74 results about "Cinematography" patented technology

The embodiments disclosed herein show how such LED methods and systems, especially intelligent LED systems, can be used for photographic and cinematography applications and provide many benefits. Controlled LED illumination allows easy customization of these features to create a particular mood and can be used to create light of desired saturation and hue.

Systems and methods for 2D image and spatial data capture for 3D stereo imaging are disclosed. The system utilizes a cinematography camera and at least one reference or “witness” camera spaced apart from the cinematography camera at a distance much greater that the interocular separation to capture 2D images over an overlapping volume associated with a scene having one or more objects. The captured image date is post-processed to create a depth map, and a point cloud is created form the depth map. The robustness of the depth map and the point cloud allows for dual virtual cameras to be placed substantially arbitrarily in the resulting virtual 3D space, which greatly simplifies the addition of computer-generated graphics, animation and other special effects in cinemagraphic post-processing.

An interactive cinematic lighting system used in the production of computer-animated feature films containing environments of very high complexity, in which surface and light appearances are described using procedural RenderMan shaders. The system provides lighting artists with high-quality previews at interactive framerates with only small approximations compared to the final rendered images. This is accomplished by combining numerical estimation of surface response, image-space caching, deferred shading, and the computational power of modern graphics hardware.

A new technology using polarizing apertures for imaging both left and right perspective views onto a single sensor is presented. The polarizing apertures can be used to image each perspective view onto one or more sensors. Polarizing apertures within a single lens or within two lenses may be employed. The apertures' areas may be changed to control exposure and the design allows for interaxial separations to be varied to the reduced values required for stereoscopic cinematography.

A production managing method for production of motion picture photo film is provided. At first, film web is slitted to produce continuous photo film having a predetermined width. Production managing information is written to an RFID (radio frequency identification) tag, and includes a roll number and slitting number, which are related to the film web and the continuous photo film. The continuous photo film is cut to produce motion picture photo film. The production managing information is stored in association with the motion picture photo film. The motion picture photo film is checked. If the motion picture photo film has a defect, the production managing information may be referred to for detecting a portion of the film web or the continuous photo film from which the defect derives. Other motion picture photo films with a defect will be traced.

A system for simultaneously producing multiple images substantially identical images on multiple separate detector planes is disclosed. A reflective spatially beam-splitting element preferably comprising multiple reflective areas is preferably placed at a location substantially coincident with the pupil or aperture of the system. In non-diffraction limited systems, each area preferably comprises an actual cross section that is circular or has the rotational symmetry (or a multiple thereof) of the number of images to be formed. In diffraction limited systems, all of the areas preferably comprise actual cross sections that have the same shape, size and orientation with respect to the incoming optical beam. Each individual actual cross section may be due to the shape of each area, optionally in combination with a mask. Appropriate selection of filters enables real-time multi-spectral scientific imaging, imaging polarimetry, or high dynamic range imaging (HDRI) for photography and cinematography, even with a moving camera and / or moving subjects.

This invention describes a system for the remote control of setting up an adjustable head for optical and / or photo-cinematographic equipment comprising an adjustable head for mounting by adjustable setting-up of optical and / or photo-cinematographic equipment, at least one servomechanism for locking and / or unlocking and / or setting up a movable part of the head in relation to a fixed part thereof, as well as remote control means of said servomechanism for setting up the head comprising at least one pushbutton control, remote in relation to the servomechanism, that can be operated by the user while he is holding said equipment.

An improved cinematographic system and method for multiple compositing, within a virtual studio, of an image frame or image sequence of a real / action image of an action sequence of a puppet, with another image frame or image sequence of a real / action image of the same or another puppet, within a given virtual studio space. This system and method have application to the compositing of a master camera angle image and a close-up image of the same puppet character; and, to the compositing of a master camera angle image of one action puppet character with a second image from another camera angle of another puppet action character, so as to provide an interactive image sequence of each of the characters of each image within the same image frame.

Computer-simulated three-dimensional environments include automatable and / or constrainable camera control, for video gameplay, real estate and / or landscape demonstrations, or any other digitizable environment. In gameplay applications, the system can be customizably programmed to automatically adapt to the environment based on the player's location within the virtual environment, information about what the programmer believes is relevant (or wants to make relevant) in the scene being displayed, and other factors. Certain embodiments of the inventive apparatus and methods generally automatically incorporate and honor the “rules of cinematography,” but also preferably include other “action video game” principles that can override or trump those rules.

