Device for positioning a user by displaying the user's mirror image, a corresponding positioning method and image-capture apparatus

1. A device for positioning the face of a user relative to an image-capture apparatus, the device comprising a picture-taking device arranged to supply horizontally-reversed images, a display screen for displaying the reversed images and connected to the picture-taking device, and means for superposing on the images displayed on the screen at least one positioning reference mark for the user, the positioning reference mark and the displayed images lying substantially in a same plane,

wherein the superposition means are arranged to superpose two positioning reference marks on two items of the user's body, and in that the device includes a member for measuring a distance between the user and the picture-taking device, means for determining on the image of the user at said distance a distance between the two elements of the user's body, and adaptation means for adapting the spacing of the positioning reference marks relative to the images as a function of the determined distance that exists between the elements of the user's body.

2. A device according to claim 1 , wherein the adaptation means comprise a control member for controlling magnification of the images displayed on the screen.

3. A device according to claim 1 , including detector means for detecting any misalignment in the images between the positioning reference mark and the user, and amplification means for amplifying the misalignment on the screen.

4. A device according to claim 1 , including an optical accommodation-canceling device disposed in front of the screen.

5. Apparatus for capturing at least one image of a user's eye, the apparatus including at least one image acquisition camera and the capture apparatus comprising a positioning device according to claim 1 , the screen of the positioning device being mounted in the capture device in such a manner that when the user looks at the screen, said eye of the user lies substantially on the axis of the acquisition camera.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the screen is mounted in the immediate proximity of the acquisition camera.

7. Apparatus according to claim 5 , including at least one beam-splitter disposed between the screen and the acquisition camera.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7 , including a first plate beam-splitter extending at a slope in front of the acquisition camera and having a non-reflecting side pointing towards the acquisition camera and a reflecting side looking at a reflecting side of a second plate beam-splitter extending parallel to the first beam-splitter and having a non-reflecting side facing the screen, the picture-taking device facing towards the reflecting side of the second beam-splitter.

9. A method of positioning a user relative to an image capture apparatus, the method comprising the steps of filming images of the user substantially continuously, of horizontally reversing the filmed images, and of presenting the reversed images to the user together with at least one positioning reference mark superposed thereon, the positioning reference mark and the images being presented substantially in a same plane,

wherein two positioning reference marks are superposed on two items of the user's body, and a distance is measured between the user and the picture-taking device, on the image of the user at said distance a distance is determined between the two elements of the user's body, and the spacing of the positioning reference marks relative to the images is adapted as a function of the determined distance that exists between the elements of the user's body.