Abstract:
Disclosed is an animation composing vending machine capable of automatically composing a specific body part photographed from a user with animation contents. This machine processes a user face image captured by a camera into a face animation according to a predetermined program, automatically composes the processed face animation with a face-removed animation, and then stores and records the composed animation on a CD. Thus, there is no need of an operator to reduce a labor cost, and expensive 3D rendering software and high-performance computer may not be used. In addition, this machine may freely adopt various configuration of vending machines installed outdoors.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to an animation composing vending machine, and more particularly to an animation composing vending machine for automatically composing an image of a specific body part photographed from a user with animation contents.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0004]     Generally, in order to compose an image obtained by photographing a specific body part by a common camera with animation, expensive 3-dimensional (hereinafter, referred to as “3D”) rendering software such as 3D Studio Max, Maya and so on and a high-performance computer capable of operating the 3D rendering software were required in each system, and also an operator who may directly manipulate the 3D rendering software was needed.  
         [0005]     The expensive 3D rendering software is developed for common use. However, the work for composing a specific body part of a human with animation requires a very small part of functions of the software, which causes unnecessary increase of costs for the system. In addition, since the composing work is not automatically processed, an operator should handle the software, increasing a labor cost.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     The present invention is designed to solve the problems of the prior art, and therefore it is an object of the present invention to provide an animation composing vending machine capable of automatically composing a specific body part photographed from a user with animation contents.  
         [0007]     In order to accomplish the above object, the present invention provides an animation composing vending machine, which includes a casing of a predetermined shape to stand on a ground; at least first and second monitors installed to an upper portion of the casing to be opposite to each other so that a user who makes a photograph and other persons are capable of watching images and texts displayed thereon at the same time; a camera installed in the casing at a position adjacent to the first monitor so as to capture an image of a user face; at least one speaker installed to an outer wall of the casing to output sounds in relation to animations; a peripheral device unit including a CD (Compact Disk) recorder installed in the casing to record a composed animation of the user face image captured by the camera on a CD, manipulation buttons installed to the casing for the user to manipulate for selection according to a request from the first monitor, and a cash verification unit installed in the casing to verify insertion of cash; a first controller installed in the casing in connection with the monitors, the camera, the speaker and the peripheral device unit, wherein the first controller instructs the first monitor to output a demo animation stored in a DB (database) unit together with messages for guiding insertion of cash, wherein, in case that cash is inserted into the cash verification unit, the first controller instructs the first monitor to output a plurality of sample animations stored in the DB unit and classified depending on theme and also guide the user to select the number of persons to be photographed, wherein, in case that a specific sample animation and the number of persons to be photographed are selected by means of the manipulation buttons, the first controller instructs the camera to capture an image of a user face, renders the captured user face image to conform to a corresponding face animation data of the sample animation stored in the DB unit and selected by the manipulation buttons according to a predetermined program to make a face animation, composes the face animation with a face-removed animation of the corresponding sample animation stored in the DB unit to make a composed animation, and then transmits the composed animation to the CD recorder to be recorded and stored in a CD; a second controller installed in the casing to be positioned between the first controller and the cash verification unit so as to control the cash verification unit; and a DB unit having a plurality of databases in the casing in connection with the first controller so as to store the user face image captured by the camera, to store face animation data classified depending on theme, to store face-removed animations classified depending on theme, and to store demo animations, various messages and sample animations classified depending on theme, which are to be displayed on the first monitor.  
         [0008]     In the above configuration, the face animation data and the face-removed animation are preferably data respectively obtained by data processing of 3D animation.  
         [0009]     In addition, the animation composing vending machine may further includes at least one lighting installed in the casing in connection to the second controller so as to irradiate light to the user photographed by the camera.  
         [0010]     In addition, the animation composing vending machine may further include a printer installed in the casing in connection to the first controller so as to print a cover sheet to be adhered to the CD.  
         [0011]     In addition, the animation composing vending machine may further include a light screen installed to the casing to be positioned in front of the first monitor.  
         [0012]     In addition, the animation composing vending machine may further include an empty CD supplier installed in the casing in connection to the second controller so as to supply an empty CD.  
         [0013]     The above objects and advantages and other features will become apparent from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]     Other objects and aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:  
         [0015]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing an animation composing vending machine according to the present invention;  
         [0016]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing a rear side of the animation composing vending machine according to the present invention;  
         [0017]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram showing overall configuration of the animation composing vending machine according to the present invention;  
         [0018]      FIG. 4  is a flowchart illustrating an operation method of the animation composing vending machine according to the present invention;  
         [0019]      FIG. 5  is a block diagram showing the step of processing face-removed animation and face animation data previously stored in a database in the animation composing vending machine according to the present invention;  
         [0020]      FIGS. 6 and 7  are schematic diagrams illustrating the step of composing a specific body image photographed from a user with animation contents in the animation composing vending machine according to the present invention.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0021]     Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail referring to the drawings.  
