- Number
- 11039083
- Published
- 2021-06-15
- Filed
- 2017-01-24
- Assignee
- LUCASFILM ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY LTD.
- Inventors
- Levin; John, Marinov; Mincho, Cantwell; Brian
- CPC
- G06T7/90; G06T13/40; H04N23/90; G06T7/292; H04N23/63; G06T7/70; G06T7/215; H04N5/2224; H04N23/62
- Verdict
- Low Hardware
- Source
- Google Patents · FreePatentsOnline
The keeper's note
Motion-capture camera placement technique/hardware.
Abstract
Embodiments can enable motion capture cameras to be optimally placed in a set. For achieving this, a virtual set can be generated based on information regarding the set. Movement of a virtual actor or a virtual object may be controlled in the virtual set to simulate movement of the corresponding real actor and real object in the set. Based on such movement, camera aspects and obstructions in the set can be determined. Based on this determination, indication information indicating whether regions in the set may be viewable by one or more cameras placed in the physical set may be obtained. Based on the indication information, it can be determined an optimal placement of the motion capture cameras in the set. In some embodiments, an interface may be provided to show whether the markers attached to the actor can be captured by the motion capture cameras placed in a specific configuration.
Background
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION (1) This disclosure generally relates to computer capture of object motion. (2) Motion capture is an approach for generating motion data that is based on tracking and recording the movement of real objects. One common application of motion capture is in animation where a realistic sequence of motion, e.g., by a human actor, can be captured and used to represent the motion of an animated object. (3) In some motion capture systems, an actor wears a black suit covering the actor's face and/or body. A number of makers can be attached to the suit at the actor's face, joints, shoulder, elbow, wrist and etc. The actor then performs a sequence of movements which is digitally recorded by a number of cameras. The recorded data is then processed by a motion capture program. (4) The motion capture program recognizes the markers as points. If multiple motion capture cameras record the same point in a frame and the locations of the cameras are known, the motion capture program can determine the 3D position of the point using triangulation. The motion capture system may determine 3D positions for all of the points in each of the frames. In some systems, however, use of triangulation may require a relatively large number of motion capture cameras to capture each of the differently positioned points from multiple camera angles. Although only two cameras may be required to triangulate a single point, the two cameras typically need to track the point during each fram
Claims
1. A method for facilitating motion capture, the method being implemented by a processor configured to execute machine-readable instructions, the method comprising: receiving physical set information regarding a physical set, the physical set information including camera information indicating a configuration of a main camera configured to capture the physical set, and position information indicating location of one or more actors and objects with respect to coordinates of the physical set; generating a virtual set representing the physical set based on the physical set information, the virtual set including representations of the one or more actors and the objects in the physical set; determining, based on the virtual set, whether a region in the physical set is fully viewable, partially viewable, or not viewable through the main camera; generating indicating information indicating whether the region is fully viewable partially viewable, or not viewable through the main camera; presenting, visually, the indication information to a user such that the region is marked to indicate the region is fully viewable, partially viewable, or not viewable through the main camera, wherein the indication information comprises marking the region with an identifier based on whether the region is fully viewable, partially viewable, or not viewable; determining, based on the indication information, a configuration of motion capture cameras, wherein the determination of the configuration of the motion capture cameras includes determining positions in the physical set for placing the motion capture cameras to capture motion of the actor and the objects in the physical set, wherein the determined positions in the physical set for the motion capture cameras permit each marker on an actor's face and/or body to be captured by at least two cameras over a duration of a performance; and marking the virtual set with indicators that identify the determined positions for the motion capture cameras. ||
11. A system for facilitating motion capture, the system comprising one or more processors configured to execute machine-readable instructions such that when the machine-readable instructions are executed, the one or more processors are caused to perform: receiving physical set information regarding a physical set, the physical set information including camera information indicating a configuration of a main camera configured to capture the physical set, and position information indicating location of one or more actors and objects with respect to coordinates in the physical set; generating a virtual set representing the physical set based on the physical set information, the virtual set including representations of the one or more actors and the objects in the physical set; determining, based on the virtual set, whether a region in the physical set is fully viewable, partially viewable, or not viewable through the main camera; generating indicating information indicating whether the region is fully viewable partially viewable, or not viewable through the main camera; presenting, visually, the indication information to a user such that the region is marked to indicate the region is fully viewable, partially viewable, or not viewable through the main camera, wherein the indication information comprises marking the region with an identifier based on whether the region is fully viewable, partially viewable, or not viewable; determining, based on the indication information, a configuration of motion capture cameras, wherein the determination of the configuration of the motion capture cameras includes determining positions in the physical set placing the motion capture cameras to capture motion of the actor and the objects in the physical set, wherein the determined positions in the physical set for the motion capture cameras permit each marker on an actor's face and/or body to be captured by at least two cameras over a duration of a performance; and marking the virtual set with indicators that identify the determined positions for the motion capture cameras.