WO2006052192A2

WO2006052192A2 - Photography unit

Info

Publication number: WO2006052192A2
Application number: PCT/SE2005/001682
Authority: WO
Inventors: Fredrik Caspar
Original assignee: Speed Identity Ab
Priority date: 2004-11-11
Filing date: 2005-11-09
Publication date: 2006-05-18
Also published as: NO20072950L; EP1825322A4; EP1825322A2; SE0402749D0; WO2006052192A3

Abstract

The invention concerns a photography unit comprising a digi¬ tal camera (3) connected to a computer unit for the storage of photographs that have been taken. It is characteristic of the invention that the camera (3) is arranged to be supported in a vertical unit (2) that can be raised and lowered, and in that the photography unit is arranged to be supervised and controlled by a representative.

Description

Photography Unit

The present invention relates to a photography unit for the production of images and biometric information that is to be incorporated into an identity document.

It has been common for a long time that identity documents such as passports, ID cards, driver's licences and similar contain a photograph of the person to whom the document be- longs. It has previously been common for an ordinary portrait photograph to be quite simply attached to the document and provided with some form of security arrangement, such as, for example, a stamp or a seal, in order to make it impossible to exchange the photograph. In order to increase the security of this type of identity document, it became customary to scan photographs, which were subsequently copied into or engraved into the document. It has been suggested by, for example, EP- Al-1242965 that the photographs be produced with the aid of a digital camera in a photography booth, and transferred in digital form to the location at which the identity documents are produced, in order to be incorporated in the documents.

In order ensure more securely that not only the photograph but also other information that is to be included in the identity document are derived from one individual, it is furthermore desirable that the photograph is taken under the supervision of the person who approves the production of the identity document, i.e. the representative of the authority or company that is issuing the identity document, and that this representative also is able to supervise the recording of other information that is to be included in the identity document. In order to produce identity documents in which biometric information, in addition to the photograph, of the person is to be recorded with the aid of a camera, very high precision is required in the manner in which the photograph is taken. It is in this case important that the photograph is taken with the camera located essentially at the height of the eyes of the person who is to be imaged, and that the light condi¬ tions during taking the photograph can be maintained within narrow limits in order to guarantee a satisfactory result of taking the photograph. It is therefore difficult to achieve good results in a large open location, and it must further¬ more be possible to obtain these results using equipment that is easy to operate by persons who may not principally be accomplished photographers.

It is true that a photography booth often has a unified envi¬ ronment around the person to be photographed and reasonably even lighting. A representative has, however, extremely poor possibilities to supervise and control the photography in a traditional photography booth, and thus cannot aid in an efficient manner the production of photographs that it is possible to use for other purposes than the actual imaging of a person. While it is often possible in a photography booth to adjust somewhat the seated position of the person who is to be photographed, differences in level often remain, which results in angular errors. These angular errors are not so serious for the actual photograph but they create greater problems if the photograph is to be used also for biometric information such as facial recognition or iris recognition. Furthermore, a photography booth is difficult to use for children and for disabled persons, such as those who use a wheelchair. It is therefore one aim of the present invention to achieve a photography unit with which the limitations with the prior art technology mentioned above can be avoided, and a unit that makes it easy for a representative always to take photo- graphs for identity documents of reliable and high quality.

The purpose of the invention mentioned above is achieved with a photography unit comprising a digital camera connected to a computer unit for the storage of photographs that have been taken, in which the camera is arranged supported in a unit that can be vertically raised and lowered, and in which the photography unit is arranged to be supervised and controlled by a representative.

According to one preferred embodiment of the invention, also a lighting unit is arranged in the unit that can be raised and lowered.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention the photography unit comprises also at least one of means for the collection of biometric information and means for the collection of signatures.

