HK1048163B

HK1048163B - Automatic photo-seal dispenser

Info

Publication number: HK1048163B
Application number: HK03100148.8A
Authority: HK
Inventors: 稻毛胜行; 稻毛勝行; 田村兵卫; 西台元; 田村兵衛; 今井弘毅; 前田匡; 志岐尚仁; 鬼头金正; 沢田丰; 新美健太郎; 鬼頭金正; 沢田豐
Original assignee: 欧姆龙株式会社
Priority date: 2000-03-21
Filing date: 2001-03-20
Publication date: 2005-06-03
Also published as: JP2001337386A; HK1048163A1; WO2001071418A3; CN1365458A; TW472167B; JP3226520B1; CN1179239C; EP1266262A2; WO2001071418A2; KR20020021097A; KR100451958B1

Abstract

The objective of this invention is to provide an automatic photo-seal dispenser which will provide optically uniform conditions throughout the entire region in the photo booth. Because it has a brightness adjustment means to adjust the brightness of the camera's output image, it will enable the image which the customer sees when he is considering a pose to match the actual image that will be photographed and printed as a photo-seal. The second illumination means to illuminate the subject of the photograph of this invention has a strobe box which illuminates the region to be photographed by means of a stroboscopic illumination unit contained in a box-like enclosure, a reflector panel which reflects the strobe light emitted by the device into the region to be photographed, and a diffusion panel which diffuses the strobe light into the region to be photographed.

Description

Automatic image forming machine

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an automatic photo-seal dispenser (auto-photo-seal dispenser) capable of giving an image, which can be found in an entertainment facility such as a game center. Imaging is the printing out of an image captured by a digital camera with a color printer. A photo-seal dispenser according to the present invention is typically mounted within a photo booth.

Background

Heretofore, the photo-seal cameras installed in entertainment venues such as game centers as described above use fluorescent or incandescent light as their lighting devices when taking pictures with digital cameras. Illumination is required until the photograph is taken, because the person to be photographed needs enough time to consider the figure when the image thereof is displayed on the monitor. For this reason, fluorescent light or incandescent light is generally used as a light source for photographing.

For this reason, it is almost impossible to obtain sufficient light to take a good photograph using a digital camera, and thus this method cannot fully utilize the functions of the digital camera. Further, the brightness of the image to be printed must be corrected by software processing. Customers cannot easily select the optimal illumination level because they are not familiar with the desired treatment.

Even if the brightness of the image is corrected by the processing program as described, the monitor image on the monitor is greatly different from the actual print image for print image actually taken when the customer considers the build. Therefore, there is a demand that the lighting state when the customer considers the model is the same as that used when actually taking a picture.

If the flash from the flash lighting unit is used only when the photograph is actually taken, the customer has no light to consider the build before the photograph is taken. This poses difficulties in considering the modeling.

In order for a photo booth to accommodate multiple people, there is a need for sufficient photo space and a camera with sufficient field of view to fit the shape of the people, and a light source that provides optimal conditions throughout the area. However, for a group of people taking a picture, if a person stretches their fingers or arms towards the camera to make a flat figure or other gesture, their fingers or arms will cast a shadow on the person's face. Depending on the location of the person, there is always the possibility that the shadow of a person will obscure the face of other people. Therefore, there is a need for a lighting device (lighting) that can eliminate such shadows.

Disclosure of Invention

An object of the present invention is to provide an automatic image forming machine having the following characteristics. It provides a uniform optical environment throughout the entire area of the kiosk, including the space that can accommodate the multi-person figure and the field of view of the camera. Since it has a luminance adjusting means for adjusting the luminance of the output image of the camera, even when the subject is illuminated by an auxiliary (supplemental) illumination device, it is possible to make the image seen when the customer is shaped coincide with the actual image actually taken and imaged. Even when the flash illumination amount becomes low, it can capture an optimal image to generate high-quality imaging. If the amount of flash illumination becomes low, it will detect this condition to obtain an optimum image.