         [0022]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing an animation composing vending machine according to the present invention;  FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing a rear side of the animation composing vending machine according to the present invention;  FIG. 3  is a block diagram showing overall configuration of the animation composing vending machine according to the present invention;  FIG. 4  is a flowchart illustrating an operation method of the animation composing vending machine according to the present invention;  FIG. 5  is a block diagram showing the step of processing face-removed animation and face animation data previously stored in a database in the animation composing vending machine according to the present invention; and  FIGS. 6 and 7  are schematic diagrams illustrating the step of composing a specific body part image photographed from a user with animation contents in the animation composing vending machine according to the present invention. As shown in the figures, the animation composing vending machine of the present invention includes a casing  10 , a peripheral device unit  20 , a first controller  30 , a second controller  40  and a database unit (hereinafter, referred to as “DB unit”)  50 , in brief.  
         [0023]     The casing  10  has a predetermined shape to stand on a ground and gives a space for installing every components  20 ,  30 ,  40 ,  50 .  
         [0024]     The peripheral device unit  20  includes a first monitor  21  installed to an upper front side of the casing  10  to output various images and texts; a camera  22  installed in the casing  10  adjacent to the first monitor  21  to capture an image of a face part of a user; a CD recorder  23  installed in the casing  10  to record an animation, composing the user face part captured by the camera  22 , in a compact disk (hereinafter, referred to as “CD”); manipulation buttons  24  installed to the casing  10  and having confirmation button and directional buttons to be selected by a user by guidance of messages displayed on the first monitor  21 ; and a cash verification unit  25  installed in the casing  10  to verify insertion of cash.  
         [0025]     In addition, a second monitor  26  for outputting the same information as output by the first monitor  21  is preferably installed to an upper rear side of the casing  10 , opposed to the first monitor  21 . For this reason, persons other than a user standing in front of the first monitor  21  for photographing may share relevant information like a look or a pose of the user and animation contents selected by the user.  
         [0026]     In addition, at least one speaker  27  is preferably installed to the casing  10  so as to output various sounds in relation to animations.  
         [0027]     In addition, at least one lighting  28  for irradiating light to a user to be photographed by the camera  22  is preferably installed to the casing  10 . The lighting  28  is installed to the casing  10  so as to irradiate light in the same direction as the camera  22 .  
         [0028]     In addition, a printer  29  is preferably installed in the casing  10  so as to print a cover sheet  29   a  to be adhered to a CD. The cover sheet  29   a  is discharged out through a discharge hole  11  formed in the casing  10 .  
         [0029]     In addition, an empty CD supplier  20   a  for supplying an empty CD is preferably installed in the casing  10 . The empty CD supplier  20   a  contains empty CDs and then discharges any empty CD outward when required.  
         [0030]     Here, the cash verification unit  25 , the lighting  28  and the empty CD supplier  20   a  are connected to and controlled by the second controller  40 . The second controller  40  is connected to the first controller  30  and controls operation of the cash verification unit  25 , the lighting  28  and the empty CD supplier  20   a . Other peripheral devices  21 ,  22 ,  23 ,  24 ,  26 ,  27  and  29  are connected to and controlled by the first controller  30 .  
         [0031]     Meanwhile, a light screen  60  is preferably installed to the casing  10  to be positioned in front of the first monitor  21 . The light screen  60  prevents light emitted from the lighting  28  from being dispersed out so as to increase color temperature of the image captured by the camera  22 . Thus, the light screen  60  is preferably installed to the casing  10  to surround the camera  22  and the lighting  28 .  
         [0032]     The first controller  30  instructs the first monitor  21  to output a demo animation and messages for guiding insertion of cash, previously stored in the DB unit  50 .  
         [0033]     In addition, if cash is inserted into the cash verification unit  25 , the first controller  30  instructs the first monitor  21  to output a plurality of sample animations, previously stored in the DB unit  50  and classified depending on their theme, and also to guide the user to select the number of persons participating in photographing. The information related to whether cash is inserted into the cash verification unit  25  is transmitted to the first controller  30  via the second controller  40 .  
         [0034]     In addition, if a specific sample animation and the number of persons to be photographed are selected using the manipulation buttons  24 , the first controller  30  instructs the camera  22  to capture an image of the face part of the user. The captured user face image P 3  is rendered to conform to a corresponding face animation data P 1  of a sample animation, stored in the DB unit  50  and selected by the manipulation buttons  24 , according to a predetermined program so as to make a face animation P 4 . The face animation P 4  is composed with a face-removed animation P 2  previously stored in the DB unit  50 , and then the composed animation P 5  is transmitted to the CD recorder  23  and recorded and stored in a CD.  
         [0035]     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the face animation data P 1  and the face-removed animation P 2  are respectively classified by data processing of a 3D animation data X 1 . The face animation data P 1  is a data extracted from a data-processed 3D animation data X 1  by 3D animation object extractor X 2 , and the face-removed animation P 2  is a data generated by executing a 3D rendering software X 3 .  
