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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to photography systems, and more particularly to
such systems adapted for activation and use by the general public. It
further contemplates deployment of such systems in locations generally
accessible by the public, such as stores, specialty shops and the like
where members of the public may activate the equipment to obtain single or
group photos without the necessity, ordinarily, for intervention by or
involvement of other personnel.
2. DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
Automatic photography equipment has heretofore been proposed, illustrative
of which are the systems described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,820,133, granted to
Charles S. Adorney on June 25, 1974; 3,864,708, granted to Brian Allen on
Feb. 4, 1975; 4,072,973, granted to William Mayo on Feb. 7, 1978;
4,089,017, granted to Daniel Buldini on May 9, 1978; and 4,738,526,
granted to John Larish on Apr. 19, 1988.
The foregoing patents describe various configurations for providing
automatic/semi-automatic photography for general use by the public and
include various features for assisting the subject to assume a desired
position with respect to the photography apparatus, utilization of
self-developing equipment such as that produced by the Polaroid
Corporation, adjustment of flash intensity and coin actuation. However,
although various of the foregoing proposals find expression in various of
the above-identified patents, there has remained the need for a system
embodying all of the foregoing features and which further includes the
utilization of synthesized voice instructions together with improved
payment sensing, simplified positioning and camera out-of-film indication.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The photographic system according to the present invention embodies all of
the foregoing features in one coordinated automatic simplified system
which is compact and adapted for stand-alone mounting atop a small
vertically disposed post or the like, thereby eliminating the necessity
for enclosures such as booths and rendering the system attractive for
coordinated disposition with auxilliary or accessory items such as picture
frames, mounting cards and the like.
OBJECTS AND FEATURES
It is one general object of this invention to improve self-operated
photographic systems.
It is another object of the invention to reduce the size of such systems.
It is another object of the invention to reduce the need of dedicated space
for surrounding the person or persons to be photographed.
It is another object of the invention to encourage use of the photographic
equipment through the advantageous use of accessory supporting means.
It is yet another object of the invention to increase utilization of the
equipment by audible solicitation.
Accordingly, in accordance with one feature of the invention, a compact
housing is employed to house a self-developing film-type camera, together
with associated control circuitry and audible announcing and
instruction-providing means, thereby reducing space requirements and
rendering the photographic system adaptable for mounting on a single
vertical support.
In accordance with still another feature of the invention, a simple convex
mirror is positioned in close proximity to the camera and is supported by
the aforementioned housing, thereby simplifying positioning of subjects
with respect to the camera and reducing cost and complexity. In accordance
with still another feature of the invention, simple mechanical swivels are
employed to provide both horizontal panning and vertical adjustment of the
housing and camera, thereby increasing flexibility of use while
maintaining simplicity and low cost. In accordance with still another
feature of the invention, electronic circuitry is provided within the
aforementioned housing to provide explicit voice instructions to the
equipment user and, if desired, to include numerous comments to evoke
smiles or other photographic enhancing qualities in the subject to be
photographed, thereby improving performance of the system.
In accordance with still another feature of the invention, audible messages
are periodically announced, thereby facilitating awareness of the
existence of the equipment and increasing customer use.
In accordance with still another feature of the invention, a proximity
detector is employed to sense the presence of a potential customer and to
address the customer orally.
In accordance with still another feature of the invention, in an
alternative embodiment, the aforementioned voice instructions may include
details regarding the availability and purchase of accessory items, such
as the aforementioned photographic holders or frames, thereby enhancing
customer attractiveness and increasing sales.
These and other objects and features of the invention will be apparent from
the following detailed description, by way of description of a preferred
embodiment, in accordance with the drawing in which the several figures
employ like reference numerals to designate like parts.
THE DRAWING
FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the system according to the invention,
in which there is illustrated the camera housing and its contents mounted
atop a display support and including a representation of a typical
photographic subject;
FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the photographic equipment and subject of FIG.
