Chromakeying system

• US 6,271,890 B1
• Filed: 10/18/1999
• Issued: 08/07/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Orad, Inc. (Avid Technology Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Orad, Inc. (Avid Technology Incorporated)
• Inventors: Tamir, Michael, Sharir, Avi
• Primary Examiner(s): Luu, Matthew
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sajous, Wesner
• Application Number:
  US09/420,216
• Time in Patent Office: 659 Days
• Field of Search: 348/140, 348/587, 348/584, 348/699-703, 348/581, 348/592, 348/586, 348/722, 348/588, 348/589, 348/590, 348/585, 382/284, 382/282, 382/295, 345/326
• US Class Current: 348/587
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/2224 related to virtual studio applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/75 Chroma key

Abstract

A chromokeying panel for use in conjunction with a chromakeying system includes a plurality of first and second location. Each of the first and the second locations has a color within the color of a color keying spectrum of the chromakeying system. In addition, each of the first and the second locations are arranged to define a coded pattern for a computation of a perspective of the chromakeying panel with respect to a camera independently in each video field produced by the camera. The coded pattern may include a plurality of straight lines that intersect to define vertices. The plurality of straight lines may be spaced apart from each other so that for a given vertex, a ratio of the distance of one of the lines extending from the given vertex to a first adjacent vertex, to the distance of another of the lines from the given vertex to a second adjacent vertex is unique.

Claims

1. A chromakeying panel for use in conjunction with a chromakeying system having a color keying spectrum, the panel comprising:

a plurality of first locations having a first color within the color keying spectrum; and

a plurality of second locations having a second color within the color keying spectrum, the first and second locations being arranged to define a coded pattern for computation of a perspective of the chromokeying panel with respect to a camera independently in each video field produced by the camera and wherein the coded pattern comprises a plurality of straight lines that intersect to define vertices, and wherein the plurality of straight lines are spaced from each other so that for a given vertex a ratio of the distance of one of the lines extending from the given vertex to a first adjacent vertex to the distance of another of the lines extending from the given vertex to a second adjacent vertex is unique.

2. The chromakeying panel of claim 1, wherein the plurality of straight lines comprises a first group of parallel lines.

3. The chromakeying pattern of claim 1, wherein the plurality of straight lines comprise a first set of lines and a second set of lines, the second set of lines extending such that they intersect the first set of lines to define the vertices.

4. The chromakeying panel of claim 3, wherein the first set of lines and the second set of lines intersect to define a plurality of quadrilaterals.

5. The chromakeying panel of claim 4, where in the plurality of quadrilaterals comprise rectangles.

6. The chromakeying panel of claim 4, where in the plurality of quadrilaterals comprise two alternating shades of color within a chromakey spectrum of colors.

7. The chromakeying panel of claim 3, wherein the first set of lines and the second set of lines are spaced such that at least two vertices in one direction and three vertices in another direction are within a minimal field of view of the camera.

14. The chromakeying panel of claim 5, wherein the first set of lines and second set of lines are spaced such that at least two vertices in one direction and three vertices in another direction are within a minimal field of view of a camera.

8. A chromakeying panel comprising:

a first set of lines; and

a second set of lines extending such that they intersect the first set of lines to define a vertex at each point of intersection, such that each vertex has a unique ratio between a distance to a first adjacent vertex in a first direction and a distance to a second adjacent vertex in a direction that is opposite the first direction.

9. The chromakeying panel of claim 8, wherein the first set of lines are parallel lines.

10. The chromakeying panel of claim 8, wherein the first set of lines are parallel lines and the second set of lines are parallel lines.

11. The chromakeying panel of claim 8, wherein the first set of lines and the second set of lines intersect to define a plurality of quadrilaterals.

12. The chromakeying panel of claim 11, where in the plurality of quadrilaterals comprise rectangles.

13. The chromakeying panel of claim 11, where in the plurality of quadrilaterals comprise two alternating shades of color within a chromakey spectrum of colors.

15. The chromakeying panel of claim 8, wherein the first and the second set of lines intersect to define an uneven checkerboard pattern of quadrilaterals.

16. A chromakeying panel, comprising:

a first set of lines; and

a second set of lines extending such that they intersect the first set of lines to define a vertex at each point of intersection and a plurality of quadrilaterals, such that each vertex has a unique ratio between a distance to a first adjacent vertex in a first direction and a distance to a second adjacent vertex in a second direction.

17. The chromakeying panel of claim 16, wherein the first set of lines are parallel lines.

18. The chromakeying panel of claim 16, the second direction is opposite of the first direction.

19. The chromakeying panel of claim 16, where in the plurality of quadrilaterals comprise rectangles.

20. The chromakeying panel of claim 16, where in the plurality of quadrilaterals comprise two alternating shades of color within a chromakey spectrum of colors.