Camera tracking system for a virtual television or video studio

• US 6,856,935 B1
• Filed: 02/18/1999
• Issued: 02/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: GMD-Forschungszentrum Informationstechnik GmbH
• Original Assignee: GMD-Forschungszentrum Informationstechnik GmbH
• Inventors: Mayer, Thomas, Mika, Thorsten, Fehlis, Hendrik, Schnepf, Uwe
• Primary Examiner(s): Barlow, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): BHAT, ADITYA S
• Application Number:
  US09/601,838
• Time in Patent Office: 2,189 Days
• Field of Search: 702/153, 702/150, 348/579, 348/587, 345/435
• US Class Current: 702/152
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 1/022 Means for monitoring or calibrating
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/75 using transponders powered from received waves, e.g. using passive transponders , or using passive reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/16 using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/163 Determination of attitude using inertial means G01C9/00; control of attitude G05D1/49
• 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

A camera tracking system for a virtual television or video studio is provided. The camera tracking system is used to determine the position and/or orientation of recording cameras and comprises emitter devices for emitting electromagnetic radiation. The emitter devices can be mechanically coupled to the recording camera. The camera tracking system further comprises detecting devices for detecting the position of the emitter devices on the basis of the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the emitter devices, each detecting device being able to detect several emitter devices. A computer unit evaluates the electromagnetic radiation detected by the detecting devices and emitted by the emitter device, and determines the position and/or orientation of the emitter devices in relation to the detecting devices.

Claims

1. A camera tracking system for a virtual television or video studio for determining the position and/or orientation of a recording camera, comprising:

at least three emitter devices for emitting electromagnetic radiation, the emitter devices being adapted to be mechanically coupled with the recording camera;

at least two detector devices for detecting the position of the emitter devices based upon the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the emitter devices, each detector device being adapted to detect plurality of emitter devices;

a computer unit for calculating detected values based on an evaluation of the electromagnetic radiation detected by the detector devices and emitted by the emitter devices ;

and a gyroscope adapted to be coupled to the emitter devices and supplying measured values pertaining to an orientation of the emitter devices, the gyroscope being connected to the computer unit, the computer unit processing the measured values from the gyroscope and the detected values for the determination of the position and/or the orientation of the emitter devices.

2. The camera tracking system of claim 1, wherein the emitter devices are active transmitter devices for emitting the electromagnetic radiation towards the detecting devices or passive reflector devices for reflecting electromagnetic radiation towards the detector devices.

3. The camera tracking system of claim 1, wherein the emitter devices are arranged on a support member adapted to be coupled with the recording camera.

4. The camera tracking system of claim 3, wherein the emitter devices are arranged on the support member such that they radiate the electromagnetic radiation from a common side surface or from two side surfaces disposed angularly relative to each other, in particular substantially at right angles.

5. The camera tracking system of claim 3, wherein the support member is a ring with an upper front face and a laterally extending circumferential face adjoining the front face.

6. The camera tracking system of claim 5, wherein the emitter devices are disposed on the front face of the ring.

7. The camera tracking system of claim 5, wherein the emitter devices are also disposed on the circumferential surface.

8. The camera tracking system of claim 1, wherein the emitter devices each have a spherical emitter surface from which the electromagnetic radiation is radiated and/or from which it is reflected.

9. The camera tracking system of claim 8, wherein the emitter devices each have a planar emitter surface from which the electromagnetic radiation is radiated and/or from which it is reflected.

10. The camera tracking system of claim 9, wherein the emitter surfaces lie in a common side surface or in the two angled side surfaces of the support member.

11. The camera tracking system of claim 1,

wherein a calibration device is provided that emits electromagnetic radiation and is designed, in particular, as a light source preferably emitting in the infrared range, the calibration device being detectable by the detector devices and the studio camera, and

wherein the computer unit determines the geometric relationship of the detecting devices relative to each other from the signals supplied by the detector devices upon movement of the calibration device and determines the geometric relationship of the detector devices relative to the studio from the signals supplied by the detector devices with the calibration device standing still, and determines the relative position of the nodal point of the studio camera to the arrangement of the emitter devices coupled to the studio camera, from the signals supplied by the studio camera upon detecting the calibration device.

12. The camera tracking system of claim 1, wherein the emitter devices comprise light sources particularly emitting light in the infrared range, and that the detecting devices are designed as detecting cameras for the light from these light sources.

13. The camera tracking system of claim 12, wherein the light sources of the emitter devices are located in recesses of the support member, and that the recesses are each covered by a cover that forms the emitter surface.

14. The camera tracking system of claim 13, wherein the covers diffusely radiate the light from the light sources.

15. The camera tracking system of claim 12, wherein the light sources are light emitting diodes, each emitter device being associated with a plurality of light emitting diodes that may be switched individually, in groups or commonly.

16. The camera tracking system of claim 8, wherein the emitter surfaces of the emitter devices are designed as reflectors for electromagnetic radiation.

17. The camera tracking system of claim 1, wherein the emitter devices are distributed irregularly.

18. The camera tracking system of claim 1, wherein the emitter devices are distributed regularly.

19. A camera tracking system comprising:

an emitter unit that is fixedly attached to a camera, the emitter unit emitting electromagnetic radiation;

a detector unit for detecting the electromagnetic radiation in order to provide detected values that are based on a position of the emitter unit;

an orientation determination device, being fixedly attached to the camera, for supplying measured values; and

a computer unit for receiving the detected values and the measured values, the computer unit calculating a position of the camera on the basis of the detected values and the measured values.

20. The camera tracking system according to claim 19, wherein the measured values, which are supplied by the orientation determination device, are based on a pivot angle, a pitch angle, or a rolling angle of the camera.

21. The camera tracking system according to claim 19, wherein the orientation determination device is a gyroscope.

22. A method of tracking a camera, comprising:

detecting, by a detector unit, electromagnetic radiation that is emitted by an emitter unit, the emitter unit being fixedly attached to the camera;

providing detected values that are based on the electromagnetic radiation detected by the detector unit;

providing measured values that are provided by an orientation determination device, which is fixedly attached to the camera; and

calculating a position and/or an orientation of the camera by a computer unit on the basis of the detected values and the measured values.