (c) for each shooting. Here, the person to be photographed is indicated by an arrow mark M.

Here, in order to shoot in a different order,
The imaging target person cursor M in FIG.
By the operation of, it is possible to move and change the designation, so that it is possible to take a picture even if it is not in the input order.

If the display of the person who has completed photographing is new, it may be the same as the display of the person to be updated, or may be displayed in a completely different display color. Such control is performed by the controller 109a and the list processing unit 109d.

In this embodiment, the names corresponding to the ID number list are displayed, but the name information may be combined with the name information, and the like. Further, the shooting date and time may be recorded and the information may be displayed.

As described above, in the first embodiment, the I
D number list data is created, the name of the person is searched from the person information database by the ID number list and displayed on the display unit, and whether face image data of that ID number exists in the face image database or not. To confirm the target person by changing the display according to color or display list so that the operator can determine whether the person to be updated or the person who is planning to input a new image based on the search result. In addition, by selecting the list of photographed persons displayed in the list with the cursor to start photographing, the face image of the photographed person is automatically filed in the database in correspondence with the ID number. Because it was set, I can shoot smoothly,
In particular, by specifying the ID numbers in order from the list of persons to be photographed with a cursor or the like, photography can be performed without the operator having to key in the ID number or name at the time of photography, which simplifies the operation and makes it easier for anyone to operate. However, it becomes easier to use, preventing mistakes and speeding up work.

In addition, when there are a large number of prospective photographers, the displayed list can be used as a prospective photographer list, the names of the prospective persons can be confirmed, and improvement in work efficiency can be expected.

The above is the embodiment relating to the collection of the image files of the subject based on the list of prospective photographers of the ID card. Next, automatic ID card issuance based on the prospective person list will be described as a second embodiment.

(Second Embodiment) In order to realize an automatic printing system for an ID card based on a list, of the constituent elements of FIG. 1, as shown in FIG. 5, the remaining blocks except the dotted line blocks are used.

In this embodiment, the following elements are added to the structure of the first embodiment. The video printer 115 is connected to the video output signal of the image display unit 105 in order to print the ID card.

Here, the list of prospective photographers held in the list memory unit 109d2 is used as it is as the prospective print user list, or the list held in the list data file memory unit 109d3 is used.
Alternatively, one of newly inputting the ID number from the keyboard 112 and holding it in the list memory unit 109d2 is used.

Since the input and the like of the ID number by the keyboard 112 has the same structure and operation as those of the first embodiment, only different parts will be explained here.

When the list is prepared, the print mode is set to enable automatic printing, but it is necessary to prepare the background image of the ID card before printing.

If the background image of the ID card is already prepared in the card image data memory 108, the controller 109a causes the controller 109a to give a card image data selection command by operating the keyboard 112 by the operator. -Read the specified background image from the memory 108,
The data of the base image is transferred to and held in the frame memory 103 for printing.

The background image is image data such as a logo image or background pattern of a CG image (computer graphics image), and by this, data of the background image is prepared in the frame memory 103.

Next, the controller 109a finds the ID number registered at the beginning of the list in the list processing unit 109d and supplies it to the controller 109a. The controller 109a stores the name data of the ID number in the character database base memory. The search processing unit 109c is instructed to search by 107.

The search processing unit 109c searches for a corresponding one based on this command and supplies it to the image processing unit 109b. Since a list of names is also prepared in the list processing unit 109d, it can be configured to use it. Since the face image has a file name corresponding to the ID number, the image database memory 10 is used with the ID number as a key.
The face image data can be searched from 6.

In the image processing unit 109b, the character image creating unit converts the name data into character image data, and the face image is cut out by the image cutout processing unit into a necessary area centering on the face. Then, the image synthesizing processing unit generates area information corresponding to which area of the background image to fit, and the controller 109a removes the background image of the required area in the background image data on the frame memory 103 according to this information. Further, the name data converted into character image data and the cut-out face image data are written while controlling the write address of the required area in the background image data on the frame memory 103.

The names converted into face image and character image data are
The ID card image is completed by being written in a predetermined image position in the frame memory 103.

When the ID card image is created on the frame memory 103, the controller 109a sequentially reads the data in the frame memory 103. The read data is converted into an analog signal by the D / A conversion unit 104, converted into a video signal, and given to the image display unit 105.
By displaying the ID card image here, the operator can monitor.

At the same time, the above video signal is also sent to the video printer 115 and fetched, and the ID card image is printed on a sheet and output from the video printer 115.

When the printing of one image is completed, the controller 109a clears the image data in the frame memory 103 and transfers the background image data including the logo image again.

Then, the controller 109a causes the ID number of the person in the next rank on the list to be subjected to the above-described processing and printing. When the printing for the last ID number in the list is completed by repeating such operations, the controller 109a
Ends the process.

Such an operation is performed after the ID number list is input, or the list data is stored in the list memory unit 109d2.
It can be configured to be automatically performed after the transfer.

Of course, in addition to the automatic print mode based on the list as described above, a manual print mode that does not use the list can be set. In this case, by entering the ID number at the time of printing, the outside of the list can be set. It is also possible to print the ID card of the person.

As described above, in the second embodiment, the ID number list data of the print target person is created, the face image of the target person is read from the face image data file according to this list, and the name and the like are read from the character database. The necessary information is read out, combined with the background image of the ID card, and printed by the printer.

The image of the person corresponding to the ID number and necessary information such as the name are stored in the database in association with each other, so that the image of the person is sequentially displayed based on the print target person list. Since the name is read out, and it is automatically printed after being combined with the background image, even if printing ID cards for a large number of people, it is possible to automatically perform printing based on that list if a list is prepared. .

Therefore, even when the operator is always attached to the system, the operator only needs to operate the list input key before printing, and labor can be saved.

The above embodiments relate to photographing and printing of prospective ID card issuers. In the ID card, the photograph of the person is a color photograph, so the hue is important. That is, with an ID card, a person image is taken by a color video camera, but if the camera is not properly adjusted, a person photograph with a hue considerably different from the actual one will be obtained. Therefore, the adjustment is performed before the photographing, but a delicate adjustment work is necessary depending on the temperature and the condition of the illumination, and it is far from the thing that anyone can easily operate.

Since the clerical staff issues the ID card, it is very troublesome for the clerical staff who are not experts in photography to adjust the color tone. If the adjustment is not done properly, the color image will have a terrible color tone and it will not be pleasing to the eye, and the quality will be suspected because the ID card is always worn on the chest for use. .

Therefore, an embodiment of a video ID photo system having a color correction function that enables the use of a color image having a natural color tone even if adjustment is not successful will be described as a third embodiment.

(Third Embodiment) Here, in the color image signal output from the color video camera 101, the hue is rotated only for a color having a hue close to that of the skin color, so that a portrait (portrait) skin is obtained. Color correction (when using the output of a camera whose hue is adjusted to some extent), or the skin color of the portrait is close to the color of that pixel among the multiple pixels sampled from the portrait. The color of the pixel having the largest number of surrounding pixels is set, and the hue is rotated so that the color of this pixel becomes the hue of the skin color, thereby correcting the portrait skin color. (When the output of the camera whose hue is not adjusted is used), a person image with a hue that is not unnatural is obtained.

In an ID card creating system for creating an ID print using digitized color face image information, a technique for correcting the color of the face image is RGB (red, green, It is conceivable that the color is adjusted by changing the γ characteristic of each plane of (blue) or the color is adjusted by rotating the hue component of the image data.

As a method of determining the movement amount of color conversion, first, the skin color of the face is extracted from the image before color adjustment, and this is used as the starting color, while the image output device (printer or the like)
The color that becomes a beautiful skin color is set as the end point color, and the color adjustment characteristics are set so that the starting color is the end point color. With this setting, almost all colors in the image are converted to other colors.

As a method of extracting the flesh color, an image processing technique such as edge extraction is used, and it can be realized by recognizing the face area and reading out the color of the cheek, the forehead and the like.

By the way, in the above-described color complementation method, all the colors change centering on the skin color, and even if the skin color is converted into a predetermined color, the other colors become inappropriate colors. , It may give a bad impression rather than the original color.

FIG. 6 shows the HSV color space (H is a hue, S is a saturation, and V is a brightness) projected on a plane perpendicular to the V axis. Here, as shown in FIG. 7, the HSV color space is a three-dimensional space in which the hue is the outer circumference, the brightness is the vertical axis, and the saturation is the axis from the center.

The three elements of hue, lightness, and saturation are called three attributes of color. In the space created by these three attributes, the central axis is brightness, that is, the white-gray-black axis of saturation 0 ( (Gray level axis), the saturation is vivid, and the color with the maximum saturation exists on the outer circle. The hue is "red",
They are "colors" called "yellow", "blue", and "green", and they are arranged in order on the outer circle to form a circle of colors.

Therefore, when focusing on a certain pixel in the color image, that pixel corresponds to a certain position in the HSV color space, but from that position, a certain amount of shift is made along the circle of hues. Then, it is corrected to the hue of the hue at the position after the shift. That is, by performing such correction, it is possible to change the tint, and it is possible to correct the color image as a whole to the desired tint.

However, for example, if two hues A and B as shown in FIG. 6A originally return to their original positions when they go around the color reproduction system, in this case, Although the hues are reproduced, the hues may be hues A ′ and B ′, respectively, as shown in FIG. 6B. In this case, it means that the hues deviate from the original hues. In addition, not a uniform hue shift but a bias occurs.