1;
FIG. 3 is a front perspective view illustrating the camera housing mounted
on a supporting post;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view similar to that of FIG. 3 but with the front
face of the housing lowered to expose the major components mounted within
the housing;
FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of a preferred form of coin/token
sensor used in the system; and
FIG. 6 is an electrical block diagram depicting the preferred embodiment
and illustrating a micro-computer implementation of the camera controller,
visual display, token sensor, speech instruction control and related
circuitry.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring now to the drawing, it will be observed that there is illustrated
a preferred form of the automatic photographic system hereof which
features token operated automatic photographic apparatus and photomount
accessory rack. The combination apparatus and accessory rack is generally
designated by the numeral 1 which is observed to comprise supporting post
2 attached at its lower end 3 to conventional supporting feet 4, 5 and 6.
Mounted on supporting post 2 are a plurality of conventional card rack
holders 7 adapted for holding accessories such as photomount cards 8 and,
optionally, photograph mounting frames 9.
Mounted atop supporting post 2 is U-shaped cradle 10 adapted for supporting
housing 11 in which are mounted system components as described below.
Vertical and horizontal adjustment of housing 11 (and its contents,
including the camera) is provided by a pair of swivels generally
designated by the symbols 12 and 13. Swivel 12 comprises a pair of
projections 14 and 14a (FIG. 2) which mate with corresponding apertures in
U-shaped cradle 10; and provision is made for maintaining a desired
vertical adjustment by detent rollers 15 and 15a which mate with
corresponding detents 16 and 16a.
Swivel 13 may comprise any of a plurality of known horizontal type swivels
which permit relative rotational movement of U-shaped cradle 10 with
respect to supporting post 2. If desired, conventional clamping means may
be included to permit manual clamping of swivel 13 or, alternatively, the
construction may include a frictional engagement of the parts so as to
provide positional stability once the U-shaped cradle has been swung
(panned) to the desired position.
Further reference to FIG. 1 reveals the inclusion of a projecting handle
extension 17 which is affixed to housing 11 and which provides for manual
adjustment both vertically and horizontally of housing 11. Although shown
as projecting only slightly forward from the face of housing 11,
additional extensions such as telescoping sections may be optionally
provided to permit adjustment from a position such as that shown for
customer 20. When extended, such telescoping sections will lie beneath the
field of view designated by lines 18 and 19 and, consequently, will not be
seen in the photograph.
Also shown in FIG. 1 is electrical connecting cord 21 and conventional
voltage reduction transformer 22 which is adapted for plugging into a
conventional wall socket (not shown) by projecting prongs 23.
Projecting toward the customer 20 (i.e., toward the photographic subject
20) is simple convex mirror 21 which provides the customer with a
reference to use in positioning housing 11 by manual manipulation of
projecting handle 17. As shown in the figures, mirror 21 is closely
positioned to the lens area 22 of camera 23, thereby minimizing undesired
parallax.
Now turning to FIG. 2, the apparatus of FIG. 1 is shown in top plan view.
However, not all the details are illustrated therein. Thus, for example,
detent roller 15a and detent 16a which are on the reverse side of the
housing 11 as depicted in FIG. 1, are not shown in FIG. 2.
Now turning to FIG. 3, it will be seen that the equipment is shown in front
perspective with housing 11 being swivelably attached to U-shaped cradle
10 as described above. Attached to housing 11 by hinges (not shown) is
front face plate 24 which is fitted with a plurality of apertures as more
particularly shown in FIG. 4. Preferably mounted on the exterior surface
of front face plate 24 is convex mirror 21, which, as described above, is
provided for the purpose of permitting the subject to be photographed to
adjust the camera field of view as desired. However, it will be evident
that an aperture could be provided in front face plate 24 in the location
shown for convex mirror 21, and in such event, the convex mirror could be
mounted immediately behind the aperture and continue to serve in its
above-described capacity. Such an optional positioning might be desirable
in situations where it was desired to position a protective transparent
layer in front of the mirror to protect it from vandalism or breakage.
Also mounted on front face plate 24 are one or more locks provided to
prevent unauthorized access to the interior of housing 11. While one lock
properly positioned could be adequate, in accordance with the preferred
embodiment, a pair of such locks 25 and 26 are provided. These locks are
conventional in nature and are accessed from the exterior of the equipment
by apertures in which the locks are mounted. As shown in FIG. 3, these
locks are of a keyed type. However, they could alternatively be of a
combination type. As mentioned above, apertures are provided in front face
plate 24 so as to provide exposure by the camera 23 (mounted within
housing 11) to the exterior. Thus, as will be observed from further
inspection of FIG. 3, the lens area 22, the main body of the camera 23,
and the associated flash and focusing areas 27 and 28 are exposed through
the front face plate aperture 29.
