Anti-reflective camera housing system

The anti-reflective camera housing system addresses light interference issues by using a dark-coated, light-transmitting volume to isolate cameras from external light, improving tracking and immersive experiences in amusement parks.

JP7873179B2Active Publication Date: 2026-06-11UNIVERSAL CITY STUDIOS LLC

Patent Information

Authority / Receiving Office
JP · JP
Patent Type
Patents
Current Assignee / Owner
UNIVERSAL CITY STUDIOS LLC
Filing Date
2021-07-01
Publication Date
2026-06-11

Smart Images

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Patent Text Reader

Abstract

An embodiment of the present disclosure relates to an amusement park attraction fixture (56) including a camera (68) disposed on one side of a window (64), the camera (68) including a lens (104) and configured to capture image data indicative of movement of a guest (16) on an opposite side of the window (64). The amusement park attraction fixture (56) further includes a light source (124) disposed on one side of the window (64) and a camera housing (14) disposed at least partially adjacent to the camera (68), the camera housing (14) having an interior volume (102) and an opening (120) surrounded by an edge (126) of the camera housing (14), the lens (104) being disposed within the interior volume (102), and the edge (126) of the camera housing (14) abutting a surface (180) of the window (64).
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Description

【Technical Field】 【0001】 [Cross - Reference to Related Applications] This application claims priority and the benefit thereof based on U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 63 / 047,095, entitled "ANTI - REFLECTIVE CAMERA HOUSING SYSTEM", filed on July 1, 2020, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes. 【Background Art】 【0002】 This section is for introducing readers to various aspects of technologies that may be related to the various aspects of the present disclosure described and / or claimed below. This discussion is considered to be helpful in showing readers the background circumstances and facilitating a better understanding of the various aspects of the present disclosure. Therefore, these descriptions should be understood to be read from the above perspective rather than as an admission of prior art. 【0003】 An amusement park can include various entertainment attractions, restaurants, souvenir shops, and rides that provide enjoyment to the guests of the amusement park (e.g., families and / or people of all ages). In some cases, cameras can be utilized within the amusement park to serve any of a variety of functions. For example, a still - image camera or a video camera can be incorporated to capture images or videos of guests during an amusement park experience, such as on an amusement park ride. In an amusement park, video cameras can also be utilized for surveillance or security purposes, and for marketing functions. In some cases, video cameras can also be incorporated into amusement park attractions to enhance features or experiences such as interactive features and virtual reality (VR) and / or augmented reality (AR) experiences. However, other elements or components commonly utilized in an amusement park and its attractions can affect the operation or function of the cameras and related systems. It is now recognized that the operation of cameras and related systems within an amusement park can be improved by isolating the camera system from surrounding elements and factors. [Overview of the project] [Means for solving the problem] 【0004】 The following summarizes several embodiments that fall within the same scope as the subject matter of the original claims. These embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter, but rather to outline possible forms of the subject matter. In practice, the subject matter may include a variety of forms that are similar to or different from the embodiments shown below. 【0005】 This disclosure relates to an amusement park attraction setup including a camera positioned on one side of a window, the camera including a lens and configured to capture image data showing the movement of a guest on the opposite side of the window. The amusement park attraction setup further includes a light source positioned on one side of the window and a camera housing positioned at least partially in contact with the camera, the camera housing having an internal volume and an opening surrounded by the edge of the camera housing, the lens being positioned within the internal volume and the edge of the camera housing in contact with the surface of the window. 【0006】 The disclosure also relates to a camera housing comprising a plurality of panels that define an internal volume, an opening to the internal volume, and a rim extending along the periphery of the opening, wherein the surface of each of the plurality of panels facing the internal volume is black in hue or color, and the plurality of panels are configured to surround a camera lens placed within the internal volume. The camera housing also includes a gasket positioned on the rim and extending along the periphery of the opening. The camera housing is configured to be positioned in contact with the surface of a transparent panel such that the gasket is positioned in contact with the surface of the transparent panel. 