That is, the hue may not be simply rotated but may be biased. In such a color reproduction system, the entire hue may simply be rotated so that the skin color matches. Some colors are displaced, which is not preferable.

Further, in the above method, the end color of the color correction is fixed, that is, the hue of the pixel corresponding to the flesh color is shifted to the hue of the flesh color. The problem that it will end up remains.

Therefore, in this embodiment, the color correction is performed only on the image data in the limited color area centering on the skin color.

To extract the skin color which is the starting point color from the face image, the face image is scanned at appropriate intervals, the color spread near the color of that point is counted, and the color of the widest point is extracted. I decided to use the complexion of the image.

Further, the end point color is changed according to the information such as the age, sex and race of the individual recorded in the personal database of the ID card system. That is, you can select from multiple skin colors prepared in advance based on information such as age, sex, race, refer to the table, or calculate using the approximate formula of the table. I tried to ask. By obtaining the skin color data of the end point color in advance by a statistical method and a questionnaire, more appropriate skin color reproduction can be performed.

In this embodiment, the color correction is performed only on the image data in the limited color area centering on the skin color. In principle, this is done as shown in FIG.

FIG. 8 shows the HSV color space projected onto a plane perpendicular to the V axis. The center o is the white-gray-black axis with saturation 0, and the color with maximum saturation lies on the circumference. It is assumed that the hue direction in the face color portion of the data of the person image (portrait) is s, and the hue direction of the reaching color (that is, the skin color hue direction) is d.

In this embodiment, the angle sod (sod ≦ 18
The hue is converted only within a range in which arbitrary angles α and β are added to both outsides of 0 °), and the hue is not converted in other ranges.

FIG. 9 is a system block diagram showing the concept of this embodiment (third embodiment).

The processing performed by this embodiment is roughly divided into two. One is a process of creating a hue conversion characteristic from the skin color and the end point color of the image data, and the other is a process of converting all the image data according to the hue conversion characteristic.

The personal data storage unit 21 stores data 22, such as sex and age of each individual, and face image data 23.

The reaching color calculation unit 24 is the personal data storage unit 21.
The reached hue hue database 25 is searched with data such as sex, age, race, etc., and the hue value of the reached color is passed to the hue conversion characteristic calculation unit 26.

A simple, reaching hue database is as shown in Table 1.

[0116] In this table, the input is age and sex, and the output is the angle of the hue of the skin color that should be input to the video printer (0 ° to 360 °)
Is. For example, in the case of a 26-year-old man, the hue of skin color is 17
It shows that a skin tone suitable for an average 26-year-old man can be printed by inputting “°” to a video printer.

On the other hand, the face color extraction section 27 uses the face image data 23.
And a typical skin color of the face is extracted by the method described later. Since this flesh color data is represented by the RGB signal strength, the RGB → hue conversion unit 28 that converts the RGB signal data into the hue data determines the hue and passes it to the hue conversion characteristic calculation unit 26 as the starting point color information. .

The hue conversion characteristic calculation unit 26 determines the hue conversion characteristic by the method described later from the information of the starting color input from the RGB → hue conversion unit 28 and the arrival color information from the arrival color calculation unit 24. .

The RGB → HSV converter 29 is for converting RGB signal data into HSV data. The face image data 23 provided from the personal data storage unit 21 is converted into RGB data by the RGB → HSV converter 29. To HSV data (hue, saturation, lightness data). The hue conversion unit 30 converts the hue component of the HSV data according to the hue conversion characteristic determined by the hue conversion characteristic calculation unit 26, and the RGB → HSV converter 29.
The hue component of the image converted from the RGB data to the HSV data is converted according to the hue conversion characteristic.

The image data whose hue has been converted is HSV → R for converting HSV data into RGB signal data.
The RGB converter 31 restores the RGB signal strength data again, sends it to the storage display unit 32, and stores it as an image file, writes it in a frame memory for display, or prints it.

The face color extraction section 27 has two frame memories, one frame memory for fetching the image data 23, and the other frame memory for a hue within a predetermined range with respect to the hue of the reference pixel. It is used to check the distribution of pixels having substantially the same hue by setting a bit corresponding to the position of the pixel having the value of.

Then, the facial color extraction unit 27 scans the image data (frame image) 23 in the one of the frame memories within a range set by the manual setting so as to cover almost the facial area in advance. Pixels are sampled (range of grid points in FIG. 10A).

That is, in the case of the ID image, since the face image is photographed so as to fit on the screen with the same person size, angle, and layout, the specific coordinate area of the screen is set in advance as shown in FIG. If it is defined, even if the face image is replaced with that of another person, the area will include most of the person's face area. This predetermined grid-shaped specific coordinate area will be referred to as a face scanning area.

Then, the face color extracting section 27 extracts an arbitrary pixel in the face scanning area of the one frame memory, and sets the pixel as a reference pixel to determine the RGB of the reference pixel.
A pixel having an RGB signal strength that is the same as or close to the signal strength is found in the face scanning area. Then, the pixel position of the found pixel is made to correspond and plotted on the other frame memory. Then, the number of plotted pixels is counted.

This count is performed for each pixel block unit and can be regarded as the size of a pixel block having a similar color tone. However, it may be considered that the total number is calculated and grasped as the total number in the face scanning area. To be

The above-mentioned reference pixels are sequentially changed and the above-described processing and counting are performed. For each pixel in the face scanning area, when such processing and counting are completed, the one with the maximum count value is searched for. The hue of the reference pixel used for it is determined as the hue data of the skin color area. In this way, the face color extraction unit 27 determines the face color of the given face image.

This will be described in more detail. Now, assume that the target face image data is read into one of the frame memories, and a certain position therein, for example, the point A in FIG. 10A is sampled. A frame memory having the same size as the image is prepared as the other frame memory for counting.

The RGB signal intensities at the point A are r,
If g and b, for each pixel of the image in the face scanning area, the signal level of that pixel is r ± α, g ± β, b
It is checked whether or not it is within the range of ± γ, and if it is within the range, a point, that is, bit data is set to the corresponding pixel of the other frame memory, that is, the counting frame memory. This state is shown in FIG. In the figure, bit data is set to the pixels in the range of area 1 and area 2.

Here, “RGB is r ± α, g ± β, b ± γ.
"Is within the range of" means that the conditions of (r-α <R <r + α) and (g-β <G <g + β) and (b-γ <B <b + γ) are satisfied. . Where α,
The values of β and γ may be the same or different.

The face scanning area (lattice area) has been scanned, and A
Since the predetermined ranges r ± α, g ± β, and b ± γ are determined based on the RGB data r, g, and b values of the point pixels, the number of pixels having values within the range is determined.

This is to start from the position corresponding to the point A of the counting frame memory and to count the continuous points, thereby counting the number of dots in the continuous range around the point A. In FIG. 10B, the size of the area 1 is counted. Region 2 is ignored and not summed.

In order to count the number of continuous points, a pixel having no points is regarded as a boundary, and a seed fill algorithm using the point A as a seed (reference;
“Practical computer graphics” (see Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun) can be applied.

If many sampled colors exist inside the face, this count value becomes a high value, and therefore this count value indicates the degree of validity of considering the color of the pixel A as the skin color of the face. Will be. With respect to other pixels in the lattice-shaped face scanning area, bit data is set in pixels having data values within a predetermined color difference range based on the RGB data values of the pixels, and bit pixels are similarly counted. .

A pixel having the largest count value by comparing the count values obtained for all the pixels sampled in the face scanning area, that is, a pixel having hue data in the same hue range where the color difference is equal to or less than a certain value. Although the number is maximum, the pixel color is regarded as the skin color of this face image.

Next, the hue conversion characteristic calculator 26 will be described. This determines the hue conversion characteristic curve (or polygonal line) from the hue value of the reached color and the hue value of the skin color output from the facial color extraction unit 27.

The concept of conversion is as follows. This will be described with reference to FIG. As described above, FIG. 8 shows the HSV color space projected onto a plane perpendicular to the V axis. The center o is the white-gray-black axis with saturation 0, and the color with the maximum saturation exists on the circumference. The direction of the hue of the flesh color output by the facial color extraction unit is s, and the direction of the hue of the reaching color is d.
And The hue is converted only within a range in which arbitrary angles α and β are added to both outsides of the angle sod (sod ≦ 180 °), and the hue is not converted in other ranges. Colors in the direction of hue s are converted to the direction of hue d, where
Largest amount of hue shift. The movement amount is gradually changed so that the movement amount becomes 0 at both ends of the range.

FIG. 11 shows an example of the characteristic curve of this conversion. According to this conversion characteristic, the hue Ss to be converted is the hue s
When the hue Ss is s <d, the range is from s−α to d + β, and when d <s, Ss is d−.
Only when it is in the range of α to s + β, it is a target of conversion.

According to this principle, only the colors near the flesh color that are important in the reproduction of the human image are adjusted to the flesh color, so that even if the original image has a disturbed hue without adversely affecting the other hues, it is possible to obtain a natural hue. It becomes possible to express a person image.

A video ID photo system using this principle will be described. The hue correction function is provided to the image processing unit 109b in the configuration of FIG. Hue correction can be performed when filing an image during shooting.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 12, the components necessary for operation can be realized by the components of the remaining blocks excluding the block indicated by the dotted line from the configuration of FIG.

The personal data storage unit 21 corresponds to the image database memory 106 and the character database memory 107, and the data 22 such as gender and age of each individual.
Is stored in the character database memory 107, and the face image data 23 is stored in the image database memory 106.
The face image data 23 is stored in the image database memory 10
6, the face image data 23 here is the unadjusted color original image data from the color video camera 101 taken in from the frame memory 103. However, the color original image data from the frame memory 103 taken in at the time of photographing is stored. There is also a usage method in which the image data is hue-corrected and stored in the image database memory 106. In this case, the face image data 23 is color original image data obtained from the frame memory 103.