The present invention has the following remarkable features. The photo booth-mounted photo-seal automatic image forming machine according to the present invention has: coin processing means for detecting and processing inserted coins; an input device for inputting an operation instruction; a first illumination device for illuminating the photo booth and the image, the device always illuminating the subject photographed in the photo booth; a second illumination device for illuminating the photographed subject when capturing the print image; a camera for capturing an image of a photographic subject; a display device for displaying the image or necessary information; the printer is used for printing and outputting the images of the photographed person or the photographed crowd whose images are captured; and a control device for controlling these basic components.

The photo-frame imager operates in the following manner: when a customer inserts a coin, the customer inputs an operation instruction, the person or group of persons to be photographed is illuminated by the first and second illumination means for illumination, and their image is captured by the camera. The captured image is displayed on a display device, and then a printer prints and outputs an image. The second illumination device that illuminates a subject to be photographed has a flash box (strobe box) that illuminates an area to be photographed by a flash illumination unit (strobe illumination unit) contained in a box-shaped housing, a reflection panel (reflector panel) that reflects flash light (strobe light) emitted by the device to a region to be photographed, and a diffusion panel that diffuses the flash light to the region to be photographed.

The first lighting device comprises a commonly used lighting device, such as a common fluorescent lamp or incandescent lamp, or may comprise a combination of one of these lamps and a flashlight. This combination can also be used as an auxiliary light source (supplementary lighting 9). The cameras include digital still cameras and digital video cameras. The diffuser panel of the flash box may consist of more than one panel.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, two flash boxes may be placed symmetrically to the left and right of the camera. The orientation of the second illumination means may be chosen such that the partial illumination from the flash boxes on either side of the camera overlaps in the area being photographed. Further, the second illumination device may be disposed above the region to be photographed, illuminating the photographic subject from above.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, a brightness adjusting means may be provided for adjusting the overall brightness of the image output by the camera. The brightness adjusting means for brightness adjustment can adjust the brightness of the image output displayed on the display means and match the brightness with the brightness level of the image actually printed as imaged so that there is no difference between the image display when the modeling is confirmed on the display means and the image display when the image is actually printed as imaged.

The brightness adjusting means may also adjust the brightness of the imaged light to an appropriate level when it is detected that the amount of flash light is insufficient at the moment of photographing.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, a lifetime detection means may be provided for detecting the lifetime of the flash lighting unit in the flash tank. The service life detection means for detecting the service life comprise a counter for registering the number of flashes and a comparison means for determining the service life by comparing the number of flashes with a given number for predicting the service life. The life detection means for detecting the life may also comprise a light sensor receiving the flash light and outputting a signal in dependence on the amount of light received, and a comparison means for determining the life by comparing the output signal representing the amount of light with a given value for the amount of light set. When the life detection means for detecting the life of the strobe completes the detection, the life information may be reported and displayed by the reporting means.

The constituent elements of the present invention described above are combined as possible.

With the present invention, the second illumination device that provides illumination to the printed object (to become an imaged picture) is provided with a dedicated flash box having a flash illumination unit, a reflection panel, and a diffusion panel. This enables the generation of a uniform light beam with a sufficient amount of light. The apparatus is much smaller than the umbrella-shaped mirror commonly used in photographic studios, so an automated photographic booth that would use the special flash box can be made more compact and less expensive. In addition, since the space required for the apparatus is small, it is suitable for a small area.

As described above, the flash tank emits a sufficient amount of light in a uniform beam. Therefore, a plurality of persons can be shaped in the field-of-view shooting space of the camera. The flash box provides an optical condition within the field of view characterized by a sufficient amount of light passing uniformly through the field of view. It eliminates shadows cast by a protruding finger or shadow of one person onto another person, thus enabling high quality imaging.

Since the second illumination means is disposed at a high position and the illumination light beam is emitted from the vertex to the photographic subject, the emitted light is dispersed by the hair of the photographic subject to produce a stereoscopic effect in the photograph. Thus, the printed image reproduces the hair quality of the subject's hair in a very satisfactory manner.