【0007】 The disclosure also relates to a feature installation for an amusement park attraction, which includes a light source positioned on a first side of the window and a camera positioned on the first side of the window and configured to capture image data of guests of the amusement park attraction located on a second side of the window opposite to the first side. The feature installation further includes a camera housing that defines an internal volume and an opening to the internal volume, the camera being positioned at least partially within the internal volume and configured to receive image data through the opening, the camera housing including a gasket extending along the periphery of the opening, the gasket being positioned in contact with the surface of the window on the first side of the window. 【0008】 Various improvements to the features described above can be made in relation to various aspects of this disclosure. Furthermore, additional features can be incorporated into these various aspects. These improvements and additional features may exist individually or in any combination. 【0009】 A better understanding of these and other features, aspects and advantages of this disclosure will be gained by reading the following detailed description while referring to the attached drawings, which use the same symbols to indicate the same elements throughout. [Brief explanation of the drawing] 【0010】 [Figure 1] This is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of an amusement park having a camera system including an anti-reflective camera housing according to an aspect of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] This is a perspective view of an embodiment of a vehicle system having a camera including an anti-reflective housing according to an aspect of the present disclosure. [Figure 3] This is a perspective view of an embodiment of a camera and anti-reflective housing that can be used with amusement park attractions according to the present disclosure. [Figure 4] This is a side cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a camera and anti-reflective housing that can be used with amusement park attractions according to an aspect of the present disclosure. [Figure 5] This is a front view of an embodiment of a camera and anti-reflective housing that can be used with amusement park attractions according to an aspect of the present disclosure. [Figure 6] This is a side view of an embodiment of a camera and anti-reflective housing that can be used with amusement park attractions according to the present disclosure. [Modes for carrying out the invention] 【0011】 The following describes one or more specific embodiments of this disclosure. For the sake of brevity in describing these embodiments, not all features of the embodiments may be described herein. In developing any such embodiments, as can be seen in any engineering or design project, it should be understood that numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve the developer's individual objectives, such as compliance with system-related and business-related constraints, which may vary by implementation. Furthermore, it should be understood that while such development efforts can be complex and time-consuming, they are nevertheless routine design, fabrication, and manufacturing activities for the average engineer interested in this disclosure. In addition, to the extent that certain terms such as parallel and perpendicular are used in the present invention, it should be understood that these terms allow for deviations from their strict mathematical definitions, such as deviations related to manufacturing imperfections and associated tolerances. 【0012】 When describing elements of the various embodiments of this disclosure, the articles “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to mean that there are one or more of these elements. The terms “comprising,” “including,” and “having” are intended to be comprehensive and mean that there may be further elements other than those listed. Furthermore, any reference to “one embodiment” or “a certain embodiment” in this disclosure should not be interpreted as excluding the existence of further embodiments, including the features described. 【0013】 Amusement park attractions are becoming increasingly popular, and a variety of attractions are being created that offer guests unique audiovisual experiences. For example, amusement park attractions can include passenger rides (e.g., roller coasters), games, interactive experiences, educational exhibits, and other activities. Amusement park attractions can utilize various systems, such as transportation, lighting, and sound systems, to enhance the guest experience. In many cases, cameras are used within the amusement park to provide guests with an enhanced experience. For example, cameras can capture still images or videos of guests during the amusement park attraction experience, providing guests with a memento (photo or video) of their amusement park experience. In some cases, video cameras can also be used to track the movements of amusement park guests to enable additional features of the amusement park experience. For example, camera systems can utilize skeletal tracking technology to enable interactive attractions, VR / AR experiences, ride simulations, and to enhance guest immersion in amusement park attractions. Unfortunately, during movement or skeletal tracking, external or surrounding elements such as light generated by other elements or light sources can interfere with the functionality of such camera systems. 