JP2000268256A - Production of card, card selling method and card - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To produce a card corresponding to user's liking by printing out an image obtained by photographing and a game image necessary for a game selected by a user on a card. SOLUTION: An image signal of a subject photographed by a camera 30 is received by an image correction device 53, which corrects the image of the subject. An image synthesizer 54 receives the image signal of the subject as a 1st image signal, receives an image signal of a stored image outputted from a graphic I/F circuit 51 as a 2nd image signal and synthesizes the 1st and 2nd image signals. A printing image is generated on the basis of the synthesized image data and printed on a card base body having prescribed size. A game image necessary for a game and the subject image are synthesized and printed on the card. Thus the user can purchase the card by his (or her) own selection.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a card manufacturing method, a card selling method, and a card, and more particularly to a card manufacturing method capable of manufacturing a card desired by a user,
And a card selling method, and a card having a wide variety of games.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, card-type play equipment such as playing cards, carta, and tarot cards are composed of a large number of cards of the same size. , Colors, patterns, and other decorative images not directly related to the game are printed (printed).
In order to provide such card-type play equipment to consumers at low cost, manufacturers mass-produce card-type play equipment consisting of cards on which the same decorative image is printed.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a card manufacturing method and a card selling method capable of manufacturing a card according to a user's preference, and a card having a wide variety of games.

[0004]

In order to solve the above problems, according to an aspect of the present invention, a playing card, a carda,
A card manufacturing method using a card manufacturing machine for manufacturing cards used for games such as tarot cards includes a photographing step of photographing a subject, and a printing step of printing an image obtained by photographing the card and a game image selected by a user. And

[0005] Preferably, the card manufacturing method further comprises a selecting step of allowing a user to select a desired image from a plurality of images, and in the printing step, an image obtained by photographing and the selected image are printed on the card. I do.

[0006] Preferably, in the printing step, an image obtained by photographing is printed on one side of the card.

[0007] Preferably, the card includes a storage unit for storing information in a rewritable manner, and the card manufacturing method includes a writing step of writing information to the storage unit.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a card selling method includes any one of the above-described card manufacturing methods, and sells a card manufactured by the card manufacturing method at a charge.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a card is manufactured by any one of the above-described card manufacturing methods.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, a card selling method is a card selling method for selling cards used for games such as playing cards, cards, tarot cards, etc. A print step of printing the selected game image and the card on a card.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, a card is sold by the above-described card selling method.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below.

FIG. 1 shows a playing card vending machine 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention.

In the present embodiment, an image obtained by photographing a subject is combined with a play image required for play, and the present invention is not limited to this. is not.

In the card vending machine 1, the housing 10
Various devices are provided inside or on the surface of the device. For convenience of explanation, the side facing the user (user) 7 in the housing 10 is referred to as a front side. That is, with respect to the housing 10 of FIG. 1, the left side of the paper is the front side of the housing 10 and the right side is the rear side of the housing 10. Although any object can be selected as the subject 70, in the present embodiment, it is assumed that the whole body of the user 7 is the subject 70.

Behind the subject 70, a curtain 12 for blocking external light is provided. The curtain 12 is supported by support frames 13 and 14 projecting forward from upper and lower portions on the front surface of the housing 10. Curtain 12
Are colored in accordance with the image combining method.
For example, in the case of chroma keying, blue is applied to the entire inner surface of the curtain 12.

In a housing 10 of the card vending machine 1, a video camera (or digital camera) 30 (hereinafter, referred to as a camera 30) for photographing a subject 70 and an image signal received from the camera 30 are synthesized. The control unit 5, a display 60 that receives an image signal from the control unit 5 and displays an image, and a printer 65 that receives a signal of the combined image from the control unit 5 and prints the combined image are provided.

In the present embodiment, the composite image viewed by the user 7 from the display 60 and the composite image printed by the printer 65 combine the image of the subject 70 and the stored image stored in the control unit 5 in advance. It was done.

The camera 30 takes an image of the subject 70 and the user 7 looks at the image displayed on the display 60,
The upper part of the front surface of the housing 10 is open, and a transparent plate 11 made of glass, plastic, or the like is provided in the opening. A half mirror 61 is provided behind the transparent plate 11, and a display 60 is provided below the half mirror 61.