After the photographic subject, such as a finger of a customer, is illuminated by the first illumination means for the customer to check the model, the brightness adjustment means for brightness change adjusts the image before the display means outputs the image so that the brightness thereof matches the brightness of the actually printed image. The system makes it easy to visually verify the image thereof, so that it achieves a very satisfactory photographing effect. At this point, because this improvement reduces the likelihood of a picture being retaken, it reduces the time that the customer must wait. It improves customer efficiency and thus enables increased revenues from a gambling perspective.

Even if the light amount of the flash is reduced, the luminance adjusting device for changing the luminance can adjust the luminance to an appropriate level and produce high-quality imaging.

Since the life detection means always detects the life of the flash illumination unit, the life monitoring of the flash illumination unit eliminates the possibility of photographing in the case of insufficient illumination. This makes it possible to produce high-quality photographs over a long period of time.

Brief description of the drawings

Fig. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a photo-seal dispenser according to the present invention;

fig. 2 illustrates a front view of a photo-seal dispenser according to the present invention;

fig. 3 illustrates a view in partial cross section of a photo-seal dispenser according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates a side view in cross-section of a flash box according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates a front view of a cross-section of a flash tank according to the present invention;

FIG. 6 illustrates how the flash illumination unit illuminates in the flash tank;

FIG. 7 illustrates another preferred embodiment of a flash box according to the present invention;

fig. 8 illustrates a block diagram providing control circuitry for the photo-seal machine;

fig. 9 is a flow chart of the photo-seal machine logic;

fig. 10 is a block diagram of a luminance adjusting apparatus;

fig. 11 is a block diagram of the brightness adjusting apparatus, particularly when a parameter for adjusting brightness is preset;

FIG. 12 is a block diagram of a life detection device that monitors the life of a flash;

FIG. 13 is a flow chart of life detection device logic;

FIG. 14 is a partial block diagram showing another example of how the flash lighting unit may be activated;

FIG. 15 is a partial block diagram showing another example of a life device;

FIG. 16 is a partial block diagram showing the inspection process of the life device;

FIG. 17 is a flow chart showing life device logic.

Detailed description of the invention

The figure shows a photo kiosk with a photo imaging machine 10 installed, such as may be found in an entertainment facility such as a game room. In fig. 1, 2 and 3, the photo-seal dispenser 10 has 2 digital cameras 11a and 11b, respectively in upper and middle positions at the center of the kiosk. The upper digital camera 11a is used to photograph the upper body or face of the photographic subject; the intermediate digital camera 11b is used to photograph the entire body of the photographic subject.

In the middle of the bevel plate in the vertical center of the imager 10 is a display 12 which contains a cathode ray tube. In addition to displaying the photographed image, the display 12 displays an operation instruction and an edited image generated by a customer arbitrarily writing on the upper end of the photographed image. The surface of the display 12 also has a touch screen that serves as an input device. The touch screen can be used to input data into the displayed image.

On the panel below the display 12 are a slot 13 into which the customer inserts the paid out fee (coins or banknotes) and a photo exit 14 from which the image is sent. On the vertical panel below the slot 13 is a coin return slot 15.

To the right and left of the digital camera 11(11a and 11b) are flash boxes 17(17a and 17b) serving as second illumination means for illuminating a photographic subject at the moment when the camera 11 captures an image of a customer for imaging. On the outside of the flash box is a first lighting means fluorescent lamp 16. They are constantly lit in the photo booth and serve as an aid for illuminating the subject. Fluorescent lamps 18 are located on the left and right sides of the ceiling of the photo booth in the space-a area in front of the camera 11, and the fluorescent lamps 18 are also part of the first lighting device and serve as auxiliary devices for lighting the photographic subject overhead. The overhead fluorescent lamp 18 is mounted on a frame 19, the frame 19 defining a photographing area a.

Fig. 4 and 5 show one 17a of the flash tanks 17 mentioned above. In the case frame 21, a flash illumination unit 22 is mounted on the bottom surface of the case 21 and attached thereto by an appropriate mounting member.

