JPH01191840A - Speech recognizing camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To take a photograph by a natural pose conforming with the operation of an object to be photographed by providing a prescribed delay time before the photographing operation of a camera is started after an instruction voice is recognized. CONSTITUTION:When a voice is inputted from a microphone 1, a speech recognizing circuit 3 identifies whether its voice is a release or a child's name. In accordance with this input voice, a signal is outputted to a microcomputer 4 through signal lines D0-D2 from the circuit 3. That is, if the input voice is a release, an output becomes '0', '0' and '1', and if said voice is a child's name, the output becomes '0', '1' and '0'. When the output of the circuit 3 is D0='0', the microcomputer 4 starts a photographing sequence. When the photographing sequence is started by inputting a voice, the microcomputer 4 decides the output D1, and in case of D1='0', photographing is started without delay. On the other hand, in case of D1='1', photographing is started by delaying it by the time set by a delay time setting device 16. According to such a constitution, when a child's name is called, the shutter is released just at the time when the child has turned his face.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a voice recognition camera operated by voice input.

(Prior art) With the advancement of voice recognition technology, cameras can also recognize when a pre-registered voice or keyword (command voice) is input.
A voice recognition camera is being considered, where the camera recognizes the voice and performs a predetermined action. If the camera is activated by voice, the user can release the shutter by simply saying, for example, ``release,'' and there is no need to worry about ``shake,'' and the camera can be operated remotely.

When using this type of camera, for example, when taking a picture of a child, the child's name can be registered as a voice command, and the photographer can operate the camera remotely by calling out "Oo-chan" while playing with the child. This allows children to take good photos in natural poses without being nervous.

However, if the child's back is turned at this time, the shutter will be released at the same time as the command is sounded, and the shooting will end before the child can turn around, resulting in an unnatural photograph of the beads.

This can also happen when taking photos of beds or group photos.

(Object and Structure of the Invention) The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned points, and an object of the present invention is to enable a voice recognition camera to take a picture with natural Bose in accordance with the movement of a subject.

In order to achieve this purpose, two types of command voices are provided: one that causes the shooting operation to be performed immediately upon recognition, and one that causes the shooting operation to be performed after a predetermined period of time has passed after recognition, and the latter command voice is recognized. When this occurs, the camera's photographing operation is delayed by a preset period of time.

Further, without making any particular distinction between the command voices, a delay means is provided so that the photographing operation is delayed by a predetermined period of time.

(Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of an embodiment of a voice recognition camera according to the present invention. 3 is an amplifier that amplifies the input audio signal, and 3 determines whether the input audio signal matches the registered command voice, and when it matches, outputs a signal to perform the operation according to the command voice. 4 is the voice recognition circuit 3.
5 is a photometric circuit that measures the subject brightness using a photodiode 6; 7 is a shutter that turns on and off a magnet 8 according to the subject brightness to control the shutter speed; a control circuit, 9 an AF circuit that detects the focus of the photographic lens and moves the photographic lens to the focal position; 10;
is a motor drive circuit that drives the film feeding motor 11.

Next, to explain the switches, 12.13 are S, , S, which are turned on by the release button.

When the release button is pressed down one notch, the SI switch 12 is turned on, which activates the photometering circuit, distance measuring circuit, etc., and prepares for shooting. When the release button is pressed down even further, the S switch 12 and S2 switch 13 are turned on. When both are turned on, the shooting operation starts and the series of shooting operations is completed. Reference numeral 14 denotes a registration switch for registering a voice command to perform a photographing operation without delay, and 15 a registration switch for registering a voice command to perform a photographing operation with a delay.

The voice recognition circuit 3 and the microcomputer 4 are connected to, for example, three signal lines. ,D,,D,, and the registration switch 1
When 4 or 15 is turned on, signals 1, l, 1 are output from the signal line, the microcomputer 4 becomes inactive, and the voice recognition circuit 3 enters the registration mode. Also registration switch 14.15
When the microcomputer 4 is turned off, the microcomputer 4 is activated, and the photographing operation can be performed by a command voice or by either the S1 switch 12 or the S2 switch 13.

Reference numeral 16 denotes a delay time setting device for setting a delay time when delaying the photographing operation. When this setting device 16 is operated, the terminal voltage vT of the microcomputer 4 changes, and the signal is converted into a digital signal by the A/D converter built into the microcomputer, so that the delay time can be set constant or arbitrarily. It has become. This delay time is set assuming, for example, the time it takes for a child to turn around after his or her name is called (for example, 1 second). Note that the delay time setting means is not limited to the above embodiment.

Reference numeral 17 is an LED for confirming whether the camera has recognized the command voice or not.This LED 17 lights up when the command voice is recognized.

After the delay time has elapsed, the light turns off at the same time as the shooting operation ends. This LED 17 may not be provided in particular and may also be used as a self-timer LED that lights up during the self-timer operation.