Display 60 and half mirror 61
Is arranged such that light emitted from the display 60 is reflected by the half mirror 61 and reaches the user 7.

Therefore, the user 7 operates the display 6
You will see the image displayed at 0. Therefore, a predetermined image needs to be displayed on the display 60. For this purpose, the control unit 5 may transmit a predetermined image signal to the display 60.

Above the half mirror 61, the camera 30
Is deployed. The camera 30 is provided so as to be able to photograph the subject 70, that is, the whole body of the user 7. In addition, it is desirable that the distance between the camera 30 and the subject 70 be short from the viewpoint of the space for disposing the vending machine. Under this condition, it is desirable that the camera 30 be provided with a wide-angle lens in order to photograph the whole body of the user 7. The camera 30 is connected to the control unit 5 and transmits a shooting signal of the subject 70 to the control unit 5.

A printer 65 that receives an image signal from the control unit 5 and prints an image on a card base 67 is provided near the front inside the casing 10, and is located at a position adjacent to the printer 65 on the front of the casing 10. Has an outlet 66 for sending the card base 67 printed from the printer 65 to the outside of the housing 10.
Is formed. Paper, plastics, and the like are used as the material of the card base 67.

An operation unit 20 is provided on the front surface of the housing 10 and at a position where the user 7 can easily operate. Operation unit 20
Has buttons, levers, and the like for the user 7 to perform various operations, generates an operation signal based on the operation of the user 7, and transmits the generated operation signal to the control unit 5.

A coin slot (not shown) is provided on the front surface of the housing 10 and at a position where the user 7 can easily insert coins (a type of value). A coin detection unit 25 (see FIG. 2) for detecting the inserted coin is provided at a position adjacent to the coin. The coin detection unit 25 transmits a detection signal to the control unit 5.

The control unit 5 is provided at an appropriate position on the front of the housing 10.
And a speaker 63 (see FIG. 2) for receiving a sound signal from and outputting a sound.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of the control unit 5. The control unit 5 includes a personal computer 50 (hereinafter, referred to as a “PC 50”) that performs various controls. The personal computer 50 receives an operation signal from the operation unit 20 and receives a detection signal from the coin detection unit 25. The personal computer 50 includes a storage device 500 that stores a plurality of image data and sound data. The personal computer 50 reads the designated image data from the storage device 500 and transfers the read image data to the graphic I / F (interface) circuit 51, and stores the designated sound data in the storage device 50.
It is read from 0 and transferred to the sound I / F circuit 52.

The graphic I / F circuit 51 converts the stored image data received from the personal computer 50 into a predetermined stored image signal and transmits the signal to the image synthesizing device 54 and the display selecting circuit 55. The sound data received by the sound I / F circuit 52 from the personal computer 50 is converted into a predetermined sound signal and transmitted to the speaker 63, so that the speaker 6
3 outputs a sound.

In the case of the present embodiment, the image stored as image data in the storage device 500 includes a demonstration image (hereinafter referred to as a “demo image”), which is printed on the back surface of the card base 67 in advance, or A plurality of back images to be printed, a plurality of decorative images to be printed on the front surface of the card base 67, and a plurality of index images to be printed on the front surface of the card base 67 are included.
Here, the index image indicates the mark of the type (club, diamond, heart or spade) to which the playing card belongs, the grade of the playing card (ace, 2 to 10, jack, queen or king), or the joker. Yes, usually printed on the top left and bottom right of the playing card surface.

The image signal of the subject 70 from the camera 30 is received by the image correction device 53, and the image correction device 53 corrects the image of the subject 70. This is because, when the camera 30 and the subject 70 are arranged as shown in FIG. 1, the image of the subject 70 captured by the camera 30 has a trapezoidal shape with a large head and small feet. . The image signal of the subject 70 corrected by the image correction device 53 is transmitted to the image synthesis device 54.

The image synthesizing device 54 receives the image signal of the subject 70 as a first image signal, receives the image signal of the stored image from the graphic I / F circuit 51 as a second image signal, and Combine with the second image. The image synthesizing method is described in detail in Utility Model Registration No. 3043855, Utility Model Registration No. 3051776, and the like, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted here. It is desirable that the image synthesizing device 54 has a plurality of synthesizing methods, and selects one synthesizing method according to an instruction from the personal computer 50. The synthesized image signal is transmitted to the display selection circuit 55 and the printer 65.

