Multi-camera rig for simultaneous background footage capture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for capturing background driving footage in film and television productions are cumbersome and difficult, requiring multiple camera passes at different angles to achieve the necessary overlap, which is inefficient and challenging to coordinate.
Innovation Solution
A camera rig system with a nodal arrangement of cameras, including front and rear rigs, each with multiple cameras, electrically coupled to a trigger box to capture overlapping images from different directions, allowing for simultaneous filming in several directions and enabling realistic angle capture.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single camera is mounted to a vehicle to capture background footage, then the equipment complexity is reduced, but multiple passes at different angles are required which increases time consumption and operational difficulty
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple cameras into a single integrated camera rig system mounted on the vehicle. Instead of using one camera that needs to make multiple passes, the system merges multiple cameras (front, rear, and side cameras) into one coordinated unit that captures all necessary angles simultaneously in a single pass, thereby reducing both time consumption and operational complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The camera system is segmented into multiple specialized cameras positioned at different locations on the vehicle (front cameras, rear cameras, side cameras). Each camera is positioned to capture specific directional footage, allowing the system to obtain comprehensive background coverage from multiple angles simultaneously without requiring multiple passes.
2Productivity
If multiple cameras are arranged to film in overlapping directions simultaneously, then footage capture efficiency is improved, but the device complexity and coordination requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The camera rig system is designed as a universal multi-functional platform that can simultaneously perform multiple camera functions (front viewing, rear viewing, side viewing) from a single mounted structure. The rig incorporates universal mounting mechanisms and power distribution systems that can accommodate various camera configurations, reducing the overall system complexity despite the multiple cameras involved.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediary components such as a central control unit, common power distribution system, and unified mounting structure that coordinate the multiple cameras. These intermediary elements simplify the coordination complexity by providing centralized control and standardized interfaces, allowing multiple cameras to work together efficiently without requiring complex individual configurations.
3Ease of manufacture
If cameras are arranged in traditional two-image-overlap formation, then stitching is simplified, but the ability to capture realistic multi-directional background footage is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from traditional two-dimensional overlapping image formation to a three-dimensional multi-directional camera arrangement. By positioning cameras at front, rear, and side locations with specific angular orientations, the system captures footage from multiple spatial dimensions simultaneously. This dimensional expansion provides versatile multi-directional coverage while maintaining manageable stitching requirements through nodal point alignment.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs parameter optimization in camera positioning, specifically adjusting the angular relationships and nodal point alignments of multiple cameras to achieve both realistic multi-directional coverage and stitching compatibility. By carefully controlling parameters such as camera angles, positions, and focal points, the system maintains ease of stitching while dramatically improving adaptability for capturing realistic background footage from various directions.
Data Source
AI summary
A camera rig system is configured to film in several overlapping directions at once. The camera rig system has a front rig having a first plurality of cameras arranged to film in a first set of overlapping directions. A trigger box is electrically coupled to the front rig and configured to receive data from the first plurality of cameras. A rear rig having a second plurality of cameras is electrically coupled to the trigger box and arranged to film in a second set of overlapping directions. The first set of overlapping directions and the second set of overlapping directions are configured such that images taken from the first plurality of cameras and the second plurality of cameras can reflect background images around the camera rig system.