CAMERA CONTROL

• US 20080024615A1
• Filed: 07/27/2007
• Published: 01/31/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Accelerated Pictures, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Accelerated Pictures, Inc.
• Inventors: Parry, Mark, Alvarez, Donald
• Granted Patent: US 7,880,770 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/211.7
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/66 Remote control of cameras or camera parts, e.g. by remote control devices

Abstract

Tools for controlling cameras (and other objects), using an input device. Some such tools may establish a threshold, above which the input from the input device is fed directly to the object being controlled, and below which the input signal is processed to provide smoother operation. This can allow for direct control over a camera (or other object) in large movements but still allow for smooth, controlled movements when slower movement is desired.

Claims

1. A method of controlling operation of a camera using an input device and a control system, the method comprising:

providing an input device for a user to provide input for controlling operation of a camera, the input device comprising a manipulable control having a neutral position at which the input device provides no input signal;

establishing a threshold perimeter around the neutral position of the input device;

receiving, at the control system, a first input signal from the input device, the first input signal resulting from manipulation of the manipulable control;

determining whether the manipulable control is within the threshold perimeter;

determining whether the manipulable control is moving away from the neutral position;

based on a determination that the manipulable control is within the threshold perimeter and is not moving away from the neutral position, processing the first input signal to produce an output signal describing a time-dependent output curve that simulates a varying position of the manipulable control over a specified period of time, the time-dependent output curve being defined by a first, actual position x₁ of the manipulable control at a first point t₁ in time and a second, simulated position x₂ of the manipulable control at a second point t₂ in time, the first point in time t₁ corresponding substantially to a time of determination that the manipulable control is within the threshold perimeter, and wherein the first, actual position x₁ of the manipulable control is located substantially at the threshold perimeter; and

transmitting the output signal to control operation of the camera.

2. A method of controlling operation of a filmmaking tool using an input device, the method comprising:

providing an input device for a user to provide input for controlling operation of a filmmaking tool, the input device comprising a manipulable control configured to provide an input signal of varying levels, in response to manipulation by a user;

establishing a threshold input signal level;

receiving, at a control system, a first input signal from the input device, the first input signal resulting from manipulation of the manipulable control;

determining whether the first input signal has a level below the threshold input signal level;

processing, based on a determination that the first input signal has a level below the threshold input signal level, the first input signal to produce an output signal that simulates a desired control stimulus for the filmmaking tool; and

transmitting the output signal to control operation of the filmmaking tool.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the filmmaking tool is selected from the group consisting of a physical camera, a virtual camera, a physical light, a virtual light, a physical vehicle, a virtual vehicle, a physical prop, a virtual prop, a physical set, a virtual set, and a virtual character.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the first input signal is generated based on an acceleration sensor, a velocity sensor, or a position sensor.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the input device is selected from the group consisting of a mouse, a keyboard, a joystick, a vehicle control device, a motion capture device, an inertial control system, and an optical control system.

6. A method of controlling operation of a camera using an input device, the method comprising:

providing an input device for a user to provide input for controlling operation of a camera, the input device comprising a manipulable control having a neutral position;

establishing a threshold perimeter around the neutral position of the input device;

receiving, at a control system, a first input signal from the input device, the first input signal resulting from manipulation of the manipulable control;

determining whether the manipulable control is within the threshold perimeter;

processing, based on a determination that the manipulable control is within the threshold perimeter, the first input signal to produce an output signal that simulates a desired control stimulus for the camera; and

transmitting the output signal to control operation of the camera.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

based on a determination that the manipulable control is not within the threshold perimeter, providing the input device with direct control over the operation of the camera.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein determining whether the manipulable control is within the threshold perimeter comprises:

applying a hysteresis when determining whether the manipulable control is within the threshold, in order to identify a situation in which the manipulable control briefly crosses the threshold perimeter.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein processing the input signal is further based on a determination that the manipulable control is moving toward the neutral position, the method further comprising:

based on a determination that the manipulable control is moving away from the neutral position, providing the input device with direct control over the operation of the camera, irrespective of whether the manipulable control.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the manipulable control comprises a joystick.

11. The method of claim 6, wherein the threshold perimeter comprises a ring centered on neutral position of the manipulable control.