The flash 22a in the flash illumination unit 22 is installed at a certain angle (about 30 degrees) toward the inside of the flash box and at a certain angle (about 5 degrees) toward the digital camera 11. A first diffuser panel 23 is placed over the flash to diffuse the flash light. The flashlight 22a is secured by suitable mounting features.

The first reflection panel 24a is vertically installed at the center of the rear of the case 21 above the flash illumination unit 22. At the upper end of the panel 24a is a second reflective panel 24b, the upper end of the panel 24b is slightly inclined forwardly, and at the upper end of the panel 24b is a third panel 24c, the upper end of the panel 24c is more inclined forwardly. These reflective panels 24 are flat so that each plane is slightly inclined from its underside. Alternatively, however, a single curved panel (synthetic resin) may be used.

The reflective surfaces of the reflective panels 24(24a, 24b and 24c) and the inner walls (particularly the side walls) of the cabinet 21 are produced by coating them with white paint. These reflective surfaces may also be coated with a silver colored lacquer to produce a silver colored screen.

A second diffusion panel 26 capable of uniformly diffusing the flash light reflected by the front surface of the reflection panel 24 is located on the front surface of the case 21. It is attached to the box 21 by suitable fixing means.

The flash box 17a as described above is configured to project its light toward the center of the photographing area a. The flash illumination unit 22 located in the other flash box 17b is symmetrically placed on the other side of the digital camera 11, and it directs its light (at an angle) toward the digital camera. Therefore, the light emitted by the flash boxes 17a and 17b is projected toward the center of the photographing region a as shown in fig. 6. The two light beams overlap at the center of the photographing region a, and uniformly illuminate the photographic subject from the left and right sides with sufficient illumination.

Placing the flash illumination unit 22 at the bottom of the flash tank 17 (within the floor) ensures that there is sufficient distance between it and the second diffuser panel 26 to achieve uniform illumination.

Fig. 7 shows another example of the flash tank 17. (components having the same functions are given the same reference numerals.) in this example, the flash 22a of the flash illumination unit 22 is placed in the vertical center of the case 21. The reflective panels 24a, 24b, and 24c are vertically aligned to simulate a curved surface. A reflection panel 24d is attached (e.g., adhered) to the rear surface of the diffusion panel 26 directly in front of the flasher 22a, and the size of the reflection panel 24d is the size of the area of the flasher 22a where the light is strongest. The reflective panel 24 is coated with silver paint so that it randomly reflects the concentrated beam from the flash lamp 22 a. The second diffusion panel 26 uniformly diffuses the light beam.

Since the second illumination means is disposed at a high position and the illumination light beam is emitted from the top of the head to be projected to the subject, the emitted light is dispersed by the hair of the subject to produce a stereoscopic effect in the photograph. Thus, the printed image reproduces the hair quality of the subject's hair in a very satisfactory manner.

Fig. 8 shows a control circuit in the photo-seal dispenser 10. For example, the control device 30 may include a CPU for processing calculation and control programs, a ROM for storing programs, and a RAM for storing data required for operations. It can drive all these circuit arrangements.

When the flash illumination unit 22 receives an input in the form of a flash start signal, it lights the flash 22 a.

The digital camera 11 includes a camera 11a and a camera 11b, and the camera 11a photographs the upper body or face of the subject and the camera 11b photographs the entire body thereof as described above. The shooting operation starts when the customer indicates the camera he wishes to use. When a shutter signal is input to the selected camera, the camera performs shooting and outputs a signal (e.g., picture data) representing a shot picture.

In addition to displaying the photographed image, the display 12 also displays an operation instruction and an edited image generated by a customer arbitrarily writing on the upper end of the photographed image.

The input device 31 comprises a touch screen overlaid on the display 12. The customer can input data by touching a position corresponding to the displayed image. The keyboard can also be used as an input device.

The printer 32 converts the selected photographed image or its edited version into a color print and outputs it as an image.

