JP2000312635A - Photograph appreciation device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To watch a photograph and to listen to voices without preparing a reader dedicated to reproduce voices added to the photograph to be printed by adding audio information to the photograph. SOLUTION: This device has a pickup 2, a decoder 3 for reading the audio information added to a data adding part 21 of a printed photograph 20 as bar code data or magnetic data, a digital signal processor 4, an amplifier 5 and a speaker 6 for reproducing and outputting voices from the read audio information and these components are built in a casing usable as a photo stand (photograph holding means for holding the photograph so as to enable appreciation).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a photo viewing device used when a photo printed on photographic paper or print paper is inserted and viewed.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, various media have become widespread, and it has become possible to provide various information without using a conventionally existing paper medium. Therefore, for example, even in applications where a photographic image is viewed or provided, it is possible to display or view or provide the photographic image on a monitor or the like of a personal computer. However, for photo appreciation applications, appreciation of photos printed on conventional photographic paper or print paper is still mainstream for reasons such as high image quality and simplicity.

[0003]

By the way, when a photograph is printed, for example, a date and a comment in characters related to the photograph are printed (printed) at the same time, so that the photographing date and the comment etc. can be displayed while the photograph is being viewed. It becomes possible to know.

However, conversely, in the case of a conventional printed photograph, the situation at the time when the photograph was taken can be remembered only from the date or the comment by the characters printed on the photograph. Or cannot communicate to others.

[0005] Therefore, if it is possible to add, for example, a sound at the time of photographing, or to add various voice comments or the like relating to the photograph to the printed photograph, the enjoyment at the time of viewing the photograph can be doubled. It is thought that it is possible.

On the other hand, conventionally, for example, voice information is bar-printed or magnetic-recorded on paper or other print medium, and the bar-code-printed voice information and the magnetically-recorded voice information are read by a bar code reader. There is a technique of reading using an audio device or a magnetic reproducing device and reproducing sound from the read sound information.

[0007] However, when reading the bar code printed or magnetically recorded audio information on the print medium or the like, a dedicated reading device such as the bar code reader or the scanner of the magnetic reproducing device is separately required. Also, the user, for example, using a dedicated reading device such as a scanner of the barcode reader or magnetic reproduction device, for example, physically trace the barcode printing surface or the magnetic recording surface, or,
It is necessary to take an action such as bringing the barcode printing surface or the magnetic recording surface close to a range readable by the barcode reader or the scanner of the magnetic reproducing device.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and it has been made possible to add audio information to a photo to be printed, and a dedicated reading device for reproducing the audio added to the photo. It is an object of the present invention to provide a photo appreciation device that enables appreciation of a photo and listening to a sound without preparing a device.

[0009]

According to the present invention, there is provided a photo viewing apparatus comprising: a reading unit for reading audio information added to a printed photograph; an audio reproducing unit for reproducing and outputting audio from the audio information; The above-described problem is solved by having a photograph holding unit that holds the selected photograph so that the photograph can be viewed.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0011] The photo viewing apparatus of the present invention is a housing (a photo viewing stand) that can be used as a so-called photo stand (photo stand) that is used when a photo printed on photographic paper or printed paper is inserted and viewed. Photo holding means
And an audio reproducing system including an information reading unit, a signal processing unit, and a speaker as shown in FIG.

First, an audio reproducing system of the photo viewing apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 1, a data adding section 21 is provided on a printed photograph 20 and is a portion where information is printed as bar code data or recorded as magnetic data. Here, information recorded as the barcode data by printing or magnetic data is, for example, a photograph 2
Audio information such as audio at the time of shooting of 0, various audio comments related to the photo 20, or music, sound effects, etc., which can be enjoyed at the time of viewing the photo 20 by being reproduced as audio. The bar code data or magnetic recording data is generated based on the audio information. Note that the audio information includes, for example, information obtained by compressing and encoding digital audio data obtained by sampling an audio signal and further adding an error correction code as necessary, and, for example, parameters used in audio synthesis. It is desirable that Further, it is desirable that the position where the data adding unit 21 is added be a position that does not affect the viewing of the photograph, such as the margin and the back surface of the photograph 20. In particular, it is preferable to provide the data addition unit 21 on the back surface of the photograph 20 because the data addition unit 21 cannot be seen when the image of the photograph 20 is viewed.

