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US6148148A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatic photobooth with electronic imaging camera
Assignee: Photostar Ltd
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Filing: 1998-05-29
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Granted: 2000-11-14
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Expires: 2018-05-29
Abstract
Abstract An automatic picture taking system has a housing which may be in the form of a booth. The housing contains a video camera (20) and is arranged to produce a video picture of a subject in a picture taking zone (3). The video picture can be converted to a print e.g. using a digital thermal color printer (24, 25). 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.
Inventors
- 👤 John Laurence Wain
- 👤 Barry Allen Marchini
- 👤 Richard Layton Fry
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 18:05
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/00127; H04N1/00132; H04N1/00161; G; G03; G03B; G03B17/00; G03B17/48; G03B17/50; G03B17/53; G07; G07F; G07F17/00; G07F17/26; H04N1/00167; H04N1/00281; H04N1/00283
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
335 words
An automatic picture taking system in the form of a photobooth 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 user-selectable supplementary images, f) combining means for automatically combining in a user-selectable mode said isolated image data representing at least one image of said person with said further data representing at least one user-selected supplementary image thereby to produce combined data representing a plurality of combinations 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 at least one image of said person, said plurality of supplementary images, and said combinations of images, and to control operation of said printer, h) user controls operable by the person to effect selection of at least one of a plurality of combination modes, selection of at least one of said images of said person, selection of at least one of said supplementary images, and selection of at least one of said combinations of images, while the images are automatically displayed on said visual display device by said control means, wherein after said user selection of said at least one combination of images, said control means effects operation of said printer to produce at least one print of at least one selected combination of images.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
335 words
An automatic picture taking system in the form of a photobooth 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 user-selectable supplementary images, f) combining means for automatically combining in a user-selectable mode said isolated image data representing at least one image of said person with said further data representing at least one user-selected supplementary image thereby to produce combined data representing a plurality of combinations 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 at least one image of said person, said plurality of supplementary images, and said combinations of images, and to control operation of said printer, h) user controls operable by the person to effect selection of at least one of a plurality of combination modes, selection of at least one of said images of said person, selection of at least one of said supplementary images, and selection of at least one of said combinations of images, while the images are automatically displayed on said visual display device by said control means, wherein after said user selection of said at least one combination of images, said control means effects operation of said printer to produce at least one print of at least one selected combination of images.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
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.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
A system according to claim 1 wherein the printer is separate from the housing.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
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.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
12 words
A system according to claim 1 wherein the camera is height adjustable.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
A system according to claim 5 wherein the height adjustment is effected with a movable mirror.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
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.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
54 words
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 in 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.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
A system according to claim 1 wherein the camera is a scanning video camera.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
A system according to claim 1 wherein the printer is a digital data-controlled colour printer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
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.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
41 words
A system according to claim 1 wherein said user control is operable by said person to effect adjustment of the position and/or scale of said at least one image of said person relative to said at least one user-selected supplementary image.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
12 words
A system according to claim 1 which is an automatic coin-operated system.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
39 words
A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said image data representative of said image of said person is obtained by isolation from image data representing a background boundary surface, said isolation being performed automatically by said processing means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said image of said person is shown live on said visual display device.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein a plurality of user selectable supplementary images are simultaneously displayed on said visual display device.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein a plurality of user selectable supplementary images are displayed on said visual display device successively.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
49 words
A system as claimed in claim 1 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.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
43 words
A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said user controls are operable by said person to select or reject an image of said person to be combined with a plurality of user-selected supplementary images from a plurality of images of said person.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-11-14 | 2004-05-15 | 2004-11-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-11-14 | 2008-05-15 | 2008-11-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-11-14 | 2012-05-15 | 2012-11-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |