Face image photographing apparatus and face image photographing method

• US 6,483,993 B1
• Filed: 07/07/2000
• Issued: 11/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Misumi, Yoshinori, Suga, Mikio
• Primary Examiner(s): Perkey, W. B.
• Application Number:
  US09/612,239
• Time in Patent Office: 865 Days
• Field of Search: 396/77, 396/78, 348/63, 348/77, 348/78, 348/135, 348/141, 348/240, 348/333.12, 348/333.11, 348/358, 348/561, 348/562, 348/581, 348/582, 355/40, 355/41, 355/55
• US Class Current: 396/78
• 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: G06V 40/165 using facial parts and geometric relationships

Abstract

In this invention, a camera position display portion for displaying the position of a camera at which a to-be-photographed person looks at the time of photographing by the camera, a confirming process display portion for displaying “wait for photographing” to the to-be-photographed person, an end display portion for displaying “end of photographing” to the to-be-photographed person, and an exit display portion for displaying “traveling direction after the end of photographing” to the to-be-photographed person are provided and display of guidance as to the photographing state (the position at which the to-be-photographed person looks, waiting for photographing, end of photographing, traveling direction after the end of photographing) is made for the to-be-photographed person. Thus, the photographing state can be indicated to the to-be-photographed person and applicants for photographing who make a queue will not be kept waiting for a long time and can be dealt with as efficiently as possible. Further, by use of the above guidance display, not only a normal person but also a person who has difficulty in hearing can be guided without fail.

Claims

1. A face image photographing method comprising the steps of:

photographing at least a face image of a to-be-photographed person, detecting positions of at least both pupils in a face of the to-be-photographed person and measuring the size of a face of the to-be-photographed person based on a relationship between the detected positions of said at least pupils; and

obtaining a face image with a constant size by subjecting the photographed face image to a zooming process according to the measured value of the size of face measured.

2. The face image photographing method according to claim 1, wherein said step of obtaining the face image with a constant size comprises the steps of:

deriving a ratio of the measured value of the face size measured to a target face size value which is an adequate face size and setting the derived ratio as a zoom ratio, the adequate face size being determined based on an average of data items of face images of a plurality of to-be-photographed persons; and

obtaining a face image with a constant size by subjecting the photographed face image to a zooming process according to the zoom ratio.

3. The face Image photographing method according to one of claims 1 and 2, wherein said step of measuring the size of a face of the to-be-photographed person is effected by detecting positions of at least both pupils and mouth in the face of the to-be-photographed person based on the photographed face image and measuring the face size according to the relation of the detected positions of the pupils and mouth.

4. A face image photographing method comprising the steps of:

photographing at least a face image of a to-be-photographed person,

detecting positions of at least pupils in a face of the to-be-photographed persons, and measuring the size of a face of the to-be-photographed person based on a relationship between the detected positions of said at least pupils,

determining whether the measured value of the face size measured is within a specified range;

obtaining a face image with a constant size by subjecting the photographed face image to a zooming process according to the measured value of the measured face size when it is determined in said determining step that the measured value of the face size is within the specified range, and

effecting a retry control process for causing a process including said face image photographing step, said face size measuring step and said step of determining whether the measured value of the face size measured is within the specified range to be effected again when it is determined in said determining step that the measured value of the face size measured is outside the specified range.

5. The face image photographing method according to claim 4, wherein said step of measuring the size of a face of the to-be-photographed person is effected by detecting positions of at least both pupils and mouth in the face of the to-be-photographed person based on the photographed face image and measuring the face size according to the relation of the detected positions of the pupils and mouth.

6. A face image photographing apparatus comprising:

photographing means for photographing at least a face image of a to-be-photographed person;

detecting positions of at least pupils in a face of the to-be-photographed person, and measuring means for measuring the size of a face of the to-be-photographed person based on a relationship between the positions of said at least pupils; and

zoom processing means for obtaining a face image with a constant size by subjecting the photographed face image to a zooming process according to the measured value of the face size measured by said measuring means.

7. The face image photographing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said zoom processing means includes:

zoom ratio setting means for deriving a ratio of the measured value of the face size to a target face size value which is an adequate face size and setting the derived ratio as a zoom ratio, the adequate face size being determined based on an average of data items of face images of a plurality of to-be-photographed persons; and

zoom processing means for obtaining a face image with a constant size by subjecting the face image photographed by said photographing means to a zooming process according to the zoom ratio set by said zoom ratio setting means.

8. The face image photographing apparatus according to one of claims 6 and 7, wherein said measuring means detects positions of at least both pupils and mouth in the face of the to-be-photographed person based on the face image photographed by said photographing means and measuring the face size according to the relation of the detected positions of the pupils and mouth.

9. A face image photographing apparatus comprising:

photographing means for photographing at least a face image of a to-be-photographed person;

detecting positions at least pupils in a face of the to-be-photographed person and measuring means for measuring the size of a face of the to-be-photographed person based on a relationship between the detected positions of said at least pupils

determining means for determining whether a measured value of the face size measured by said measuring means is within a specified range;

zoom processing means for obtaining a face image with a constant size by subjecting the face image photographed by said photographing means to a zooming process according to the measured value of the faces size measured by said measuring means when said determining means determines that the measured value of the face size lies within the specified range, and

retry control means for causing the face image photographing process by said photographing means, the face size measuring process by said measuring means and the process by said determining means for determining whether the measured value of the face size is within the specified range to be effected again when said determining means determines that the measured value of the face size is outside the specified range.

10. The face image photographing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said measuring means detects positions of at least both pupils and mouth in the face of the to-be-photographed person based on the face image photographed by said photographing means and measuring the face size according to the relation of the detected positions of the pupils and mouth.