The reached hue database 25 is also stored in the character database memory 107. In addition, the arrival color calculation unit 2
4. Hue conversion characteristic calculation unit 26, face color extraction unit 27, RGB
The functions of the hue conversion unit 28, the RGB → HSV converter 29, the hue conversion unit 30, and the HSV → RGB converter 31 are realized by the image processing unit 109b in the processor 109. Of these, the function of the face color extraction unit 27 is in charge of the function unit of face color extraction processing, and other functions are in charge of the function unit of face color conversion processing.

The frame memory required by the facial color extraction unit 27 may be configured to use a plurality of frame memories included in the frame memory 103, or the facial color extraction unit 27 may prepare it independently. It can also be configured.

In such a configuration, the unadjusted face image data 23 imaged by the color video camera 101 and phrased in the frame memory 103, or the unadjusted face image data 23 read from the image database memory is Image processor 109 in processor 109
b, the above-described face color extraction processing is performed, while
The hue conversion characteristic curve is obtained by the hue conversion characteristic calculation from the relationship between the hue value of the facial color extracted and the hue value of the reached color, and the hue conversion processing of the face image data 23 is performed according to this hue conversion characteristic curve.

As a result, the unadjusted face image data 23 is converted into the optimum skin tone hue only for the hue data corresponding to the face color, and the others are not converted. Images can be obtained. This color image is stored in the image database memory 106 and saved as corrected face image data, or sent to the frame memory 103 and displayed on the image display unit 105.

In the present invention, the content of the image (for example,
It is also said that when it matches with the contents registered in advance, the hue is approximated to the hue of the memory color prepared in advance corresponding to the contents. It will be possible.

As described above, according to this embodiment, only the colors near the flesh color which are important for reproducing the human image are adjusted.
Since it is possible to effectively correct the color of a human image without adversely affecting other color tones and delicate adjustment of the color video camera 101, anyone can easily perform a shooting operation. Will be able to.

Further, by extracting the colors that are mostly distributed in the face image by the method described in the present embodiment, the representative color in the face that is the starting point of the hue conversion can be extracted with high accuracy. This makes it possible to obtain a color image in which the skin color most noticeable to humans is reproduced in a natural state.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the age and sex of the individual,
Since you can adjust the reaching color according to race etc.,
It is possible to perform fine-tuned automatic adjustments such as female skin color for women and male skin color for men.

In the video ID photo system of the present invention,
It has a database of person information, and if you list up the people to be photographed and the people to print, you can proceed with the work, improving workability and operability and preventing mistakes. Can be demonstrated. Since the database of person information is provided, if the database is further utilized, for example, it is possible to perform grouping under a specific condition, create a list, and apply the list to photographing and printing.

However, when inputting a condition, it is necessary to key in character data having similar contents as a search condition, which is very troublesome. Therefore, an embodiment of a system for backing up such input work will be described as a fourth embodiment.

(Fourth Embodiment) To set search conditions, refer to FIG.
If a search condition setting screen (condition setting input screen) as shown in 3 is used, it is easy to input the conditions. This screen has, for example, an input screen configuration in which the screen is divided into three in the horizontal direction and a plurality of conditions are set for each section.

A person having fine setting conditions in each of these three sections is searched from the character database, and the corresponding person is extracted.

That is, since each of the three parts is divided into a number of items in the vertical direction, it is possible to make detailed settings.

The respective items of each category are, for example, “name”, “age”, “workplace name” and the like. By setting a search key in any of these items, the AND (logical product) condition of the set items is calculated, and the corresponding person is searched.

That is, first, A is set between each item in the vertical direction.
The calculation of the ND condition is performed, and the calculation of the OR condition is performed between the respective AND results.

According to this search condition setting method, there is an advantage that the contents of the set conditions can be visually grasped more easily than the condition setting by combining the search expressions.

FIG. 14 shows an example of hardware for realizing this search. In order to correspond to the three categories, the search keyword holding memories 42a to 42c for three systems and the search condition setting devices 41a to 4 for setting keywords in the search keyword holding memories 42a to 42c.
There is 1c. The search device 43 first searches for the corresponding person who is the result of the AND logic operation of the conditions set for each of these three search keyword holding memories 42a to 42c.

Next, the logical operation of the OR of the three applicable persons is performed to create the final applicable person list. The hit list is stored in the hit list holding memory 45. The character screen control device 46 reads out the applicable person list from the applicable person list holding memory 45, reads the information about the applicable person from the hard disk 47, and displays the name and the department name of the applicable person on the character screen 48. When the number of relevant persons exceeds 15, 15 persons are displayed by switching pages.

On the other hand, the graphic screen control section 49 reads the face image of the person concerned read from the person list holding memory 45 from the hard disk 47, and the image reducing device 50.
The image is reduced in size and displayed as a list of corresponding persons on the graphic screen 51.

The image has a relatively large data capacity in order to create a high quality card. For this reason, in order to display a list, a large amount of image data is thinned out, or divided into blocks and the average value is calculated for each block for reduction and display. If there are more than 15 people, it is displayed on the text screen by switching pages 1
Display 15 people corresponding to 5 people.

That is, by designating one of these images with the pointing device from the multi-images of the 15 persons displayed in the list, one person is designated from the list display, and the standard size of the designated 1 person is designated. The face image of can be displayed. After using the standard size display of one person, the process returns to the list display of the reduced face images of 15 persons. Here, it is also possible to specify any one person and display it in a standard size, or return to the search condition setting screen.

In such a system, the following problems to be solved remain in setting conditions.

For example, “A 25-year-old unmarried man in the research department,
Or, if you search by setting the condition of "25-year-old unmarried man in the development department", that is, if you write it with the formula, ("Research Department" AND "25-year-old" AND "Unmarried" AND
"Male" OR ("Development Department" AND "25 years old" AND "Unmarried")
AND "male"). In this case, the only conditions that differ within the two parentheses in the expression are the words "Research Department" and "Development Department."

However, in the condition setting method in the system of FIG. 14, since it is necessary to key in the item contents of all the necessary conditions on the setting screen as shown in FIG. 13, in the case of this example, 25 years old, For setting condition by item such as unmarried or male, it is necessary to input setting items having the same contents in two places, which is troublesome.

Further, although the reduction calculation is performed once when the list of the persons who are searched is displayed, it is erased when the display shifts to the standard size display and the display is reduced from the standard size display. To display the screen again, the reduction calculation is performed again. Therefore, the waiting time becomes long.

Therefore, on the condition setting input screen, a set of condition contents (a group of condition contents) key-inputted can be copied by a simple operation to simplify the input operation. The copy can be edited further.

Further, the screen in which the face images of the person concerned are displayed in a reduced list by executing the search is stored in an external storage device, and when the reduced list is displayed again after the individual standard size is displayed, the reduction calculation is performed. Instead of doing so, the waiting time for display is shortened by reading from the external storage device.

The system configuration of this embodiment is shown in FIG.
Since the condition setting input screen is divided into three groups from the first group search group to the third group search group, the search condition setting device 41a for three systems is associated with these three sections (three search groups). -41c and search keyword holding memories 42a-42b are prepared. Therefore, the classification is 2
If there are two systems, two systems will be provided.

A condition reproduction device 44 is provided between the search keyword holding memory 42a and the search keyword holding memory 42b.
a, a condition reproduction device 44b is provided between the search keyword holding memory 42b and the search keyword holding memory 42c, and the search keyword holding memory 41
It has a function of copying the condition setting contents of a and 42b to the search keyword holding memories 42b and 42c. This is used to save the effort of inputting the condition setting when the OR logical operation is performed under the conditions having similar contents.

That is, the condition reproduction device has a function of copying all the contents set in a condition in a certain category to another category, and the icon of the condition copy function displayed as an icon on the outside of the screen is moused. By selecting with a cursor and giving the condition copy function execution command, the contents of a plurality of items in a certain section can be copied to another section with one touch.

As an example, it is assumed that a condition of "a 25-year-old unmarried man in the research department or a 25-year-old unmarried man in the development department" is set and the search is performed. In terms of formula, (“Research Department” AND “25 years old” AND “Unmarried” AND
"Men") OR ("Development Department" AND "25 years old" AND "Unmarried" A
ND "male"). In this case, the only difference between the two parentheses in the conditional expression is the words “research department” and “development department”.

In order to search for this in the present embodiment, first, in the respective items on the left side of the search keyword holding memory 42a, the keywords are keyed in and set as shown on the right side. This is done by key operation on the screen.

Workplace name = Research department Age = 25 years Married unmarried sex = Unmarried sex = Male Next, a copy button attached to the search keyword holding memory 42b (corresponding to the condition copy function icon on the screen described above). Is given to the conditional reproduction device 44a by, for example, clicking. As a result, the condition reproduction device 44a is activated, and the condition reproduction device 44a copies the contents of the search keyword holding memory 42a to the search keyword holding memory 42b. Then, similar conditions are set in the above items of the search keyword holding memory 42b. That is, workplace name = research department age = 25 years old, married / unmarried sex = unmarried sex = male, and each item of the second search group section that was set in the search keyword storage memory 42b and was blank on the screen, The display is made with the same content as that of the first search group. Finally, the search keyword holding memory 42b
If you change the "Research Department" set to the workplace name of "Research Department" to "Development Department", the setting of search conditions is completed. If the groups to be searched are the above-mentioned two groups, the search keyword holding memory 42c is not used in this case.