An apparatus capable of, and a method comprising the steps of: receiving, from a user, during a playing of a video, a request for information identifying a performer of a character that is depicted during the playing of the video; pausing the playing of the video in response to the request for information; providing, the user, the name and a visual depiction of the depicted character, and the name and a visual depiction of the performer of the depicted character; and providing, the user, the option to obtain a filmography corresponding to the performer of the depicted character.

A method of capturing a color image includes steps of operating a first sensor of a camera to integrate a first charge over a first time interval, operating a second sensor of the camera to integrate a second charge over a second time interval and scanning the first and second sensors to readout the respective first and second charges during a third time interval. The first time interval overlaps the second time interval. The third time interval includes no overlapping time with the first time interval. The third time interval includes no overlapping time with the second time interval.

An anamorphic converter, which can be inserted into and removed from a lens group of an image-formation optical system, includes an anamorphic lens that satisfies the following conditions 0.9<(AR1·βx) / (AR2·βy)<1.1 (AR22+1)·βy2 / (AR12+1)>1 wherein βx represents a first focal distance magnification scale at a first cross-section containing an optical axis of the anamorphic lens, βy represents a second focal distance magnification scale at a second cross-section which is perpendicular to the first cross-section and contains the optical axis, AR1 represents an aspect ratio of an image-taking range in a field of the image-formation optical system, and AR2 represents an aspect ratio at an effective range of an image-taking unit disposed at an object image side of the lens group. As such, there is provided an anamorphic converter which is small and has high optical performance, suitable for digital cinematography.

A system for simultaneously producing multiple images substantially identical images on multiple separate detector planes is disclosed. A reflective spatially beam-splitting element preferably comprising multiple reflective areas is preferably placed at a location substantially coincident with the pupil or aperture of the system. In non-diffraction limited systems, each area preferably comprises an actual cross section that is circular or has the rotational symmetry (or a multiple thereof) of the number of images to be formed. In diffraction limited systems, all of the areas preferably comprise actual cross sections that have the same shape, size and orientation with respect to the incoming optical beam. Each individual actual cross section may be due to the shape of each area, optionally in combination with a mask. Appropriate selection of filters enables real-time multi-spectral scientific imaging, imaging polarimetry, or high dynamic range imaging (HDRI) for photography and cinematography, even with a moving camera and / or moving subjects.

An improved cinematographic system for creation of a film and / or video productions wherein the action figures are puppets controlled by rods, manipulated by puppeteers, on a virtual production set. In the system and method of this invention, one or more production set props are positioned within the studio set between the puppeteers and the puppet. In order to avoid puppeteer cross of the set props while manipulation of the puppet, one or more real production set props, or components of real production set props, are key-colored to a background screen of the virtual production set, and thereby initially eliminated from the cinematographic reproduction of the real / action images of the action figures on the set. Thereafter, the real / action image is composited with at least one virtual image (virtual image of the production set prop and a virtual image of a background scene of the real / action image) to complete the cinematographic composition.

An improved cinematographic system and method for multiple compositing, within a virtual studio, of an image frame or image sequence of a real / action image of an action sequence of a puppet, with another image frame or image sequence of a real / action image of the same or another puppet, within a given virtual studio space. This system and method have application to the compositing of a master camera angle image and a close-up image of the same puppet character; and, to the compositing of a master camera angle image of one action puppet character with a second image from another camera angle of another puppet action character, so as to provide an interactive image sequence of each of the characters of each image within the same image frame.

A system for tracking a cinematography target can comprise an emitter configured to attach to a target and to emit a tracking signal. A tracker can be configured to receive the tracking signal from the emitter and to track the emitter based upon the received tracking signal. The tracker can comprise a control module configured to identify a location of the target and to position an audiovisual device to align with a target. Additionally, the tracker can comprise a script execution processor configured to execute a user selected script. The user selected script may be selected from a set of respectively unique scripts. The user selected script can determine one or more control module movements specific to tracking the emitter.

An interactive cinematic lighting system used in the production of computer-animated feature films containing environments of very high complexity, in which surface and light appearances are described using procedural RenderMan shaders. The system provides lighting artists with high-quality previews at interactive framerates with only small approximations compared to the final rendered images. This is accomplished by combining numerical estimation of surface response, image-space caching, deferred shading, and the computational power of modern graphics hardware.

The camera support for cinematography equipment has end blocks and side beams forming a perimeter frame with an open central area. The perimeter frame is adapted to mount to a secondary support. Track rails extending along the side beams slidingly mount a trolley plate on rollers received in track slots and a camera is mounted to the trolley plate for sliding movement along the perimeter frame. The camera may be mounted above the trolley plate or below the trolley plate where it is accommodated by the open central area. The trolley plate is mounted on rollers received in slots designed by the track rails, and a magnetic friction device provides controlled resistance to translation.

