System and method for synchronizing a real-time performance with a virtual object

• US 20100247060A1
• Filed: 03/24/2009
• Published: 09/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Disney Enterprises Incorporated (The Walt Disney Company)
• Original Assignee: Disney Enterprises Incorporated (The Walt Disney Company)
• Inventors: Zigmont, Michael, Hess, Robert, Bailey, Anthony, Gay, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 8,291,328 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 386/241
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/222 Studio circuitry; Studio devices; Studio equipment cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors, or control thereof H04N23/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/2224 related to virtual studio applications

Abstract

There is presented a system for recording a performance by a real-time performer interacting with a virtual object. The disclosed system comprises a projection module including a polarizing filter, the projection module configured to generate a polarized visible image corresponding to the virtual object. The system includes a surface for displaying the polarized visible image, the surface viewable by the real-time performer. The system also includes a recording module including a reverse-polarizing filter, the reverse-polarizing filter configured to reverse-polarize images of the performance by the real-time performer and the surface displaying the polarized visible image to produce reverse-polarized images. The recording module is configured to record the reverse-polarized images. In one embodiment, the system further comprises a rendering module configured to render the virtual object into the recorded performance.

Claims

1. A system for recording a performance by a real-time performer interacting with a virtual object, the system comprising:

a projection module including a polarizing filter, the projection module configured to generate a polarized visible image corresponding to the virtual object;

a surface for displaying the polarized visible image, the surface viewable by the real-time performer;

a recording module including a reverse-polarizing filter, the reverse-polarizing filter configured to reverse-polarize images of the performance by the real-time performer and the surface displaying the polarized visible image to produce reverse-polarized images; and

wherein the recording module is configured to record the reverse-polarized images.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the real-time performer is a human performer.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the virtual object comprises a moving image.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the virtual object comprises a virtual environment for the performance.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the polarized visible image comprises a graphical image.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the polarized visible image comprises a video clip.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the surface comprises a touch screen capable of detecting touches by the real-time performer.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the surface comprises a substantially transparent panel situated between the real-time performer and the recording module.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the projection module is further configured to simulate movement of the virtual object through corresponding movement of the polarized visible image displayed on the surface.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising a rendering module configured to render the virtual object into the recorded performance.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the performance includes interactions between the performance of a human performer and the virtual object.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the virtual object comprises a virtual environment for the performance.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the polarized visible image comprises a graphical image.

11. A method for recording a performance by a real-time performer interacting with a virtual object, the method comprising:

polarizing a visible image corresponding to the virtual object to produce a polarized visible image;

displaying the polarized visible image on a surface viewable by the real-time performer;

reverse-polarizing images of the performance by the real-time performer and the surface displaying the polarized visible image to produce reverse-polarized images; and

recording the reverse-polarized images.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the virtual object comprises a moving image.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the polarized visible image comprises a video clip.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the surface comprises a touch screen capable of detecting touches by the real-time performer.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the surface comprises a substantially transparent panel situated between the real-time performer and the recording module.

19. The method of claim 11, further comprising simulating movement of the virtual object through corresponding movement of the polarized visible image on the surface.

20. The method of claim 11, further comprising rendering the virtual object into the recorded performance.