Also exposed through apertures 30 and 31 are visual display unit 32 and
start push button 33. Also included within front face plate 24 is coin
slot 34, which is provided for use by the customer in depositing either
the required amount of money in coins or to deposit a predetermined type
of token which could be purchased by the customer.
Now turning to FIG. 4, the equipment of FIG. 3 is seen to be shown with the
front face plate 24 in the hinged down or open position, thus exposing
components that are mounted therewithin. Camera 23 is seen to be supported
by a pair of vertically disposed supports and may be attached thereto by
any of a number of conventional quick release type attachments. Also shown
within enclosure 11 is coin collection tray 38 positioned beneath coin
sensor housing 39. As will be observed from the description of FIG. 5,
coin sensor housing 39 encloses and supports a coin/token sensing
mechanism which detects bogus coins and prevents actuation of the
equipment thereby. Also contained within enclosure 11 is a loud speaker 90
(FIG. 6) which is fastened to the interior of the enclosure immediately
adjacent loud speaker grill 40 in order to provide for acoustical
transmission of instructions and/or entertainment to the equipment user.
Located at any other suitable position within enclosure 11, but preferably
in a position readily accessible from the front, is an electronic circuit
board 41 on which there are mounted electronic components as described
with respect to FIG. 6. Also positioned in a readily accessible location
is volume control element 42 which can be varied to adjust the volume of
sound produced through loud speaker grill 40. Now turning to FIG. 5, the
preferred form of coin/token sensing equipment is depicted. There it will
be observed is shown a coin or token 50 which is of a denomination or size
for which the equipment is adapted. As will be evident from an inspection
of the figure, the two juxtaposed inclined guides 51 and 52 include
coin/token accepting slots 51a and 52a, the upper ends of which are in
communication with coin slot 35 (FIG. 4). At the lower extremity of guides
51 and 52 is a coin/token drop slot through which coins/tokens fall into
collection tray 38; or, alternatively, if it is desired to eliminate the
upper surface or lid on coin collection tray 38, to drop directly
thereinto without the necessity for the slot.
Also provided in the coin/token sensing mechanism is inclined guide 54 onto
which undersized coins drop and are returned through a port (not shown) to
the customer.
In operation, the coin sensing mechanism will, of course, reject oversize
coins since they will not fit within slots 51a and 52a. Correspondingly,
undersized coins will fall in a vertical line and consequently will not
follow the inclination of guides 51 and 52. Accordingly, they will fall
onto inclined coin return guide 54 and be returned to the customer. Coins
that are the correct size, however, will fall under the influence of
guides 51 and 52 and pass between light emitting diode 56 and photo
detector 57. In passing between the emitter 56 and detector 57, the coin
or token interrupts the light path therebetween and causes photo detector
57 to change from a light receiving to a "no light" condition, thereby
activating circuits in accordance with the description hereinafter set
forth in respect of FIG. 6.
Now turning to FIG. 6, the electronic circuits in accordance with the
invention are set forth. The aforementioned light emitting diode 56 is
connected to a conventional source of current, as is photo detector
transistor 57. The output of photo detector transister 57 is connected via
conductor 58 to photo detector amplifier 59, the output of which is
communicated to single chip microcontroller 60 via path 61.
Also connected to single chip microcontroller 60 is conventional start/stop
button 33 which is effective to complete a connection to ground and thus
signal microcontroller 60 that a customer desires to use the equipment.
Additional inputs and outputs are seen to be connected to microcontroller
60. Thus, path 62 is seen to connect microcontroller 60 and conventional
visual display device 32, with a conventional resistor 63 through light
emitting diode 64. Still other connections to microcontroller 60 include
paths 65 and 66 which are serially connected through conventional
amplifiers 67 and 68 to starting relay coils 69 and 70 to close contacts
71 and 72 thereby to activate the camera 23.
Advantage is taken of the empty film signal produced by the camera to
provide a visual display and, optionally, to sound an audible signal.
Thus, empty camera signal is conducted from the camera via conductor 73,
serially connected resistor 74, high impedence decoupling amplifier 75 and
conductor 76 to single chip microcontroller 60.
