JPH1195312A - Continuous story cartoon amusement device by synthesizing picture of face with character - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a continuous story cartoon amusement device capable of continuously attracting user's interest and improving the repeatability of play by providing a fixed story by plural sheets of frame unit pictures being a comic strip consisting of plural cuts, changing the respective frame unit pictures every fixed period and outputting a completed character picture as a print. SOLUTION: A user stands in front of the device and selects the category of the comic strip by a control part 3. The completed character picture of the completed story is composed of plural sheets of frame unit pictures, and the frame unit picture read out is different every day. By photographing and synthesizing the picture of the user's face with all the cuts of the frame unit pictures read out, the print of the comic strip is obtained from a print ejection port 4. By outputting the print of the comic strip every day, the user enjoys the comic strip possessing the completed story.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an amusement apparatus for synthesizing and printing out a face image of a user for each cut, such as a comic strip composed of a plurality of cuts.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The present applicant has developed a composite amusement device for a face image and a frame-based comic, which is a frame-based image having story characteristics, is used as a frame unit image, and a photograph of a user's face is inserted into each cut and printed out. Already proposed. This device is different from a device that poses in front of a camera on a predetermined background screen, shoots, and prints out a still image obtained by dividing the same screen into multiple parts, for example, 16 parts. It is possible to create a four-frame cartoon with a story-like character, and is excellent in amusement.

[0003]

The comic strip printed by this apparatus is a system notebook (6 holes type).
It can also be bound in such as. Since the story is completed by one piece of the above-mentioned comic strip, the comic strip of the story related to the print cannot be selected next time. Therefore, there is a demand for an amusement device capable of obtaining a comic strip that is completed in a predetermined number of frames, with the story progressing continuously at regular intervals. An object of the present invention is to meet the above-described demands. The problem is that a plurality of frame-unit images such as a comic strip composed of a plurality of cuts have a certain storylines, and each frame-unit image is changed at a certain period to complete. An object of the present invention is to provide a continuous story manga amusement device in which a character image to be printed is printed and output to further interest and improve the repeatability of play.

[0004]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a continuous story cartoon amusement device according to the present invention is started by inserting a coin into a coin slot or performing an operation similar thereto, and selects a genre. Thereby, one cut of the frame unit image including a plurality of cuts of the selected genre is displayed on the image display unit, and a user image input from the camera unit is displayed at a predetermined position of one cut of the frame unit image, When the user shoots, the next one cut of the frame unit image is displayed on the image display unit, and when the user shoots all the cuts in the same manner and finishes shooting for each cut, the use of each cut and each shot An amusement device that prints out a frame unit image obtained by synthesizing all the synthesized images of the A completed character background image in which a story is completed by a plurality of frame unit images is stored for each genre, a timer unit, and control means for monitoring a time set in the timer unit, wherein the timer When the time set in the section is reached, the frame unit image data that can be printed out at predetermined intervals is read out by reading out the frame unit image data next to the completed character background image of the selected genre. It is configured to change according to. The predetermined period may be every day or every several days.

[0005]

According to the above arrangement, since the story is completed by a plurality of frame-composed comics, a print output having more excellent amusement properties can be obtained, and the number of times of using the apparatus increases.

[0006]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view and a side sectional view showing the appearance of a continuous story comic amusement device using a face image and character synthesis according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a partial side sectional view showing a curtain installed in the apparatus of FIG. A half mirror 11 is provided at the center of the device 1. Half mirror 11 is 45
It is installed at an angle of degrees. The camera 10 is arranged on the back of the half mirror 11.

[0007] A monitor 9 is provided below the half mirror 11 with the display surface facing upward. The image projected on the monitor 9 is turned 90 degrees by the half mirror 11 so that the image reaches the user's eyes. Since the camera 10 is in front of the user looking at the half mirror 11, the direction of the face and the line of sight of the user entering the insertion portion of the one-frame playback image of the frame unit image that becomes the frame-divided cartoon becomes unnatural. Never. As shown in FIG. 2, a curtain support rod 14 is fixed to an upper portion of the apparatus 1, and a curtain 13 for hanging a background of a user at the time of photographing is hung from a tip end of the rod.