As described above, when the contents of the search conditions of the first group search group and the second group search group, which are numerous, are similar to each other, most of the age, marital status, sex, etc. of the search keyword holding memory 42b. Can be set with one operation of one copy button, and only a part of different conditions need to be set and input, so that the operation can be reduced.

The state of the search condition setting screen of this embodiment is shown in FIG.
6 shows.

The list of relevant persons searched in this way is recorded in the relevant person list holding memory 45.

The search device 43 reads the contents of these search keyword holding memories 42a to 42c and the index file 52 prepared in advance, and executes the search. The index file 52 is created from a database file of personal information such as personnel information in the character database 107 in FIG. 1, is a file held in the list processing unit 109d, and is a keyword for all search target persons. It is a correspondence table of corresponding character strings (name, workplace name, etc.) and personal data file names (ID numbers).

In this correspondence table, the character strings corresponding to the keywords are in alphabetical order (or in the Japanese syllabary order).
They are sorted so that they are lined up in, so that the search can be performed at high speed.

The index file 52 is prepared for each item of the search. When a search keyword is found in the character string corresponding to the keyword, the personal data file name corresponding to the search keyword becomes the file name having the information of the corresponding person. When the index file 52 has a large capacity, an area can be secured and stored in the character database memory 106.

The character information relating to the person is read from the hard disk 47 by the character screen control device 46 and displayed as a list on the character screen 48 (FIG. 17 (b)). The hard disk 47 corresponds to the character database 107 in FIG.

On the other hand, the face image of the person concerned is calculated by the image reducing unit 50.
The graphic screen control unit 49 reads out from the hard disk 47 (this hard disk 47 corresponds to the image database memory 107 in FIG. 1) via the, and performs the image reduction processing to make a multi-screen, and then the graphic screen 5
No. 1 is displayed as a list (FIG. 17 (d)).

In this embodiment, one display is limited to 15 persons due to the restrictions on the resolution and the display screen size.
When there are more than 15 people, the pages are displayed by switching 15 people each.

The personal face image data has a large amount of data in order to create a high quality card, and is too large for a list display. Therefore, the image reducing unit 50 thins out the image data, divides the image data into fine blocks, calculates the average pixel value for each block, and creates reduced images for display in a list. Since one screen is multi-display for 15 reduced images, reduction calculation of images of up to 15 persons is performed and one list display screen is completed.

The list display screen is stored in the hard disk 47 so that it can be reused.

By selecting one person from the list display screen with a pointing device such as a mouse,
It is possible to move to the detailed data display screen of the individual. By this selection, the graphic screen control device 49 displays the graphic screen display contents as a list of reduced images (see FIG. 1).
7 (d)), the display image data is switched to the standard size face image of the selected individual and displayed (FIG. 17).
(E)). At the same time, the character screen control device 46 reads out the information of the selected person from the hard disk 47 and controls it to be displayed. As a result, detailed character information of the selected person is displayed on the character screen 48 (FIG. 1).
7 (c)).

The above-mentioned graphic screen has some on-screen switches that can give commands by selection with a mouse cursor such as icons,
In this, a card creation menu and a card creation menu and a menu for returning to the list display can be selected on this graphic screen.

By selecting the card creation menu, the graphic screen control device 49 operates to create an ID card of the person currently being displayed. Therefore, by selecting the card creation menu, the ID card of the person currently being displayed can be created.
Also, by selecting the menu to return to the list display, the graphic screen control device 49 controls to return to the previous list display, and the reduced screen is displayed on the graphic screen 51 as a list. You can move to displaying information of another person or creating a card with.

When returning to the list display, the graphic screen control device 49 reads the list display screen based on the reduced image stored in the hard disk 47 and sends it to the display device without performing the image reduction calculation. It can be done As a result, the waiting time is shortened, so that the user can work comfortably.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, a plurality of items in each search group are individually set, and a simple operation is used to copy and use a single item for another search group. Therefore, there is an effect that the labor of the operator is reduced when searching for a group of people whose conditions are similar but only partially different.

The reduced image list screen once created is stored in the external recording device, and when the reduced image list display is performed again after displaying personal information, the saved image data of the reduced image list display is read and displayed. I just do
Since there is no need to wait for the time required for the calculation of the reduction, there is also an effect that the work can be comfortably performed.

The above is a description of the conceptual configuration of the fourth embodiment. Applying this concept to the system of FIG. 1 results in the following configuration.

That is, the duplication function (condition duplication device 44
a, 44b) The function is the processor 10 in the configuration of FIG.
9, and the image processing unit 109b in the configuration of FIG. 1 has the reducing function, the list display screen creation function, and the display processing function.

Therefore, as a constituent element necessary for operation, the duplication function can be realized by the constituent elements of the remaining blocks excluding the block indicated by the dotted line from the structure of FIG. 1 as shown in FIG. Figure 1 for the functions
As shown in FIG. 9, it can be realized by the components of the remaining blocks except the block shown by the dotted line from the configuration of FIG.

Then, the search condition setting devices 41a-41.
c, the search keyword holding memories 42a to 42c, and the condition duplicating devices 44a and 44b are realized by the list processing unit 109d and the controller 109a, and the functions of the searching device 43 and the corresponding person list holding memory 45 for searching for the target according to the condition are This is realized by the search processing unit 109c, and the function of the character screen control device 46 is realized by the controller 109a.

The function of the graphic screen control device 49 is realized by the image processing device 109b, but it is left to the function part of the reduced list image creating process.

As described above, according to the fourth embodiment, the search conditions set individually can be duplicated and used by a simple operation, and a group of people having similar conditions but only partially different conditions can be searched. In this case, there is an effect that the labor of the operator is reduced, and the image of the person who fits this search condition is reduced so that it can be displayed and listed at one time in the multi-screen display. The desired person can be selected and enlarged for reference, and the print function can be used to issue the person's ID card, which dramatically improves operability and reduces the list of images created once Screen) is stored in an external recording device, and when the reduced image list display is performed again after displaying personal information, the saved image data of the reduced image list display is read and displayed. To allow switching of the reduced image list screen and expansion screen seat, the effect can be obtained referred to be able to do the work comfortably because it is not necessary to wait.

In the above, the operability is improved so that anyone can easily operate. Next, an example of a system in which a large number of ID cards can be printed in a short time by making it possible to quickly create a print image will be described as a fifth embodiment.

(Fifth Embodiment) As described above, the video I
The D-photo system captures a personal facial photograph with a video camera, filing it together with personal information for reference as needed, and printing and issuing an ID card using this filing information. Is. I
A full-color video printer is used for printing the D card, color image data (card image image) of the ID card is created, and this image signal is color printed by the video printer to obtain the ID card.

Here, of the time required to print an ID card, the printing speed is determined by the operating speed of the video printer, and speedup cannot be expected unless the video printer is changed to a high speed.

However, there is still room for improvement in the time required to create the image to be printed, depending on the device.

That is, since the ID card has different contents such as ID number, name, affiliation, and facial photograph, when printing the ID card, once the ID card
Print image data (card image) for D card is created. Therefore, it takes much time to create a card image. However, even though it is an ID card that differs from person to person, there are many common image parts such as logo marks and card designs.

Therefore, if the common portion is created once and is reused and the card image image is completed by rewriting only the changed portion, the processing time can be greatly reduced. .

In this embodiment, an example will be described in which the card image data is created once, and then the face image data and the character data on the data are rewritten, whereby the issuance of the ID card can be greatly shortened. To do.

In brief, card format data is created, recorded and stored, and then the character image position coordinate data and the face image position coordinate data in the data are read out to calculate the area where the character image and the face image enter. As for the character image, the character image is created after the font size of the character is calculated so that the character fits within the area where the obtained character image fits. As for the face image, the face image data that has already been recorded and stored is read out, and the face image is cut out so that the face image fits within the area where the calculated face image is placed. The created character image and face image are combined on the card background image to create an ID card image, which is printed out. Also, create ID card images for many people,
When printing out continuously and superimposing the background image near the character on the character, the card background image data for the part containing the character image is temporarily saved beforehand, and the first ID card image is created. Immediately before creating a person's ID card image, a means is provided for replacing the character image on the former ID card image with the card background image that has been temporarily stored, and then repeating the above-mentioned ID card image creating procedure. It has a different configuration.

20 and 21 show an embodiment for realizing the present invention. P is a person as a subject, B is a monotone background behind him, 101 is a color video camera such as a still video camera for photographing the upper half of the person P, and 102 is an output signal from the color video camera 101. It is an A / D converter that converts the analog signal RGB of a certain image into a digital signal. However, if the color video camera 101 has a digital signal output, this A / D conversion unit 102 is unnecessary.

Reference numeral 103 is a frame memory for temporarily storing the signal data as a frame image, 104 is a D / A converter for converting a digital signal output from the frame memory 103 into an analog video signal, 10
5a is an output signal conversion unit for converting to an NTSC signal,
Reference numeral 115 is a color video printer that outputs the signal as a print image, and 105 is a TV monitor (image display unit) for visualizing the output signal from the output signal conversion unit 105a as an image.

Reference numeral 112 denotes a keyboard used by the operator for inputting instructions to the system. The keyboard 112 is also used for inputting character image display position coordinate data and face image display position coordinate data values and various instructions.