Also included in the circuitry and connected between microcontroller 60 and
speech control microprocessor 80 by conducting paths 78, 81 and 82, is
handshake controller 77. As will be apparent to those skilled in the art,
handshake controller 77 comprises interface circuits that provide
effective communication between microcontroller 60 and speech control
microprocessor 80.
In order to provide speech programming and speech data, EPROM program and
speech data circuits are provided. As is well-known in the art, the EPROM
(erasable programmable read only memory) circuits provide in programmable
hardware form the program and speech data needed to individualize the
installation as desired. The output of circuits 78 is conducted via path
79 to speech control microprocessor 80 which is responsive to signals
conducted from handshake controller 77 via paths 81 and 82 to produce
digital signals 83 which are conducted via path 84 to adaptive delta
modulator 85 where they are effective to produce conventional audio
frequency signals which are communicated via conductor 86 to conventional
audio amplifier 87. Audio volume control 42 is connected via conductor 88
to audio amplifier 87 so as to control the audio output level therefrom.
This audio output is communicated via conducting path 89 to loudspeaker
90.
A conventional proximity detector 91 is provided to detect the near
presence of a non-stationary object such as a potential customer. Upon
sensing the presence of such, detector 91 produces a corresponding signal
which is conducted to speech control microprocessor 80 via path 92, thus
activating microprocessor 80 to produce signals which, when translated by
adaptive delta modulator 85, cause audio amplifier to produce speech
signals inviting the potential customer to use the equipment.
In accordance with normal operation of the circuits, the single chip
microcontroller 60 periodically extends commands via conducting path 78,
handshake controller 77, and conducting paths 81 and 82 to speech control
microprocessor 80 thereby to activate speech controller 80 to produce
signals representing an announcement to alert those within ear-shot of the
existence and features of the equipment.
When a customer desires to utilize the machine, he or she deposits the
required coins or tokens in slot 34 thus causing detection thereof by
photo responsive transistor 57 and the ensuing activation of photo
amplifier 59. Accordingly, microcontroller 60 is activated and awaits
depression of start switch 33 to initiate the vend sequence.
Alternatively, if start switch 33 is depressed prior to the deposit of
required coins or tokens, then depression of switch 33 is effective to
cause microcontroller 60 to issue instructions to microprocessor 80 to
produce one or more verbal instructions to the customer instructing him to
make the required deposit.
After the correct deposit has been made and the start switch 33 has been
depressed, microcontroller 60 initiates the vend sequence by producing
verbal prompting to pose. When the customer is ready, the start switch may
be depressed again to activate the camera itself and to take the picture.
This, of course, is accomplished through relays 69 and 70 as described
above.
If the camera becomes empty of film, the electrical signal described above
is effective to cause microprocessor 60 to provide a visual indication
thereof through visual display 32 and, optionally, to make a
characteristic sound through loudspeaker 90, thereby alerting store
personnel of the necessity to reload the camera.
As mentioned above, the equipment readily lends itself to visual as well as
audible communication with the customer to communicate humor or other
entertainment to evoke smiles or other pleasing facial expressions which
then may be captured by the camera. Such humor may be programmed into the
EPROM program and speech data module 78 in addition to the speech indicia
described above. Moreover, the circuits are readily usable with auxiliary
or with audio-visuals such as video recorders and television-type monitors
should it be desired to provide animated visual displays. Such optional
additional displays are represented by optional connecting path 100, which
interconnects single chip microcontroller 60 with optional video display
equipment 101.
It will now be evident that there has been described herein an improved
automatic photographic system having substantially improved features.
Although the inventive concepts hereof have been illustrated by way of a
preferred embodiment, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that
other adaptations and modifications may be employed without departing from
the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, for example, the convex
mirror hereof could be replaced by a video monitor if desired, although
such video monitor would add to the cost and complexity of the apparatus.
The terms and expressions used herein are employed as terms of description
and not of limitation; and consequently, there is no intent in the use
thereof of excluding any and all equivalents but on the contrary it is
intended to include all adaptations and modifications that may be employed
without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in
the claims. Moreover, it should be noted that the terms "tokens" and
"coins" are employed to designate objects used to make payment. Thus, such
terms are interchangeable herein unless the context requires otherwise.
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