AUTOMATED STUDIO

• US 20140152806A1
• Filed: 11/25/2013
• Published: 06/05/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sharp Cars Detailing & More, LLC
• Original Assignee: Sharp Cars Detailing & More, LLC
• Inventors: Hauk, Jason
• Application Number:
  US14/088,939
• Publication Number:
  US 20140152806A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/121
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 15/06 Special arrangements of screening, diffusing, or reflecting devices, e.g. in studio
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 37/02 with scanning movement of lens or cameras
• 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

Abstract

An automated studio acquires photographs and/or videos of vehicles and makes them available on the Internet via a virtual showroom. The automated studio comprises a mobile cart and cameras for acquiring images of the vehicle, a computer for automating the image and information acquisition processes, a database for storing the images and information, and a virtual showroom for presenting the acquired images and information. The automated studio further comprises a turntable for rotating a vehicle and at least one camera for acquiring images of the vehicle while it is rotating.

Claims

1. A system for rendering a virtual vehicle showroom comprising:

a turntable adapted for receiving a vehicle, said turntable having a rotatable platform for supporting the received vehicle;

at least one camera for acquiring one or more images of the vehicle;

a database for storing the acquired images and corresponding information; and

a computer executing computer-executable instructions for rendering a virtual showroom user interface for presenting the acquired images and the corresponding information.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a second computer executing computer-executable instructions, wherein the second computer is communicatively connected to the turntable and the camera.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the second computer executes computer-executable instructions for:

displaying a systematic procedure for acquiring the one or more images;

receiving commands for acquiring the one or more images; and

executing the received commands to manipulate the camera and turntable to acquire the one or more images.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the second computer executes computer-executable instructions for automatically stitching at least two of the acquired images together.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the second computer executes computer-executable instructions for compressing the acquired images.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one camera is an Internet protocol camera.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the virtual showroom user interface comprises a website template for integrating with the database to populate the template with the acquired images and the corresponding vehicle information.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the database further logs metrics and reporting data.

9. A system for acquiring images for rendering a virtual vehicle showroom comprising:

a mobile cart;

a support arm extending from the cart;

a linear motion member on the cart for manipulating the support arm;

a plurality of cameras mounted on the support arm; and

at least one wireless communications transceiver on the cart for transmitting images acquired by the cameras and for receiving control communications.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the support arm is sized and shaped to enable positioning within an interior of a vehicle.

11. The system of claim 9 further comprising an electrical power source on the cart for supplying electrical power to the system.

12. The system of claim 9 further comprising at least one light source mounted on the support arm.

13. The system of claim 9 further comprising a barcode scanner.

14. The system of claim 9 further comprising a turntable adapted for receiving a vehicle, said turntable having a rotatable platform for supporting the received vehicle.

15. The system of claim 9 further comprising:

a database for storing images acquired by the cameras and corresponding information; and

a computer executing computer-executable instructions for rendering a virtual showroom user interface for presenting the acquired images and the corresponding information.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the virtual showroom user interface comprises a website template for integrating with the database to populate the template with the acquired images and corresponding information.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the database further logs metrics and reporting data.

18. The system of claim 9 further comprising a computer executing computer-executable instructions for:

displaying a systematic procedure for acquiring one or more images from the cameras;

receiving commands for acquiring the one or more images; and

executing the received commands to manipulate the cart to acquire the one or more images.

19. A system for rendering a virtual vehicle showroom comprising:

a mobile cart having a plurality of cameras affixed thereon for acquiring one or more images of a vehicle, an electrical power source, and at least one wireless communications transceiver;

a database for storing the acquired images and corresponding information; and

a computer executing computer-executable instructions for rendering a virtual showroom user interface for presenting the acquired images and the corresponding information.

20. The system of claim 19 further comprising a light source mounted on the cart.

21. The system of claim 19 further comprising a turntable adapted for receiving the vehicle, said turntable having a rotatable platform for supporting the received vehicle.

22. The system of claim 19 further comprising a second computer executing computer-executable instructions for:

displaying a systematic procedure for acquiring the one or more images;

receiving commands for acquiring the one or more images; and

executing the received commands to manipulate the self-locomotive cart to acquire the one or more images.

23. The system of claim 19, wherein the virtual showroom user interface comprises a website template for integrating with the database to populate the template with the acquired images and corresponding information.