Camera and animation controller, systems and methods
First Claim
1. A control system for a mechanical, electronic or virtual digital system, wherein the control system controls at least a location of an object in a two-dimensional surface or three-dimensional space based on human user input specifying movement according to a coordinate system, the control system comprising:
- user inputs for receiving location changes specified according to a first coordinate system;
a movement system configured to move the object according to the location changes specified in the first coordinate system;
user inputs for changing from the first coordinate system to a second coordinate system;
logic for operating the movement system in the second coordinate system when the user inputs specify a change in coordinate systems; and
user inputs for specifying one or more conversions between the first and second coordinate systems;
wherein the object is selected from the group consisting of a camera, a light, a character, a prop, a manned vehicle, an unmanned vehicle and a flying camera platform.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments of the invention provide novel controllers for filmmaking and/or animation, as well as systems and methods for their use. In a set of embodiments, a controller has an actuator (e.g., a joystick, etc.) that receives input from a user for controlling an object, such as a camera, a light, an animated character, etc. The input is provided as instructions, which are described according to a reference coordinate system, to a movement system for moving the object within a scene (i.e., relative to other objects within the scene). The controller may include an additional control allowing the user to define an auxiliary coordinate system, such that the input from the user is described according to the auxiliary coordinate system. Alternatively and/or additionally, the controller includes a control for allowing the user to select whether input should be described according to the auxiliary coordinate system or the reference coordinate system.
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Citations
46 Claims
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1. A control system for a mechanical, electronic or virtual digital system, wherein the control system controls at least a location of an object in a two-dimensional surface or three-dimensional space based on human user input specifying movement according to a coordinate system, the control system comprising:
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user inputs for receiving location changes specified according to a first coordinate system; a movement system configured to move the object according to the location changes specified in the first coordinate system; user inputs for changing from the first coordinate system to a second coordinate system; logic for operating the movement system in the second coordinate system when the user inputs specify a change in coordinate systems; and user inputs for specifying one or more conversions between the first and second coordinate systems; wherein the object is selected from the group consisting of a camera, a light, a character, a prop, a manned vehicle, an unmanned vehicle and a flying camera platform. - View Dependent Claims (2, 25)
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3. A system for moving an object, the system comprising:
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a controller configured to receive input from a user and, based on the received input, provide instructions to a movement system for moving a first object relative to at least one other object within a scene, wherein the input is described according to an auxiliary coordinate system; a movement system configured to move the first object according to the instructions; and logic to allow the user of the controller to define a set of controller axes defining the auxiliary coordinate system, and to translate the input from the auxiliary coordinate system to the reference coordinate system before providing the input as instructions to the movement system according to a reference coordinate system; wherein the first object is selected from the group consisting of a camera, a light, a character, a prop, a manned vehicle, an unmanned vehicle and a flying camera platform. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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26. A system for moving an object, the system comprising:
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a controller configured to receive input from a user and, based on the received input, provide instructions to a movement system for moving an optical transceiver relative to at least one other object within a scene, the optical transceiver projecting and/or receiving light along an axis, wherein the input is described according to an auxiliary coordinate system; a movement system configured to move the optical transceiver according to the instructions; and logic to allow the user of the controller to define a set of controller axes defining the auxiliary coordinate system, and to translate the input from the auxiliary coordinate system to the reference coordinate system before providing the input as instructions to the movement system according to a reference coordinate system; wherein the controller is further configured to receive second input from the user, and based on the received second input, provide instructions to a second movement system for orienting a view of the optical transceiver; and the system further comprises a second movement system configured to orient a view of the optical transceiver, subject to the second set of instructions from the controller. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28)
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29. A system for moving an object, comprising:
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a controller configured to receive input from a user and, based on the received input, provide instructions to a movement system for moving a first object relative to at least one other object within a scene; a movement system configured to move the first object according to the instructions; logic to allow the user of the controller to toggle between a reference coordinate system and an auxiliary coordinate system, such that the user input is described according to either the reference coordinate system or the auxiliary coordinate system; and logic to translate the input from the user as necessary from the auxiliary coordinate system to the reference coordinate system, such that the instructions are provided to the movement system according to the reference coordinate system; wherein the first object is selected from the group consisting of a camera, a light, a character, a prop, a manned vehicle, an unmanned vehicle and a flying camera platform. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A method of moving an object, the method comprising:
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receiving at a controller input from a user for moving a first object relative to at least one other object within a scene, wherein the input is described according to an auxiliary coordinate system; allowing the user of the controller to define a set of controller axes defining the auxiliary coordinate system; translating the input from the auxiliary coordinate system to a reference coordinate system; and providing instructions to a movement system for moving the first object, based on the translated input received from the user, wherein the instructions are described according to the reference coordinate system; wherein the first object is selected from the group consisting of a camera, a light, a character, a prop, a manned vehicle, an unmanned vehicle and a flying camera platform. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38)
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39. A method of moving an object, the method comprising:
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receiving at a controller input from a user for moving a first object relative to at least one other object within a scene; allowing the user of the controller to toggle between a reference coordinate system and an auxiliary coordinate system, such that when the user selects the reference coordinate system, the input is described according to the reference coordinate system, and when the user selects the auxiliary coordinate system, the input is described according to the auxiliary coordinate system; if necessary, translating the input received from the user from the auxiliary coordinate system to the reference coordinate system; and providing instructions to a movement system for moving the first object, based on the input received from the user, wherein the instructions are described according to the reference coordinate system; wherein the first object is selected from the group consisting of a camera, a light, a character, a prop, a manned vehicle, an unmanned vehicle and a flying camera platform. - View Dependent Claims (40)
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41. A system for moving an object, the system comprising:
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a controller configured to receive input from a user to move a first object relative to at least one other object within a scene, wherein the input is described according to an auxiliary coordinate system, and wherein the first object is selected from the group consisting of a camera, a light, a character, a prop, a manned vehicle, an unmanned vehicle and a flying camera platform; a movement system configured to move the first object according to movement instructions received from a computer; and a computer in communication with the controller and the movement system, the computer comprising a processor and a set instructions, the set of instructions comprising; a) instructions executable by the processor to receive the input from the controller; b) instructions executable by the processor to allow the user to define a set of controller axes defining the auxiliary coordinate system; c) instructions to translate the input from the auxiliary coordinate system to the reference coordinate system; and d) instructions based on the received input, provide movement instructions to a movement system, wherein the movement instructions are described according to the reference coordinate system. - View Dependent Claims (42)
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43. A method of moving an object, the method comprising:
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receiving at a controller input from a user for moving an optical transceiver relative to at least one other object within a scene, the optical transceiver projecting and/or receiving light along an axis, wherein the input is described according to an auxiliary coordinate system; allowing the user of the controller to define a set of controller axes defining the auxiliary coordinate system; translating the input from the auxiliary coordinate system to a reference coordinate system; and providing instructions to a movement system for moving the optical transceiver, based on the translated input received from the user, wherein the instructions are described according to the reference coordinate system; receiving, at the controller, second input from the user; and based on the second input, providing instructions to a second movement system for orienting a view of the optical transceiver. - View Dependent Claims (44)
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45. A method of moving an object, the method comprising:
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receiving at a controller input from a user for moving an optical transceiver relative to at least one other object within a scene, the optical transceiver projecting and/or receiving light along an axis; allowing the user of the controller to toggle between a reference coordinate system and an auxiliary coordinate system, such that when the user selects the reference coordinate system, the input is described according to the reference coordinate system, and when the user selects the auxiliary coordinate system, the input is described according to the auxiliary coordinate system; if necessary, translating the input received from the user from the auxiliary coordinate system to the reference coordinate system; and providing instructions to a movement system for moving the optical transceiver, based on the input received from the user, wherein the instructions are described according to the reference coordinate system; receiving, at the controller, second input from the user; and based on the second input, providing instructions to a second movement system for orienting a view of the optical transceiver. - View Dependent Claims (46)
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Specification