【0014】 Accordingly, this embodiment relates to a camera housing system configured to enhance and improve the operation of a camera system used to track guests in an amusement park. Specifically, the camera housing system may include an anti-reflective housing that allows the camera to capture light from a desired direction or area (e.g., an area where guests to be tracked are located) while preventing external elements, such as light from adjacent areas, locations, or light sources, from interfering with the operation of the camera system. The anti-reflective housing includes an internal volume in which the camera or a part of the camera is housed. The internal volume can be formed by a panel that is generally light-transmitting and therefore prevents light from entering the internal volume. The anti-reflective housing also includes an opening that allows light to enter the internal volume and be captured by the camera. Thus, the anti-reflective housing is arranged such that the opening faces a desired direction in which the panel prevents light or other elements approaching from other directions from interfering with the camera operation, while allowing the camera to record or track the movement of guests or other moving objects. Although the following description focuses on the use of this technology in the context of an amusement park, the disclosed technology can also be used in other contexts such as restaurants, retail stores, and sports complexes. Furthermore, the disclosed technology can be used in place of or in addition to an image camera, along with other types of sensors such as thermal sensors, proximity sensors, and radio frequency sensors. 【0015】 Based on the above, Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of an amusement park 10 having a camera system 12, which includes an anti-reflective camera housing 14 configured to enable improved operation of the camera system 12, such as improved skeletal tracking of guests 16 in the amusement park 10. As shown in the figure, the amusement park 10 includes various attractions 18, including rides 20 (e.g., ride systems), a water park 22, a restaurant 24, and a motion simulator 26. The camera system 12 with the anti-reflective camera housing 14 can be used with some or all of the attractions 18 in the amusement park 10. For example, the camera system 12 can be used to record and / or track the movements of guests 16 experiencing one of the attractions 18, and the anti-reflective housing 14 can prevent external elements, such as light approaching from a particular direction, from interfering with the operation of the camera system 12. 【0016】 As described above, tracking the movements of guests 16 can be used to enhance the features of the attraction 18. For example, the camera system 12 and anti-reflective housing 14 can be implemented to track the movements of guests 16 entering the water park 22, to recognize the facial expressions and / or gestures of guests 16 ordering from a menu at the restaurant 24, and / or to enable a VR / AR experience for guests 16 experiencing a ride 20 or motion simulator 26. The camera system 12 and anti-reflective camera housing 14 can also be used in conjunction with other features or components such as a display screen, lighting functions, and other systems that may emit elements (e.g., light) that could interfere with the operation of the camera system 12. As will be described in detail below, the anti-reflective camera housing 14 prevents such interference and enables improved operation of the camera system 12 and the attraction 18. 【0017】 Figure 2 is a partial perspective view of an embodiment of a vehicle 20 (e.g., a vehicle system) showing the implementation of a camera system 12 and an anti-reflective housing 14 (e.g., a housing, camera housing, camera chamber, etc.). The vehicle 20 includes a vehicle path 50 (e.g., a track) on which a vehicle 52 can travel. A guest 16, positioned inside the vehicle 52 (e.g., housed in a seat 54 of the vehicle 20), travels along the vehicle path 50 to experience one or more environments, sensations, thrills, visual and / or auditory presentations, and immersive settings, etc. For example, the vehicle path 50 may extend along and past feature installations 56 of the vehicle 20 that the guest 16 inside the vehicle 52 can see. 【0018】 In the illustrated embodiment, the feature equipment 56 includes a scenery and property arrangement 58 and a display screen 60. The scenery and property arrangement 58 may include structures, objects, staging, or other elements, and the display screen 60 may be configured to present images, videos, or other visual features to the guest 16. The feature equipment 56 may be located in a room 62, space, or other area separated from the ride path 50 and the ride vehicle 52 by a window 64 (e.g., a transparent panel or window glass), and the guest 16 can view the feature equipment 56 through the window 64 while moving along the ride path 50 inside the ride vehicle 52. For example, the window 64 may be made of glass, polycarbonate, acrylic, or other transparent material and may be at least partially surrounded by a frame 66 (e.g., a support, casing, etc.). 