Automatic photobooth with electronic imaging camera

• US 6,298,197 B1
• Filed: 11/22/1994
• Issued: 10/02/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Photostar Limited
• Original Assignee: Photostar Limited
• Inventors: Marchini, Barry Allen, Fry, Richard Layton, Wain, John Laurence
• Primary Examiner(s): Gray, David M.
• Application Number:
  US08/345,794
• Time in Patent Office: 2,506 Days
• Field of Search: 354/75, 354/76, 354/290, 354/291, 396/1-3, 396/429, 348/61, 348/571, 348/584, 345/418, 345/112-115, 345/326, 345/333, 345/339, 345/352, 345/501
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/26 for printing, stamping, franking, typing or teleprinting apparatus ticket printing or the like apparatus G07F17/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00161 Viewing or previewing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00167 Processing or editing H04N1/00196 - H04N1/00201 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00283 with a television apparatus

Abstract

An automatic picture taking system has a housing which may be in the form of a booth. The housing contains a video camera and is arranged to produce a video picture of a subject in a picture taking zone. The video picture can be converted to a print e.g. using a digital thermal color printer. The video picture is stored in memory and can be processed to give a desired composition prior to printing. The picture may consist of the image of the subject which is separated from the background using chroma keying and which is then combined with a selected electronically prestored background or foreground.

Claims

1. An automatic picture taking system in the form of a photo booth comprising a housing, a background boundary surface, and a picture taking zone for accommodating a person defined between said housing and said background boundary surface, said housing containing:

a) an electronic imaging camera which is operable when actuated to produce an image output in the form of storable electronic image data representative of an image of said person in said zone and said background boundary surface,

b) a visual display device arranged to display a picture to said person in said zone,

c) a printer arranged to produce a print of a picture displayed on said visual display device,

d) processing means for receiving, and storing said image data produced by said camera and for automatically isolating the image data representing the image of said person from the image data representing the image of said background boundary surface,

e) data storage means storing further data representing a plurality of userselectable supplementary images,

f) combining means for automatically combining in a user-selectable mode said isolated image data representing the image of said person with said further data representing a user-selected supplementary image thereby to produce combined data representing a combination of said isolated image and said user-selected supplementary image,

g) control means operable when actuated to initiate, prior to printing, automatic display for user selection on said visual display device of said image of said person, said plurality of supplementary images, and said combination of images, and to control operation of said printer,

h) user controls operable by the person to effect selection of said person'"'"'s image, selection of one of said supplementary images, and selection of one of a plurality of combination modes of the combined selected person'"'"'s image and the selected supplementary image,

wherein after actuation of said camera and said control means, said control means is operable to effect;

i. display on said visual display device of said image of said person for acceptance or rejection by operation of said user controls,

ii. display on said visual display device of said supplementary images for selection by operation of said user controls,

iii. display on said visual display device of a combination of an accepted said image of said person and a selected said supplementary image in a mode of combination selected by operation of said user controls, and

iv. operation of said printer to produce a print of said combination of images in said selected mode.

2. A system according to claim 1 wherein the printer is incorporated in the housing and a mechanism is provided for delivering prints therefrom to an outlet in the housing.

3. A system according to claim 1 wherein the printer is separate from the housing.

4. A system according to claim 1 wherein the housing has an upstanding box structure containing the camera behind a front wall formed to permit taking of a picture therethrough.

5. A system according to claim 1 wherein the camera is height adjustable.

6. A system according to claim 5 wherein the height adjustment is effected with a movable mirror.

7. A system according to claim 6 wherein the camera is directed upwardly and the movable mirror is pivotable about an angled position above the camera.

8. A system according to claim 5 wherein the housing is in the form of a console or booth with an adjacent floor area above which is located the picture taking zone, said floor area being a standing area whereby the system is adapted for the taking of a picture of a standing person.

9. A system according to claim 1 wherein the camera is a scanning video camera.

10. A system according to claim 1 wherein the printer is a digital data-controlled color printer.

11. A system according to claim 10 wherein the printer is a thermal dye transfer printer using heated points to transfer dots of colour from a substrate to print materials.

12. A system according to claim 1 wherein said selection of the combination mode enables the person to adjust the position and/or scale of said image of said person relative to said supplementary image.

13. A system according to claim 1 wherein said boundary surface is of predetermined chroma characteristics and said processing means for automatically isolating comprises a chroma key filter device for separating the person'"'"'s profile from said background boundary surface in said image output of said camera.