In addition to the above configuration, the following configuration is further provided. 210 is a controller for controlling the entire system, 212 is a memory address control unit for controlling writing and reading of the frame memory 103,
Reference numeral 213 is a bus mouse which is an input device used by the system operator to input an instruction similarly to the keyboard 112.
Reference numeral 4 is a TV monitor for confirming the content of the instruction input by the operator to the system.

Reference numeral 215 denotes a card by combining the card background image data stored in advance in the external memory 229 with the character image display position coordinate data, the face image display position coordinate data and the character color data input from the keyboard 112. A card format data creating unit 217 that creates format data is a card background image data reading unit that detects card background image data in the card format data created by the card format data creating unit 215 and writes it on the frame memory 103. is there.

Reference numeral 218 is a character image position coordinate data detection unit for detecting character image position coordinate data in the card format data, and 219 is a character image position coordinate data detection unit 21.
A character image area calculation unit that calculates the area size of the character image drawn on the card base image from the character image position coordinate data detected in 8.

Reference numeral 221 is a character number detection unit for detecting the number of characters from the character data in the personal information data stored in the external memory 229 in advance, and 222 is the character image area calculation unit 2.
A font character size calculation unit 223 for calculating a font size per character from the character image area size calculated in 19 and the number of characters detected in the character number detection unit 221 represents the character data detected in the character number detection unit 221. This is a character image data creation unit that creates character image data from the character font size calculated by the number of characters and the font character size calculation unit 222 and the character data in the personal information data.

Reference numeral 224 is a face image position coordinate data detection unit for detecting face image position coordinate data in the card format data created by the card format data creation unit 215, and 225 is detected by the face image position coordinate data detection unit 224. A face image area calculation unit that calculates an area size in which a face image enters from the face image position coordinate data value.

Reference numeral 226 denotes a face image cutout unit, which corresponds to the face image data in the read personal information data in accordance with the face image area size calculated by the face image area calculation unit 225. This is a process of cutting out an image centered on.

Reference numeral 227 denotes a card image image data creating section which sets the face image data cut out by the face image cutting section 226 and the character image data created by the character image data creating section 223 to face image position coordinate data. The frame memory 103 according to the face image position coordinate data detected by the detection unit 224 and the character image position coordinate data detected by the character image position coordinate data detection unit 218.
It is created by combining the above and a card image.

Reference numeral 229 denotes an external memory such as a magneto-optical disk or a hard disk for recording / saving and inputting / outputting the card format data and personal information data created by the card format data creating unit 115. A card background image data temporary storage unit 301 temporarily stores the data of the card background image,
Reference numeral 302 replaces the character image portion (character recording area) of the card image image created on the frame memory 103 with the data of the card base image temporarily stored in the card base image data temporary storage unit 301 to fill the base. It is a card background image replacement unit to be returned.

Next, the operation of this embodiment having such a configuration will be described. The color video camera 101 photographs the upper body including the face of the person P. At that time, in order to make the person P easy to see, a monotone background portion B is placed behind the person P for photographing.

It is better for the camera to perform white balance adjustment, lens aperture adjustment, and focus adjustment beforehand, but by using the correction function of the third embodiment together,
It is also possible to use an unadjusted color video signal.

The analog video signal RGB output from the color video camera 101 is converted into a digital signal by the A / D converter 102 and sequentially recorded in the frame memory 103.

The digital data in the frame memory 103 are sequentially read out in synchronism with each other so that the digital data can be output as a video signal, and are converted into RGB signals by the D / A converter 104 and the output signal converter 105a. By inputting the signal to the TV monitor 105, the upper half image of the person can be monitored.

If the skin color correction function is not provided, the operator adjusts the lighting condition and the camera 101 so that the face image can be properly taken while looking at this image.

To take a face image to be used as an ID image,
First, the image data being taken is captured in the frame memory 103. Therefore, in order to freeze (freeze) the face image on the frame memory 103, the controller 210 outputs a freeze control signal to the frame memory 103.

At the moment when the operator wants to freeze so as to be able to perform this operation, if he / she inputs a key from the keyboard 112, the controller 210 receives this signal and the sequential write data of the frame memory 103 output from the memory address control section 212. Stops the address counter and disables writing.

However, by continuing the operation of the read data address control, the image data in the frame memory 103 can be read and transferred to the D / A conversion unit 104 and output as a video signal regardless of the presence or absence of the freeze operation. By displaying it on the TV monitor 105, a moving image or a still image of a camera image can be viewed.

In order to print the ID card image, first, card background image data is created and stored in the external memory 229, and the character image display position coordinate data and the face image display position coordinate data are input from the keyboard 112. And input the character color data. As a result, the card format data creation unit 215 creates card format data including card background image data, coordinate data, and character color data as shown in FIG. 22, for example.

This card format data creation unit 21
The card format data created in 5 and the personal information data created in 216 are stored in the external memory 229 in advance.

When printing, first the external memory 2
The card background image data in the card format data is transferred from 29 to the frame memory 103, and while the controller 210 controls the memory address control unit 212, the image data is transferred to a predetermined image position on the frame memory 103. Control the address to write. Therefore, the card background image data is written in a predetermined area on the frame memory 103.

Also, the card format data is given to the character image position coordinate data detecting section 218, and the character image position coordinate data detecting section 218 detects the character image position coordinate data in the card format data. Then, the character image area calculation unit 219 calculates the area size of the character image drawn on the card base image from the character image position coordinate data detected by the character image position coordinate data detection unit 218.

The card format data is also given to the face image position coordinate data detection unit 224, and the face image position coordinate data detection unit 224 uses the face image position coordinate data generation unit 215 to generate the face image position in the card format data. Detect coordinate data.

Then, the face image area calculation section 225 calculates the area size in which the face image enters from the face image position coordinate data value detected by the face image position coordinate data detection section 224.

Area Z1 of the background image in FIG.
Is a character data ID number recording area, and FIG.
The area Z2 in (a) is the name recording area of the character data, and the area Z3 in FIG. 23 (a) is the face image recording area, and these areas are obtained by the above calculation.

On the other hand, the face image data and the character data in the personal information data are read from the external memory 229, the face image data is stored in the face image cutout unit 226, and the character data is stored in the character number detection unit 221 and the font character size. It is given to the calculation unit 222.

The face image cutout unit 226 adjusts the face image data in the read personal information data according to the face image area size calculated by the face image area calculation unit 225.
The image centering around the face part of the face image is cut out.

Further, the character number detection unit 221 detects the number of characters from the given character data, and the font character size calculation unit 222 uses the character image area size calculated by the character image area calculation unit 219 and the character number detection unit 221. The font size per character is calculated from the detected number of characters.

Then, the character image data creation unit 223 uses the character number of the character data detected by the character number detection unit 221 and the font size of the character calculated by the font character size calculation unit 222 and the character data in the personal information data. The character data is converted into character image data by the number of characters so that the size of each character becomes the character font size.

The card image image data creating section 227 collects the face image data cut out by the face image cutting section 226 and the character image data created by the character image data creating section 223 from the face image position coordinate data detecting section 22.
The face image position coordinate data detected in 4 and the character image position coordinate data detected by the character image position coordinate data detection unit 218 are combined on the frame memory 103 to create a card image image.

In this way, the card image image data creating unit 227 creates card image image data, and the controller 210 controls the memory address control unit 212 to perform the same processing at a predetermined image position of the frame memory 103. The data of the image image of the ID card to be printed is formed on the frame memory 103 by writing to the frame memory 103. FIG. 23B is an image image of the ID card thus formed.

If the image of the ID card is created in the frame memory 103, then the controller 21
0 reads the ID card image on the frame memory 103, causes the video printer 115 to fetch the video signal of the read ID card image, and operates the video printer 115. This allows the video printer 11
Reference numeral 5 prints an ID card image on a sheet and outputs it.

As described above, it becomes possible to print the ID card in which the face image and the character image are inserted in the required size in the required area in accordance with the card format.

When printing of one ID card is completed,
Move on to print the next ID card.

In the next print, the above-mentioned processing is performed again, but in this system, in order to shorten the processing time, data is erased only in the area where the image needs to be changed, and the background is newly written and then the face is written. The image and character images are overwritten to speed up the process.

That is, in the present system, when printing the ID card image, the image data of the ID card image in which necessary character information such as the face image and name is embedded in the background image is created, but this image data is short-lived. In order to be able to create with, we are devising a technique called partial rewriting.

For example, different characters are embedded in the character recording area for each ID card, and the characters are written on the background image. Therefore, it is a problem that the characters of the previous person remain. In addition, since the writing of image data has a large amount of information, the processing time becomes long in proportion to the area to be rewritten.

Therefore, in this embodiment, every time the next new ID card image is created after printing, the previous I
The changed portion is cut out from the D card image image data, the base image is fitted therein, and necessary image data is written next to create the image data of the ID card image in the shortest possible time.

For example, as shown in FIG. 24, the background image data expanded in the frame memory 103 is cut out and stored in the character information recording areas Z1 and Z2. And
As shown in FIG. 25, a frame memory 1 in which character image data and face image data are written and used for ID card printing.
With respect to the image data of the ID card image on 03, for the recording areas Z1 and Z2 of the character information, the saved background image data of the area is overwritten and backfilled, and the original background image is restored. As shown in FIG. 26, the character image data of the next person is overwritten on the backfilled background image, and the face image is overwritten on the face image area to rewrite the previous face image to a new face image. As a result, on the frame memory 103, as shown in FIG.
Image data of the D card image is formed.

Unlike the characters in the area of the face image, the background has never been seen between the lines of the characters. In order to fit the face image in a rectangular area of a predetermined size, the background should not be backfilled. No need at all.

