Material for motion capture costumes and props

• US 8,054,312 B2
• Filed: 08/25/2006
• Issued: 11/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Pictures Entertainment Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Pictures Entertainment Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Gordon, Demian
• Primary Examiner(s): Misleh; Justin P
• Application Number:
  US11/467,498
• Publication Number:
  US 20070200930A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,901 Days
• Field of Search: 345473-475, 352/87, 348/722
• US Class Current: 345/474
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/222 Studio circuitry; Studio devices; Studio equipment cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors, or control thereof H04N23/00

Abstract

Capturing motion using motion capture cameras comprises: coupling a plurality of markers to an actor; allowing a material to be positioned between the actor and the motion capture cameras, wherein the material is selected to allow the motion capture cameras to capture motion of the plurality of markers while the actor interacts with the material; and capturing the motion of the markers.

Claims

1. A method of capturing motion using motion capture cameras, comprising:

coupling a plurality of markers to an actor;

positioning a material between the actor and said motion capture cameras but in front of the plurality of markers toward the motion capture cameras, wherein said material is selected as a mesh material that is substantially transparent to said motion capture cameras when the markers are illuminated with a light source such that the plurality of markers is visible to the motion capture cameras, and the mesh material is visible to the actor so that the actor interacts with said material and physical movements of the actor appear natural for a person interacting with such a material; and

capturing the motion of said markers.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said material is selected to be substantially invisible to said motion capture cameras.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said material includes a fabric.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said fabric includes tulle.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein said fabric is configured as a garment, said garment including a theatrical costume.

6. A method of capturing motion using motion capture cameras, comprising:

coupling a plurality of markers to an actor;

positioning a material between the actor and said motion capture cameras but in front of the plurality of markers toward the motion capture cameras, wherein said material is selected to be substantially transparent to said motion capture cameras when the markers are illuminated with a light .source such that the plurality of markers is visible to the motion capture cameras, and the material is visible to the actor so that the actor interacts with said material and physical movements of the actor appear natural for a person interacting with such a material; and

capturing the motion of said markers,

wherein said material includes a mesh.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said mesh is flexible.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein said mesh includes a metal screen and a metal wire frame.

9. A method of capturing motion using motion capture cameras, comprising:

coupling a plurality of markers to an actor;

positioning a material between the actor and said motion capture cameras but in front of the plurality of markers toward the motion capture cameras, wherein said material is selected as a mesh material that is substantially transparent to said motion capture cameras when the markers are illuminated with a light source such that the plurality of markers is visible to the motion capture cameras, and the mesh material is visible to the actor so that the actor interacts with said material and physical movements of the actor appear natural for a person interacting with such a material; and

capturing the motion of said markers,

wherein said material is configured as a theatrical prop, the prop being separate from any clothing the actor is wearing.

10. A system for capturing motion using motion capture cameras, comprising:

a plurality of markers coupled to an actor;

a plurality of motion capture cameras configured to capture motion of said plurality of markers; and

a material positioned between the actor and said plurality of motion capture cameras but in front of the plurality of markers toward the motion capture cameras, wherein said material is selected as a mesh material that is substantially transparent to said motion capture cameras when the markers are illuminated with a light source such that the plurality of markers is visible to the plurality of motion capture cameras, and the mesh material is visible to the actor so that the actor interacts with said material and physical movements of the actor appear natural for a person interacting with such a material.

11. The motion capture system of claim 10, wherein said material includes a fabric.

12. The motion capture system of claim 11, wherein said fabric includes tulle.

13. The motion capture system of claim 11, wherein said fabric is configured as a garment, said garment including a theatrical costume.

14. The motion capture system of claim 10, further comprising a motion capture processing module configured to determine a location and a movement of at least one of said plurality of motion capture markers.

15. A system for capturing motion using motion capture cameras, comprising:

a plurality of markers coupled to an actor;

a plurality of motion capture cameras configured to capture motion of said plurality of markers; and

a material positioned between the actor and said plurality of motion capture cameras but in front of the plurality of markers toward the motion capture cameras, wherein said material is selected to be substantially transparent to said motion capture cameras when the markers are illuminated with a light source such that the plurality of markers is visible to the motion capture cameras, and said material is visible to the actor so that the actor interacts with said material and physical movements of the actor appear natural for a person interacting with such a material,

wherein said material includes a mesh.

16. The motion capture system of claim 15, wherein said mesh is flexible.

17. The motion capture system of claim 15, wherein said mesh includes a metal screen and a metal wire frame.

18. A system for capturing motion using motion capture cameras, comprising:

a plurality of markers coupled to an actor;

a plurality of motion capture cameras configured to capture motion of said plurality of markers; and

a material positioned between the actor and said plurality of motion capture cameras but in front of the plurality of markers toward the motion capture cameras, wherein said material is selected as a mesh material that is substantially transparent to said motion capture cameras when the markers are illuminated with a light source such that the plurality of markers is visible to the o capture cameras, and the mesh material is visible to the actor so that the actor interacts with said material and physical movements of the actor appear natural for a person interacting with such a material,

wherein said material is configured as a theatrical prop, the prop being separate from any clothing the actor is wearing.

19. An apparatus for capturing motion using motion capture cameras, comprising:

means for coupling a plurality of markers to an actor;

a mesh material positioned between the actor and said motion capture cameras but in front of the plurality of markers toward the motion capture cameras, wherein said mesh material is selected to be substantially transparent to said motion capture cameras when the markers are illuminated with a light source such that the plurality of markers are visible to the motion capture cameras, and the mesh material is visible to the actor so that the actor interacts with said material and physical movements of the actor appear natural for a person interacting with such a material; and

means for capturing the motion of said markers.