CAMERA SYSTEMS FOR MOTION CAPTURE

Number: 20200288050
Published: 2020-09-10
Filed: 2020-05-20
Assignee: Lucasfilm Entertainment Company Ltd.
Inventors: Knoll; John, Estebecorena; Leandro, Grabli; Stephane, Karefelt; Per, Helman; Pablo, Levin; John M.
CPC: G01S3/7864; G06T13/40; G06T7/246; G06T7/292; G06T7/73; G06V40/23; G11B27/031; G11B27/10; H04N23/11; H04N23/20; H04N23/54; H04N23/56; H04N23/90; H04N23/957; H04N5/2224; H04N5/272
Verdict: Low Hardware
Source: Google Patents · FreePatentsOnline

The keeper's note

Motion-capture camera system hardware (pre-grant).

Abstract

Embodiments of the disclosure provide systems and methods for motion capture to generate content (e.g., motion pictures, television programming, videos, etc.). An actor or other performing being can have multiple markers on his or her face that are essentially invisible to the human eye, but that can be clearly captured by camera systems of the present disclosure. Embodiments can capture the performance using two different camera systems, each of which can observe the same performance but capture different images of that performance. For instance, a first camera system can capture the performance within a first light wavelength spectrum (e.g., visible light spectrum), and a second camera system can simultaneously capture the performance in a second light wavelength spectrum different from the first spectrum (e.g., invisible light spectrum such as the IR light spectrum). The images captured by the first and second camera systems can be combined to generate content.

Background

BACKGROUND

Computer animation is the process of generating animated images of objects in a computer environment. In the film industry, computer animation is often used to animate the natural movement of humans for creating realistic characters in a film that have humanoid features and mannerisms. This type of animation is known in the film industry as motion-capture or performance capture. To capture the natural movements of a human, an actor is equipped with a number of markers, and a number of cameras track the positions of the markers in space as the actor moves. This technique allows the actor's movements and expressions to be captured, and the captured movements and expressions can then be manipulated in a digital environment to produce content, e.g., footage for a motion picture.

Such motion capture systems however have shortcomings. For instance, some such systems may include additional equipment and markers that interfere with the performance of the actor. Accordingly, improved systems and methods for motion capture are desired.SUMMARY

Embodiments provide systems and methods for motion capture to generate content (e.g., motion pictures, television programming, videos, etc.). In some embodiments, an actor or other performing being can have multiple markers on his or her face that are essentially invisible to the human eye, but that can be clearly captured by camera systems of the present disclosure. Embodiments of the disclosure can capture the perfor

Claims

1. An system for motion capture, comprising: a plurality of wheels; a frame mounted on the plurality of wheels, the plurality of wheels configured to allow the frame to be carted to different positions around a performance area; a first camera mounted to the frame and operable to capture first light at wavelengths in a first spectrum; second and third cameras mounted to the frame at specific locations relative to the first camera, the second and third cameras operable to capture second light at wavelengths in a second spectrum different from the first spectrum, the first, second, and third cameras being configured to simultaneously capture images of an actor in the performance area during a performance. 11. A gel-based marker, comprising: a plurality of microspheres suspended within a gel wherein the microspheres are retroreflective for light. 18. An camera rig, comprising: a plurality of wheels; a frame mounted on the plurality of wheels, the plurality of wheels configured to allow the frame to be carted to different positions around a performance area; a first camera mounted to the frame and operable to capture first light at wavelengths in a first spectrum; second and third cameras mounted to the frame at specific locations relative to the first camera, the second and third cameras operable to capture second light at wavelengths in a second spectrum different from the first spectrum, wherein the first, second, and third cameras being configured to simultaneously capture images of an actor in the performance area during a performance.