Universal ultra-high definition color, light, and object rendering, advising, and coordinating system

• US 7,505,044 B2
• Filed: 07/31/2001
• Issued: 03/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dona Bowsher
• Original Assignee: Bowsher M. William, Thomas S. Schwartz
• Inventors: Bowsher, M. William, Schwartz, Thomas S.
• Primary Examiner(s): SHERALI, ISHRAT I
• Application Number:
  US09/919,559
• Publication Number:
  US 20040012542A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,786 Days
• Field of Search: 345/589, 345/590, 345/591, 345593-595
• US Class Current: 345/594
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 15/00 3D [Three Dimensional] image rendering

Abstract

A universal, ultra-high definition, accurate color, light, and object rendering, advising, and coordinating system for displaying colors, objects, and light and enabling an accurate rendering of a color, room, building, object, person, or landscape. The system includes an image procuring device for procuring input images, a memory device, a processor and a display device with all elements calibrated and coordinated to ensure that a color viewed and procured in situ by the image procuring device will be identically displayed on the display device. The system can combine reference images with display images in a consistent, scaled relationship and can display those images with a variety of lighting effects. Furthermore, the system can make design suggestions in light of designer input, design research, and historic information in furtherance of design goals while accommodating constraining elements. The system can be used relative to building structures, clothing, automobiles, persons, and a plurality of further structures, objects, and products.

Claims

1. A universal, ultra-high definition color, light, and object rendering, advising, and coordinating system for displaying colors, objects, and light and enabling an accurate rendering of a color, room, building, object, landscape, or person, the system comprising:

an image procuring device for procuring input images;

a memory device;

a plurality of reference images retained by the memory device wherein the reference images include structural elements, flooring, ceiling elements, and decorative elements;

a processor; and

a display device;

wherein the image procuring device, the memory device, the processor, and the display device are specially calibrated and automatically coordinated to work together to ensure that colors and input images viewed and procured in situ by the image procuring device will be identically displayed on the display device including the input images in an in situ depiction;

whereby a user can predict the appearance of an interior or exterior of a building, home, landscape, person, or other object or element with accuracy.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the image procuring device comprises a digital camera.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the image procuring device comprises a still camera for providing still images of a color, room, building, landscape, product, person, or other structure.

4. The system of claim 2 wherein the image procuring device comprises a motion camera for providing moving images of a color, room, building, landscape, product, person, or other element or structure.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the motion camera comprises a means for providing moving images in three-dimensions.

6. The system of claim 5 further comprising a means for providing moving images in virtual reality.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the display device comprises an ultra-high definition display screen.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the reference images include reference colors.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the decorative elements include furniture, shrubbery, wallpaper, rugs, curtains, blinds, window shades, and trim.

10. The system of claim 1 further comprising a means for automatically suggesting one or more reference images based on a user-selected parameter wherein the user-selected parameter comprises a structural style or mood effect wherein the reference images include building elements, decorative elements, and colors, and wherein the reference image is automatically coordinated by the processor with the user-selected parameter.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the user-selected parameter comprises an input image that has been procured by the image procuring device.

12. A universal, ultra-high definition color, light, and object rendering, advising, and coordinating system for displaying colors, objects, and light and enabling an accurate rendering of a color, room, building, object, landscape, or person, the system comprising;

an image procuring device for procuring input images;

a memory device;

a plurality of reference images retained by the memory device wherein the reference images include building elements, decorative elements, and colors;

a processor;

a display device; and

a means for suggesting one or more reference images based on a user-selected parameter wherein the reference image is automatically coordinated by the processor with the user-selected parameter wherein the user-selected parameter comprises a design goal input by a user wherein the design goal comprises a structural style or a mood effect and wherein the means for suggesting one or more reference images comprises a means for suggesting building elements, decorative elements, and colors that automatically coordinate with the structural style, mood effect, or other design goal input by the user;

wherein the image procuring device, the memory device, the processor, and the display device are calibrated and coordinated to ensure that a color viewed and procured in situ by the image procuring device will be identically displayed on the display device;

whereby a user can predict the appearance of an interior or exterior of a building, home, landscape, person, or other object or element with accuracy.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the design goal input by a user includes desired furniture styles and decorating styles.