The display selection circuit 55 receives the synthesized image signal from the image synthesizing device 54 and the stored image signal from the graphic I / F circuit 51, and selects one of the image signals based on a control signal from the personal computer 50. And display 6
Send to 0. The display 60 includes a display selection circuit 55
And displays an image.

The control unit 5 includes a printer controller 56 for controlling a printer 65 based on a control signal from the personal computer 50. The printer 65 receives the composite image signal from the image compositing device 54 under the control of the printer controller 56, and stores the composite image signal in the storage device 6 built in the printer 65.
At 50, the data of the composite image is stored, a print image is generated based on the composite image data, and the print image is printed on a card base 67 having a predetermined size.

Printing on the back of the card is performed by directly transferring data from the personal computer 50 to the printer 65.
The data exists in the storage device 500.

The control section 5 includes various counters 58 for counting and displaying the number of inserted coins and the like.

Next, the operation of the card vending machine 1 having the above configuration will be described. Until the user 7 inserts a coin, the display selection circuit 55 is instructed by an instruction from the personal computer 50.
Indicates that the graphic I / F circuit 51 side is selected. The personal computer 50 reads out the demo image data stored in the storage device 500 in advance and transfers the data to the graphic I / F circuit 51, so that the demo screen is displayed on the display 60. The personal computer 50 reads BGM (background music) data stored in the storage device 500 in advance and transfers the data to the sound I / F circuit 52, so that the BGM flows from the speaker 63.

When the user 7 inserts a coin and the detection signal from the coin detection unit 25 is received by the personal computer 50, the personal computer 50 transmits the image data and the sound data stored in the storage device 500 at an appropriate timing. And the read image data is transferred to the graphic I / F circuit 5.
1 and to the display 60 via the display selection circuit 55, and transmits the read sound data to the speaker 63 via the sound I / F circuit 52 to be used by the image on the display 60 and the sound from the speaker 63. An instruction is given to the user 7 as appropriate, and the operation shown in FIG. 3 is performed.

Referring to FIG. 3, first, a plurality of stored image data stored in storage device 500 are sequentially read out, and displayed on display 60 via graphic I / F circuit 51 and display selection circuit 55. The user operates the operation unit 20 to select a desired stored image (S10). FIG. 4 shows a flowchart detailing this routine.

Referring to FIG. 4, first, a plurality of back side images are displayed on display 60, and user 7 is caused to select a desired back side image (S101).

Next, the user 7 is caused to select an index image. Specifically, the type mark to which the card belongs and the joker mark are displayed on the display 60, and the user 7 is allowed to select a desired mark (S102).

Next, it is determined whether or not the joker mark has been selected (S103). If not, an image indicating the grade of the card is displayed on the display 60, and the user 7 can obtain a desired image. Is selected (S104), and if selected, the process proceeds to the next step. Thereby, the user 7
The type and grade of the desired card and the given joker are selected.

Next, a plurality of decorative images are displayed on the display 60.
To make the user 7 select a desired decoration image (S105). At this time, instead of the user 7 selecting the decoration image, the personal computer 50 may randomly select the decoration image.

Next, the user 7 is caused to select an image combining method (S106). Next, the personal computer 50 combines the selected index image and the decoration image by the selected combining method, and displays the combined stored image on the display 60 (S107).

Next, the user 7 is determined whether or not to use the combined stored image displayed on the display 60 (S1).
08) When selecting again without using, step S
Returning to 101, when using, the original routine is returned, and the data of the combined storage image is converted to the graphic I / O.
The transfer to the F circuit 51 is continued.

The composition of the subject image to be combined with the combined storage image includes an image of the whole body, an image of the upper body, one image or a plurality of images, an image of one shot, or an image of a plurality of shots. Therefore, after selecting a desired storage image (S10), one of the image configurations of the subject 70 is selected (S11).

Next, the personal computer 50 is connected to the image synthesizing device 54.
In the above, after the image of the subject 70 is converted into the selected image configuration, an instruction is given to combine the converted image of the subject 70 and the combined storage image in real time, and the display selection circuit 55 Side, and the synthesized image from the image synthesizing device 54 is displayed on the display 6.
0 is displayed in real time (S12).