Next, a method for registering command voices will be explained.

First, turn on the registration switch 14 and hear the sound from the microphone 1 (
For example, when you input "release"), the voice recognition circuit 3
``Release'' is registered as a command voice for shooting without delay. Next, the registration switch 15 is turned on to set the registration mode, and a voice different from the above-mentioned voice is inputted from the microphone 1. At this time, it is convenient to input the child's name (for example, "Haruka-chan") when taking pictures. In the voice recognition circuit 3, this "Haruka-chan" is registered as a command voice for performing a delayed photographing operation.

Next, the operation of the embodiment in the recognition mote will be explained using the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

When a voice is input from the microphone 1 (F-1), the voice recognition circuit 3 identifies whether the voice is "release" (F-2) or "Haruka-chan" (F-3). According to this input voice, the signals shown in the table below are sent from the voice recognition circuit 3 to the signal line. ,D.

It is output from D2 to the microcomputer 4.

That is, if the input voice is "release", the output will be 0°0.1 (F-4), and if the input voice is "Haruka-chan", the output will be 0.1.0 (F-5). Also, if other audio is input, l
, 1.1, and photography is prohibited (F-6).

Next, the photographing sequence will be explained with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The symbols used in this flowchart are defined as follows.

■... Judgment! IR (If the conditions written on the right side of the symbol are met, proceed in the direction of the arrow) ◎, Sub... Subroutine ○... Process (perform the processing written on the right side of the symbol) The microcomputer 4 is the voice recognition circuit 3 output. −Start the shooting sequence when 〇. At this time, S, switch 12
If the camera is on (S+ = O), that is, if shooting was started with the release button rather than voice input, reset the flag φS (φS←0) and check the battery (
BSSub), 0 light (AE 5ub), ranging (AFS
ub). If the Sl switch is off, that is, when shooting is started by voice input, the flag φ
Set S to "1" (φS←l), determine the output of the voice recognition circuit 3, and if D1 = 0, the input voice is "release", so proceed to the next step without delay, D. =1
If so, since the input voice is "Haruka-chan", the process is delayed by the time set by the delay time setter 16 (for example, 1 second) (VT 5ub) and proceeds to the next step. Now, if shooting is started by voice input (φ5 = 1),
Next, without looking at the status of the 52 switch.

Lens drive (LD 5ub), shutter drive (SDS
ub), lens charge (LC5ub)', and film winding (WSub) in order.If you set the number to 0 or higher, when you say "Haruka-chan," the shutter will be released just as the child turns around. The result is a truly natural-looking photo.

In the example shown in Fig. 3, is the delay time (VT 5ub) provided before the battery check (SC 3ub)? Not limited to this, the delay time can be provided at any point in the sequence before the shutter drive (SD 5ub). Good too.

Incidentally, in the above embodiment, two types of command voices are provided, but it may be configured such that there is only one type of command voice and the delay time can be set on the camera side. In this case, slightly change the circuit configuration in Figure 1 and register switch 14.15.
All you have to do is delete one of them and use the delay time setting device 16 to set the delay time within a predetermined range from zero. Of course, if you want to perform shooting without delay, use the setting device 1
Therefore, it is set to 6 zero. The microcomputer 4 determines the set time by reading the value of the terminal voltage Va, and depending on the value of the terminal voltage Va, either provides a delay time during the photographing sequence shown in Figure 3, or does not provide it at all. good.

By setting a certain delay time between the recognition of the command voice and the start of the shooting operation as described above, even when photographing children or beds, it is possible to take photos with natural poses that match the movement. . This is also very convenient when taking group photos.

When taking a group photo using a voice recognition camera, if one of the subjects utters a command voice, or if the shutter is released at the same time as the voice input, the person who uttered the command voice will always be aware of the situation, for example, if the shutter is released at the same time as the voice input. However, by using the camera according to the present invention, an appropriate delay time can be set so that everyone can take pictures in natural poses.

(Effects of the Invention) As explained above, according to the present invention, a predetermined delay time is provided between when the voice recognition camera recognizes the command voice and when the camera starts shooting, so that the movement of the subject is You can take photos in a natural pose.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the circuit configuration of an embodiment of a voice recognition camera according to the present invention, and FIGS. 2 and 3 are flowcharts explaining the operation of the embodiment. 3...Voice recognition circuit, 14.15-...Registration switch, ta-...Delay time setter Fig. 3

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) In a voice recognition camera that recognizes a voice command and performs a photographing operation in accordance with the voice command, a delay means is provided to delay the photographing operation of the camera by a preset time when a predetermined voice command is recognized. Features a voice recognition camera. (2) A voice recognition camera that recognizes a voice command and performs a photographing operation in accordance with the voice recognition camera, characterized in that a delay means is provided to delay the photographing operation of the camera by a predetermined time after recognizing the voice command.