Automatic photography booth
First Claim
1. An automatic photography booth which contains a microprocessor, said booth comprising:
- a housing comprising an apparatus compartment and an adjoining studio compartment, said studio compartment having at least one opening for providing ingress and egress therein;
a video camera mounted within said housing for receiving at least one real-time image of at least one subject-user, said camera having circuitry connected to said microprocessor for operating the photographic functions thereof and for receiving said real-time image, said microprocessor containing a memory having a plurality of stored images and a software program for converting at least two of said images into a composite image;
a video display monitor associated with said camera and interconnected to said microprocessor for visually representing said real-time image, said stored image and said composite image;
a positioning system for automatically positioning an image of said subject-user inside a lens of a camera, said positioning system comprising a camera mounting including means for pivoting said camera on a vertical axis to provide a horizontal field of view adjustment, an ultra sonic sensor positioned in said studio compartment for sensing and transmitting the location of said subject-user and an actuator board interconnected to said microprocessor for receiving a transmitted signal from said sensor and for automatically activating said pivoting means for adjusting the position of said camera so as to obtain a correct sight of said subject-user, whereby said monitor directs an alignment of said camera in relation to said subject-user.actuating means positioned in said studio compartment for enabling said subject-user to start operation of said booth; and
control means positioned in said studio compartment and operably connected to said microprocessor for enabling said subject-user to control operation thereof, said control means being adapted for actuation by said subject-user to select one or more of said stored images for display on said monitor and to effect operation of said camera to focus upon said subject-user to obtain said real-time image, said control means being further adapted upon the command of said subject-user to fix said selected real-time image and to effect operation of said microprocessor to produce said composite image.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention teaches a computerized automatic photography booth for generating a synthesized composite or altered image from two or more initial images and a method therefor. The initial images to be converted may be real-time images taken on sight and/or stored images previously programmed into the memory of the computer. The computer maps out the essential characteristics of each image and converts the two images into the composite image by blending, merging and/or superimposing some or all of the characteristics mapped out for each initial image. The invention further teaches stationary or moving cameras which are capable of centering the composite in a picture frame.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. An automatic photography booth which contains a microprocessor, said booth comprising:
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a housing comprising an apparatus compartment and an adjoining studio compartment, said studio compartment having at least one opening for providing ingress and egress therein; a video camera mounted within said housing for receiving at least one real-time image of at least one subject-user, said camera having circuitry connected to said microprocessor for operating the photographic functions thereof and for receiving said real-time image, said microprocessor containing a memory having a plurality of stored images and a software program for converting at least two of said images into a composite image; a video display monitor associated with said camera and interconnected to said microprocessor for visually representing said real-time image, said stored image and said composite image; a positioning system for automatically positioning an image of said subject-user inside a lens of a camera, said positioning system comprising a camera mounting including means for pivoting said camera on a vertical axis to provide a horizontal field of view adjustment, an ultra sonic sensor positioned in said studio compartment for sensing and transmitting the location of said subject-user and an actuator board interconnected to said microprocessor for receiving a transmitted signal from said sensor and for automatically activating said pivoting means for adjusting the position of said camera so as to obtain a correct sight of said subject-user, whereby said monitor directs an alignment of said camera in relation to said subject-user. actuating means positioned in said studio compartment for enabling said subject-user to start operation of said booth; and control means positioned in said studio compartment and operably connected to said microprocessor for enabling said subject-user to control operation thereof, said control means being adapted for actuation by said subject-user to select one or more of said stored images for display on said monitor and to effect operation of said camera to focus upon said subject-user to obtain said real-time image, said control means being further adapted upon the command of said subject-user to fix said selected real-time image and to effect operation of said microprocessor to produce said composite image. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An automatic photography booth which contains a microprocessor, said booth comprising:
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a housing comprising an apparatus compartment and an adjoining studio compartment, said studio compartment having at least one opening for providing ingress and egress therein; a video camera mounted within said housing for receiving at least one real-time image of at least one subject-user, said camera having circuitry connected to said microprocessor for operating the photographic functions thereof and for receiving said real-time image, said microprocessor containing a memory having a plurality of stored images and a first software program for converting at least two of said images into a composite image; a video display monitor associated with said camera and interconnected to said microprocessor for visually representing said real-time image, said stored image and said composite image; a second software program in said memory of said microprocessor for automatically positioning an image of said subject-user inside a lens of said camera, said second software program including a substantially symmetrical geometrical figure for marking a position of said subject-user such that features of a face of said subject-user are determined; actuating means positioned in said studio compartment for enabling said subject-user to start operation of said booth; and control means positioned in said studio compartment and operably connected to said microprocessor for enabling said subject-user to control operation thereof, said control means being adapted for actuation by said subject-user to select one or more of said stored images for display on said monitor and to effect operation of said camera to focus upon said subject-user to obtain said real-time image, said control means being further adapted upon the command of said subject-user to fix said selected real-time image and to effect operation of said microprocessor to produce said composite image. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An automatic photography booth which contains a microprocessor, said booth comprising:
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a housing comprising an apparatus compartment and an adjoining studio compartment, said studio compartment having at least one opening for providing ingress and egress therein; a video camera mounted within said housing for receiving at least one real-time image of at least one subject-user, said camera having circuitry connected to said microprocessor for operating the photographic functions thereof and for receiving said real-time image, said microprocessor containing a memory having a plurality of stored images and a software program for converting at least two of said images into a composite image;
said stored images comprises images selected from the group consisting of geographical sights, animals, humans, and works of art;
said software program including at least three subprograms, said first subprogram including means for converting at least two of said real-time images into said composite image, said second subprogram including means for converting at least one of said real-time images and at least one of said geographical sight images into said composite image, and said third subprogram including means for converting at least one of said real-time images and at least one of said animal images, human images or works of art images into said composite image.a video display monitor associated with said camera and interconnected to said microprocessor for visually representing said real-time image, said stored image and said composite image; means for automatically positioning an image of said subject user inside a lens of said camera; actuating means positioned in said studio compartment for enabling said subject-user to start operation of said booth; and control means positioned in said studio compartment and operably connected to said microprocessor for enabling said subject-user to control operation thereof, said control means being adapted for actuation by said subject-user to select one or more of said stored images for display on said monitor and to effect operation of said camera to focus upon said subject-user to obtain said real-time image, said control means being further adapted upon the command of said subject-user to fix said selected real-time image and to effect operation of said microprocessor to produce said composite image. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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Specification