【0019】 The camera system 12 is implemented with the ride 20 to capture images and / or video of guests 16 experiencing the ride 20. As shown in the figure, the camera 68 of the camera system 12 is positioned on the side of the window 64 where the scenery and props 58 and the display screen 60 are located in the room 62. That is, the camera 68, scenery and props 58, and the display screen 60 are positioned on the side of the window 64 opposite the ride path 50, the ride vehicle 52, and the guest 16. During operation, the camera 68 can capture images and / or video of the guest 16 that can be used for various purposes. For example, the images and / or video of the guest 16 can be used to track the guest 16's movements (e.g., skeletal tracking). In some embodiments, skeletal tracking technology can enable VR / AR features or experiences for the guest 16 inside the ride vehicle 52. For this purpose, the camera system 12 may further include a control system 70 having a processor 72 (e.g., control circuits, processing circuits, etc.) and a memory 74 configured to store instructions that the processor 72 can execute. The control system 70 can receive input (e.g., data) from the camera 68 and process the data so that it can be used in generating a VR / AR environment for the guest 16. As will be described later, in some embodiments the camera 68 may have a wide-angle lens and the camera 68 may be positioned in a specific orientation and / or location that enables the capture of images and / or videos of the guest 16 suitable for any of the various purposes. 【0020】 Since the display screen 60 is arranged on the side common to the camera 68 of the window 64, the light 76 output by the display screen 60 may be reflected from the surface of the window 64 as indicated by the arrow 78 and travel in the direction of the camera 68. It will be understood that this light 76 may interfere with the operation of the camera 68 installed and configured to capture light from the vehicle path 50, the vehicle 52, and the direction 80 of the guest 16. Such interference may prevent the processing of data collected by the camera 68, such as the skeleton tracking process of the guest 16. Therefore, an anti-reflection housing 14 is installed together with the camera 68 to prevent interference with the camera 68 caused by external or peripheral elements such as the light 76. The features and installation of the anti-reflection housing 14 and the camera 68 will be described in more detail below. 【0021】 Figure 3 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the camera 68 and the anti-reflection housing 14 that can be installed together with the feature equipment 56. For example, the anti-reflection housing 14 can be fixed to one or more support structures 98, and these support structures 98 can be further attached to the ceiling or wall of the room 62 or other bases configured to support the camera 68 and the anti-reflection housing 14. The anti-reflection housing 14 includes a plurality of panels 100 that define an internal volume 102 in which the camera 68 is disposed. The panels 100 can be formed from plywood, medium-density fiberboard (MDF), plastic, metal, or other suitable materials. In the illustrated embodiment, the camera 68 is disposed entirely or completely within the internal volume 102. In other embodiments, a part of the camera 68 (for example, a lens 104 such as a wide-angle lens, a part of the main body 106 of the camera 68, etc.) can be disposed within the internal volume 102, and the remaining part of the camera 68 can be disposed outside the internal volume 102 and the anti-reflection housing 14. 【0022】 The camera 68 is suspended within the internal volume 102 by an articulated arm 108 that extends from the camera 68 through the internal volume 102 and through one of the panels 100 (e.g., the upper panel 110) to the outside 112 of the anti-reflective housing 14. For this purpose, the upper panel 110 includes an opening or hole 114 through which the articulated arm 108 can pass. The upper panel 110 may also include a further opening or hole 116 through which a conduit 118 (e.g., a data cable) can pass from the camera 68 and the internal volume 102 to the outside 112 of the anti-reflective housing 14, in order to enable the data captured by the camera 68 to be transmitted to the control system 70. However, in other embodiments, the articulated arm 108 and the conduit 118 may also extend from the internal volume 102 to the outside 112 through a common opening (e.g., the conduit 118 can be guided through an internal passage formed within the articulated arm 108). Furthermore, although the illustrated embodiment shows an articulated arm 108 and conduit 118 penetrating the upper panel 110, in other embodiments in which the camera 68 is fully housed within the anti-reflective housing 14, the articulated arm 108 and conduit 118 may penetrate any of the panels 100 (e.g., the same panel, a different panel, a rear panel, a side panel, etc.). 