Apparatus and method for performing motion capture using a random pattern on capture surfaces

• US 9,996,962 B2
• Filed: 02/24/2014
• Issued: 06/12/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rearden, LLC
• Original Assignee: Rearden, LLC
• Inventors: Cotter, Timothy, Perlman, Stephen G., Speck, John, van der Laan, Roger, Pearce, Kenneth A., LaSalle, Greg
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, Ngoc-Yen
• Application Number:
  US14/187,759
• Publication Number:
  US 20140168384A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,569 Days
• Field of Search: 348 47, 348239, 348370, 348125, 348128, 382107, 382154, 382285
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 13/40 of characters, e.g. humans, animals or virtual beings
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10016 Video; Image sequence
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30196 Human being; Person
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/20 Analysis of motion motion estimation for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals H04N19/43, H04N19/51
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/246 using feature-based methods, e.g. the tracking of corners or segments
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/292 Multi-camera tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/245 by locating a pattern; Special marks for positioning
• 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 23/56 provided with illuminating means
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/73 by influencing the exposure time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/74 by influencing the scene brightness using illuminating means
• 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 5/2224 related to virtual studio applications

Abstract

A method is described comprising: applying a random pattern to specified regions of an object; tracking the movement of the random pattern during a motion capture session; and generating motion data representing the movement of the object using the tracked movement of the random pattern.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

distributing particles across the surface of a liquid so as to create a random pattern;

capturing sequences of images of the random pattern with a first plurality of cameras as the liquid moves during a motion capture session;

correlating on a computing device the random pattern across two or more images captured from two or more different cameras to create a 3-dimensional surface of a specified region of the liquid; and

generating motion data on the computing device representing the movement of the 3-dimensional surface of the liquid in the specified region of the liquid, using the sequence of images.

2. The method as in claim 1 wherein the particles are phosphorescent.

3. The method as in claim 1 wherein the particles are retroreflective.

4. The method as in claim 1 wherein light emissions from the particles are visible with high contrast compared to the light emissions of the liquid when captured.