Photography booth and method

• US 5,196,876 A
• Filed: 11/13/1991
• Issued: 03/23/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Donald O. Thayer
• Original Assignee: Donald O. Thayer
• Inventors: Thayer, Donald O.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gellner, Michael L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NOH, JAE
• Application Number:
  US07/791,656
• Time in Patent Office: 496 Days
• Field of Search: 354/75, 354/76, 354/78, 354/220, 354/290, 358/906, 358/909
• US Class Current: 396/2
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/53 for automatically delivering a finished picture after a signal causing exposure has been given, e.g. by pushing a button, by inserting a coin

Abstract

A photography system includes a photograph producing first system having a camera with a photographically usable output, an electronic output corresponding to the photographically usable output, a first video display and a photograph producing system for receiving the photographically usable output and for generating a photograph therefrom. A second system includes a camera having an electronic output, and a second video display. A control system is operably associated with said first and second systems for causing the electronic output of the first system to be displayed by the second video display, for causing the electronic output of the second system to be selectively displayed by said first video display, and for controlling operation of the photograph producing system.

Claims

1. A photography system, comprising:

a) a photograph producing first system comprising camera means having a photographically usable output, an electronic output corresponding to the photographically usable output, a first video display, and a photograph producing means for receiving the photographically usable output and generating a photograph therefrom;

b) a second system comprising camera means having an electronic output, and a second video display; and

c) control means operably associated with said systems for causing the electronic output of said first system to be displayed by said second video display, for permitting the electronic output of said second system to be selectively displayed by said first video display, and for controlling operation of said photograph producing means.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein:

a) said second system camera means includes means for storing at least a first pre-selected image; and

b) said control means includes means for causing the first pre-selected image to be the electronic output.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein:

a) said photographically usable output is an electronic output.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein:

a) said camera means of said first and second systems are each an electronic camera.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein:

a) said first system camera means photographically usable output and electronic output are common.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein:

a) means are operably associated with said first system electronic camera for adjusting the positioning thereof; and

b) means are operably associated with said control means and with said adjusting means for controlling operation of said adjusting means.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein:

a) said first camera means first system has an image inlet oriented in a first pre-selected direction toward a desired locus; and

b) said first video display is disposed intermediate the locus and said first camera means.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein:

a) said first video display is oriented in a second pre-selected direction angularly disposed relative to said first pre-selected direction.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein:

a) semi-transparent mirror means cooperate with said first video display and with said first system camera means for permitting the display of said first video display to be reflected in said first pre-selected direction toward the locus.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein:

a) said first and second pre-selected directions are perpendicularly disposed; and

b) said mirror means is disposed at an angle of 45°

relative to said first pre-selected direction.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein:

a) said first video display is disposed below said first system camera means.

12. The system of claim 4, wherein:

a) said control means includes means for permitting a desired image corresponding to the electronic output of said first system camera means to be continuously displayed.

13. The system of claim 7, wherein:

a) said first and second pre-selected directions are disposed in parallel.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein:

a) said first and second pre-selected directions are oppositely disposed.

15. A photography booth, comprising:

a) an enclosure having angularly disposed first and second walls, and said first wall having an opening therein;

b) a first camera disposed within said enclosure and having an image inlet oriented in a first direction aligned with said opening;

c) a first display system disposed within said enclosure and including means aligned with said opening for directing a generated image therethrough;

d) photograph producing means operably associated with said first camera for generating a photograph of an image perceived through the image inlet;

e) a second camera operably associated with said second wall, said second camera having an image inlet oriented in a second direction disposed exteriorly relative to said enclosure;

f) a second display operably associated with second camera and having a display outlet generally aligned in said second direction; and

g) control means operably associated with said first and second cameras and with said first and second displays for causing the image perceived by said first camera to be displayed by said second display and for selectively causing a photograph to be generated by said photograph producing means upon a desired image being displayed by said second display.

16. The booth of claim 15, wherein:

a) said second camera means includes means for storing at least a first pre-selected image; and

b) said control means includes means for causing the first pre-selected image to be selectively displayed by said first display.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein:

a) each of said first and second cameras is an electronic camera.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein:

a) said display outlet is angularly disposed relative to said first direction; and

b) semi-transparent mirror means are operably associated with said first camera and said first display for causing the image perceived by said image inlet to be reflected in said first direction.

19. The booth of claim 17, wherein:

a) said image inlet and said display outlet are oppositely disposed.

20. A photograph system, comprising:

a) a photograph producing system comprising a camera system having an image inlet and an output usable for creating corresponding photographic and video images, a first video display proximate said camera system, and mirror means aligned with said input and said first display so that the image displayed by the display is perceived on the mirror means in alignment with said input;

b) means communicating the video image to said first display;

c) a second video display remote from said photograph producing system and operably associated with said camera system for simultaneously displaying the video image thereon; and

d) operating means proximate said second video display for selectively causing a photographic image to be produced.

21. A method of taking photographs, comprising the steps of:

a) providing a first camera system comprising a camera assembly having corresponding photographically and electronically usable output, a first video display, and a reflector for causing the output of the first video display to be aligned with the input of the camera assembly;

b) providing a second video display remote from said camera system;

c) simultaneously displaying the electronic output of the camera assembly on the first and second displays; and

d) remotely operating the camera assembly and causing a photograph to be created from the photographic output.