12. The method of claim 6, wherein:

the threshold perimeter comprises a first point in a first direction from the neutral position of the manipulable control and a second point in a second direction from the neutral position of the manipulable control;

the first point has a first distance from the neutral position of the manipulable control;

the second point has a second distance from the neutral position of the manipulable control; and

the first distance is greater than the second distance.

13. The method of claim 6, wherein the camera is a virtual camera implemented by a filmmaking software application.

14. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

receiving, at the computer system, a second input signal, the second input signal indicating that an operator of the input device desires direct control over the camera; and

in response to receiving the second input signal, providing the input device with direct control over the operation of the camera, irrespective of whether the manipulable control is within the threshold perimeter.

15. The method of claim 6, wherein processing the first input comprises generating an output signal based on a first derivative of a value of the input signal.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the value of the input signal is measured at a time the manipulable control crosses the threshold perimeter.

17. The method of claim 6, wherein processing the first input comprises generating an output signal that describes a time-dependent output curve, the time-dependent output curve simulating a varying position of the manipulable control over a specified period of time.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the time-dependent output curve is defined by a first, actual position x₁ of the manipulable control at a first point t₁ in time and a second, simulated position x₂ of the manipulable control at a second point t₂ in time.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the first point in time t₁ corresponds substantially to a time of determination that the manipulable control is within the threshold perimeter, and wherein the first, actual position x₁ of the manipulable control is located substantially at the threshold perimeter.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the second point t₂ in time is specified by the user.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the second point t₂ in time is defined by a delay period added to the first point t₁ in time, and wherein a length of the delay period is specified by the user.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein the second, simulated position x₂ of the manipulable control is the neutral position.

23. The method of claim 6, further comprising providing a control for a user to set a scale for processing the first input.

24. A system for controlling operation of a camera, the system comprising:

an input device comprising a manipulable control having a neutral position, the input device being operable for a user to provide input for controlling operation of a camera; and

a control system, comprising;

an input interface for providing communication with the input device;

an output interface for providing communication with the camera;

a processor in communication with the input interface and the output interface; and

a computer readable medium in communication with the processor, the computer readable medium having encoded thereon a set of instructions executable by the processor to cause the control system to perform one or more operations, the set of instructions comprising;

instructions for establishing a threshold perimeter around the neutral position of the input device;

instructions for receiving, via the input interface, a first input signal from the input device, the first input signal resulting from manipulation of the manipulable control;

instructions for determining whether the manipulable control is within the threshold perimeter;

instructions for processing, based on a determination that the manipulable control is within the threshold perimeter, the first input signal to produce an output signal that simulates a desired control stimulus for the camera; and

instructions for transmitting the output signal via the output interface, to control operation of the camera.

25. The system of claim 24, further comprising a camera configured to receive the output signal and operate in accordance with the output signal.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the camera comprises the control system.

27. The system of claim 24, wherein the input device comprises the control system.

28. A computer readable medium having encoded thereon a computer program comprising a set of instructions executable by a computer to perform one or more operations, the set of instructions comprising:

instructions for receiving a first input signal from an input device, the input device being configured for a user to provide input for controlling operation of a camera, the input device comprising a manipulable control having a neutral position, the first input signal resulting from manipulation of the manipulable control;

instructions for determining whether the manipulable control is within the threshold perimeter;

instructions for processing, based on a determination that the manipulable control is within the threshold perimeter, the first input signal to produce an output signal that simulates a desired control stimulus for the camera; and

instructions for transmitting the output signal to control operation of the camera.

29. A computer system for controlling operation of a controllable object, the system comprising:

a processor; and

a computer readable medium in communication with the processor, the computer readable medium having encoded thereon a set of instructions executable by the processor to cause the computer system to perform one or more operations, the set of instructions comprising;

instructions for establishing a threshold perimeter around the neutral position of an input device, the input device comprising a manipulable control having a neutral position, the input device being operable for a user to provide input for controlling operation of the object;

instructions for receiving, via the input interface, a first input signal from the input device, the first input signal resulting from manipulation of the manipulable control;

instructions for determining whether the manipulable control is within the threshold perimeter;

instructions for processing, based on a determination that the manipulable control is within the threshold perimeter, the first input signal to produce an output signal that simulates a desired control stimulus for the object; and

instructions for transmitting the output signal via the output interface, to control operation of the object.