【0023】 As described above, the anti-reflective housing 14 is configured to allow the capture of images and / or videos of the guest 16 or other subjects of interest while preventing interference from ambient or external elements, such as light emitted by adjacent components installed within the feature equipment 56. Thus, the multiple panels 100 define an opening 120 that can capture light from the direction of the guest 16 or other subjects of interest, in addition to the internal volume 102. In one installation configuration, the camera 68, placed within the anti-reflective housing 14 and internal volume 102, is positioned such that the opening 120 and the lens 104 of the camera 68 are exposed (e.g., facing) in the direction or area where the guest 16 and / or other subjects of interest are generally expected to be located. In this way, the camera 68 can capture light (e.g., images and / or videos) from the direction of the guest 16, and the anti-reflective housing 14 (e.g., panel 100) can prevent light traveling in other directions from being detected by the camera 68. To reduce undesirable light reflections within the internal volume 102 received through the opening 120, the surface 111 of the panel 100 facing the internal volume 102 may be coated (e.g., painted) or otherwise formed with a dark shaded or colored layer, such as a matte black layer or a flat black layer. As can be seen, a matte black or flat black surface readily absorbs light, thus reducing light reflections within the internal volume 102 that could interfere with the operation of the camera 68 and / or the manipulation and analysis of data collected by the camera 68. 【0024】 As described above, the anti-reflection housing 14 and the camera 68 can be arranged on the side of the window 64 or other transparent panel opposite to the side where the guest 16 is arranged. In order to suppress the transmission of the light 122 generated by the light source 124 (for example, the display screen 60) arranged on the same side of the window 64 through the reflection of the light 122 from the window 64 towards the camera 68, the anti-reflection housing 14 can be arranged in contact with the window 64. For example, the front surface or leading edge 126 of the anti-reflection housing 14 that generally defines the peripheral portion of the opening 120 can be arranged or biased in contact with the window 64. In this way, the plurality of panels 100 can prevent the transmission of the light 122 from the side surface of the anti-reflection housing 14 into the internal volume 102 as represented by the arrow 128. Instead, the light from the direction of the guest 16 can be transmitted through the window 64 into the internal volume 102 of the anti-reflection housing 14 (that is, through the opening 120) without interference from the light 122 generated by the light source 124 adjacent to the anti-reflection housing 14, and this can be detected by the camera 68. 【0025】 In some embodiments, the anti-reflection housing 14 can include a gasket 130 arranged along the leading edge 126 of the anti-reflection housing 14. When the anti-reflection housing 14 is in the installation configuration, the gasket 130 can be arranged or biased in contact with the surface of the window 64 or other transparent panel to form a seal to prevent the light from being transmitted (for example, into the internal volume 102 through the reflection from the window 64). For example, the gasket 130 can be formed from foam, rubber, silicone, felt, polymer material or other suitable materials. In some embodiments, the material of the gasket 130 can be configured to withstand the compressive load and / or absorb the compressive load in order to enable a light-blocking engagement between the surface of the window 64 and the anti-reflection housing 14. 【0026】 Furthermore, in the installation configuration, the anti-reflective housing 14 and camera 68 can be positioned adjacent to the window 64, adjacent to the window frame 66 and / or adjacent to a layer of opaque material applied to the window 64 (e.g., decal, sticker, applied graphics, opaque material, or other substrate). In such an embodiment, the anti-reflective housing 14 and camera 68 are positioned such that the camera 68 is adjacent to the edge of the layer represented by the dashed line 132 in Figure 3. As a result, the bottom 134 of the anti-reflective housing 14, including the camera 68, receives light into the internal volume 102 through the opening 120 and may therefore be visible to the guest 16. However, the top 136 of the anti-reflective housing 14 can be made invisible to the guest 16 by the layer or other substrate applied to the window 64. In this way, the camera system 12 can operate to monitor and / or track the movement of the guest 16 while providing an improved aesthetic appearance by limiting the visibility of the anti-reflective housing 14 and camera 68. 【0027】 Figure 4 is a side cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the anti-reflective housing 14 and camera 68 in an installation configuration. Specifically, the anti-reflective housing 14 is positioned in contact with the window 64 such that the gasket 130 abuts against the surface 180 of the window 64. Also, as described above, the camera 68 is positioned within the internal volume 102 of the anti-reflective housing 14 such that the camera 68 (e.g., lens 104) is adjacent to the edge 182 of the frame 66 of the window 64. Thus, the frame 66 blocks the upper part 136 of the anti-reflective housing 14 from being visible through the window 64 (e.g., to the guest 16). However, in other embodiments, the edge 182 may be the edge of a decal, sticker, graphic or other opaque layer applied to the window 64. In this configuration, the lens 104 can detect the light received through the window 64, while the visibility of the upper part 136 of the anti-reflective housing 14, including the articulated arm 108 and conduit 118, is reduced. 【0028】 In the illustrated embodiment, the support structure 98 for the anti-reflective housing 14 is fixed to the ceiling 184 of the room 62 or area in which the anti-reflective housing 14 and camera 68 are installed. However, in other embodiments, the support structure 98 may be fixed to another base or foundation, such as an external frame, pedestal, wall or other suitable structure configured to support the anti-reflective housing 14 and camera 68. 