VEHICLE PHOTOGRAPHIC TUNNEL

• US 20160100087A1
• Filed: 10/05/2015
• Published: 04/07/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Carvana, LLC (Carvana Co.)
• Original Assignee: Davo Scheich
• Inventors: Scheich, Davo
• Granted Patent: US 10,063,758 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/5862 using texture
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/0007 Image acquisition
• 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 23/74 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

Abstract

A system and method for automatically photographing vehicles in a drive-thru structure is provided where the passage of a vehicle triggers an automated process that captures a series of vehicle images, and uploads the captured images to a web template for display and recordation. The images captured have controlled reflections from multiple angles and perspectives. A viewer is able to discern whether there are surface imperfections, scratches, and dents on a vehicle surface. Reflections are controlled in the structure or circular chamber with curved walls that are covered with a light scattering sheet material such as a white canvas or gray walls. The lighting style used to illuminate the vehicle within the structure is a sunset horizon style of lighting, where the lights are hidden below the curved wall that may be gray or white so as to use a sunset style reflection on the vehicle surface through subtractive lighting.

Claims

1. A system for photographing vehicles, the system comprising:

a drive-thru structure with a plurality of cameras mounted within the walls for recording images of a vehicle;

at least one camera, video system, or computing system to generate 3D data from the vehicle passed through the structure;

a lighting system;

a tracking system to actuate one or more of the plurality of cameras and lights in a predetermined sequence and combination based on the position of the vehicle within said drive-thru structure;

a wall for implementing subtractive lighting on the surface of the vehicle; and

wherein the images of the vehicle are uploaded in a database.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said drive—

thru structure has a domed ceiling.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said wall extends for 270 degrees about the inner perimeter of said drive-thru structure.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said wall is a gray wall and has a curved surface.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader or alphanumeric reader for identifying vehicle and client parameters upon entry into said drive-thru structure.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein said RFID reader or said alphanumeric reader obtains the vehicle identification number (VIN) of the vehicle to be processed;

wherein a set of information related to the vehicle is encoded in said VIN, said set of information comprising one or more of vehicle make, model, body style, and vehicle color.

7. The system of claim 6 said set of information encoded in said VIN is used to automatically adjust lighting, the height and/or angle of a gray wall of said wall to adjust photographic conditions, as well as the height, zoom, and camera placement/position of said plurality of cameras for the subject vehicle to be processed.

8. The system of claim 1 further comprising a threshold bump to establish an idle speed for the vehicle within said drive-thru structure.

9. The system of claim 1 further comprising a central process unit (CPU), said CPU coordinates and controls said plurality of cameras in the drive-thru structure;

and

wherein a communication interface connects said plurality of cameras via one or more of wired and wireless links, optical drives, universal serial bus (USB), flash memory slot, and combinations thereof for receiving and sending data.

10. The system of claim 1 further comprising a database with vehicle and client information.

20. The process of claim 8 further comprising selectively opening a set of shutters, where an individual shutter each of which is covering a camera from a set of cameras positioned in said structure and collecting a series of photographs and thereafter closing said shutter as the vehicle is driven through the structure.

11. A process for photographing a vehicle comprising:

driving the vehicle through a structure;

selectively illuminating a first subset of lights arrayed in said structure;

collecting a first photograph of a plurality of photographs of the vehicle while in motion and with illumination from said first subset of lights;

selectively illuminating a second subset of lights arrayed in said structure; and

collecting a second photograph of the plurality of photographs of the vehicle while in motion and with illumination from said second subset of lights.

12. The process of claim 11 further comprising reading a radio frequency identification (RFID) or alphanumerical code associated with the vehicle with an RFID reader or said alphanumeric reader.

13. The process of claim 12 wherein said RFID reader or said alphanumeric reader obtains the vehicle identification number (VIN) of the vehicle to be processed;

wherein a set of information related to the vehicle is encoded in said VIN, said set of information comprising one or more of vehicle make, model, body style, and vehicle color.

14. The process of claim 13 wherein said set of information encoded in said VIN is used to automatically adjust lighting, the height and/or angle of a gray wall within said structure to adjust photographic conditions, as well as the height, zoom, and camera placement/position of a plurality of cameras used for photographing the subject vehicle to be processed.

15. The process of claim 11 wherein said structure is linear with an entrance and an exit for the vehicle.

16. The process of claim 11 further comprising:

selectively illuminating additional subsets of lights arrayed in said structure;

collecting additional photographs of the plurality of photographs of the vehicle while in motion and with illumination from said additional subsets of lights.

17. The process of claim 16 further comprising:

uploading the collection of photographs of the plurality of photographs to a web template for display and recordation.

18. The process of claim 11 wherein the selectively illuminating is a sunset horizon style of lighting.

19. The process of claim 11 wherein subtractive lighting is used to control reflections within said structure.