The invention will now be described in more detail in the form of embodiments, illustrated with the aid of the attached drawings, in which Fig. 1 shows a view in perspective of a photography unit according to the invention, Fig. 2 shows a view in detail of the unit of the photography unit that can be raised and lowered, Fig. 3 shows a view in perspective of the photography unit adjusted to take the photograph of a person, and Fig. 4 shows as example of the photography unit supplemented by a background wall. Thus, Fig. 1 shows a photography unit according to the inven¬ tion. It comprises a vertical support 1, for example a pil¬ lar. A unit 2 that can be raised and lowered is arranged on this support 1, which unit comprises a camera 3 and a light- ing unit 4. It is appropriate that the unit 2 that can be raised and lowered comprises also a display 5 and input means 6 for the input of, for example, numerical information such as civil registration number, height, and similar informa¬ tion. Also operating controls 7 for any necessary operation of the unit 2 that can be raised and lowered may be arranged in this unit, for the activation of an electric motor, not shown in the drawings, that achieves the displacement upwards and downwards along the pillar 1 of the unit 2 that can be raised and lowered. The photography unit comprises in the embodiment shown also a base plate 8, on which the support, the pillar 1, is mounted; and a wall unit 9 that covers the rear side of the pillar 1 and at least a part of the sides of the unit 2 that can be raised and lowered.

It is appropriate that a computer, not shown in the drawings, is arranged in the unit 2 that can be raised and lowered, in which computer photographs taken with the aid of the camera can be stored, at least temporarily. Software may be avail¬ able in such a computer for the processing of an image that has been obtained in order to provide biometric information for facial recognition. It is appropriate that the computer in the unit 2 that can be raised and lowered is connected to a computer network of the authority or organisation at which the photography unit is installed, in order to be able to transmit information stored in the computer to the computer network, and such that a representative can view directly the photographs taken in the photography unit and determine whether these are of such a quality that they are suitable for the production of the identity document and for the fur- ther functions that can be derived from the photograph, such as facial recognition, or whether further photographs must be taken.

The unit 2 that can be raised and lowered may comprise also a writing surface 10, on which the person who is being photo¬ graphed may record his or her signature, such that the signa¬ ture is recorded digitally and stored in association with the photograph that has been taken, such that it is possible subsequently to incorporate it into an identity document.

Also means 11 for recording fingerprints or handprints of the person who is being photographed may be arranged in the unit 2 that can be raised and lowered, such that it is possible subsequently to store this information and incorporate it in electronic form into an identity document together with the photograph.

It is appropriate that the camera 3 in the unit 2 that can be raised and lowered is an ordinary digital camera, connected to the computer in the unit 2 that can be raised and lowered, and it is appropriate, as described above, that it is con¬ nected to a terminal of the representative such that a repre¬ sentative can see the same view as that of which it is in- tended that the camera should photograph, such that the rep¬ resentative can provide instructions for the person who is to be photographed and control the photography procedure. The camera 3 may also be supplemented, where necessary, with a special filter such that images of, for example, the iris of a person may be taken with the aid of infrared light.

It is also possible that the camera 3 be arranged to take a large image at a high resolution, from which image a portrait photograph can later be extracted for inclusion in an iden- tity document, and which also is the basis on which an image of the iris of the person is created. Such an image with a high resolution may, naturally, also form the basis on which the previously mentioned facial recognition may be performed.

It is appropriate that the lighting unit 4 comprises two lamps, one on each side of the camera 3 in the unit 2 that can be raised and lowered, and located at the same height as the camera 3. It is preferable that the lighting unit is provided with lamps for the achievement of an even and steady illumination, but it is naturally possible also to arrange flash lamps that give a flash when a photograph is to be taken. It may be appropriate that the lamps are displaced somewhat in height relative to the camera 3 in order to avoid reflections in, for example, spectacles. Steady illumination can be arranged such that it is permanently illuminated dur¬ ing the normal period of use, and it may in this case be controlled by, for example, a timer. It is, of course, possi¬ ble to allow the illumination unit to be controlled manually by a representative or by the person who is to be photo¬ graphed. The illumination unit 4 may also be supplemented with lamps that emit light of a special wavelength, for exam¬ ple, near-infrared light, specially adapted for the photo¬ graphing of irises.

Adjustment of the unit 2 that can be raised and lowered, and thus adjustment of the camera 3 and the lighting unit 4, takes place, as has been mentioned above, with the aid of an electric motor. It is preferable that the adjustment of height is carried out by the representative, and in this case preferably through an automatic adjustment following input of the height of the person, and where the representative has the opportunity to carry out fine adjustment of the camera and the lighting unit. It may be such that the fine adjust- ment can take place after a test photograph has been taken, and one which not only the representative but also the person being photographed can see on a display, the display 5 being that used for the person being photographed.

