Real time camera and lens control system for image depth of field manipulation

• US 6,734,900 B2
• Filed: 11/12/1998
• Issued: 05/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Vision III Imaging, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Christopher Mayhew
• Inventors: Mayhew, Christopher
• Primary Examiner(s): Christensen, Andrew
• Assistant Examiner(s): WISDAHL, ERIC D
• Application Number:
  US09/189,852
• Publication Number:
  US 20030164893A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,007 Days
• Field of Search: 348/239, 348/362, 348/368, 348/207.11, 348/207.1, 348/221.1, 348/229.1, 348/363
• US Class Current: 348/207.11
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/64 Computer-aided capture of images, e.g. transfer from script file into camera, check of taken image quality, advice or proposal for image composition or decision on when to take image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/73 by influencing the exposure time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/75 by influencing optical camera components

Abstract

A method is provided for real time control and manipulation of a moving imaging system lens'"'"'s (prime, close-up, zoom, or anamorphic) depth of field. A computer control system is programed to perform a coordinated adjustment of a closed loop lens iris (aperture) and the shutter angle of a motion picture camera. The iris of the lens is reduced in size while simultaneously increasing the motion picture camera shutter angle an equal exposure (light transmission) amount, therefore, increasing the apparent image depth of field without a perceivable luminance shift. The image depth of field can be reduced by performing the above operation in reverse.

Claims

1. A motion picture system, including a motion picture camera, said system comprising:

a computer controller;

a computer controlled aperture; and

a computer controlled shutter having an adjustable shutter angle;

wherein said aperture and said shutter are automatically controlled by said computer controller to produce a depth of field fade, over a user selected time duration, without a visible luminance shift in a film exposed by said camera.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein as said controller causes a change in the area of said aperture, said controller causes a synchronized inverse change in said shutter angle.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said aperture and said shutter are automatically adjusted at a selectable update rate.

4. A method of producing a depth of field fade in a moving imaging system without a visible luminance shift comprising the steps of:

adjusting an aperture size of a moving imaging camera to change a depth of field of an image recorded by said camera; and

adjusting an exposure time of said camera to compensate for a change in illumination due to said aperture adjustment;

wherein said aperture adjustment and said exposure adjustment are synchronized and automatically performed by a computer controller over a user selected time duration to avoid a visible luminance shift in images produced by said camera.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said camera is a motion picture camera.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein said camera is a video camera.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein said aperture adjustment and said exposure adjustment are automatically performed by the computer controller at a selectable update rate.

8. A motion picture system, including a motion picture camera, said system comprising:

a computer controller;

a computer controlled lens;

a computer controlled aperture; and

a computer controlled shutter having an adjustable shutter angle;

wherein the operation of said aperture, said shutter, and said lens are synchronized and automatically controlled by said computer controller over a user selected time duration to produce a depth of field fade without a visible luminance shift in a film exposed by said camera.

9. A method of producing a depth of field fade in a moving imaging system without a visible luminance shift comprising the steps of:

adjusting the focus distance of a lens to change a depth of field of an image recorded by a camera;

adjusting an aperture size to change said depth of field; and

adjusting an exposure time to compensate for said aperture adjustment;

wherein said aperture adjustment and said exposure adjustment are synchronized and automatically controlled over a user selected time duration to avoid a visible luminance shift in images recorded by said camera.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said camera is a motion picture camera.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein said camera is a video camera.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein said aperture adjustment and said exposure adjustment are automatically performed by the computer controller at a selectable update rate.

13. A video system, including a video camera, said system comprising:

a computer controller;

a computer controlled aperture; and

a computer controlled electronic shutter;

wherein said aperture and said shutter are automatically controlled by said computer controller to produce a depth of field fade, over a user selected time duration, without a visible luminance shift in video images produced by said camera.

14. A video system, including a video camera, said system comprising:

a computer controller;

a computer controlled lens;

a computer controlled aperture; and

a computer controlled electronic shutter;

wherein the operation of said aperture, said shutter, and said lens are synchronized and automatically performed by said controller to produce a depth of field fade, over a user selected time duration, without a visible luminance shift in video images produced by said camera.