【0029】 As is understood, adjustment and / or modification of the camera 68 or other components of the camera system 12 may be desirable for maintenance, calibration, and replacement. For this purpose, one or more of the multiple panels 100 may be made removable (e.g., via mechanical fasteners, adhesives, etc.) to allow access to the camera 68, articulated arm 108, conduit 118, and other components contained within the anti-reflective housing 14. For example, the rear panel 186 of the multiple panels 100 may be made removable to allow access to the internal volume 102 and the components inside it. In some embodiments, the window 64 may be configured to retract, slide, or otherwise translate relative to the installed anti-reflective housing 14 (e.g., as indicated by arrow 188). A gasket 130 positioned in contact with the surface 180 of the window 64 may be formed from a material configured to facilitate relative movement between the window 64 and the anti-reflective housing 14. In some cases, the window 64 may be actuated to retract or move to allow access to the internal volume 102 and the components located inside it through an opening 120. 【0030】 The illustrated embodiment also shows the arrangement of articulated arms 108 and conduits 118 that penetrate the upper panel 110 of the anti-reflective housing 14. Specifically, grommets 190 (e.g., rings, seals, eyelets, etc.) are provided around the articulated arms 108 and conduits 118 adjacent to the upper panel 110 (e.g., adjacent to the inner surface 192 and outer surface 194 of the upper panel 110) to facilitate the fixation of the articulated arms 108 and conduits 118 to the upper panel 110 and to further prevent the transmission of undesirable light into the internal volume 102 (e.g., from a light source 124). However, further and / or other components such as bushings, nuts, foam sealants, adhesives may also be used to fix the articulated arms 108 and conduits 118 in place and / or prevent the transmission of undesirable light. 【0031】 Figure 5 is a front view of an embodiment of the anti-reflective housing 14 and camera 68 in an installation configuration. In the illustrated embodiment, the anti-reflective housing 14 surrounds a portion of the camera 68. Specifically, the lens 104 and a portion of the body 106 of the camera 68 are located within the internal volume 102 of the anti-reflective housing 14, while the remaining portion of the body 106 is located outside the anti-reflective housing 14. The articulated arm 108 and conduit 118 extending from the body 106 of the camera 68 are also located outside the anti-reflective housing 14. The articulated arm 108 can be fixed to a support structure 98 or other base or foundation so that the camera 68 and the anti-reflective housing 14 can be fixed in a desired position. 【0032】 The anti-reflective housing 14 is formed in a generally pyramidal configuration from a plurality of panels 100. The plurality of panels 100 form an opening 120 that allows light to pass through the window 64 into the internal volume 102 so as to be detected by the camera 68. As described above, the opening 120 is defined by a leading edge 126 having a gasket 130 that is biased or positioned in contact with the window 64 to prevent light from a light source on the same side of the window 64 as the anti-reflective housing 14 and the camera 68 from being transmitted into the internal volume 102 via reflection of light from the window 64, etc. 【0033】 Furthermore, in the illustrated embodiment, the anti-reflective housing 14 is positioned such that the upper edge 200 of the opening 120 is adjacent to (e.g., aligned with) the edge 182 of the frame 66 and / or opaque layer 202 (e.g., decal) applied to the window 64. The lens 104 of the camera 68 is positioned below the upper edge 200 of the opening 120 and is therefore able to detect light passing through the window 64. On the other hand, the frame 66 or opaque layer 202 enhances the aesthetics of the attraction 18 (e.g., ride 20) having the camera system 12 by preventing the articulated arm 108, conduit 118 and part of the anti-reflective housing 14 from being visible from the guest's (16) viewpoint. 【0034】 By enclosing only a portion of the camera 68, rather than the entire camera 68, with the anti-reflective housing 14, access to the camera 68 for maintenance, calibration, and operational adjustments can be improved. Exposing a portion of the camera 68 to the surrounding environment of the anti-reflective housing 14 can also enhance the cooling effect of the camera 68 during operation. Furthermore, since the articulated arm 108 is not housed within the anti-reflective housing 14, the positions of the camera 68 and the anti-reflective housing 14 (relative to the window 64, for example) can be easily adjusted by operating the articulated arm 108. 【0035】 In the illustrated embodiment, the panel 100 forming the anti-reflective housing 14 is arranged such that the opening 120 has a rectangular shape or profile. It will be understood that the geometric shape, form, configuration and / or dimensions of the opening 120 can be selected based on any of the following preferred factors: the distance from the opening 120 to the expected area of ​​the guest 16 to be monitored or tracked, the type of lens 104 (e.g., wide-angle lens), the size of the expected area of ​​the guest 16 to be monitored or tracked, the operating limits of the camera 68, and / or other parameters of the camera system 12 and / or the attraction 18 used with the camera system 12. 