Silhouetting apparatus and method

• US 6,885,767 B1
• Filed: 05/11/2001
• Issued: 04/26/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Howell, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Paul Howell
• Inventors: Howell, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Boudreau, Leo
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHERALI, ISHRAT I
• Application Number:
  US09/853,280
• Time in Patent Office: 1,446 Days
• Field of Search: 382/173, 382/284, 382/162, 382/163, 382/164, 348584-587, 348/598, 348/722, 396 1- 5, 396/429, 396/544, 352/89, 352/47, 352/48, 352/88, 353/28, 353/30, 353 33- 34, 345/639
• US Class Current: 382/173
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 15/12 using mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/272 Means for inserting a foreground image in a background image, i.e. inlay, outlay

Abstract

Apparatus and method for producing an image containing only an object of interest, without any background. They are directed at making the background appear so much brighter than the object that the brightness differential can be used to discriminate between the two and then to strip the background from the image.

Claims

1. A device for use with a camera for creating a digital mask of a scene for discriminating between an object and a background, said camera having a lens with an iris and a principal axis, said iris having an iris diameter, said device comprising:

a reflection box;

a light trap;

a beam-splitter mounted in said reflection box;

a light source for projecting a light beam onto said beam-splitter;

a light-source aperture deployed between said light source and said beam-splitter;

an adjustable mount for adjusting a position of said light source relative to said beam-splitter in any of three mutually perpendicular directions;

wherein sold reflection box has a front face and a rear face, said front face having a front upper edge and said near face having a rear upper edge and a rear lower edge, wherein said beam-splitter is planar and is mounted in said reflection box so as to extend substantially between said front upper edge and said rear lower edge,

wherein said light trap is a substantially planar, rigid element, having a front trap edge, a rear trap edge, and two trap side edges, wherein said front trap edge is affixed to said front upper edge, and said rear trap edge is raised above said rear upper edge; and

wherein said camera is mountable on said reflection box such that said principal axis passes through said beam-splitter, with said light beam from said light source incident on said beam-splitter at an angle of 90°

to said principal axis.

2. The device described in claim 1, wherein said reflection box has a mounting ring on said rear face, said mounting ring being adaptable to said lens for mounting said camera to said reflection box.

3. The device described in claim 1, wherein said light source is provided by a fiber optics cable that is connected to an external light generator.

4. The device described in claim 3 also containing an internal light generator energizable through an electric cable connected to said device.

5. The device described in claim 3, wherein said light source is a strobe light triggerable in synchrony with a shutter release on said camera.

6. The device described in claim 1, wherein said mutually perpendicular directions are along an X-axis, a Y-axis, and a Z-axis, respectively, said Z-axis being parallel to said direction of said light beam and said X-axis being parallel to said principal axis.

7. The device described in claim 6, wherein said light source is positionable by said adjustment means along said X-axis and/or said Y-axis to align said virtual light source coaxially with said iris.

8. The device described in claim 6, wherein said light source is positionable by said adjustment means along said Z-axis to effect a virtual diameter of said virtual light source that is no greater than said iris diameter.

9. Apparatus for creating a digital mask of an object for discriminating, in a digital photograph, between said object and a background of said object, said apparatus comprising:

a digital camera;

a device according to claim 1;

a support for said object; and

a sweep;

wherein said apparatus is mounted on said camera, wherein said support for said object is a substantially horizontal, transparent surface and said objects placed on said surface, wherein said sweep is arranged substantially vertically behind said object and extends below said horizontal glass surface of said support.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said sweep is a retro-reflective sheet covered with transparent spheres.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said spheres are glass spheres.

16. The device of claim 1, further comprising a translucent cover placed between said light source aperture and said light source.

12. A method for producing a photograph of an object where said photograph contains only the object, said method comprising the steps of:

a. providing a retro-reflective sweep behind said object;

b. supporting said object on a transparent surface;

c. taking a mask exposure, wherein said object and said sweep are illuminated by a light source during said mask exposure so that a sharp brightness contrast is obtained between said object and said sweep;

d. using said sharp brightness contrast to define a background mask that is independent of color;

e. using said background mask to strip said background from said photograph, based on said brightness contrast and not on color.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein said light source is a strobe light synchronized with a shutter release mechanism of said camera.

14. The method according to claim 12, wherein said light source is constantly energized.

15. The method according to claim 12, wherein said light source generates light of a particular color.