The pickup 2 is an information reading section for reading bar code data and magnetic data of the data adding section 21 added to the photograph 20. The barcode data or magnetic data read from the data adding unit 21 by the pickup 2 is sent to the decoder 3.

The decoder 3 decodes bar code data or magnetic data read from the data adding unit 21 by the pickup 2 and converts the data into audio information. This audio information is stored in a digital signal processor (D
SP) 4.

If the audio information supplied from the decoder 3 is audio information to which the above-mentioned compression-coded audio information is further added and an error correction code is added if necessary, the digital signal processor 4 corrects the error and decompresses the audio information. And restore the audio data. Further, for example, when the speech information supplied from the decoder 3 is a parameter for the speech synthesis, the digital signal processor 4 performs the speech synthesis using the parameter. The audio data thus obtained is sent to the amplifier 5 after digital / analog conversion.

Further, the digital signal processor 4 causes the memory 11 to store the voice information in the compressed and coded state, the voice data after decompression decoding, voice synthesis parameters or voice data after voice synthesis. In addition, it is also possible to read out the audio information or the audio data at an arbitrary timing. In addition,
In this case, in consideration of the size (capacity) and cost of the memory 11, it is desirable to store voice information (compression-coded information and voice synthesis parameters) with a smaller amount of information.

The amplifier 5 amplifies the supplied analog audio signal and sends it to the speaker 6. As a result, the speaker 6 outputs the bar code data or the magnetic data read from the data adding unit 21, that is, the sound based on the sound information.

The basic signal flow in the audio reproduction system of the photo viewing device 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention has been described above.
The photo viewing device 1 of the present embodiment further has the following configuration.

The photo detection sensor 10 is a sensor for detecting that the photo 20 has been inserted or mounted in the photo viewing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment. This photo detection sensor 10
When the insertion or attachment of the photograph 20 is detected, the detection signal is sent to the control unit 7.

The control section 7 controls the entire operation of the photo viewing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, and in accordance with a detection signal indicating that the photo detection sensor 10 has detected the insertion or mounting of the photo 20, The pickup 2 controls data reading from the data adding unit 21, decoding processing in the decoder 3, audio data restoration processing in the digital signal processor 4, and the like.

A battery 8 is a drive power source for each part of the photo viewing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, and a power switch 9
Is a power on / off switch of the photo viewing device 1 of the present embodiment. The power switch 9 is not always necessary.

Further, the audio start switch 12 is not necessarily provided, but when the audio is reproduced at any time using the audio information or the audio data stored in the memory 11, the audio reproduction start timing Is a switch for the user to instruct. In response to the ON signal from the sound start switch 12, the control unit 8 controls each unit to start sound reproduction.

As a method for starting sound reproduction at an arbitrary time, the sound information or the sound data is stored in the memory 11 as described above, and for example, at some timing such as when the sound start switch 12 is turned on. In addition to a method of extracting audio information or audio data from the memory 11, for example,
A method is also conceivable in which data recorded in the dimensional plane direction can be read at a time, and the reading by the pickup 2 is started at some timing, for example, when the audio start switch 12 is turned on.

Next, the photo viewing device 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention.
Has a housing that can be used as a so-called photo stand (photo stand) that is used when a photograph printed on a photographic paper or the like is inserted and viewed, and the housing shown in FIG. I have. Here, since various designs can be considered as the housing design of the photo frame, illustration is omitted here, but as a schematic configuration, for example, as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the cover may be closed after the photograph 20 is loaded.

That is, in the case of the photo viewing apparatus 1 of the example of FIG. 2, for example, as shown in FIG. For example, while sliding from the side.
In this case, the photo appreciation device 1 is provided with the pickup 2 on the inner side of the photo holding unit 30 where the photo 20 is inserted (the side corresponding to the data adding unit 21), and the photo detection is performed. When the insertion of the photograph 20 is detected by the sensor 10, the data reading by the pickup 2 is started.

Then, as shown in FIG. 2C, immediately after the photo 20 is completely inserted into the photo viewing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, or the voice information (or voice data) is stored in the memory 11. At any time after this, the audio signal is reproduced from the speaker 6.

