Array-camera motion picture device, and methods to produce new visual and aural effects

• US 7,843,497 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2000
• Issued: 11/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gregory J. Conley
• Original Assignee: Gregory J. Conley
• Inventors: Conley, Gregory J.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, LUONG TRUNG
• Application Number:
  US09/727,034
• Publication Number:
  US 20010028399A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,652 Days
• Field of Search: 348/42, 348/47, 348/48, 348/157, 348/159, 348/239, 396/322, 396/333, 352/60, 352/93, 352/121, 352/133, 352/53, 352/57
• US Class Current: 348/239
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 19/18 Motion-picture cameras with non-intermittently running film G03B41/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/698 for achieving an enlarged field of view, e.g. panoramic image capture
• 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 5/2627 for providing spin image effect, 3D stop motion effect or temporal freeze effect 2D image animation in general G06T13/80
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/265 Mixing

Abstract

A system and method for creating special effects comprising capturing an image of an object or objects in motion from each of a plurality of cameras aligned in an array, assembling the images from each camera into a series of images in a manner providing a simulation of motion from a perspective along the array with respect to the object or objects within the images when a series of images is displayed in sequence, wherein certain object or objects appear substantially stationary in time during the simulation of motion.

Claims

1. A method for producing a visual special effect incorporating a controllable amount of light tunneling, comprising the steps of:

providing an array of cameras deployed along a curvilinear path with each camera focused on a common scene containing a moving object;

controlling time sequential actuation of a series of adjacent or proximate cameras along said array of cameras so that each camera begins to capture an image of the scene at a different point in space from each other;

controlling a time length of exposure of each adjacent or proximate camera to allow a controlled amount of light tunneling caused by said moving object to accumulate to provide respective light tunnel images;

capturing a tunnel of moving light on a pair of cameras of the array of cameras, from the moving object to form a frozen image of the moving object; and

displaying a sequence of said respective light tunnel images of the frozen image in a motion picture medium to create the visual special effect from a point of view of moving along said curvilinear path while viewing said common scene, wherein the sequence of said respective light tunnel images is rotated between first and second angles on the motion picture medium to change the view of the frozen image.

2. The method according to claim 1 further comprising capturing a second sequence of a plurality of light tunnels of moving light of the moving object over a first time segment using one of the cameras in the array of cameras.

3. The method according to claim 2 further comprising displaying a second sequence of the plurality of light tunnel images associated with the second sequence of a plurality of light tunnels of moving light of the moving object over the first time segment.

4. The method according to claim 3 further comprising capturing a third sequence of a plurality of light tunnels of moving light of the moving object over a second time segment using a second one of the cameras of the array of cameras.

5. The method according to claim 4 further comprising displaying a third sequence of the plurality of light tunnel images associated with the third sequence of a plurality of light tunnels of moving light of the moving object over the second time segment.

6. The method according to claim 2 wherein displaying the sequence of said respective light tunnel images comprises combining a plurality of light tunnel images from a plurality of cameras onto a single combined display image.

7. The method according to claim 1 wherein displaying the sequence of said respective light tunnel images is displaying at least a portion of the plurality of light tunnel images at a motion picture frame rate.

8. The method according to claim 1 wherein displaying the sequence of said respective light tunnel images is displaying a perspective view of the common scene, while the moving object appears to be frozen in the common scene.

9. The method according to claim 1 wherein controlling the time sequential actuation of a series of adjacent or proximate cameras captures an image of the common scene at different points in time.