In the money handling apparatus 33, the slot 13 and the hopper 15 are connected to each other. The device 33 determines the authenticity and the inserted monetary value and outputs a processing signal. Based on this signal, the control device 30 allows the process to proceed down if the correct amount of money has been deposited. If change is required or the money must be returned, the device 33 returns the money through the refund slot 15. In addition to coins, the device can also handle banknotes.

The control device 30 also controls a brightness adjusting device 34 for adjusting the brightness of the image and a life detecting device for detecting the life of the flash box.

The brightness adjustment device 34 can change the overall brightness of the image captured by the digital camera 11 and output the changed image. The brightness can be changed in two ways. The customer inputs a required amount of change or the control device 30 automatically adjusts the brightness of the image. When the kiosk is illuminated by fluorescent lights 16 and 18 (darker than the strobe light), if the brightness is automatically adjusted, the brightness may be adjusted to the brightness displayed on the display at the time the customer selects the build, or to the brightness when the strobe flashes.

For an image whose RGB values (3 basic values of light) are expressed as 256 tones (tone), brightness adjustment is performed by increasing or decreasing the tone value of the original image. For example, the brightness of the original image can be increased by increasing its tone value by 10. If the customer indicates how the customer wishes the brightness to be corrected, the input will correspond to a given hue value. If the brightness values that can be selected are stepwise incremented, the adjustment parameter for each increment can be determined in advance. The image may then be altered according to these adjustment parameters.

If the brightness adjustment is to be automatically performed, a reference value of the hue (for example, brightness at the time of printing the image) is selected. The tone value of the image (the image for selecting the model and the image to be printed) is compared with the reference value. If the tone value of the captured image is insufficient when compared with the reference value, the tone value of the image is adjusted. One of the reasons why the tone value of the printed image is darker than it is that the amount of light emitted by the flash 22a is decreasing. Monitoring the brightness of the image in terms of its hue value thus enables monitoring of the service life of the lamp 22a as well. The adjustment parameter or the reference value may be stored in a storage unit (e.g., RAM) of the control device 30 or may be stored in the external storage device 36, which will be described later.

The function of the lifetime detection means 35, i.e. monitoring the lifetime of the flash, comprises detecting a signal that the illumination capability is decreasing because the amount of light emitted by the flash 22a of the illumination means 22 is insufficient. For this reason, the quality (e.g., excellent quality) specified for image formation cannot be maintained. This may be considered to indicate that the useful life of the flash has been reached and a signal representative of the detection is output. The end of the life of the flash 22a can be detected using three methods. One approach is to use an accumulation circuit to count the number of flashes. The second method is to specify the amount of light that the flash 22a should emit, and compare the amount of light emitted when taking a picture with the specified amount. The third method is to check the color tone of the RGB values to see the overall brightness of the image. In this embodiment, the accumulation circuit counts the number of flashes.

In other words, the life detection device 35 having the capability of detecting that the life of the flash has come displays the list of the number of times of flashing of the flash using the counter. The counter tracks the number of flashes by using a shutter signal output by the control device 30. The accumulated value of the counted number of flashes of the flash is stored in a designated area (e.g., a storage unit) in the external storage device 36.

The flash number of the flash indicating that the life span of the flash 22a has come is stored in a designated area (storage unit) in the external storage device 36, or indicates a predetermined flash number and a flash number that will alert the user and/or owner that the life span of the flash 22a has come close and that the flash should be replaced.

The life detection means 35, which monitors the life of the flash, operates in the following manner. The accumulated number of flashes is compared to the number of flashes that would remind the user/owner to replace the flash. If the actual number of flashes exceeds the number of reminders, a signal is output indicating that the user/owner should be reminded. If the actual number of flashes exceeds the number of flash life times, a signal is output indicating that the kiosk is no longer operational. These output signals may be implemented as follows. The control device 30 can cause a warning of "replacement of flash" or a warning of "lifetime of flash has come" to be displayed on the display 12, or display these warnings on the display 12 and additionally perform processing to prevent the input device 31 from operating.

The process executed by the control device 30 of the automatic imaging machine 10 for outputting an image configured as described above will be described below with reference to a flowchart in fig. 9.