         [0036]     The first controller  30  may be a common personal computer, preferably using Window XP as a platform with specification of Intel Pentium IV CPU, RAM 512 MB or above, a graphic card of ATI Radeon 9000 or above supporting dual-monitor.  
         [0037]     The DB unit  50  includes a DB  51  for storing a user face image P 3  captured by the camera  22 , a DB  52  for storing face animation data P 1  classified depending on theme, a DB  53  for storing face-removed animations P 2  classified depending on theme, and a DB  54  for storing demo animations, various messages and sample animations classified depending on theme, which are to be displayed on the first monitor  21 .  
         [0038]     Thus, as shown in  FIG. 4 , at ordinary times, the first and second monitors  21  and  26  initially output a demo animation in which a face part of human is composed with animation contents together with a message requesting insertion of cash. For this reason, the first controller  30  extracts the corresponding data from the sample animation DB  54  and then transmits it to the first and second monitors  21  and  26  (step S 1 ). In addition, the number of remaining empty CDs may also be output on the initial screen of the first and second monitors  21  and  26 .  
         [0039]     In this state, if a user steps into the light screen  60  and inserts cash into the cash verification unit  25  as requested on the first and second monitors  21  and  26 , the information is transmitted to the second controller  40 , which outputs the same to the first controller  30  (step S 2 ). After recognizing that cash is inserted, the first controller  30  extracts a plurality of sample animations, classified depending on theme, from the sample animation DB  54  and then transmits them to the first and second monitors  21  and  26  to be displayed out. The first and second monitors  21  and  26  output the plurality of sample animations classified depending on theme in a chessboard shape so that the user may see them at one glance. If the plurality of sample animations are output to the first and second monitors  21  and  26  as mentioned above, the user selects a desired sample animation by manipulation of the manipulation buttons  24  (step S 3 ), and then selects the number of persons output on the first and second monitors  21  and  26  (step S 4 ).  
         [0040]     Then, the first controller  30  operates the camera  22  to capture an image of the face of the user standing in the light screen  60 . The camera  22  photographs the face of the user who makes facial expression as requested on the first and second monitors  21  and  26 . The camera  22  captures three to four images for one user to get various poses. When the camera  22  captures an image, the lighting  28  irradiates light. The lighting  28  irradiates light to the user under the control of the second controller  40 , which is instructed by the first controller  30 . The user face image P 3  captured as mentioned above is stored in the face image DB  51  (step S 5 ).  
         [0041]     If the user is photographed as mentioned above, the first controller  30  renders the captured user face image P 3  to conform to a corresponding face animation data P 1  of the sample animation selected by the manipulation buttons  24  and previously stored in the face animation data DB  52  according to a predetermined program, thereby making a face animation P 4 . The face animation P 4  is then composed with a face-removed animation P 2  previously stored in the face-removed animation DB  53  to make a composed animation P 5  (step S 6 ).  
         [0042]     That is to say, as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the first controller  30  executes a face rendering module Y 1  according to a predetermined program so that a captured user face image P 3  is rendered conforming to a corresponding face animation data P 1  of the sample animation selected by the manipulation buttons  24  to make the face animation P 4 , and then executes an animation composing module Y 2  to compose the face animation P 4  with a corresponding face-removed animation P 2  of a sample animation stored in the face-removed animation DB  53  and selected by the manipulation buttons  24 , thereby making a composed animation P 5 .  
         [0043]     The above composed animation P 5  is recorded and stored in a CD, which is inserted into the CD recorder  23  by the user, upon an instruction through the first and second monitors  21  and  26  (step S 7 ). The CD was discharged from the empty CD supplier  20   a  under the control of the second controller  40 , which is instructed by the first controller  30  in the step S 2  at which cash is inserted. The animation P 5  recorded and stored in the CD is a MPEG moving picture that may be output for 3 to 4 minutes, according to MPEG1 standards with a picture size of 352×240, 30 frames per second (29.97 fps), 10 MB per one minute, 30˜40 MB per one song. While the animation P 5  is being recorded and stored in the CD, the printer  29  outputs a cover sheet  29   a  to be adhered to a case of the CD out of the casing  10 , and the animation P 5  recorded and stored in the CD is partially output through the first and second monitors  21  and  26  with outputting its sound through the speaker  27  (step S 8 ).  
         [0044]     If the animation P 5  is completely recorded and stored in the CD, the CD is discharged out for the user to carry, and the first and second monitors  21  and  26  output a message inquiring whether an additional copy is required. If the user wants an additional one, the above procedure is repeated, while, if the user does not want an additional copy, the monitors output an initial screen (step S 9 ).  
       APPLICABILITY TO THE INDUSTRY  
       [0045]     As described above, the present invention allows automatic composition of animation contents and a body part image photographed from a user, so there is no need of an operator and a labor cost is reduced. In addition, expensive 3D rendering software and high-performance computer may not be used. Moreover, the present invention may be easily realized as a vending machine installed outdoors.