【0036】 Figure 6 is a side view of an embodiment of the anti-reflective housing 14 and camera 68 in an installation configuration in which part of the camera 68 is located within the internal volume 102 of the anti-reflective housing 14, and the remaining part of the camera 68 is located outside the anti-reflective housing 14. The articulated arm 108 and conduit 118 are also located outside the anti-reflective housing 14. Therefore, the articulated arm 108, conduit 118, and part of the camera 68 are easily accessible for adjustment or operation by a user or operator (for example, in room 62). 【0037】 As shown in the figure, the panel 100 of the anti-reflective housing 14 can be fixed to the camera 68, such as the camera body 106. The panel 100 can be coupled to the camera 68 to form a seal that prevents the transmission of light (e.g., generated by the light source 124) into the internal volume 102. For example, the panel 100 can be fixed to the camera 68 using a gasket, sealant, adhesive or other suitable material. 【0038】 It should be understood that the currently disclosed technologies and embodiments can be implemented with any of the various modifications. For example, the anti-reflective housing 14 may include additional or different features, configurations, modifications, etc., in addition to those expressly illustrated and described herein. In some embodiments, the anti-reflective housing 14 may be configured to be sized to house multiple cameras 68, such as different types of cameras 68, within a single housing. The cameras 68 may also be mounted within the anti-reflective housing 14 using other features such as brackets and braces instead of articulated arms 108. In any case, the anti-reflective housing 14 is configured to allow light to be captured through the cameras 68 from a target area (e.g., having guests 16) while preventing the transmission of light to the cameras 68 from undesirable light sources, such as light sources 124 located on the same side of the window 64 as the cameras 68 and the anti-reflective housing 14. In this way, the anti-reflective housing 14 enables monitoring and tracking of guests 16 and allows the camera system 12 to be implemented with various attractions 18 that also incorporate other features (e.g., display screens 60) that generate light that may otherwise interfere with the operation of the camera system 12. 【0039】 While only a few features have been illustrated and described in this specification, many modifications and changes will come to mind for those skilled in the art. Therefore, the attached claims should be understood to include all such modifications and changes that constitute the actual spirit of this disclosure. 【0040】 The claimed technologies described herein refer to and apply to tangible objects and specific examples of a practical nature that are not abstract, intangible, or purely theoretical, but which certainly improve the art. Furthermore, if any of the claims appended to the end of this specification contain one or more elements designated as "...means for performing [function]" or "...steps for performing [function]," such elements should be interpreted in accordance with 112(f) of the United States Patent Act. On the other hand, any claim containing elements designated in any other form should not be interpreted in accordance with 112(f) of the United States Patent Act. [Explanation of Symbols] 【0041】 14 Anti-reflective camera housing 16 Guests 18 Attractions 62 rooms 64 windows 66 Window frame 68 Cameras 98 Support structure 100 panels 102 Internal volume 104 Lens 106 Camera body 108 Articulated Arm 110 Top Panel 112 Exterior of anti-reflective housing 118 Conduit 120 opening 124 Light source 130 Gasket 134 Bottom of the anti-reflective housing 136 Top of anti-reflective housing 180 Window surface 182 Edge of window frame 184 Room ceiling 186 Rear Panel 188 Arrow 190 Grommets 192 Inner surface of the upper panel 194 Outer surface of the upper panel

Claims

[Claim 1] It is an amusement park attraction facility, A camera positioned on one side of the window, including a lens, and configured to capture image data showing the movement of a guest on the opposite side of the window, A light source positioned on one side of the window and configured to output visual effects, including images or videos, for the guest to view through the window, A camera housing positioned at least partially in contact with the camera, A camera system including the aforementioned camera, Equipped with, The camera housing includes an internal volume and an opening to the internal volume surrounded by the edge of the camera housing, the lens is positioned within the internal volume, and the edge of the camera housing abuts against the surface of the window. The camera system includes a processing circuit and one or more tangible, non-temporary computer-readable media that store instructions that the processing circuit can execute, the instructions causing the processing circuit to track the guest's movements based on the image data using skeletal tracking when executed. Amusement park attraction equipment characterized by the following. [Claim 2] The camera housing has a plurality of panels that define the internal volume