A method for tracking a cinematography target that has been associated with an emitter can comprise receiving an indication to track a particular identifier. The particular identifier can be associated with an object of interest. The method can further comprise identifying, using at least one tracker component, a direction associated with the particular identifier. The method can also include calculating a motor actuation sequence necessary to actuate a control component to track the object of interest with an audiovisual device. The method can further comprise actuating at least one motor to track the object of interest.

A remote video monitoring and control system for use in cinematography includes an ergonometrically balanced display device of sufficient size and resolution to display images useful in cinematography. A handgrip base is secured to the display device, and a power source is secured to the base. A video signal receiving mechanism is operatively connected to the display device, and receives video signals from a remote camera. A camera control arrangement is operatively connected to the display device to generate camera control signals from an operator of the camera control arrangement. A camera control signal transmitting mechanism transmits camera control signals from the camera control arrangement to the remote camera.

A system for tracking a cinematography target comprises an emitter configured to attach to a target and to provide a tracking indicator. The system also comprises a tracker configured to receive tracking data from a separate tracking data reception device and based upon the received tracking data to actuate one or more motors that cause an attached cinematography device to point towards the tracking indicator. Further, the tracking data reception device can be configured to generate information relating to the location of the tracking indicator. In particular, the tracking data reception device can comprise one or more sensor modules that are configured to identify a location of the tracking indicator relative to the tracking data reception device. The system can also comprise a user interface device configured to receive commands from a user and communicate the commands to the tracker.

A production managing method for production of motion picture photo film is provided. At first, film web is slitted to produce continuous photo film having a predetermined width. Production managing information is written to an RFID (radio frequency identification) tag, and includes a roll number and slitting number, which are related to the film web and the continuous photo film. The continuous photo film is cut to produce motion picture photo film. The production managing information is stored in association with the motion picture photo film. The motion picture photo film is checked. If the motion picture photo film has a defect, the production managing information may be referred to for detecting a portion of the film web or the continuous photo film from which the defect derives. Other motion picture photo films with a defect will be traced.

An anamorphic converter, which can be inserted into and removed from a lens group of an image-formation optical system, includes an anamorphic lens that satisfies the following conditions0.9<(AR1·βx) / (AR2·βy)<1.1(AR22+1)·βy2 / (AR12+1)>1wherein βx represents a first focal distance magnification scale at a first cross-section containing an optical axis of the anamorphic lens, βy represents a second focal distance magnification scale at a second cross-section which is perpendicular to the first cross-section and contains the optical axis, AR1 represents an aspect ratio of an image-taking range in a field of the image-formation optical system, and AR2 represents an aspect ratio at an effective range of an image-taking unit disposed at an object image side of the lens group. As such, there is provided an anamorphic converter which is small and has high optical performance, suitable for digital cinematography.

Real time streaming over serial buses busing Internet protocol IP is becoming more and more important. With new bus technologies e.g. 10 Gbit Ethernet even streaming in HD cinematography quality and uncompressed form becomes possible. In this case, however, data access management by software means is critical or simply not possible for performance reasons even if high performance micro-controllers are used where the software runs. The invention proposes for an apparatus in a network to implement hardware means for processing the real-time critical data packets as well as software means for processing the real-time uncritical data packets and a filter algorithm respectively a de-multiplexer for analyzing packet header and passing the real-time critical data packets to the hardware means and the real-time uncritical data packets to the software means.

The invention provides a one-dimensional motion system of a camera, which comprises a stepper motor and a single-chip microcomputer; the stepper motor drives a slider to move on a rail, and the camera is fixedly arranged on the slider; and the single-chip microcomputer controls the stepper motor and the shutter of the camera through a relay. The single-chip microcomputer comprises four control modes, i.e. a single-period time-lapse shooting mode, a multi-period time-lapse shooting mode, a single-period smooth motion mode and a multi-section smooth motion mode. According to the one-dimensional motion system of the camera, the single-chip microcomputer is adopted to control the motion of the camera and the on or the off of the shutter, so that the automatic and parameterized one-dimensional motion of the camera is simply and reliably realized, a user can realize the mobile shooting of the camera in a space or on a line segment by setting a group of parameters, the shooting requirements on moving shots in general movie shooting as well as time-lapse shooting, frame-by-frame animation and the like are met, and more innovation space is provided for a photographer.

A photographing apparatus capable of photographing still pictures and motion pictures has an image stabilizing feature arranged so as to achieve an appropriate image stabilization characteristic in response to a photography start switch which is turned on and off, and depending upon whether a still picture is photographed or a motion picture is photographed, thereby achieving the optimum image stabilization characteristic for each photographic mode.