It may be the case that the height adjustment can be carried out by the person who is to be photographed with the aid of the above-mentioned operating controls 7, operating buttons. An alternative is that a handle is arranged that activates the electric motor when it is drawn upwards or downwards. It is appropriate that the operating controls 7 be arranged such that they are accessible from both side of the photography unit, by, for example, the arrangement of duplicated operat¬ ing buttons as is shown in the drawings. It is also possible to arrange an automatic adjustment of the unit 2 that can be raised and lowered following the input by the person who is to be photographed of his or her height. In this case, input of height can be carried out with the aid of, for example, the input means 6 arranged on the unit 2 that can be raised and lowered. It is possible in this manner to achieve at least a coarse adjustment of the vertical position of the unit 2 that can be raised and lowered, and in this way of the camera 3 and the lighting unit 4.

It is also possible to achieve a fully automatic adjustment of height by recording, for example with the aid of the cam¬ era 3 and software associated with this, the location of the eyes of the person, and guided by this information to adjust the unit 2 that can be raised and lowered with the aid of the electric motor such that the camera 3 is brought to the same height as the eyes of the person who is to be photographed.

It is appropriate that a scale 12 (i.e. a scale of height) is arranged at the edge of the wall unit 9, interacting with a mark 13 on the unit 2 that can be raised and lowered, in order to specify the height of the eyes of the person who is to be photographed, normally approximately 15 cm lower than the height of the person. Manual adjustment is in this way made easier, and it is possible also for a representative to check that the length specified by a person is approximately correct.

With an adjustment of height of the unit 2 that can be raised and lowered that is carried out by the representative, by operation of an electric motor, it is also easy for the rep¬ resentative to carry out a height adjustment that is suitable for taking the photograph of people who use a wheelchair, or of children who may need to sit on a chair or a stool in order to be positioned at a height suitable for taking a photograph.

Fig. 3 shows an example of an adjustment of the unit 2 that can be raised and lowered for a person who is shorter than average, where the unit 2 that can be raised and lowered is in this case displaced downwards such that the camera 3 and the lighting unit 4 are positioned at the same height as the eyes of the person who is to be photographed.

The input means 6 on the unit 2 that can be raised and low¬ ered may be similar to that shown in the attached drawings, i.e. a virtual keyboard on the display, which is what is known as a "touch-screen". It is, however, to be preferred that the keyboard, which may be a numerical keyboard only, is arranged as a physical keyboard on the unit 2 that can be raised and lowered.

The photography unit according to the invention may, where relevant, be designed to be operated also by the person who is to be photographed, and in such a case the photography unit is provided with software that instructs with the aid of the display 5 the person in the necessary operations, and the person carries out with the aid of the input means 6 the adjustments and input operations that are needed.

The photography unit according to the invention is, through it being equipped with a unit 2 that can be raised and low¬ ered that comprises a camera 3 and a lighting unit 4, easy to adjust also for children, and it is furthermore suitable for use by disabled persons, since it is possible also for a person who uses a wheelchair to approach the photography unit, who can then be photographed by the photography unit while sitting in the wheelchair, since the camera can be raised and lowered to a height that is adapted for this par¬ ticular person.

Through the unit 2 that can be raised and lowered also com¬ prising the writing surface 10 on which the person is to give his or her signature, this writing surface 10 will be ad¬ justed to the correct height for the person to write, such that the signature does not become distorted by the person being obliged to take up an unnatural position when providing the signature. The means 11 for recording fingerprints or handprints also may be adjusted to the correct height such that the person in question easily can place fingers or a hand onto the recording means 11, without any unnatural twisting of the fingers or hand.

As has been mentioned in the introduction, the photography unit according to the invention has been preferably designed such that it can be used in association with the production of photographs, and information associated with photographs, for identity- documents. The photography unit has for this reason been designed such that it can be placed on the prem¬ ises of an authority, where also representatives are present who look after at least a part of the administrative work associated with the production of such identity documents. The photography unit according to the invention can for this reason be placed in direct connection with the workplace of such a representative, such that the representative can pro¬ vide instructions for the person who is to be photographed, and supervise the taking of the photograph.