When the user inserts a specified amount of money into the slot 13, it is judged whether the amount of money is correct or not based on the processing signal from the money handling apparatus 33. If the number is judged to be correct, the control device 30 allows the input device 31 to operate (step n 1).

The customer selects the mode he wishes to use, either the upper body/face or the entire body (step n2), and selects a figure in shot a (step n 3).

When the customer selects a build, the fluorescent light 16 on the front of the kiosk and the fluorescent light 18 on the ceiling illuminate it. The light is not as bright as when the flash 22a flashes when a photograph is taken. To compensate for this, the brightness adjustment device 34 causes the image displayed on the display 12 to have the same brightness as the image to be printed. The customer can check the model using the same image as the image to be printed.

When the build is determined, the customer operates the input device 31 so that the input device 31 outputs a shutter signal for photographing.

The selection of the mode of the customer and its input of the shutter signal cause the digital camera 11a or 11b selected by the customer to start. The shutter signal is output to the digital camera 11 selected by it.

Based on the shutter signal, the digital camera 11 drives its shutter. At the same time, the start signal is output to the flash illumination unit 22, and the flash illumination unit 22 causes the flash 22a to flash in synchronization with the shutter signal (step n 4).

When the shutter signal and the synchronous picture signal (i.e., picture data) from the digital camera 11 are input to the control device 30, the picture signal is output to the display 12, and the taken picture is displayed. Meanwhile, the overall brightness of the taken image is checked by one process that will be described below (step n5), and the lifetime of the flash 22a is checked by another process that will be described below (step n 6).

Then, the customer can input desired figures and characters on the displayed image using the input device 31 and the touch panel. Meanwhile, if a change in the overall brightness (hue) of the captured image has been input, the image will be displayed with new brightness (step n 7).

When the customer approves the image and inputs its decision through the input device 31 (step n8), the printer 32 starts and prints the image. The image is output through the print outlet 14, and the process is completed (step n 9).

The process of checking the brightness of the image in step n5 is performed as follows.

As can be seen from fig. 10, when the image captured by the digital camera 11 is subjected to the brightness adjustment function 34 (step n5), the hue of the original image is analyzed and compared with the hue reference value stored in the external storage device 36 (or the internal RAM). The quality of the tone of the original image is determined with respect to the reference value. If the tone is too light or too dark, correction is made by increasing or decreasing it, and the adjusted image is output. This adjustment process is performed in the same manner as the adjustment made when the customer selects a build illuminated by the fluorescent lamps 16 and 18.

Data representing increasing or decreasing tone values is saved. This data accumulated over time is used to check how the original image should be corrected. It will notify the user/owner when the amount of light emitted by the flash 22a begins to decrease.

When writing is added in step n7, if the user indicates that he wishes to change the overall brightness of the image, the processing is performed as follows.

As can be seen from fig. 11, the parameters required for adjusting the hue, which indicate the increased hue value, have been stored in the external storage device 36 (or internal RAM). When a customer inputs a value of a hue of one to change the brightness using the input device 31, parameters for adjusting the brightness corresponding to the indicated value are read out, and the hue is adjusted using the parameters. And outputting the edited image.

The lifetime of the flash in step n6 is checked as follows. As shown in fig. 12, the integrated value of the number of times of flash counted by the flash 22a is stored in a designated area 36b of the external storage device 36. The number of flashes specified as the expected life of the flash 22a and the number of flashes by which the user will be alerted that the life of the flash 22a has been approached and that the flash should be replaced are stored in the designated area 36 a.

As can be seen from fig. 13, the accumulated number of times of flashing (accumulated value) is compared with the number of times indicating the lifetime (lifetime value) of the flash. If the actual number of times of flash (integrated value) exceeds the number of times (life value) indicating the life of the flash, it is determined that insufficient light makes it impossible to continuously produce high-quality imaging. A signal will be output to prevent further operation so that the kiosk cannot accept input to print. A warning of a malfunction of the kiosk appears on the display 12, e.g. "please change the flash". Resume operation after flash replacement. When the customer sees it, the customer notifies the staff to replace the flash 22 a. The worker inputs the flash replacement completion information using the input device 31. In response to this input, the stored accumulated number of flashes (accumulated value) is reset. The process returns to the beginning and the customer is allowed to proceed down (steps n11, n12, and n 13).