As described above, the character image is rewritten in a short time because the character image is written in by filling back the character for each print only in the recording area of the character image which is different from the person who sees the background. Will be enough.

For such processing, the character image area and the face image area in the ID card image are calculated, the character image is created, the face image is cut out, and the created character image and the background image of the cut out face image are calculated. A process called overwriting is required.

Calculation of the above-mentioned character image area and face image area will be described. As shown in FIG. 22, the character image display position coordinates are, for example, the character image writing start point (Xc0, Yc0) of the ID number and the character image writing end point (Xc1, Yc1) of the ID number, and similarly the character image writing of the name is performed. The start point is (Xc2, Yc2), and the end point for writing the character image is (Xc3, Yc3).

Further, in order to obtain the face image display position coordinates,
As in the former case, the writing start point of the face image is set to (Xf0, Yf
0), if the writing end point is (Xf1, Yf1), it is uniquely determined if the coordinates of the writing start point and the end point are determined from this. Therefore, the character image area and the face image area can be calculated by the following formulas.

Xc = | Xc1-Xc0 | ... (1) Yc = | Yc1-Yc0 | ... (2) Xc '= | Xc3-Xc2 | ... (3) Yc' = | Yc3-Yc2 | = | Xf1−Xf0 | (5) Yf = | Yf1−Yf0 | (6) Therefore, the character image area is obtained by calculating the equations (1) to (4), and (5), (6) The face image area can be calculated by calculating the expression).

The character image area calculation unit 219 obtains the character image position coordinate data detected by the character image position coordinate data detection unit 218 and calculates the equations (1) to (4),
The character image area is calculated.

The face image area calculation unit 225 obtains the face image position coordinate data from the face image position coordinate data detection unit 224,
The face image area is calculated by calculating the equations (5) and (6).

Next, the calculation of the font size per character will be described. First, consider the calculation of the font size of the ID number. The font size per character is calculated by making the image area of one character square and calculating the length Lc of one side thereof. Here, the number of characters is Nc
Then, it is calculated by the processes A and B from the above equations (1) and (2). [A]: If (Nc × Yc) ≦ Xc, Lc = Yc
Is. [B]: If (Nc × Yc)> Xc, Lc becomes (X
c / Nc).

The same is done for the name.

This calculation is performed by the font character size calculation unit 22.
By making the second process, the character font size can be calculated.

Next, creation of a character image will be described.
The character image area data calculated by the character image area calculation unit 219, the character number data of the character data detected by the character number detection unit 221, and the font size data of the character calculated by the font character size calculation unit 222 are converted into characters. It is transferred to the image creating unit 223.

The character image creating section 223 reads the character data in the personal information data stored in advance and creates a character image from the former data.

Next, the cutout of the face image will be described.
A case where a face image as shown in FIG. 28 is cut out will be taken up.

The width of the face image is Hf0 and the height is Vf0. Area size data (Xf, Yf) of the face image calculated by the face image area calculation unit 225 and, for example, the external memory 229.
The face image data in the personal information data thus read out is transferred to the face image cutout unit 226. Then, the face image cutout unit 226 cuts out as follows. [A]: First, the data for (Vf0-Yf) / 2 lines is skipped. [B]: After the process of [A], the data for the Yf line is read as follows. (1): First, the data for (Hf0-Xf) / 2 dots is skipped. (2): After the process of (1), the data for Xf dots is read. (3): After the processing of (2), the data of (Hf0-Xf) / 2 dots is skipped. [C]: After the process of [B], the data of (Vf0-Yf) / 2 lines are skipped.

In this example, the face image data is cut out to a required size, but it is also possible to perform the reduction / enlargement processing in the same manner.

Next, the creation of a card image image will be described. The character image data created by the character image creation unit 223 and the face image data cut out by the face image cutout unit 226 are transferred to the card image image data creation unit 227. In the card image image data creation unit 227, as shown in FIG. 23A, while controlling the data addresses of both transferred data from the controller 210 using the memory address control unit 212,
The card background image on the frame memory 103 is written.

With the above operation, the frame memory 103
As shown in FIG. 23 (b), a card image image is created above, and the controller 210 reads it and controls it to give it to the video printer 115.
It can be printed out as a D card image.

When the printing of one ID card is completed, the background of the image data of the ID card image on the frame memory 103 is backfilled for each print only in the recording area of the character image, and the next person While writing the character image, the face image of the person is embedded in the face image area and the next I
Enter the D card print.

As described above, the rewriting of the image data can be completed in a short time and the ID card can be printed.

Here, since the character information of the ID card image is the name and the ID respectively, the number of characters is different for each person. In this embodiment, the size of the character image display area,
The font size is determined according to the number of characters inserted here.

Details of this part will be described.

In this embodiment, the card data format is used to create and embed a well-balanced character image by controlling the font size from the size of the character area and the number of characters written in that area based on the card format data. The creation unit 215 performs the following processing.

The format of the card format data is prepared in advance as shown in FIG.

That is, as shown in FIG. 29A, a display switch having a 1-byte configuration as a system variable, a 2-byte display range upper left X coordinate data, a 2-byte display range upper left Y coordinate data, a 2-byte display. Lower right X coordinate data of the range, lower right Y coordinate data of the display range of 2 bytes, 1
Byte-structured character color R (red) data, 1-byte structure character color G (green) data, 1-byte structure character color B (blue) data, 1-byte structure superimpose switch, 1
These are background color R (red) data of byte construction, background color G (green) data of 1 byte construction, and background color B (blue) data of 1 byte construction.

The system variable has a 16-byte structure as described above, but the data arrangement is 16-byte serial as shown in FIG. 29 (b). Then, the card background image data and these system variables are integrated and filed as shown in FIG.

Character data of personal data (ID number, name, etc.) stored in the database is shown in FIG.
As shown in (c), it has a fixed length configuration using a character code.

Therefore, in order to retrieve the face image and the personal information data of the individual in a shorter time, it is preferable to have the file structure in which the face image and the personal information data are integrated as shown in FIG.

Data of system variables is input from the keyboard 112 after the data of the card background image which has been input in the external memory 229 in advance, and the card format data creation unit 215 displays the data in FIG. After the card format data having the structure as shown is created, it is recorded and stored in the external memory 229. However, here, the card base image is first followed by the card format data, but the reverse is also possible as shown in FIG.

Next, the card background image data in the card format data stored in advance in the external memory 229 in FIGS. 20 and 21 is read and written in the frame memory 103. Next, the character image area data calculated by the character image area calculation unit 219 and the character image position coordinate data read by the character image position coordinate data detection unit 218 are transferred to the card base image data temporary storage unit 301.

In the card background image data temporary storage unit 301, as shown in FIG. 24, the controller 210 controls the memory address control unit 212 to control the data address of the card background image data on the frame memory 103 from the former data. The card background image data of the area portion (Z1, Z2) where the character image is inserted is read out and temporarily stored in the card background image data temporary storage unit 301.

Then, as already described in the fifth embodiment, the font size is calculated from the information of the character area size and the number of characters, and the character image is formed so as to have the font size. By writing and creating the card image image data, a character pattern such as an ID number and a name can be formed in a good balance in the character area.

After this is printed out, the card background image data for character recording areas Z1 and Z2 temporarily stored in the card background image data temporary storage section 301 is transferred to the card background image data replacing section 302. And then FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, only the character image portion on the card image image data in the frame memory 103 is replaced by the card background image data replacing unit 302 with the card background image data.

After that, by repeating the operation as described in the fifth embodiment, the background image near the character is superimposed on the character and returned to the original, and the character data image of the next individual is refilled. , Card image images are created one after another in a short time even when printing for a large number of people.
The character font size is adjusted according to the number of characters, and the ID card can be printed out with a well-balanced layout.

This makes it possible to create an ID card image for a large number of people in a very short time. Further, since the coordinates and size of the character area can be set by the keyboard 112 and the background image and the color can be set by the keyboard 112 as well, the size and position of the area in which the background image, the character image and the face image of the card are to be entered by the user You can freely change the design and layout of the ID card image.

This embodiment is realized by the constituent elements shown in FIGS. 20 and 21, but when the respective elements are applied to the constituent elements of FIG. 1, the external memory 229 is the image database memory 106 and the character database. Corresponding to the memory 107, the card format data creation unit 215 corresponds to the layout processing unit 109e, and the controller 210 and the memory address control unit 212 correspond to the controller 1.
09a corresponding to the character image position coordinate data detection unit 218.
And a character image area calculation unit 219, a character number detection unit 221, a font character size calculation unit 222, a character image data creation unit 223, a face image position coordinate data detection unit 224, a face image area calculation unit 225, a face image cutout unit 226, a card. The image image data creation unit 227 and the card background image data replacement unit 302 correspond to the functions of the image processing unit 109b.

Also, the card base image data temporary storage unit 3
01 corresponds to the card image data memory 108 with format data, and the TV monitor 214 is the character display unit 111.
Corresponding to.

Therefore, the components necessary for the print processing may be the same as the configuration of FIG. 1 except the block of the dotted line as shown in FIG. In addition, the components necessary for the print processing that enables a free layout may be the configuration of FIG. 33 from which the dotted line blocks are omitted, as shown in FIG.