Also, in the case of the photo viewing device 1 in the example of FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3A, for example, a photograph 20 provided with a data adding section 21 in a margin portion is loaded into the photo viewing apparatus 1 in a state where the lid 31 is opened as shown in FIG. 3B. Then, the lid 31 is closed as shown in FIG. In this case, the photo appreciation apparatus 1 is provided with the pickup 2 on the side of the cover 31 corresponding to the surface of the photo 20 (the side corresponding to the data adding unit 21), and the photo detection sensor When it is detected that the photograph 20 is loaded (that is, the lid 31 is closed) by 10, the data reading by the pickup 2 is started. When the data adding unit 21 is read when the lid unit 31 is closed as in the example of FIG. 3, the pickup 2 reads data recorded in a two-dimensional surface direction at a time. I will use something that can be read.

Then, as shown in FIG. 3D, immediately after the photograph 20 is completely loaded into the photo viewing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, or audio information (or audio data) is stored in the memory 11. At any time after this, the audio signal is reproduced from the speaker 6.

In the examples shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the data adding section 21 is added to a margin on the front surface of the photograph 20, but the data adding section 21 is provided on the back side of the photograph 20. In such a case, the pickup 2 of the photo viewing device 1 is arranged corresponding to the side where the data adding unit 21 is provided.

As described above, the photo appreciation device 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention has a housing that can be used as a so-called photo stand (photo stand), and the audio 20 is printed on the photographic paper. By providing a data adding unit 21 to which information is added, reading audio information from the data adding unit 21 and reproducing the audio immediately after inserting the photograph 20 or at any timing after the insertion, the paper burn photo When appreciating the photo 20, it is possible to enjoy the sound related to the photograph 20 (for example, the sound at the time of photographing, the voice comment added after the photographing, etc.) simultaneously with the photograph image.

Further, according to the photo viewing device 1 of the present embodiment, a dedicated reading device such as a conventional bar code reader or a magnetic reproducing device is not prepared, and
It is possible to listen to the sound added to the photograph 20 without the necessity of operating such a dedicated reading device. That is, in the photo appreciation device 1 of the present embodiment, the audio information added to the photograph 20 is read at the stage of an inevitable act of inserting or loading the photograph 20 in a housing as a photo stand. By reproducing the audio from the audio information (or reproducing it after storing it once), it is possible to listen to the audio related to the photograph 20 at the same time as the general usage as a photo stand.

[0033]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, a printed photo is held so as to be viewed, audio information added to the photo is read, and audio is reproduced from the audio information. By outputting, it becomes possible to add audio information to the photo to be printed, and it is possible to view and listen to the photo without preparing a dedicated reading device for reproducing the audio added to the photo. Becomes possible.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to add an added value to a photo stand (photo stand) by recording and reproducing the sound and the like at the time of appreciating a photograph. (Photo stand) as a new product, and furthermore, it is possible to simplify the configuration, reduce the size, and reduce the cost by integrating the photo frame, the voice information reading portion, and the signal processing portion.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an audio reproducing system including an information reading unit, a signal processing unit, and a speaker, which is provided in a housing of a photo viewing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram used to explain an example of inserting a photo into a photo viewing device of the present embodiment used as a photo stand and starting sound reproduction.

FIG. 3 is a diagram used to explain another example of loading a photo into the photo viewing device of the present embodiment used as a photo stand and starting sound reproduction.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 1 photo viewing device, 2 pickup, 3 decoder, 4 digital signal processor, 5 amplifier, 6 speaker, 8 battery, 9 power switch, 10 photo detection sensor, 11 memory, 12
Voice start switch, 20 pictures, 21 data adding section, 30 picture holding section, 31 lid section

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page (72) Inventor S. Shigeru 6-35 Kita-Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Sony Corporation F-term (reference) 3B111 BA02 BA03 BA04 BB02 BC02 BD03 BE01 CA02 CB03 CC01 CD04

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A reading means for reading audio information added to a printed photograph, an audio reproducing means for reproducing and outputting a sound from the audio information, and a photograph for holding the printed photograph in an appreciable manner. A photograph appreciation device comprising a holding unit. 2. The photo viewing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said reading means reads said audio information added to said photo as bar code data. 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said reading means reads said audio information added to said photograph as magnetic data. 4. The photograph appreciation apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a storage unit for storing said audio information.