If the comparison yields information that the accumulated number of flashes (accumulated value) has not reached the number of times (life value) indicating the life of the flash, then determining whether the accumulated number of flashes (accumulated value) reached the number of flashes (warning value) will alert the user to replace the flash (step n 14). If this has been achieved, a signal is output indicating that the user/owner should be reminded to replace the flashlight. A message is passed through the display 12 such as "the flash is approaching its expected life, please find an alternative flash" so that the user knows that he needs to find an alternative flash. When reading the display, the customer will notify the staff that he needs a new flashlight (steps n14 and n 15).

This message that the flash needs to be replaced will be displayed each time the customer uses the photo kiosk until the number of flashes reaches a number (life value) indicating the life of the flash. The flash may be replaced while the message is displayed.

If the flash 22a is not to be replaced, the number of times of flashing is accumulated and the process goes to step n7 (step n16 and step n 17).

If the flash 22a is replaced when the message display of replacing the flash 22a is prepared, and the worker inputs through the input device 31 that the flash replacement has been completed, the accumulated number of times of flashes (accumulated value) stored in the storage unit 36b is reset according to the input (step n18), and the process goes to step n 7.

Since the service life of the flash 22a in the flash illumination unit 22 is monitored in this way, continuous shooting cannot be performed when the amount of light is reduced to an insufficient amount. This design ensures that high quality images can be continuously produced for long periods of time.

Here information about the service life of the flash 22a and a warning of replacement of the flash are given by the display 12; however, it is also acceptable to directly transmit this information to the staff member via a monitor or light.

Fig. 14 shows another example of how the flash illumination unit 22 is activated. A strobe (strobe)41 is an integral part of the digital camera 11. On one side of the flash lighting unit 22 is a photo detector (photo detector)42 for detecting light from the flash 41 and outputting an initial signal to the flash lighting unit 22. When receiving a shutter signal from the control device 30, the flash 41 flashes. When the light detector 42 detects the flash, the flash illumination unit 22 is activated and the flash 22a flashes. The flash illumination unit 22 may be activated in this manner.

Fig. 15 shows another way of detecting the lifetime of the flash in step n 9. In this example, the amount of light is specified for determining that the life of the flash 22a is up. The amount of light emitted when photographed is then compared to a prescribed amount to detect whether the useful life of the lamp has been reached.

In this example, a light detector 43 is provided for detecting the amount of light emitted by the flash 22 a. A signal indicating the value of the current flowing through the flash 22a detected by the photodetector 43 is output to the life detection device 35 for detecting the life of the flash.

As shown in fig. 16, the life detection means 35 for detecting the life of the strobe has current value comparison means. A current value (life time value) indicating that the life time of the strobe light 22a has come and a current value (warning value) indicating that the user is reminded to replace the strobe light are stored in a designated area 36c in the external storage device 36.

As shown in fig. 17, the device 34 for detecting the lifetime of the flash compares a signal indicating the current value (sensor value) of the flash 22a detected by the photodetector 43 with a current value (lifetime value) indicating that the lifetime of the flash 22a has come. If the sensed value is less than the service life value (step n21), determining that the amount of light is insufficient may not continue to produce high quality images. It outputs a signal to prevent further operation, rendering the kiosk unacceptable for input to print. A warning of a malfunction of the kiosk appears on the display 12 (step n22), for example "please change the flash. Resume operation after flash replacement. When the customer sees it, the customer notifies the staff to replace the flash 22 a. The worker inputs the flash replacement completion information using the input device 31 (step n 23). The process returns to the beginning and the customer is allowed to proceed down.

