Apparatus and methods for measuring and controlling illumination for imaging objects, performances and the like
First Claim
1. An automated method that controls relative color characteristic values of a scene illumination at a scene, comprising:
- measuring actual relative color characteristic values of illumination at the scene to provide measured relative color characteristic values;
automatically comparing in at least one controller the measured relative color characteristic values with target relative color characteristic values stored in at least one computer-readable database;
automatically determining in the at least one controller whether there is at least one substantial difference between the measured relative color characteristic values and the target relative color characteristic values;
adjusting illumination characteristics from at least one light source illuminating the scene to provide improved illumination comprising improved relative color characteristic values in the scene illumination that more closely match the target relative color characteristic values;
wherein the method further comprises storing the measured relative color characteristic values in at least one computer-readable medium, and the adjusting is performed automatically.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Scene illumination analysis and control systems and methods that can measure the intensity and wavelength dependent distribution of light illuminating a scene, determine any differences between desired illumination and actual illumination, determine appropriate remedies to adjust illumination and automatically control, and adjust illumination to effect those remedies if desired. Associated software, measurement and control devices, for example appropriate accessories for calibrating the measurement devices, collecting and controlling measurements, analyzing measurements and comparing them to established criteria. The systems and methods can also calculate expected scene illumination based on geographic location, altitude, time of year and day, and weather or other environmental factors, and provides analysis and reports to allow the user to assess scene illumination and plan for in-production or post-production correction of video or film images.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. An automated method that controls relative color characteristic values of a scene illumination at a scene, comprising:
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measuring actual relative color characteristic values of illumination at the scene to provide measured relative color characteristic values; automatically comparing in at least one controller the measured relative color characteristic values with target relative color characteristic values stored in at least one computer-readable database; automatically determining in the at least one controller whether there is at least one substantial difference between the measured relative color characteristic values and the target relative color characteristic values; adjusting illumination characteristics from at least one light source illuminating the scene to provide improved illumination comprising improved relative color characteristic values in the scene illumination that more closely match the target relative color characteristic values; wherein the method further comprises storing the measured relative color characteristic values in at least one computer-readable medium, and the adjusting is performed automatically. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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2. (canceled)
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8-12. -12. (canceled)
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17. An automated method that controls relative color characteristic values of a scene illumination, comprising:
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measuring actual relative color characteristic values of illumination at the desired scene to provide measured relative color characteristic values and storing the measured relative color characteristic values in at least one computer-accessible database; automatically comparing in at least one controller the measured relative color characteristic values with target relative color characteristic values stored in at least one computer-readable database; automatically determining in the at least one controller whether there is at least one substantial difference between the measured relative color characteristic values and the target relative color characteristic values; adjusting recording characteristics of at least one recording imaging device recording an image of the scene to provide improved apparent illumination comprising improved relative color characteristic values of the scene illumination as recorded by the recording imaging device that more closely match the target relative color characteristic values; wherein the method further comprises storing the measured relative color characteristic values in at least one computer-readable medium, and the adjusting is performed automatically. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 25, 28, 29, 30)
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18. (canceled)
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24. (canceled)
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26-27. -27. (canceled)
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31. (canceled)
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32. A method of making a database comprising target relative color characteristic values for a desired geographic position, a desired date and time, comprising:
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determining a first wavelength dependent energy distribution based on latitude, longitude, altitude, date of year and time of day, thereby providing an angle of solar illumination incident on the scene and an estimate of the quantity of atmosphere the solar illumination traverses; calculating appropriate relative color characteristic values of the wavelength dependent energy distribution using multistimulus values for the first wavelength dependent energy distribution to provide target relative color characteristic values; recording the target relative color characteristic values as the database in a computer-readable database; wherein the database further comprises target relative color characteristic values for desired environmental conditions, and the method further comprises; determining a second wavelength dependent energy distribution based on at least one environmental condition selected from the group consisting of cloudiness, rain, dust, humidity, temperature and shade.
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33-44. -44. (canceled)
Specification