Fig. 4 shows a photography unit according to the invention that has been supplemented with a floor plate 14 that pro¬ vides directions concerning where a person who is to be pho¬ tographed is to be positioned during the taking of the photo- graph, such that the focus of the camera is correct. A back¬ ground wall 15 is also shown in Fig. 4, which may be a suit¬ able supplement to the photography unit itself in order to obtain an even and neutral background in the photographs that are taken. Such a photography unit may also be supplemented with a roof in order to form what is in principle a photogra¬ phy booth, having, however, at least one wall open towards the representative. It is appropriate that the photography unit is located such that the person who is to be photo¬ graphed stands such that the representative sees this person from the side.

The photography unit according to the invention has thus been designed such that it is simple to adjust the camera 3 and the lighting unit 4 in order to take photographs for identity documents, and such that also biometric information may be collected with the aid of the photography unit. It is for this reason admirably suitable for the production of such information for incorporation into identity documents that are approved as secure documents not only by national au- thorities, but also by international authorities, such as, for example, ICAO, the International Civil Air Organisation.

It is a major advantage of the photography unit according to the invention that it is compact and simple, and can for this reason be located close to a representative in, for example, a passport issuing office, such that the representative can supervise and check that it is one individual who supplies all of the information that is to be included in the identity document.

Claims

1. A photography unit comprising a digital camera (3) con¬ nected to a computer unit for the storage of photographs that have been taken, cha r a ct e ri s ed in that the camera (3) is arranged to be supported in a vertical unit (2) that can be raised and lowered, and in that the photography unit is arranged to be supervised and controlled by a representative.

2. The photography unit according to claim 1, chara c ¬ t e r i s e d in that the unit (2) that can be raised and low¬ ered is arranged such that it travels along a vertical sup¬ port pillar (1) .

3. The photography unit according to claim 1 or 2, cha r¬ a ct e ri s e d in that an illumination unit (4) is arranged in the unit (2) that can be raised and lowered.

4. The photography unit according to any one of the preceding claims, cha ra ct e r i s e d in that the unit (2) that can be raised and lowered is driven by a motor, and that it is ar¬ ranged to be operated by the representative.

5. The photography unit according to any one of claims 1-3, cha r a c t e r i s ed in that the unit (2) that can be raised and lowered is driven by a motor, and in that it can be oper¬ ated with the aid of operating controls (7) on the unit (2) that can be raised and lowered.

6. The photography unit according to any one of claims 1-3, cha r act e r i s ed in that the unit (2) that can be raised and lowered is driven by a motor, and in that it can be ad¬ justed in height through the input of the height of the per¬ son who is to be photographed.

7. The photography unit according to any one of claims 1-3, cha ra ct e ri s ed in that the unit (2) that can be raised and lowered is driven by a motor, and in that it can be auto- matically adjusted in height with the aid of an arrangement that determines the height of the eyes of the person who is to be photographed.

8. The photography unit according to any one of the preceding claims, cha ra ct e ri s e d in that the unit (2) that can be raised and lowered comprises a display (5) and a keyboard (6) for the input of at least numerical information.

9. The photography unit according to any one of the preceding claims, cha racter i sed in that the unit (2) that can be raised and lowered is equipped with a writing surface (10) in order to record a signature of the person who is to be photo¬ graphed.

10. The photography unit according to any one of the preced¬ ing claims, charact eri s ed in that the unit (2) that can be raised and lowered is equipped with a unit (11) for recording a fingerprint or a handprint of the person who is to be photographed.

11. The photography unit according to any one of the preced¬ ing claims, cha ra ct e r i s e d in that it is provided with software in order to create biorαetric data for facial recog¬ nition of the person who is to be photographed.

12. The photography unit according to any one of the preced¬ ing claims, cha ra c t e r i s e d in that it is arranged to take an iris image of the person who is to be photographed.

13. The photography unit according to claim 12, cha ra c ¬ te r i s ed in that it arranged to take the iris image at the same time as a photograph is taken.

14. The photography unit according to either claim 12 or 13, cha ra ct e r i s ed in that the iris image is taken with the aid of infrared light.

15. The photography unit according to claims 2 and 13, cha r a ct e r i s ed in that the illumination unit (4) com¬ prises also a source for the emission of infrared light.