System and method for performing motion capture using phosphor application techniques

• US 20070285514A1
• Filed: 06/07/2006
• Published: 12/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rearden Mova, LLC
• Original Assignee: Rearden, Inc.
• Inventors: Perlman, Stephen G., Speck, John, Cohen, Lisa Jo, Pearce, Kenneth A., Tunstall, Kelly Leigh, Laan, Roger Van der
• Granted Patent: US 7,548,272 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/169
• 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 system and method are described for performing motion capture on a subject. For example, a method according to one embodiment of the invention comprises: mixing phosphorescent makeup with a makeup base; applying the mixture of phosphorescent makeup and makeup base to surface regions of a motion capture subject; strobing a light source on and off, the light source charging phosphor within the phosphorescent makeup when on; and strobing the shutters of a first plurality of cameras synchronously with the strobing of the light source to capture images of the phosphorescent makeup, wherein the shutters are open when the light source is off and the shutters are closed when the light source is on.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

mixing phosphorescent makeup with a makeup base;

applying the mixture of phosphorescent makeup and makeup base to surface regions of a motion capture subject;

strobing a light source on and off, the light source charging phosphor within the phosphorescent makeup when on; and

strobing the shutters of a first plurality of cameras synchronously with the strobing of the light source to capture images of the phosphorescent makeup, wherein the shutters are open when the light source is off and the shutters are closed when the light source is on.

2. The method as in claim 1 wherein the subject is a performer'"'"'s face and/or body.

3. The method as in claim 1 wherein the subject is a fabric.

4. The method as in claim 1 wherein the mixture of phosphorescent makeup and makeup base is applied in a random pattern.

5. The method as in claim 1 wherein the subject is a performer'"'"'s face and the mixture of phosphorescent makeup and makeup base is applied as a series of curves on the performer'"'"'s face.

6. The method as in claim 1 further comprising:

tracking the motion of the phosphors within the phosphorescent makeup over time; and

generating motion data representing the movement of the performer'"'"'s face and/or body using the tracked movement of the phosphorescent paint.

7. The method as in claim 1 further comprising:

strobing the shutters of a second plurality of cameras synchronously with the strobing of the light source to capture images of the subject, wherein the shutters of the second plurality of cameras are open when the light source is on and the shutters of the second plurality of cameras are closed when the light source is off.

8. The method as in claim 7 wherein the first plurality of cameras are grayscale cameras and the second plurality of cameras are color cameras.

9. The method as in claim 1 wherein the phosphor comprises ZnS:

Cu.