14. A system according to claim 1 which is an automatic coin-operated system.

15. An automatic picture taking system in the form of a photo booth comprising a housing, a background boundary surface, and a picture taking zone for accommodating a person defined between said housing and said background boundary surface, said housing containing:

a) an electronic imaging camera which is operable when actuated to produce an image output in the form of storable electronic image data representative of an image of said person in said zone,

b) a visual display device arranged to display a picture to said person in said zone,

c) a printer arranged to produce a print of a picture displayed on said visual display device,

d) processing means for receiving, and storing said image data produced by said camera,

e) data storage means storing further data representing a plurality of userselectable supplementary images,

f) combining means for automatically combining in a user-selectable mode said image data representing the image of said person with said further data representing a userselected supplementary image thereby to produce combined data representing a combination of said image of said person and said user-selected supplementary image,

g) control means operable when actuated to initiate, prior to printing, automatic display for user selection on said visual display device of said image of said person, said plurality of supplementary images, and said combination of images, and to control operation of said printer,

h) user controls operable by the person to effect selection of one of said supplementary images, and selection of one of a plurality of combination modes of the combined selected person'"'"'s image and the selected supplementary image,

wherein after actuation of said camera and said control means, said control means is operable to effect;

i. display on said visual display device of said supplementary images for selection by operation of said user controls,

ii. display on said visual display device of a combination of an image of said person and a selected said supplementary image for selection or rejection by operation of said user controls, and

iii. operation of the printer to produce a print of a selected combination of images.

16. An automatic picture taking system in the form of a photo booth comprising a housing, a background boundary surface, and a picture taking zone for accommodating a person defined between said housing and said background boundary surface, said housing containing:

a) an electronic imaging camera which is operable when actuated to produce an image output in the form of storable electronic image data representative of an image of said person in said zone,

b) a visual display device arranged to display a picture to said person in said zone,

c) an image output device for producing an output of combined images displayed on said visual display device in the form of a print. a video recording or a digital recording,

d) processing means for receiving, and storing said image data produced by said camera,

e) data storage means storing further data representing a plurality of userselectable supplementary images,

f) combining means for automatically combining in a user-selectable mode said image data representing the image of said person with said further data representing a userselected supplementary image thereby to produce combined data representing a combination of said image of said person and said user-selected supplementary image,

g) control means operable when actuated to initiate, prior to producing an output of combined images in the form of a print a video recording or a digital recording, automatic display for user selection on said visual display device of said image of said person, said plurality of supplementary images, and said combination of images, and to control operation of said image output device,

h) user controls operable by the person to effect selection of one of said supplementary images, and selection of one of a plurality of combination modes of the combined selected person'"'"'s image and the selected supplementary image,

wherein after actuation of said camera and said control means, said control means is operable to effect;

i. display on said visual display device of said supplementary images for selection by operation of said user controls,

ii. display on said visual display device of a combination of an image of said person and a selected said supplementary image for selection or rejection by operation of said user controls, and

iii. operation of the image output device to produce an output of combined images in the form of a print, a video recording or a digital recording, of a selected combination of images.

17. A system according to claim 16 wherein said image output device is selected from static or moving video or digital recordings.

18. A system according to claim 17 wherein said image output device is a video tape.

19. A system according to claim 18 wherein said image output device is a computer disk.

20. A system according to claim 19 wherein said image output device device is a color printer.

21. An automatic picture taking system as claimed in claim 16 wherein said image of said person is shown live on said visual display device.

22. An automatic picture taking system as claimed in claim 16 wherein a plurality of user selectable supplementary images are simultaneously displayed on said visual display device and said user controls are operable by said person to select a supplementary image while it is displayed on said visual display device.

23. An automatic picture taking system as claimed in claim 16 wherein a plurality of combinations of said image of said person and said supplementary images are shown on said visual display device.

24. An automatic picture taking system as claimed in claim 16 wherein a plurality of user selectable supplementary images are displayed on said visual display device successively, and said user controls are operable by said person to select a supplementary image while it is displayed on said visual display device.

25. An automatic picture taking system as claimed in claim 16 wherein said user controls are operable by the person to effect selection of at least one image of said person for combination with different supplementary images and/or to effect selection of a supplementary image for combination with different images of said person.

26. An automatic picture taking system as claimed in claim 16 wherein said user controls are operable by said person to select or reject an image of said person to be combined with a user-selected supplementary image from a plurality of images of said person.

27. An automatic picture taking system in the form of a photo booth comprising a housing, a background boundary surface, and a picture taking zone for accommodating a person defined between said housing and said background boundary surface, said housing containing:

a) an electronic imaging camera which is operable when actuated to produce an image output in the form of storable electronic image data representative of an image of said person in said zone,

b) a visual display device arranged to display a picture to said person in said zone,

c) a print output device arranged to produce a print output of a picture displayed on said visual display device,

d) processing means for receiving, and storing said image data produced by said camera,

e) data storage means storing further data representing a plurality of userselectable supplementary images,

f) combining means for automatically combining in a user-selectable mode said image data representing the image of said person with said further data representing a userselected supplementary image thereby to produce combined data representing a combination of said image of said person and said user-selected supplementary image,

g) control means operable when actuated to initiate, prior to producing a print output, automatic display for user selection on said visual display device of said image of said person, said plurality of supplementary images, and said combination of images, and to control operation of said print output device,

h) user controls operable by the person to effect selection of one of said supplementary images, selection of one of a plurality of combination modes of the combined selected person'"'"'s image and the selected supplementary image, and to effect entry of information for inclusion in said print output,

whereby after actuation of said camera and said control means, said control means is operable to effect;

i. display on said visual display device of said supplementary images for selection by operation of said user controls,

ii. display on said visual display device of a combination of an image of said person and a selected said supplementary image for selection or rejection by operation of said user controls, and

iii. operation of the print output device to produce a print output of a selected combination of images.

