System for producing time-independent virtual camera movement in motion pictures and other media

• US 6,933,966 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2001
• Issued: 08/23/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dayton V. Taylor
• Original Assignee: Dayton V. Taylor
• Inventors: Taylor, Dayton V.
• Primary Examiner(s): DIEP, NHON THANH
• Application Number:
  US10/024,424
• Publication Number:
  US 20020063775A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,345 Days
• Field of Search: H04/N00.7/18, 348/159, 348/38, 348/39, 348/44, 348/85, 348/86, 348/121, 348/244, 348/133
• US Class Current: 348/159
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 19/026 Sequence cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/90 Arrangement of cameras or camera modules, e.g. multiple cameras in TV studios or sports stadiums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/262 Studio circuits, e.g. for mixing, switching-over, change of character of image, other special effects ; Cameras specially adapted for the electronic generation of special effects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/2625 for obtaining an image which is composed of images from a temporal image sequence, e.g. for a stroboscopic effect sequence generated by event triggered capturing H04N7/188
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/2627 for providing spin image effect, 3D stop motion effect or temporal freeze effect 2D image animation in general G06T13/80
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/002 Special television systems not provided for by H04N7/007 - H04N7/18 still pictures via a television channel H04N1/00098
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast

Abstract

A system for producing virtual camera motion in a motion picture medium in which an array of cameras is deployed along a preselected path with each camera focused on a common scene. Each camera is triggered simultaneously to record a still image of the common scene, and the images are transferred from the cameras in a preselected order along the path onto a sequence of frames in the motion picture medium such as motion picture film or video tape. Because each frame shows the common scene from a different viewpoint, placing the frames in sequence gives the illusion that one camera has moved around a frozen scene (i.e., virtual camera motion). In another embodiment, a two-dimensional array of video cameras is employed. Each camera synchronously captures a series of images in rapid succession over time. The resulting array of images can be combined in any order to create motion pictures having a combination of virtual camera motion and time-sequence images.

Claims

1. A system for producing virtual camera motion in a motion picture medium comprising:

a strip of photographic film;

a first magazine for holding the photographic film prior to exposure;

a second magazine for holding the photographic film after exposure;

a plurality of cameras deployed in a flexible array along a preselected path with each camera having a focal plane and a lens assembly for focusing an image of a common scene onto the focal plane;

a triggering mechanism triggering each camera to record a still image of the scene by exposing a portion of the film along the focal plane;

a film-feeding mechanism feeding the strip of film from the first magazine through each camera so that a portion of the film is disposed at the focal plane of each camera, and also feeding the strip of film from each camera into the second magazine; and

a transfer mechanism to transfer the images from the film in a preselected order along the path onto a sequence of frames in the motion picture medium, thereby creating the illusion that a single motion picture camera has moved along the path.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the transfer mechanism transfers the images into a digital data format.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the triggering mechanism triggers each camera to simultaneously record a still image of the scene.

4. A system for producing virtual camera motion in a motion picture medium comprising:

a plurality of cameras deployed in a flexible array along a preselected path with each camera focused on a common scene;

a triggering mechanism triggering each of the cameras to record a still image of the scene; and

a transfer mechanism transferring the still images from the cameras into a time-sequence of frames in a digital data format and outputting the time-sequence of frames in a motion picture medium, thereby creating the illusion that a single motion picture camera has moved along the path.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the camera comprises a video camera.

6. The system of claim 4 wherein the motion picture medium comprises video storage means.

7. The system of claim 4 wherein the motion picture medium comprises motion picture film.

8. The system of claim 4 wherein the triggering mechanism triggers each of the cameras to simultaneously record a still image.

9. A system for making a scene in a motion picture, said motion picture having a time base measured in frames per second, comprising:

an array of cameras deployed along a substantially continuous curve with each camera focused on a common scene;

means for repeatedly actuating each of said cameras to capture a respective series of images of the scene over time such that said cameras capture respective images simultaneously with one another;

means for transferring said captured images into a random access storage device;

means for electronically zooming or panning or tilting selected ones of said captured images;

means for creating a motion picture in which said selected zoomed, panned or tilted images are viewed in sequence to create the illusion of progressive camera movement along said curve; and

wherein each successive image in said motion picture is captured by a different camera.

10. A system according to claim 9 wherein said substantially continuous curve is substantially disposed in a single plane.

11. A system according to claim 9 wherein said plurality of cameras are disposed adjacent and superior to each other.

12. A system according to claim 9 wherein said substantially continuous curve is of an infinite radius.

13. A system according to claim 9 wherein said images are captured by a motion picture film.

14. A system according to claim 9 wherein said images are captured by a video recording device.

15. A system according to claim 9 wherein said motion picture comprises one image from each of said cameras.

16. A method for making a scene in a motion picture, said motion picture having a time base measured in frame per second, comprising:

providing an array of cameras deployed along a substantially continuous curve with each camera focused on a common scene;

repeatedly actuating each of said cameras to capture a respective series of images of the scene over time such that said cameras capture respective images simultaneously with one another;

transferring said captured images into a random access storage device;

electronically zooming or panning or tilting selected one of said captured images;

creating a motion picture in which said selected zoomed, panned or tilted images are viewed in sequence to create the illusion of progressive camera movement along said curve; and

wherein each successive image in said motion picture is captured by a different camera.

17. A system according to claim 16 wherein said substantially continuous curve is substantially disposed in a single plane.

18. A system according to claim 16 wherein said plurality of cameras are disposed adjacent and superior to each other.

19. A system according to claim 16 wherein said substantially continuous curve is of an infinite radius.

20. A system according to claim 16 wherein said images are captured by a motion picture film.

21. A system according to claim 16 wherein said images are captured by a video recording device.

22. A system according to claim 16 wherein said motion picture comprises one image from each of said cameras.

23. A motion picture produced by the process of claim 16.

24. A process for producing virtual progressive camera movement in a motion picture comprising:

providing an array of cameras deployed along a pre-selected path with each camera focused on a common scene;

repeatedly actuating each of said cameras to capture a respective series of images of the scene over time such that said cameras capture respective images simultaneously with one another;

creating a motion picture in which selected images from said captured images are viewed in sequence to create the illusion of progressive camera movement along the path; and

wherein each pair of successive images in said viewed sequence of images combines virtual camera movement and time advancement.

25. A process according to claim 24 wherein said creation includes editing the selected images.

26. A motion picture produced by the process of claim 24.