Next, when the user 7 completes the position adjustment of the subject 70 while viewing the display image on the display 60, and presses the adjustment completion button of the operation unit 20 (S13),
The personal computer 50 instructs the user 7 to take a pause, and then instructs the image synthesizing device 54 to stop image synthesizing (S14). At this time, the composite image immediately before the stop is displayed on the display 60 as a still image.

Next, the user 7 determines whether or not to print the still image (S15). If the user wants to print the still image without printing it, the user 7 presses the reload button of the operation unit 20. Press the print button on the operation unit 20. When the retake button is pressed, the personal computer 50 returns to step S11 and repeats the above operation.

When the print button is pressed, the personal computer 50
Sends an instruction signal to the printer controller 56,
The printer 65 prints the still image on the front surface of the card base 67, and prints the selected back side image on the back side, and provides the printed card base 67 to the user 7 (S1).
6).

Until the next coin insertion, BGM is played and a demonstration image is displayed in the same manner as before the coin insertion.

When the present embodiment is constructed and operated as described above, since the game image and the decoration image are stored as digital data in the storage device 500 in the personal computer 50, the synthesis of the game image and the decoration image is easy. is there. Further, since the synthesized image is immediately printed by the printer 65, a card with various colors or patterns can be created at low cost and in a short time by the user 7's selection.

Further, the card vending machine 1 of the present embodiment
Is composed by combining the game image and the decoration image with the personal computer 50 with the image of the subject 70 photographed by the camera 30 by the image compositing device 54 and printing by the printer 65. This increases the degree of freedom of the image that can be selected.

Next, a specific example of a card to be actually printed will be described. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a first specific example of the surface of a printed card.

Referring to the figure, on the card, game images 100a to 100d necessary for the game, decorative images 200a to 200g not directly related to the game, and a subject image (here, a person image) 300 are synthesized. ing.

Here, a full-body image of a person is printed as a subject image. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a second specific example of the surface of the printed card.

Referring to the figure, on the card, game images 100a to 100d necessary for the game, a decoration image 200 not directly related to the game, and subject images 300a and 300b are synthesized.

Here, an image of the upper body of the same person as the subject image is printed so as to be vertically symmetrical.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a third specific example of the surface of a printed card. Referring to the figure, a card is composed of a play image 100a to 100d required for play, a decoration image 200 not directly related to play, and a subject image 300.

Here, the face of a person is printed as the subject image. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a fourth specific example of the surface of the printed card.

Referring to the figure, on the card, game images 100a to 100d necessary for the game and a subject image 300 are synthesized.

The user can purchase the card shown in FIGS. 5 to 8 by himself / herself.

FIGS. 9 and 10 are diagrams showing specific examples of the back image of the card. Referring to the figure, the back side image includes an image of the maze, and looks like a pattern at first glance to human eyes. 9 and 10 are different maze images, but appear to human eyes at first glance to have the same pattern.

As described above, when the image of the maze is printed on the back side of the card, a variety of games using the card is widened. Also, even if different maze images are printed on each card included in one set of cards,
At first glance, the human eyes give the impression that the patterns are the same, so that they do not hinder Trump's original purpose of play.

Although the printer 65 of the present embodiment prints images on both sides of the card base, a plurality of sets of card bases 67 on which back side images are printed are prepared in advance, and Therefore, the card base 67 on which the back side image selected by the user 7 is printed may be selected, and a still image may be printed on the front surface of the selected card base 67.

In the present embodiment, one card used for a card-type play equipment is sold. However, the number of cards necessary for playing a game (two jokers in the case of playing cards) is used. (Including 54).

Further, a magnetic recording portion capable of storing information in a rewritable manner is provided in advance on the card base 67, and a printer 65 for printing an image is provided with a magnetic writer function for writing information to the magnetic recording portion. Is also good.

It should be noted that another storage unit such as an IC can be provided on the card base instead of the magnetic material. In this case, a function of writing information to the storage unit is added to the printer 65. A writing unit for writing information into the storage unit is provided by the printer 6.
5 can be installed in the card vending machine 1 separately.

