Virtual reality platforms for capturing content for virtual reality displays

• US 9,674,435 B1
• Filed: 11/02/2016
• Issued: 06/06/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lawrence Maxwell Monari, Lawrence Scott Monari
• Original Assignee: Lawrence Maxwell Monari, Lawrence Scott Monari
• Inventors: Monari, Lawrence Scott, Monari, Lawrence Maxwell
• Primary Examiner(s): VILLECCO, JOHN M
• Application Number:
  US15/341,189
• Time in Patent Office: 216 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/239 using two 2D image sensors having a relative position equal to or related to the interocular distance H04N13/243 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/243 using three or more 2D image sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/698 for achieving an enlarged field of view, e.g. panoramic image capture

Abstract

Three different systems are disclosed for producing data bases that are used to drive virtual reality display apparatus. The systems employ 3-D stereo camera pairs, airborne microphones, conduction microphones, physical and chemical sensors, CPU'"'"'s and supporting electronics. The data bases can be used by virtual reality audiences in real time as the data bases are created or they can be stored and used at a later time. The systems are dedicated to eliminating artifacts that would otherwise tend to interfere with the enjoyment of the virtual reality experience for virtual reality viewing audiences. The systems cover multidimensional video content, multidimensional audio content, multidimensional physical content and multidimensional chemical content. The systems are intended to be set up inside a venue for capturing VR content.

Claims

1. At least one VR camera set-up system object deployed inside a venue for capturing video media content and audio media content, each comprising:

an array of two 3-D stereo camera pairs, each comprised of;

a first 3-D video camera and a second 3-D video camera having lines of sight pointing in opposite directions for capturing said video media content, and

an array of at least two dual microphones comprised of;

a first dual microphone comprised of a first microphone and a second microphone

a second dual microphone comprised of a third microphone and a fourth microphone for capturing said audio media content, and

a CPU for processing said video media content and said audio media content for creating at least one of a archival multimedia database and a real-time multimedia database for transmitting to a VR viewing audience, and

a robotic mobile platform for transporting said VR camera set-up system object from place to place inside said venue under the control of a laptop computer operated by an authorized operator, and

a gyroscope transducer configured for encoding and for transmitting pitch, roll, and yaw orientation data of said VR camera set-up system object to said CPU, and

a physical and chemical sensor for capturing at least one of a physical media content and a chemical media content.

2. The at least one VR camera set-up system object of claim 1, wherein said laptop computer is for controlling a interpupillary distance for controlling 3-D effects.

3. The at least one VR camera set-up system object of claim 2, wherein a first VR camera set-up system object and a second VR camera set-up system object deployed and separated by a controlled physical distance for varying said interpupillary distance for changing said 3-D effects.

4. The at least one VR camera set-up system object of claim 1, wherein said CPU is furthermore for processing said pitch, roll, and yaw orientation data for stabilizing said video media content and said audio media content.

5. The at least one VR camera set-up system object of claim 1, wherein said robotic mobile platform is navigated both between pre-determined points and arbitrary points inside said venue by said laptop computer.

6. The at least one VR camera set-up system object of claim 1, wherein said CPU is further configured for processing said video media content for producing upright images.

7. The at least one VR camera set-up system object of claim 1, wherein said first microphone and said third microphone are for capturing airborne sounds, and said second microphone and said fourth microphone are for capturing conducted sounds.

8. The at least one VR camera set-up system object of claim 1, wherein said CPU is furthermore configured for processing said physical media content and said chemical media content for creating at least one of a physical and chemical archival multimedia database and a real-time physical and chemical multimedia database for transmitting to said VR viewing audience.

9. At least one VR module object deployed inside a venue for capturing video media content, each said VR module object comprising:

an array of four 3-D stereo camera pairs mounted in an x-y plane around the rim of a symmetrical structure

wherein said symmetrical structure has a z-axis of rotational symmetry wherein each said 3-D stereo camera pair has a line of sight looking radially outward from said z-axis of rotational symmetry in a direction perpendicular to said z-axis of rotational symmetry,

wherein the four said 3-D stereo camera pairs each has an identical picture frames having a letterbox format,

wherein each of the four said identical picture frames has a angular field of view in the height dimension of its said letterbox format,

wherein each of the four said 3-D stereo camera pairs are equally angularly spaced around the rim of said symmetrical structure by an angular amount equal to said angular field of view in the height dimension, wherein the x-y plane of said symmetrical structure is perpendicular to said z-axis of rotational symmetry, and

a CPU configured for processing and joining each of the abutting widths of said identical picture frames each having said letterbox format and having been simultaneously captured by each of the four said 3-D stereo camera pairs thereby producing a seamless continuous 360 degree annular field of view collage of said identical picture frames without artifacts, and

a means for causing said VR module object to revolve about an axis of symmetry perpendicular to said z-axis of rotational symmetry thereby producing a collage of said identical picture frames covering a entire 360 degree three dimensional spatial sphere surrounding said VR module object.

10. The at least one VR module object of claim 9, wherein said CPU is configured for processing a seamless collage of said identical picture frames by joining each of the abutting heights of said identical picture frames simultaneously captured by each of the four said 3-D stereo camera pairs as said VR module object revolves about an axis of symmetry perpendicular to said z-axis of rotational symmetry thereby producing a seamless continuous 360 degree field of view data base collage of pictures covering said entire 360 degree three dimensional spatial sphere surrounding said VR module object without artifacts.

11. The at least one VR module object of claim 9, wherein the form of said symmetrical structure is a disk shaped right circular cylinder.

12. The at least one VR module object of claim 10, wherein said CPU is further configured for recording and for storing and for retrieving said 360 degree field of view data base collage of pictures.

13. A method of configuring a venue for capturing video media content and audio media content of said venue for transmission to a VR viewing audience, comprising:

a. machining a physical surface of said venue with a pattern of sequentially spaced contiguous right circular cylindrical holes,

b. mounting a VR module object in each of the holes flush with said physical surface, wherein each said VR module object has the form of a disk-like right circular cylinder,

c. configuring a bi-directional communication link in said venue having at least one of a wired communication link and a wireless communication link from each said VR module object for transmitting said video media content and said audio media content to said VR viewing audience.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said physical surface is a floor of said venue wherein each said VR module object looks upward from said floor.