29. The system of claim 12 wherein the user-selected parameter includes Feng Shui principles of article and material placement and orientation.

30. The system of claim 12 wherein the means for suggesting one or more reference images further comprises a means for suggesting building elements, decorative elements, and colors dependent on designer input, design research, and historic information.

14. A universal, ultra-high definition color, light, and object rendering, advising, and coordinating system for displaying colors, objects, and light and enabling an accurate rendering of a color, room, building, object, landscape, or person, the system comprising:

an image procuring device for procuring input images;

a memory device;

a plurality of reference images retained by the memory device wherein the reference images include building elements, decorative elements, and colors;

a processor;

a display device; and

a means for displaying displayed elements and objects in a unified size scale on the display device wherein the means for displaying displayed elements and objects in a unified size scale automatically adapts the input images and the reference images to a unified, substantially identical scale;

wherein the image procuring device, the memory device, the processor, and the display device are calibrated and coordinated to ensure that a color viewed and procured in situ by the image procuring device will be identically displayed on the display device;

whereby a user can predict the appearance of an interior or exterior of a building, home, landscape, person, or other object or element with accuracy.

31. The system of claim 14 wherein the means for displaying displayed elements and objects in a unified scale further provides automatically accurate perspective depictions of displayed elements and objects in varied orientations and locations.

32. The system of claim 14 wherein the means for displaying displayed elements and objects in a unified scale further comprises a means for permitting a user to input a scale of a procured input image.

15. A. universal, ultra-high definition color, light, and object rendering, advising, and coordinating system for displaying colors, objects, and light and enabling an accurate rendering of a color, room, building, object, landscape, or person, the system comprising:

an image procuring device for procuring input images;

a memory device;

a plurality of reference images retained by the memory device;

a processor;

a display device; and

a means for providing a cost estimation as to the cost of a potential alteration, redecoration, addition, or construction of or to a given element or object;

wherein the image procuring device, the memory device, the processor, and the display device are specially calibrated and automatically coordinated to work together to ensure that colors and input images viewed and procured in situ by the image procuring device will be identically displayed on the display device including the input images in an in situ depiction;

whereby a user can predict the appearance of an interior or exterior of a building, home, landscape, person, or other object or element with accuracy.

16. The system of claim 15 further comprising a means for providing a time estimation as to the time required for a potential alteration, redecoration, addition, or construction of or to a given element or object.

17. A universal, ultra-high definition color, light, and object rendering, advising, and coordinating system for displaying colors, objects, and light and enabling an accurate rendering of a color, room, building, object, landscape, or person, the system comprising:

an image procuring device for procuring input images wherein the image procuring device comprises a motion camera for providing moving images of color, room, building, landscape, product, person, or other element or structure;

a memory device;

a processor;

a plurality of reference images retained by the memory device wherein the reference images include building elements, decorative elements, and colors;

a display device;

a means for enabling a selective manipulation of the location and orientation of the procured input images on the display device;

a means for automatically adapting the input images and the reference images to a unified, substantially identical scale; and

a means for displaying displayed elements and objects in a unified size scale;

wherein the image procuring device, the memory device, the processor, and the display device are calibrated and coordinated to ensure that a color viewed and procured in situ by the image procuring device will be identically displayed on the display device;

whereby a user can predict the appearance of an interior or exterior of a building, home, landscape, person, or other object or element with accuracy.

18. The system of claim 17 further comprising a means for providing a cost estimation as to the cost of a potential alteration, redecoration, addition, or construction of or to a given element or object.