In front of the position where the user stands, there are a decision button 3a and a cancel button 3b which determine the selected content and function as a photographing button, and a selection button 3c provided on the left and right for selecting a genre and the like. A control unit 3 is provided. A coin slot 6 is provided at the right end of the front of the apparatus. The apparatus incorporates a printer 12 such as a sublimation type video printer, for example. Further, a test switch unit 24 for an administrator to manage the device is built inside the door 23 on the front of the device, and a time setting unit 7 is provided in a part thereof.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the circuit of the continuous story cartoon amusement apparatus according to the present invention. When a power supply (not shown) is turned on, the CPU 16 serving as a control means reads out a control program from the ROM 20 and activates each circuit, whereby the apparatus is in an operable state. The CPU 16 monitors detection signals and operation signals from the coin insertion detection unit 6a and the control unit 3 through the bus 23 and the interface unit. CP
U16 outputs the frame-by-frame image of the comic strip of the genre selected based on the above signal and the status signal of the apparatus to the RO.
M20, a frame-cut comic 1-cut display instructing unit 16 for instructing to display 1 cut of the frame unit image
a, an image synthesizing process instructing unit 16b for inputting a photographed image and instructing to synthesize a screen, and a print output instructing unit 16c for instructing the printer 12 to print when all the cuts have been synthesized.

The ROM 20 stores, for each genre, a complete character background image made up of a plurality of frame-unit images, which are frame-divided cartoons. FIG.
Of the completed character background image shown in FIG. Complete character background images 20a and 20b of each genre
Are three frame unit image data 20a-1, 20a-2 and 20a-3 and 20b-1, 20b-2,
And 20b-3, which complete the story. Frame unit image data 20a-1,
20b-1 is to be read on the first day,
On the second day, 20a-2 and 20b-2 are read, and on the third day, 20a-3 and 20b-3 are read, respectively. When the story is completed, the frame unit image data of the first, second, and third days is again read from the next day. Is read. A frame unit image of four cuts (four frames) is used.

The timer 15 sets a time for switching the frame-based image data read from the ROM 20 every day. The CPU 16 monitors the timer 15, and when the set time comes, for example, if the frame unit image of the first day is currently being read, the frame unit image of the second day is read after that time. Although the set time is written in the program, the administrator can open the door 3c and change the time by the time setting unit 7 of the test switch unit 6.

The image processing unit 17 reproduces a frame-by-frame image data read from the ROM 20 in units of one cut, and a user's captured image from the camera unit 10 as a predetermined one-cut image of the reproduction unit 17b. It includes a camera image insertion unit 17c for insertion into a position and a synthesizing unit 17a for synthesizing an output image of the reproduction unit 17b and an image from the camera image insertion unit 17c. The output of the synthesizing unit 17a is connected to the monitor 9. The CPU 16 controls the sound circuit 18 to drive the speaker 19,
When a coin is inserted, the user can be given voice guidance on the operation method, or can play a certain music or the like during cut display of a frame-unit image, which is a comic strip.

FIG. 5 shows a frame unit image which is a frame-composed manga obtained by photographing and synthesizing a face image, and shows an example up to the final edition on the first, second and third days. FIG.
5 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the continuous story cartoon amusement device. Hereinafter, an example of the operation will be described with reference to FIGS. The CPU 16 monitors the output of the timer 15 and determines whether or not the set time has come (steps (hereinafter referred to as “S”) 601 and S60).
2). When the set time comes, a process of changing the frame unit image read from the ROM 20 after this time to the frame unit image next to the current frame unit image is performed (S6).
03). For example, if the current is a frame image on the first day, an address for reading the frame image on the second day is created.

When a coin is inserted into the coin insertion slot 6,
A detection signal is output from the coin insertion detection unit 6a, and the CPU
16 displays the genre on the monitor 9 (S604).
The user selects one of the genres with the select button 3c and presses the enter button 3a (S605). When the CPU 16 receives the decision signal, the frame split comic 1 cut display instructing section 16
Instruct a to read out a frame unit image, which is a frame-divided comic of the genre selected from the ROM 20, by the a, and display the first one cut on the monitor 9 (S606). At this time, if the day is the first day, the frame unit image on the first day is read, and if the day is the second day, the frame unit image on the second day is read.