As described above, in this embodiment, the image data including the card base image data, the character image display position coordinate data, the face image display position coordinate data, and the character image color data is prepared as the card format data, and the data is prepared. The card base image data in the card format data is read out and written to the image memory, and the character image display position coordinate data in the card format data is read out and the character image The area size to be entered is calculated, the character data in the personal information data is read, and the font character size per character is calculated from the number of characters and the area size,
Also, the character data in the personal information data is read to create character image data in the font character size calculated above, the face image display position coordinate data in the card format data is read, and the face image is calculated from the coordinate values. Area size is calculated, the face image data in the personal information data is read out, and the face image area size calculated above is cut out, and the cut out face image data and the above-mentioned character image data are combined on the image memory. Then, this is printed out as card image data.

Therefore, the character size, color, etc. can be freely changed only by changing the card format data, and the character image is generated in accordance with the area size and the number of characters in which the character image is inserted. It becomes possible to obtain an ID card with a well-balanced size.

In the case of temporarily storing the card background image data in the character image area based on the character image display position coordinate data in the card format data and printing another person's card after printing. Since the card background image data temporarily stored is read out and the character image portion in the image memory is replaced with the stored card background image and a new character image is written, an ID card for a large number of people is created. In that case, most of the time-consuming image creation uses the image data used for the previous person as it is, and it is possible to recreate it partially, so it becomes possible to create image data in a short time,
You will be able to print ID cards efficiently.

[0287] In the above, the image data of the ID card image to be printed can be rewritten in a short time. However, the character information of the ID card image is formed in a character font, and the size of the character area, the number of characters, etc. In the present system in which the character size is changed according to the above, when the image of the ID card displayed on the display unit is viewed, the jaggedness of the line is anxious depending on the character size. That is, the ID card image can be viewed not only by being printed by the video printer but also by being displayed on the display, but the line level difference due to the character size is a concern.

Therefore, a sixth embodiment in which a high-quality character image can be displayed regardless of the character size will be described below.

Further, in order to increase the degree of freedom in assembling the color arrangement of the ID card, the character color can be freely selected, but in the case of full color, the capacity of the frame memory becomes a problem. Therefore, an example in which the system cost is suppressed by minimizing the capacity of the frame memory will be described in the sixth embodiment.

(Sixth Embodiment) Here, the background is briefly mentioned. In printing of ID cards, outline font data is often used to improve the character quality.

Using outline font data,
When displaying characters in full color, in order to realize full color, the number of frame memories having three or more gradation levels is used for the number of primary colors. That is, a frame memory having a required number of gradations and a required bit capacity of pixels is used for the three primary colors of RGB.

At this time, in order to obtain a full-color bit image from the outline font data, various processes need to be performed, so that the capacity of the frame memory corresponding to the number of dots of the display device is insufficient. Therefore, a large-capacity memory for image processing is prepared separately from the frame memory, and an extremely large amount of memory is mounted together with the frame memory.

As a method for reducing aliasing (steps in diagonal lines) that appears when a character is displayed on a low-resolution display device, an anti-aliasing process by averaging (the theory on pixels through which an outline passes) The method of reducing the level difference by adjusting the gradation according to the specific passing position is performed, and the averaging algorithm at this time is
The one that does not depend on the positional relationship between the block serving as the unit of the averaging process and the outline of the character is used.

Further, in the averaging process, a specific fixed value is generally used as the character density value regardless of the character size on the display device, that is, the number of dots constituting the character on the display device. Target.

Now, let us consider the problem of printing with outline font data.

The ID card is created by printing the video signal of the data read from the frame memory with a video printer. Since the ID card is a color image including the face image, a frame memory having three or more gradations is prepared for each primary color in order to ensure quality.

On the other hand, the outline font data is rasterized into data of two gradations. Therefore, in the case of rasterization, a frame memory having a capacity of 2 gradations is sufficient.

However, in the outline of the character on the display device, aliasing occurs in a diagonal line, and therefore,
In order to reduce this, anti-aliasing processing is performed. Since the anti-aliasing process is a process for adjusting the gradation to the density according to the theoretical ratio of the passage position of the character outline in the pixel, the image data subjected to the anti-aliasing process becomes multi-gradation data of 3 or more. .
Therefore, the anti-aliasing processing requires a frame memory having a gradation number of 3 or more. First, the outline font data is first converted into 2-gradation data for rasterization, and the anti-aliasing processing is performed. A frame memory having three or more gradations is used.

As described above, when the frame memory having the gradation number of 3 or more is used also when the outline font data is rasterized, the data of 2 gradations corresponds to the gradation of 3 or more. However, the processing time is wasted because the number of bits of the original data is unnecessarily increased in the anti-aliasing process.

Therefore, eliminating such waste is
It also leads to a reduction in the processing time of the video ID photo system.

When the character is regarded as a figure, the character is characterized in that it is composed of many lines and straight lines. This is a remarkable tendency especially in Kanji. When antialiasing processing is performed by averaging, when there is a straight line part that is long in the horizontal or vertical direction such as "one" or "river" of Chinese characters, the blurring of the outline of that part is noticeable. Sometimes.

This is because, during the averaging process, the contour of the straight line forming the character exists in parallel with one side of the rectangular block and occupies only a part of the dot of the block. The reason is that the contrast is reduced due to the influence of the background density value, and this phenomenon continuously appears in many blocks.

That is, the anti-aliasing process is a process for adjusting the gradation to the density according to the ratio of the theoretical character outline passing position in the pixel. In the case of averaging, when the background part is included, However, since this is also averaged, there is an influence depending on the ratio of the background color. Therefore, this may result in a loss of contrast, and such areas appear visually blurred.

As described above, due to the characteristics of the character as a graphic, the quality of the displayed character may deteriorate as a result of the anti-aliasing process. Since the displayed image is printed, the printed ID card naturally suffers from the influence of the anti-aliasing process on the character portion, and the character quality deteriorates.

Aliasing is a phenomenon that occurs when the original graphic is rasterized and the sampling rate is low compared to the complexity of the graphic. For this reason, if the character size on the display device, that is, the number of character-constituting dots on the display device increases, the occurrence of aliasing tends to be reduced, and the effect of the anti-aliasing process decreases.

On the other hand, in the anti-aliasing processing by averaging, the number of calculations increases as the number of dots forming a character increases, so if a large character is displayed,
take time.

From the above, regardless of the character size, if the averaging process is performed with the same block size, excessive anti-aliasing process is applied to larger characters. The display quality of small characters is relatively poor.

In order to solve this, in the present embodiment, the number of dots forming characters is increased, and the anti-aliasing process performed to reduce aliasing is performed when the outline of the character is slanted, and is fixed at other values. In order to reduce the load of various operations necessary for anti-aliasing processing (averaging block division, judgment whether outlines are skewed or parallel, anti-aliasing processing itself, etc.), the anti-aliasing processing is performed. The various operations required for use binary bit image data.

Therefore, a first image storage device having a 2-gradation frame memory and a second image storage device having a frame memory having a gradation number of 3 or more for the number of primary colors are provided and outline fonts are provided. 2 obtained by rasterizing
The gradation data is handled by the first image storage device with 2 gradations,
The image data of the final display image obtained by performing various calculations regarding anti-aliasing is handled by the second image storage device having three or more gradations.

Then, the block size for the averaging process is determined according to the character size on the display device, that is, the number of dots forming one character on the display device. At this time, the character size on the display device is determined. Is larger, the block size is smaller. This is because if the pixel size of the display device is constant, the larger the character size, the larger the number of dots forming the character, the higher the sampling rate at the time of developing the bit image, and the less aliasing.

Next, the character image held as the outline data is developed as a bit image of two gradations in the first image storage device, and at that time, the number of character constituent dots decreased by the averaging process is supplemented. Expand the character and expand it.

The bit image developed in the first image storage device is sequentially fetched in units of the averaging block size, and the binary data of each pixel is averaged to perform anti-aliasing processing. This 2
The calculation load is reduced by the anti-aliasing process that averages the value data.

A feature of the averaging algorithm applied during the anti-aliasing process is that if the position of the outline of the character that crosses the rectangular block is parallel to one side of the rectangular block, the processing result of that block is , To a predetermined constant value.

In order to store the multi-gradation bit image of each primary color forming the second image storage device by weighting the anti-aliasing-processed multi-gradation data with each primary color component defining the character color. To the frame memory. By reading this out, converting it into a video signal and using it for display, full-color characters without blur are obtained.

Details will be described. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 34, a central processing unit 410 that controls the entire apparatus and performs arithmetic processing, a hard disk drive 411 that stores outline font data, and temporarily stores data such as arithmetic results. It includes a memory 414 to be set, a 2-gradation frame memory 412, 256-gradation frame memories 416 to 418 corresponding to RGB colors, and a monitor 415.

The processing procedure until the character image is displayed on the monitor 415 is carried out by the central processing unit 410 as follows.

First, when the character code of a character to be displayed is given under the control of the central processing unit 410, the outline font data corresponding to the character code is read from the outline font data file stored in the hard disk drive 411. . And
The central processing unit 410 raster-converts the outline font data to create a bit image of a character on the 2-gradation frame memory 412.

At this time, since the number of pixels forming a character is reduced by the anti-aliasing processing performed later, in order to compensate for this, the character is enlarged during raster conversion, that is, the number of pixels forming a character. Is larger than the number displayed.

When the character size on the monitor 415 is larger than 80 × 80 pixels, the enlargement ratio at this time is twice the original data both vertically and horizontally (the number of pixels is 4).
If the size is smaller than 80 × 80 pixels, it is 4 times the original data both vertically and horizontally (the number of pixels is 16 times).
(S1 to S4 in FIG. 35).