19. A. universal, ultra-high definition color, light, and object rendering, advising, and coordinating system for displaying colors, objects, and light and enabling an accurate rendering of a color, room, building, object, landscape, or person, the system comprising:

an image procuring device for procuring input images;

a memory device;

a processor;

a display device; and

a means for providing a display of simulated light sources on the display device to bathe the displayed image in a source of light wherein the means for providing simulated light sources comprises a means for controlling a type of light source to be simulated on the display device from among a plurality of different types of light sources wherein the means for providing simulated light sources enables a user to select from light source types from the group consisting of incandescent light, fluorescent light, full spectrum light, and natural sunlight;

wherein the image procuring device, the memory device, the processor, and the display device are calibrated and coordinated to ensure that a color viewed and procured in situ by the image procuring device will be identically displayed on the display device;

whereby a user can predict the appearance of an interior or exterior of a building, home, landscape, person, or other object or element with accuracy.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the means for providing simulated light sources further enables a user to select a mixed light display situation.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein the means for providing simulated light sources further enables a user to adjust the relative intensity of displayed light sources.

22. The system of claim 19 wherein the means for providing simulated light sources comprises a means for controlling a location and orientation of the light source to be simulated on the display device.

23. The system of claim 19 wherein the means for providing simulated light sources further enables a user to select a mixed light display situation.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein the means for providing simulated light sources further enables a user to adjust the relative intensity of displayed light sources.

25. The system of claim 19 wherein the means for providing simulated light sources further enables a user to choose to simulate the display of light as emanating from a light fixture.

26. The system of claim 19 wherein the means for providing simulated light sources further enables a user to choose to display light as emanating from within a shielded structure.

27. The system of claim 19 further comprising a portable memory medium for enabling a user to retain and transport procured input images and reference images.

28. A universal, ultra-high definition color, light, and object rendering, advising, and coordinating system for displaying colors, objects, and light and enabling an accurate rendering of a color, room, building, object, landscape, or person, the system comprising:

an image procuring device for procuring input images;

a memory device;

a processor;

a display device;

a means for sequentially displaying a plurality of display images and for allowing a user to select preferred display images from the plurality of display images for continued or repeated display wherein the means for sequentially displaying a plurality of display images displays each display image for a predetermined amount of display time through a first display round and then for progressively increased amounts of display time through succeeding rounds;

wherein the image procuring device, the memory device, the processor, and the display device are calibrated and coordinated to ensure that a color viewed and procured in situ by the image procuring device will be identically displayed on the display device;

whereby a user can predict the appearance of an interior or exterior of a building, home, landscape, person, or other object or element with accuracy.

33. A universal, ultra-high definition color, light, and object rendering, advising, and coordinating system for displaying colors, objects, and light and enabling an accurate rendering of a color, room, building, object, landscape, or person, the system comprising:

an image procuring device for procuring input images;

a memory device;

a plurality of reference images retained by the memory device wherein the reference images include structural elements, flooring, ceiling elements, and decorative elements;

a processor;

a display device;

wherein the image procuring device, the memory device, the processor, and the display device are specially calibrated and coordinated to work together to ensure that colors and input images viewed and procured in situ by the image procuring device will be identically displayed on the display device including the input images in an in situ depiction;

a means for suggesting one or more reference images based on a user-selected parameter wherein the reference image is automatically coordinated by the processor with the user-selected parameter wherein the user-selected parameter comprises a design goal input by a user wherein the design goal comprises a structural style or a mood effect and wherein the means for suggesting one or more reference images comprises a means for suggesting building elements, decorative elements, and colors that automatically coordinate with the structural style, mood effect, or other design goal input by the user;

a means for displaying displayed elements and objects in a unified size scale on the display device wherein the means for displaying displayed elements and objects in a unified size scale automatically adapts the input images and the reference images to a unified, substantially identical scale; and

a means for providing a display of simulated light sources on the display device to bathe the displayed image in a source of light wherein the means for providing simulated light sources comprises a means for controlling a type of light source to be simulated on the display device and a means for controlling a location and orientation of the light source to be simulated on the display device;

whereby a user can predict the appearance of an interior or exterior of a building, home, landscape, person, or other object or element with accuracy.