Telepresence using panoramic imaging and directional sound

• US 20020075295A1
• Filed: 02/07/2001
• Published: 06/20/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: EyeSee360, Inc.
• Original Assignee: EyeSee360, Inc.
• Inventors: Herman, Herman, Singh, Sanjiv, Stentz, Anthony Joseph
• Application Number:
  US09/778,682
• Publication Number:
  US 20020075295A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/727
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/16 Sound input; Sound output speech processing G10L
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/00 Control arrangements or circuits for visual indicators common to cathode-ray tube indicators and other visual indicators image data processing or generation, in general G06T
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 1/002 Non-adaptive circuits, e.g. manually adjustable or static, for enhancing the sound image or the spatial distribution control circuits for electronic adaptation of the sound field H04S7/30

Abstract

The present invention relates to the capture and playback of directional sound in conjunction with selected panoramic visual images to produce an immersive experience.

Claims

1. An imaging system comprising:

a panoramic visual images display device; and

an associated directional sound playback device.

2. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein the display device displays a selected portion of the panoramic visual images.

3. The imaging system of claim 2, wherein the selected portion of the panoramic visual images comprises a field of view of from about 1°

to about 60°

.

4. The imaging system of claim 2, wherein the directional sound playback device provides sound associated with the selected portion of the panoramic visual images.

5. An imaging system comprising:

means for providing panoramic visual images; and

means for providing directional sound associated with the panoramic visual images.

6. The imaging system of claim 5, wherein the means for providing panoramic visual images comprises a display device which displays a selected portion of the panoramic visual images.

7. The imaging system of claim 6 wherein the selected portion of the panoramic visual images comprises a field of view of from about 1°

to about 60°

.

8. The imaging system of claim 6 wherein the means for providing directional sound comprises a playback device which provides sound associated with the selected portion of the panoramic visual images.

9. A method of providing images comprising:

providing panoramic visual images; and

providing directional sound associated with the panoramic visual images.

10. An image recording system comprising:

a panoramic visual images recording device; and

an associated directional sound capturing device.

11. The image recording system of claim 10, wherein the panoramic visual images recording device records a field of view of from about 60°

to 360°

.

12. The image recording system of claim 10, wherein the panoramic visual images recording device records a field of view of from about 90°

to 360°

.

13. The image recording system of claim 10, wherein the panoramic visual images recording device records a field of view of from about 180°

to 360°

.

14. The image recording system of claim 10, wherein the panoramic visual images recording device comprises a camera.

15. The image recording system of claim 10, wherein the panoramic visual images recording device comprises a video camera.

16. The image recording system of claim 10, wherein the panoramic visual images recording device comprises a panoramic mirror.

17. The image recording system of claim 10, wherein the sound capturing device comprises at least two microphones.

18. The image recording system of claim 17, wherein the microphones are substantially omni-directional.

19. The image recording system of claim 17, wherein the microphones are substantially uni-directional.

20. An image recording system comprising:

means for capturing panoramic visual images; and

means for capturing directional sound associated with the panoramic visual images.

21. The image recording system of claim 20, wherein the panoramic visual images comprise a field of view of from about 60°

to 360°

.

22. The image recording system of claim 20, wherein the panoramic visual images recording device records a field of view of from about 60°

to 90°

.

23. The image recording system of claim 20, wherein the panoramic visual images recording device records a field of view of from about 60°

to 180°

.

24. The image recording system of claim 20, wherein the means for capturing directional sound comprises at least two microphones.

27. The image recording and playback system of claim 26, wherein the display device displays a selected portion of the panoramic visual images.

28. The image recording and playback system of claim 27, wherein the selected portion of the panoramic visual images comprises a field of view of from about 1°

to about 60°

.

29. The image recording and playback system of claim 27, wherein the directional sound playback device provides sound associated with the selected portion of the panoramic visual images.

30. The image recording and playback system of claim 26, wherein the panoramic visual images recording device records a field of view of from about 60°

to 360°

.

31. The image recording and playback system of claim 26, wherein the panoramic visual images recording device records a field of view of from about 90°

to 360°

.

32. The image recording and playback system of claim 26, wherein the panoramic visual images recording device records a field of view of from about 180°

to 360°

.

33. The image recording and playback system of claim 26, wherein the panoramic visual images recording device comprises a camera.

34. The image recording and playback system of claim 26, wherein the panoramic visual images recording device comprises a video camera.

35. The image recording and playback system of claim 26, wherein the panoramic visual images recording device comprises a panoramic mirror.

36. The image recording and playback system of claim 26, wherein the sound capturing device comprises at least two microphones.

37. The image recording and playback system of claim 36, wherein the microphones are substantially omni-directional.

38. The image recording and playback system of claim 36, wherein the microphones are substantially uni-directional.

25. A method of recording images comprising:

capturing panoramic visual images; and

capturing directional sound associated with the panoramic visual images.

26. An image recording and playback system comprising:

a panoramic visual images recording device;

an associated directional sound capturing device;

a panoramic visual images display device; and

an associated directional sound playback device.

39. An image recording and playback system comprising:

means for capturing panoramic visual images;

means for capturing directional sound associated with the panoramic visual images;

means for displaying a portion of the panoramic visual images; and

means for providing directional sound associated with the portion of the panoramic visual images.

40. A method of recording and providing images comprising:

capturing panoramic visual images;

capturing directional sound associated with the panoramic visual images;

displaying a portion of the panoramic visual images; and

providing directional sound associated with the portion of the panoramic visual images.