When the current value (sensor value) indicating the strobe light 22a detected by the photodetector 43 is compared with the current value (lifetime value) indicating that the lifetime of the strobe light 22a has come in step n21, the apparatus 35 determines that shooting is possible if the sensor value exceeds the lifetime value. It then compares the sensed value with a current value (warning value) indicating that the user is to be reminded to replace the strobe light 22a (step n 24). If the sensed value is below the warning value, a signal is output indicating that the user should be alerted to replace the flashlight. A message is passed through the display 12, for example, "the flash is close to its expected life, please find an alternative flash," so that the user knows that he needs to find an alternative flash (step n 25). When reading the display, the customer will notify the staff that he needs a new flashlight (steps n14 and n 15).

In this way the lifetime detection means 35 is able to detect the amount of light emitted by the flash and monitor its lifetime.

While exemplary embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated, it will be apparent that many modifications can be made to the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. The invention is therefore not limited by the foregoing description or drawings, but is defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A method of marketing imagery through an output image enabled photo-forming engine mounted in a photo booth, the photo-forming engine comprising:

a money handling device for detecting and handling the inserted money;

an input device for inputting an operation instruction and an editing image provided by a customer;

a continuous lighting device for illuminating an image of a customer at all times in the photo booth;

a flash lighting device for emitting flash light in synchronization with capturing of an image of a customer;

a camera for capturing images of the customer;

a display device for displaying the captured image of the customer, the edited image, or necessary operation information;

a printer for printing the captured image and the edited image as an image and outputting the image; and

a control device for controlling the image forming machine as a whole;

wherein the continuous lighting device and the flash lighting device are disposed in parallel, and the continuous lighting device and the flash lighting device are disposed as a pair of lighting devices on left and right sides of the camera;

the sales method of the sales imaging comprises the following steps:

when money is jammed and the money handling apparatus detects the jammed money, allowing a display operation for outputting an image to be performed, allowing the captured image of the customer to be displayed on the display apparatus, the continuous illumination apparatus illuminating the display apparatus to allow the customer to confirm the figure thereof before photographing;

the continuous lighting device and the flash lighting device illuminate the customer to be photographed and photograph the customer, and thereafter display a photographic image on the display device;

allowing editing of said customer's photographic image displayed on said display device; and

after the customer confirms the photographic image or the edited photographic image, the photographic image or the edited photographic image is printed as an image, and the image of the printed image is output.

2. A sales method for sales imaging by a photo-seal machine according to claim 1, wherein said flash illumination device illuminates an area to be photographed, said flash illumination device being installed in a box-like flash box, said flash illumination device comprising:

a flash illumination unit;

a reflection panel that reflects flash light emitted by the flash illumination unit; and

and a diffusion panel for diffusing and emitting the reflected flash light to the photographed area.

3. A sales method for sales imaging by a photo-seal machine according to claim 1, wherein a part of said scattered strobe lights emitted by a pair of said strobe boxes respectively on one side of said camera overlaps in a photographed area.

4. An image forming vending machine capable of outputting an image, said image forming vending machine being mounted in a photo booth, said image forming vending machine comprising:

a money handling device for detecting and handling the inserted money;

a camera for capturing images of the customer;

a control device for controlling the image forming machine as a whole,

the image forming machine allows a display operation for outputting an image when the money is jammed and the money handling apparatus detects the jammed money, allowing the captured image of the customer to be displayed on the display apparatus, the continuous illumination apparatus illuminating the display apparatus to allow the customer to confirm the figure thereof before photographing;

the imager illuminates the customer to be photographed through the continuous lighting device and the flash lighting device and photographs the customer, and thereafter displays a photographic image on the display device;

said imager allowing editing of said customer's photographic images displayed on said display device; and

the image forming machine prints the photographic image or the edited photographic image as an image after a customer confirms the photographic image or the edited photographic image, and outputs the image of the printed image.

5. A photo-seal dispenser according to claim 4, wherein said flash lighting device illuminates an area to be photographed, said flash lighting device being installed in a box-like flash box, said flash lighting device comprising:

a flash illumination unit;

6. A photo-seal dispenser according to claim 4, wherein a part of said scattered strobe lights emitted from a pair of said strobe boxes respectively on one side of said camera overlap in a region to be photographed.