High speed projection onto dynamic moving objects

Number: 11022814
Published: 2021-06-01
Filed: 2018-05-16
Assignee: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
Inventors: Joseph; Daniel M., Comploi; Dumene, Klouda; Jessica A., LaDuke; Thomas F., Mahnke, IV; Edgar F., Reichow; Mark A., Tait; Thomas T.
CPC: G09F19/18; G02B30/54; G03B21/562
Verdict: High Hardware
Source: Google Patents · FreePatentsOnline

The keeper's note

High-speed projection mapping onto moving physical objects (Joseph).

Abstract

A system for projecting content, such as images, onto a moving object. The system includes a tracking module, a prediction module, a projection generation module, and a projector. In one example, the tracking module and the prediction module provide commentary data to the projection generation module, which uses the data to select or render content for projection on the object at a select location. The complementary data includes tracked position information and predicted position information.

Background

TECHNICAL FIELD (1) The technology described herein relates generally to methods and systems for projecting content onto moving objects and projection in environments with moving objects. BACKGROUND (2) Projecting media onto objects can be used to create various illusions and effects, but aligning the projected light with the object can be difficult, especially in instances where the object or surface moves or otherwise changes shape or position. Various techniques have been developed to solve this issue. (3) One technique has been to project light only onto slow moving objects, where the object can be easily tracked and the projected content modified within the movement time of the object. An example of this technique is the projection of light onto stage actors as they move across the stage. However, this technique requires that the object move sufficiently slowly that latencies introduced with the object tracking do not substantially affect the projection, which limits the application of the technique to only slowly moving and relatively large objects, and the light is not accurately mapped to the actor, which can cause blow-by, where the light is projected into other areas. (4) Another technique has been to broadcast light across a predetermined area (e.g., flood the area with the projected light) such that the light interacts with objects as the objects move into the predetermined area. With this technique, the light is not mapped to the objects, providing less control f

Claims

1. A projection system for generating a volumetric image comprising: a tracking module for tracking first positional characteristics; a prediction module for determining second positional characteristics; a projection module in communication with the tracking module, wherein the projection module projects light; and a projection object positioned within a field of view of the projection module, the projection object comprising: a target area selected to interact with the projected light to generate an image portion; and a motor in communication with the tracking module, the motor operably coupled to the target area for moving the target area along a movement path, wherein as the projection object moves along the movement path a projection volume is defined; wherein as the motor moves the target area, the tracking module tracks the first positional characteristics of the projection object, the prediction module determines the second positional characteristics of the projection object, and a processing element blends the first positional characteristics and the second positional characteristics to determine a position of the projection object and provides the position of the projection object to the projection module; the projection module generates content for projection onto the projection object at discrete locations along the movement path based on the position of the projection object and projects the content onto the target area as the object is moved into each location by the motor; and the content projected at each discrete location defines a plurality of image portions along the movement path, wherein the image portions define the volumetric image. || 10. A projection system for projecting images onto a moving object, the system comprising: a tracking module for determining a first type of position data for the moving object, wherein the first type of position data comprises a random movement of the moving object; a prediction module for determining a second type of position data for the moving object, wherein the second type of position data comprises a predictable movement of the moving object; a projection generation module in electrical communication with the tracking module and the prediction module, wherein the projection generation module generates an image for projection on the moving object based on a combination of the first type of position data and the second type of position data; and a projector in electrical communication with the projection generation module, wherein the projector projects the image onto the moving object.