Mounting and bracket for an actor-mounted motion capture camera system

• US 8,289,443 B2
• Filed: 09/29/2008
• Issued: 10/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Two PIC MC LLC (The Walt Disney Company)
• Original Assignee: Two PIC MC LLC (The Walt Disney Company)
• Inventors: MacKenzie, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Hannett, James
• Assistant Examiner(s): Garces-Rivera, Angel L
• Application Number:
  US12/240,911
• Publication Number:
  US 20100079664A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,478 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 348/376
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/50 Constructional details
• 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 5/222 Studio circuitry; Studio devices; Studio equipment cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors, or control thereof H04N23/00

Abstract

The present invention relates to computer capture of object motion. More specifically, embodiments of the present invention relate to capturing of facial movement or performance of an actor. Embodiments of the present invention provide a mounting bracket for a head-mounted motion capture camera system. In many embodiments, the mounting bracket includes a helmet that is positioned on the actor'"'"'s head and mounting rods on either side of the helmet that project toward the front of the actor that may be flexibly repositioned. Cameras positioned on the mounting rods capture images of the actor'"'"'s face.

Claims

1. A mounting bracket for a head-mounted motion capture camera system for capturing motion of an actor'"'"'s face comprising:

a helmet adapted to be positioned on the head of an actor; and

at least one mounting rod coupled to the helmet with a universal joint;

wherein each mounting rod has at least one camera mounted thereon;

wherein the universal joint comprises;

an inner circular portion disposed concentrically inside an outer circular portion, wherein the inner circular portion is rotatable with respect to the outer circular portion; and

a connector attached to the inner circular portion, the connector configured to allow the mounting rod to pivot with respect to the helmet;

wherein the outer circular portion is configured to be fixed in a position to maintain a fixed orientation of the mounting rod with respect to the helmet and is removable such that universal joint can be removed and replaced while maintaining the fixed orientation of the mounting rod with respect to the helmet.

2. The mounting bracket of claim 1, wherein the at least one mounting rod has at least three degrees of freedom of movement.

3. The mounting bracket of claim 1, wherein the helmet has a front and a back and wherein the at least one mounting rod is configured to extend toward the front of the helmet.

4. The mounting bracket of claim 1, wherein the at least one camera is attached to the mounting rod with a universally pivoting ball joint.

5. The mounting bracket of claim 4, wherein the universally pivoting ball joint is adapted to be fixed in position such that the angle of the camera with respect to the mounting rod does not change.

6. The mounting bracket of claim 5, wherein the universally pivoting ball joint is configured such that the camera may be removed and replaced at the same angle with respect to the mounting rod.

7. The mounting bracket of claim 1, wherein the at least one camera is configured to capture images of the actor'"'"'s face.

8. The mounting bracket of claim 7, wherein the at least one camera comprises at least two cameras and wherein the cameras are configured to capture images of the actor'"'"'s face from at least two angles.

9. The mounting bracket of claim 1, wherein the mounting bracket comprises two mounting rods attached to the helmet.

10. The mounting bracket of claim 9, wherein the two mounting rods are attached on opposite sides of the helmet

11. The mounting bracket of claim 9, wherein each mounting rod has two cameras mounted on the rod.

12. A mounting bracket for a head-mounted camera system comprising:

a helmet adapted to be positioned on the head of an actor;

two mounting rods attached to either side of the helmet, wherein the mounting rods are connected to the helmet by a universal joint; and

a plurality of cameras positioned on the mounting rods;

wherein the universal joint comprises;

an inner circular portion disposed concentrically inside an outer circular portion, wherein the inner circular portion is rotatable with respect to the outer circular portion; and

a connector attached to the inner circular portion, the connector configured to allow the mounting rod to pivot with respect to the helmet;

wherein the outer circular portion is configured to be fixed in a position to maintain a fixed orientation of the mounting rod with respect to the helmet and is removable such that universal joint can be removed and replaced while maintaining the fixed orientation of the mounting rod with respect to the helmet.

13. The mounting bracket of claim 12, wherein the plurality of cameras comprises at least one camera positioned on each mounting rod.

14. The mounting bracket of claim 12, wherein the plurality of cameras are attached to the mounting rods with universally pivoting ball joints.