Next, an image of the user is picked up by the camera unit 10 and the image of the user is displayed in the cut image insertion portion of the cut (S607). Take a pose that the user likes, and press the enter button 3a for shooting (S608)
Then, the CPU 16 issues an instruction to synthesize the photographed image at that time by a signal input from the enter button 3a. The image processing unit 17 inserts the user image by the camera image insertion unit 17c into the image insertion portion of the one-cut image reproduced by the reproduction unit 17b, and combines the one-cut image and the inserted user image into the image synthesis unit 17a. (S60)
9). The composite image is temporarily stored in the RAM 22.

Next, a predetermined number of composite images of cuts of the selected frame unit image, in this example, a four-frame comic,
It is determined whether or not the fourth cut has been made (S610).
If not, the process returns to S606, and the processes of S606 to S609 are performed for the next cut.
If a composite image of cuts up to the fourth cut is created, C
The PU 16 reads out the combined image of all the cuts of the comic strip from the RAM 22, performs image combining processing by the image processing unit 17 so as to have a layout of one frame unit image shown in FIG. Is started, and a print sheet of a four-frame cartoon is output (S611). Print sheet is A6 (postcard size)
Is the size of

The preferred embodiment has been described above.
The completed character background image may be composed of two or three or more frames instead of three frame unit images. Further, instead of changing every day, it may be changed every few days, every week, or longer. Also,
The number of cuts (the number of frames) of the frame unit image may be another number of cuts instead of four.

[0018]

As described above, according to the present invention, a complete character background image in which a story is completed by a plurality of frame unit images is stored in the storage means for each genre, and a timer unit and this timer unit are stored. Control means for monitoring the time set in the timer section, and when the time set in the timer section has come, by reading out the frame unit image data next to the completed character background image of the selected genre. The frame unit image data that can be printed out for each predetermined period is changed according to the order of the story. Accordingly, a frame-composed manga having a certain story, in which a face image or the like is combined with each cut, changes every day, for example, and a print output of a complete story can be obtained with a plurality of frame-composed comics. Therefore, there is an effect that the repeatability of use of the device is increased and the range that the user can enjoy is further expanded.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view and a side cross-sectional view showing the appearance of a continuous story cartoon amusement device using a face image and a character composition according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial side sectional view showing a curtain installed in the apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a circuit of the continuous story cartoon amusement device according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of storing a complete character back image in a ROM.

FIG. 5 is an example of a frame-based image which is a frame-composed manga obtained by capturing and synthesizing a face image, and is a photograph of a halftone image in which the final edition up to the first, second and third days is displayed on a display. is there.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the continuous story cartoon amusement device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Continuous story comics amusement device 2 ... Display screen 3 ... Control part 4 ... Print outlet 5 ... Coin box 6 ... Coin insertion part 7 ... Time setting part 8 ... Title box 9 ... Monitor 10 ... Camera 11 ... Half mirror 12 ... Printer 13 Curtain 14 Curtain support bar 15 Timer 16 CPU (control means) 17 Image processing unit 18 Sound circuit 19 Speaker 20 ROM 22 RAM 24 Test switch unit

Claims (2)

[Claims] An apparatus starts by inserting a coin into a coin insertion slot or performing an operation similar thereto, and by selecting a genre, one cut of a frame unit image composed of a plurality of cuts of the selected genre is displayed on an image display unit. And displays the image of the user input from the camera unit at a predetermined position of one cut of the frame unit image, and when the user shoots, displays the next one cut of the frame unit image on the image display unit. An amusement device that prints out a frame unit image obtained by synthesizing all cuts and a composite image of the user photographed in each cut when all the cuts have been taken by the user. In the storage means, a complete character background image in which a story is completed by a plurality of frame-based images is stored for each genre. A timer unit; and control means for monitoring a time set in the timer unit. When the time set in the timer unit comes, completion of the selected genre is completed. By reading out the frame-based image data next to the character background image, the frame-based image data that can be printed out at predetermined intervals is changed in accordance with the order of the story. Cartoon amusement device. 2. The continuous story cartoon amusement device according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined period is every day or every several days.