As described above, the storage unit is provided on the card, and the message, date, encryption, and the like input from the operation unit 20 are written in the storage unit. If the written contents are read and displayed (or printed) by the machine, variations in play using the card can be increased.

Further, in the present embodiment, the image of the subject 70 photographed by the camera 30 is combined and printed. However, without combining the subject image, the game image and the decoration selected by the user 7 are combined. The effect of the present invention can be obtained even when images are combined and printed. In this case, the camera 30, the image correcting device 53, the image synthesizing device 54, and the like are unnecessary.

Further, cards such as Hanafuda, Hyakunin Isshu and other playing cards may be sold.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, a card vending machine has been described as an example. However, the present invention can be applied to a card manufacturing machine that simply manufactures a card without paying a price.

Further, the present invention can be applied to an apparatus for printing an image (an image corresponding to a user's hobby) obtained by selection, input, drawing, or photographing by a user on a card.

As shown in FIG. 11, the printer 65 may perform printing on the card base 67 to form one card 67a, or a plurality of printers as shown in FIG. A printer 65a for performing printing on a card base 67b including the card may be adopted.

That is, in the example of FIG. 12, the user can purchase eight cards at a time. A different image may be printed on each of the eight cards, or eight of the same card may be printed. Further, the number of cards is not limited to eight.

FIG. 13 is a plan view of the card base 67b of FIG. Referring to the figure, card base 67b is made of plastic, paper, or the like, and the user can separate cards C1 to C4 by dotted lines.

The card base 67b shown in FIGS. 14 and 15 may be used instead of the card base 67b shown in FIG.

FIG. 14 is a plan view of the card base 67d, and FIG. 15 is a sectional view taken along line XX of FIG. The card base includes a mount 403, an adhesive surface (glue surface) 401 attached to the mount, and a card surface 405 made of plastic, paper, or the like. Since the card surface is cut, the card surface 405 becomes edge E1.
It is divided into E3 and cards C5 to C8.

The user can use the cards C5 to C
8 can be obtained to obtain separated cards C5 to C8. At this time, it is effective to prevent the glue on the glue surface 401 from adhering to the card.

The edges E1 to E3 need not be provided on the card base. The embodiments disclosed this time are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of a card vending machine according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control unit 5 of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation when a user inserts a coin in a card vending machine.

4 is a flowchart showing the contents of a process (S10) for selecting a desired stored image in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a first specific example of the surface of a printed card.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a second specific example of the surface of a printed card.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a third specific example of the surface of a printed card.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a fourth specific example of the surface of a printed card.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a first specific example of a back image of a card.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a second specific example of the back image of the card.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a first specific example of a printer 65.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a second specific example of the printer.

FIG. 13 is a plan view of the card base 67b of FIG.

FIG. 14 is a view showing a modification of the card base of FIG.

FIG. 15 is a sectional view taken along line XX of FIG. 14;

[Explanation of symbols]

1 card vending machine, 7 users, 20 operation unit, 3
0 Video camera (digital camera), 50 personal computer, 54 image synthesizer, 60 display, 65
Printer, 67 Card base, 70 subjects, 500
Storage device.

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] June 8, 2000 (2006.8.8)

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Claims

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[Claims]

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A card manufacturing method by a card manufacturing machine for manufacturing cards used for games, such as playing cards, cards, tarot cards, etc., comprising: a photographing step of photographing a subject; and an image obtained by photographing the card. A print step of printing a game image selected by a user. 2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of allowing the user to select a desired image from a plurality of images, wherein in the printing step, the image obtained by the photographing and the selected image are printed on the card. The card manufacturing method according to claim 1. 3. The card manufacturing method according to claim 2, wherein in the printing step, an image obtained by the photographing is printed on one surface of the card. 4. The card according to claim 3, wherein the card includes a storage unit that stores information in a rewritable manner, and the card manufacturing method includes a writing step of writing information to the storage unit. Production method. 5. A card selling method, comprising the card manufacturing method according to claim 1, wherein the card manufactured by the card manufacturing method is sold at a price. 6. A card manufactured by the card manufacturing method according to claim 1. 7. A card selling method for selling cards used for games, such as playing cards, cards, tarot cards, etc., wherein a print according to a user's hobby and a game image selected by the user are printed on the card. Card sales method with steps. 8. A card sold by the card selling method according to claim 7.