and the opening, and each surface of the plurality of panels facing the internal volume has a black tint or color. The amusement park attraction equipment according to claim 1. [Claim 3] The aforementioned shade or color of black is a matte black shade or a flat black shade. The amusement park attraction equipment according to claim 2. [Claim 4] The camera is coupled to an articulated arm configured to suspend the camera within the internal volume, wherein the camera body is entirely located within the internal volume, and the articulated arm is partially located within the internal volume. The amusement park attraction equipment according to claim 2. [Claim 5] The articulated arm penetrates one of the multiple panels and extends to the outside of the camera housing. The amusement park attraction equipment according to claim 4. [Claim 6] The edge of the camera housing includes a gasket that contacts the surface of the window. The amusement park attraction equipment according to claim 1. [Claim 7] The gasket is formed from a compression material, the compression material includes foam, rubber, neoprene, polymer material, or any combination thereof. The amusement park attraction equipment according to claim 6. [Claim 8] The aforementioned light source is a display screen. The amusement park attraction equipment according to claim 1. [Claim 9] A portion of the camera is located within the internal volume, and the remaining portion of the camera is located outside the internal volume. The amusement park attraction equipment according to claim 1. [Claim 10] It is a camera system, A camera, including a camera lens, is configured to capture image data showing the movements of amusement park guests, Camera housing and Processing circuit and One or more tangible, non-temporary computer-readable media that store instructions executable by the processing circuit, The camera housing is equipped with, The camera housing comprises a plurality of panels that define an internal volume, an opening to the internal volume, and an edge extending along the periphery of the opening, the surface of each of the plurality of panels facing the internal volume having a black tint or color, the plurality of panels being configured to surround the camera lens placed within the internal volume, and the camera housing is The gasket is further provided, which is positioned on the edge and extends along the peripheral portion of the opening. The camera housing is configured to be positioned in contact with the surface of the transparent panel such that the gasket is positioned in contact with the surface of the transparent panel. The instruction, when executed, causes the processing circuit to track the movements of the amusement park guests using skeletal tracking based on the image data. A camera system characterized by the following features. [Claim 11] The plurality of panels are configured to house the camera having a camera lens arranged within the internal volume. The camera system according to claim 10. [Claim 12] One of the plurality of panels is detachably coupled to the remaining panels of the plurality of panels. The camera system according to claim 10. [Claim 13] The gasket includes foam, felt, rubber, neoprene, polymer material, or a combination thereof. The camera system according to claim 10. [Claim 14] The camera housing is configured to be coupled to the camera having the camera lens such that a portion of the camera, including the camera lens, is located within the internal volume and the remaining portion of the camera is located outside the internal volume. The camera system according to claim 10. [Claim 15] The aforementioned shade or color of black is a matte black shade or a flat black shade. The camera system according to claim 10. [Claim 16] A characteristic feature of an amusement park attraction, the said characteristic feature is, A light source positioned on the first side of the window, Camera system and, A camera housing that defines the internal volume and the opening to the internal volume, The camera system is equipped with, A camera positioned on the first side of the window and configured to capture image data showing the movements of guests at the amusement park attraction located on the second side of the window opposite to the first side, A control system configured to track the guest's movements using skeletal tracking based on the aforementioned image data, The camera is located at least partially within the internal volume and configured to receive the image data through the opening, the camera housing includes a gasket extending along the periphery of the opening, the gasket is positioned in contact with the surface of the window on the first side of the window, A distinctive piece of equipment characterized by the following features. [Claim 17] The window comprises an opaque substrate applied to a further surface of the window on the second side of the window, the opaque substrate overlapping the opening of the camera housing, The feature equipment described in claim 16. [Claim 18] The camera housing includes a plurality of panels that define the internal volume and the opening, each of the plurality of panels having a surface facing the internal volume, and the surface having a matte black hue or color, or a flat black hue or color. The feature equipment described in claim 16. [Claim 19] The aforementioned camera includes a wide-angle lens, The feature equipment described in claim 16.