28. An automatic picture taking system as claimed in claim 27, wherein said entry of information for inclusion in said print output is by a keyboard.

29. An automatic picture taking system in the form of a photo booth comprising a housing, a background boundary surface, and a picture taking zone for accommodating a person defined between said housing and said background boundary surface, said housing containing:

a) an electronic imaging camera which is operable when actuated to produce an image output in the form of storable electronic image data representative of an image of said person in said zone,

b) a visual display device arranged to display a picture to said person in said zone,

c) a print output device arranged to produce a print output of a picture displayed on said visual display device,

d) processing means for receiving, and storing said image data produced by said camera,

e) data storage means storing further data representing a plurality of userselectable supplementary images or backgrounds,

f) combining means for automatically combining in a user-selectable mode said image data representing the image of said person with said further data representing a userselected supplementary image or background thereby to produce combined data representing a combination of said image of said person and said user-selected supplementary image or background,

g) control means operable when actuated to initiate, prior to producing a print output, automatic display for user selection on said visual display device of said image of said person, said plurality of supplementary images or backgrounds, and said combination, and to control operation of said print output device,

h) user controls operable by the person to effect selection of one of said supplementary images or backgrounds, and selection of one of a plurality of combination modes of the combined selected person'"'"'s image and the selected supplementary image or background,

whereby after actuation of said camera and said control means, said control means is operable to effect;

i. display on said visual display device of said supplementary images or backgrounds for selection by operation of said user controls,

ii. display on said visual display device of a combination of an image of said person and a selected said supplementary image or background for selection or rejection by operation of said user controls, and

iii. operation of the print output device to produce a printout of a selected combination of an image of said person and a supplementary image or background, wherein said printout is a postcard, an enlarged portrait print, identification card, or a plurality of identical or non-identical passport size pictures.

30. An automatic picture taking system as claimed in claim 29 wherein said image of said person is shown live on said visual display device.

31. An automatic picture taking system as claimed in claim 29 wherein a plurality of user selectable supplementary images or backgrounds are simultaneously displayed on said visual display device and said user controls are operable by said person to select a supplementary image or background while it is displayed on said visual display device.

32. An automatic picture taking system as claimed in claim 29 wherein a plurality of combinations of said image of said person and said supplementary images or backgrounds are shown on said visual display device.

33. An automatic picture taking system in the form of a photo booth comprising a housing, a background boundary surface, and a picture taking zone for accommodating a person defined between said housing and said background boundary surface, said housing containing:

a) an electronic imaging camera which is operable when actuated to produce an image output in the form of storable electronic image data representative of an image of said person in said zone,

b) a visual display device arranged to display a picture to said person in said zone,

c) a print output device arranged to produce a print output of a picture displayed on said visual display device,

d) processing means for receiving, and storing said image data produced by said camera,

e) data storage means storing further data representing a plurality of userselectable supplementary images,

f) combining means for automatically combining in a user-selectable mode said image data representing the image of said person with said further data representing a userselected supplementary image thereby to produce combined data representing a combination of said image of said person and said user-selected supplementary image,

g) control means operable when actuated to initiate, prior to producing a print output, automatic display for user selection on said visual display device of said image of said person, said plurality of supplementary images, and said combination of images, and to control operation of said print output device,

h) user controls operable by the person to effect selection of one of said supplementary images, selection of one of a plurality of combination modes of the combined selected person'"'"'s image and the selected supplementary image, and to effect modification of said selected person'"'"'s image,

whereby after actuation of said camera and said control means, said control means is operable to effect;

i. display on said visual display device of said supplementary images for selection by operation of said user controls,

ii. display on said visual display device of a combination of an image of said person and a selected said supplementary image for selection or rejection by operation of said user controls, and

iii. operation of the print output device to produce a print output of a selected combination of images.

34. An automatic picture taking system as claimed in claim 33, wherein said modification of said selected person'"'"'s image comprises adjusting the position and/or scale of said selected person'"'"'s image relative to said supplementary image.

35. An automatic picture taking system as claimed in claim 33, wherein said modification of said selected person'"'"'s image comprises distorting of said selected person'"'"'s image.

36. An automatic picture taking system as claimed in claim 33, wherein said modification of said selected person'"'"'s image comprises removal of portions of said selected person'"'"'s image.