Apparatus and method for performing motion capture using a random pattern on capture surfaces

• US 20070091178A1
• Filed: 10/20/2005
• Published: 04/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rearden Mova, LLC
• Original Assignee: Shenzhenshi Haitiecheng Science And Technology Co., Ltd.,
• Inventors: Speck, John, LaSalle, Greg, Perlman, Stephen, Cotter, Tim, Pearce, Kenneth, Van der Laan, Roger
• Granted Patent: US 8,659,668 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/159
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 13/40 of characters, e.g. humans, animals or virtual beings
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10016 Video; Image sequence
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30196 Human being; Person
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/20 Analysis of motion motion estimation for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals H04N19/43, H04N19/51
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/246 using feature-based methods, e.g. the tracking of corners or segments
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/292 Multi-camera tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/245 by locating a pattern; Special marks for positioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/239 using two 2D image sensors having a relative position equal to or related to the interocular distance H04N13/243 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/243 using three or more 2D image sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/56 provided with illuminating means
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/73 by influencing the exposure time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/74 by influencing the scene brightness using illuminating means
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/90 Arrangement of cameras or camera modules, e.g. multiple cameras in TV studios or sports stadiums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/2224 related to virtual studio applications

Abstract

A method is described comprising: applying a random pattern to specified regions of an object; tracking the movement of the random pattern during a motion capture session; and generating motion data representing the movement of the object using the tracked movement of the random pattern.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

applying a random pattern to specified regions of an object;

tracking the movement of the random pattern during a motion capture session; and

generating motion data representing the movement of the object using the tracked movement of the random pattern.

2. The method as in claim 1 wherein the random pattern is comprised of a phosphorescent paint.

3. The method as in claim 2 further comprising:

strobing the shutters of a second plurality of cameras synchronously with the strobing of the light source to capture images of the performer, wherein the shutters of the second plurality of cameras are open when the light source is on and the shutters of the second plurality of cameras are closed when the light source is off.

4. A machine-readable medium having program code stored thereon which, when executed by a machine, causes the machine to perform the operations of:

capturing video of a random pattern painted on an object during a motion capture session;

identifying a portion of the random pattern within frames of the captured video; and

generating motion data describing the motion of the portion of the random pattern over time during the motion capture session.