The raster data of characters expanded in the 2-gradation frame memory 412 is read by the central processing unit 410 in units of blocks for averaging processing and divided into n × n pixel averaging blocks. (S in FIG. 35
5). The block size is 2 × 2 pixels when the character size on the monitor 415 is larger than 80 × 80 pixels, and 4 × 4 pixels when the character size on the monitor 415 is smaller than 80 × 80 pixels.

As described above, by changing the block size in the averaging process according to the size of the characters to be displayed, aliasing is not conspicuous 80 × 80.
For characters larger than pixels, a slight anti-aliasing process is sufficient to shorten the time for displaying characters and to save the frame memory of 2 gradations.

Next, the central processing unit 410 examines the value of each pixel of the read block to see if "0" and "1" are mixed, so that the character outline crosses the block. Check whether or not (Fig. 3
5 S6).

As a result, if it does not cross, the value of one pixel in the block is checked, and if it is "1", the operation result of the block is set to "1". Set to “0” (S10 to S1 in FIG. 35)
2).

If the character outline crosses the block, it is checked whether or not the outline is parallel to one side of the block (S7 in FIG. 35).
At that time, in addition to the case where the outline is literally parallel to one side of the block (case of FIG. 36 (b)),
Even in the case of (a) of 6, it is determined that the two are parallel.

That is, FIG. 36 is a diagram showing the relationship between the outline OL that crosses the read out averaging block B and the side of the block B. One side of the averaging block B and the outline OL of the character are parallel. And if
As shown in (a), when the character outline OL crosses two opposite sides of the averaging block B, and such blocks B are continuous at a length of ½ or more of the width of the character display area. May be considered to be parallel to the outline and one side of the block.

Further, as shown in (b), even in the case of being literally parallel, if the blocks B judged to be parallel are continuous for a length of m or more, the processing as parallel is performed for the first time. It may be done. The value of this m is appropriately set based on the character type and the like.

If the result of determination in step S7 of FIG. 35 is that they are parallel, the operation result of this block is set to "1" (S8 of FIG. 35). still,
When it is determined that the pixels are parallel, the density of each pixel belonging to the block is checked. If the number of pixels having the density “1” is ½ or more of the total number of pixels in the block, the calculation result of the block is “1”. It is also possible to say that the calculation result is set to “0”, otherwise the calculation result is set to “0”.

By carrying out this processing, it is possible to reduce the contrast of the contour of a straight line portion in a character such as a Chinese character "ichi" or "kawa" which has a long straight line portion in the horizontal or vertical direction. Can be prevented.

If the result of determination in step S7 in FIG. 34 is that they are not parallel,
The binary data of each pixel in the read block are all summed and averaged by dividing by the number of pixels in the block, which is the calculation result of the block, that is, the density value of 1 pixel on the monitor 415 ( 35, S9).

Explaining the averaging process concretely, for example, as shown in FIG. 37, there is an averaging block B, and the number of pixels P in the block is 4 × 4 (16 pixels).
And the outline OL of the character crosses as shown in the figure. Assuming that the character spreads to the lower right side of the outline OL, the image data of the character is composed of pixels in a blackened portion.

Since the number of pixels in the black-painted portion is 13, and the number of pixels in the entire averaging block B is 16, the density W of the averaging block B is obtained by averaging 13 pixels in the black-painted portion. The number of pixels in the entire block B is W = 13/16 divided by 16. This is the averaging process.

[0332] When such processing is completed, the result of the averaging process to the central processing unit 410 Hatsugi w (0 ≦ w ≦ 1) , RGB value that specifies the color of the character _{(C R, C G, C} B), and RGB value that specifies the color of the background _{(B R, B G, B} B) with each data, performs arithmetic processing expressed by the following equation (S13 in FIG. 35).

However, (D _R , D _G , D _B ) is the density value of each RGB of a certain pixel in the frame memories 416, 418 of 256 gradations, and 0 ≦ C _i , B _i , D _i ≦
255 (however, i = R, G, B). Further, the data designating the character color and the background color is stored in advance in a predetermined area of the memory 414.

D _R = C _R × w + B _R × (1-w) D _G = C _G × w + B _G × (1-w) D _B = C _B × w + B _B × (1-w) The result is RGB The data is written in the frame memories 416, 418 of 256 gradations assigned to each.

The above processing is performed by the 2-gradation frame memory 41.
By repeating for all blocks on 2,
A bit image of one character is completed on the frame memories 416 and 418 of 256 gradations (S14 and S in FIG. 35).
15). Then, the frame memories 416 to 418
The upper data is read, converted into a video signal, and then monitored 415
The full-color characters of 16 million colors can be displayed by displaying in.

This embodiment is realized by the components shown in FIGS. 20 and 21, but when each component is applied to the components of FIG. 1, the central processing unit 410 corresponds to the processor 109. Controller 109a and image processing unit 1
09b and the function of the search processing unit 109c, the hard disk drive 411 that stores outline font data corresponds to the character database memory 107, and the memory 414 that temporarily stores data such as calculation results is the processor 109. The 2-gradation frame memory 412 corresponds to the 2-gradation memory 144.
256 gradation frame memories 416 to 4 corresponding to each color
18 in the frame memory 103, and the monitor 415
Corresponds to the image display unit 105.

Therefore, the components necessary for the processing here may be the configuration of FIG. 38 from which the dotted line blocks are removed, as shown in FIG.

In summary, in this embodiment, the anti-aliasing process for increasing the number of dots forming characters and reducing aliasing is performed when the outline of a character is oblique, and is set to a constant value in other cases. In addition, in order to reduce the burden of various calculations required for anti-aliasing processing such as averaging block division, judgment whether the outline is skewed or parallel, and anti-aliasing processing itself, Is for using 2-gradation bit image data.

The processing time for displaying characters can be shortened, and in the anti-aliasing processing, the density is averaged only for the diagonal lines and the other is set to a constant value. Therefore, it is long in the horizontal or vertical direction. It is possible to prevent the contrast of the contour of the straight line portion from being lowered by the character having the straight line portion.

The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, but can be modified and implemented as appropriate without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0341]

According to the present invention, an ID number and name information corresponding to this ID number are held, a database for searching is provided, and a prospective person list based on the ID number is created and given in advance. Name information corresponding to is searched and displayed on the display unit, the person who wants to shoot is specified from the displayed prospective list, and the face image of that person is taken by the face image shooting means. Then, the face image is converted into image data, and the control means can save the image data of the face image in the image database in correspondence with the ID number, and print it. When I
By giving a list of prospective persons by the D number, the name information corresponding to this ID number is searched from the database, and these are given to the control means as character information, and the control means displays the images corresponding to the ID number in the order of the list of the ID numbers. The data is read out, the process of obtaining an ID card image by combining the character data with the ID card base image is sequentially performed, and the combined ID card image is sequentially printed out by the printing means. is there.

In this way, the ID number list data of the person who is going to be photographed is created, and the face images are photographed in order in accordance with the ID number list. Can be collected in a database, and when the ID number list data of the prospective ID card issuer is created and given, an ID card image including the corresponding face image, ID number and individual name is created in accordance with the ID number list and printed. As a result, it is possible to provide a highly efficient video ID photo system that is simple in operation, such as preventing input mistakes of information and being able to issue an ID card in a short time without any trouble.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the first embodiment of the present invention, and is a block diagram in which elements necessary for shooting are extracted from the configuration of FIG. 1 and shown.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a system block diagram showing the concept of a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a conversion characteristic curve used in the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a configuration used in a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a diagram for explaining the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a diagram for explaining the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a diagram for explaining the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a diagram for explaining the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a diagram for explaining the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a diagram for explaining the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 20 is a view for explaining the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 21 is a diagram for explaining the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 22 is a view for explaining the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 23 is a diagram for explaining the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 24 is a diagram for explaining the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 25 is a view for explaining the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 26 is a view for explaining the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 27 is a view for explaining the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 28 is a view for explaining the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 29 is a view for explaining the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 30 is a view for explaining the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 31 is a view for explaining the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 32 is a view for explaining the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 33 is a view for explaining the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 34 is a view for explaining the sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 35 is a view for explaining an example of parallel judgment in the sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 36 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 37 is a diagram for explaining density averaging in the anti-aliasing processing according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 38 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a sixth embodiment of the present invention, which is applied to the configuration of FIG. 1.

FIG. 39 is a block diagram showing a conventional example.

FIG. 40 is a block diagram showing a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

101 ... Color video camera 102 ... A
/ D converter 103 ... Frame memory 104 ... D
/ A converter 105 ... Image display unit 106 ... Image database serving as face image database 107 ... Character database 108 ... Card image memory with format data 109 ... Processor 109a ...
Controller 109b ... Image processing unit 109c ...
Search processing unit 109d ... List processing unit 109e ...
Layout processing unit 110 ... Display conversion unit 111 ... Character display unit 112 ... Keyboard 114 ... 2
Value image memory 115 ... Video printer.

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Shinji Goto 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Inside Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A face image capturing means for capturing a face image and converting it into image data, an image database for storing this image data as a face image database in correspondence with an ID number, and a person who plans to capture or print. Input means for inputting the ID number list, a second database for searching for holding the ID number and name information corresponding to this ID number, and name information from the second database based on the above ID number list. First, a means for displaying the image on the display unit and storing the image data obtained from the face image photographing means in the photographing mode in the image database in association with the selected ID number on the ID number list.
And a control means having an image processing function of reading the image data and the character data corresponding to the ID number in the list order of the ID numbers in the print mode and combining the images with the ID card base image to obtain the ID card image. A video ID photo system comprising a printing means for printing out an ID card image synthesized by the control means.