Infrared Visible Spectrum Camera Rotating Shutter Chroma Keying
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional chroma keying techniques face challenges such as color interference and increased complexity when recording scenes with characters wearing different colored clothing, requiring multiple screens and cameras, which complicates the process and increases costs.
Innovation Solution
A device with a filtering apparatus that alternates between filtering out infrared and visible spectrum light, using a single camera with a rotating shutter and apochromatic lens to capture both spectrums, allowing for chroma keying and matteing without relying on green or blue colors, thereby simplifying the process and increasing flexibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional chroma keying uses green or blue screens to remove backgrounds, then the background can be replaced, but the key color cannot appear in the scene outside the portion to be removed, and multiple screens are needed when characters wear different colors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the spectral parameter from visible light to infrared light for chroma keying. By using infrared illumination and capturing infrared reflections, the system eliminates the need for visible color screens (green/blue) and allows any visible color to be used in the scene. Characters wearing different colored clothing no longer require different screens because the keying is based on infrared reflectivity properties rather than visible color.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses an infrared camera to capture infrared reflections of objects and persons in the scene, creating an infrared image copy that can be used for keying. This infrared copy contains the reflectivity patterns needed for background removal without requiring physical color screens, thereby simplifying the equipment setup while maintaining or enhancing adaptability.
2Loss of information
If a beam splitter and two cameras are used to capture infrared and visible spectrum images, then both spectrums can be recorded simultaneously, but the system becomes more complex and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a rotating shutter that periodically alternates between allowing infrared light to reach the camera sensor and allowing visible light to reach the sensor. This periodic switching enables a single camera to capture both infrared and visible spectrum images at different time intervals, eliminating the need for simultaneous dual-camera capture while preserving all spectral information.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes a single camera serve multiple functions by equipping it with a rotating shutter that can selectively capture both infrared and visible light. This multi-functional approach replaces the need for separate dedicated infrared and visible cameras, thereby reducing system complexity and cost while maintaining the ability to capture both spectral ranges.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables flexible chroma keying and matteing by using infrared light, reducing the need to remove specific colors from the scene, and allows for real-time and offline keying and matteing, simplifying the filmmaking process and reducing equipment costs.
Implementation Method 1
The filtering apparatus can alternately filter out the infrared light (while allowing the sensor to be exposed to the visible spectrum light) and filter out the visible spectrum light (while allowing the sensor to be exposed to the infrared light)
Implementation Method 2
the focus correction element utilizes, in one embodiment, an apochromatic lens that corrects chromatic aberration in the visible spectrum and in the near infrared spectrum
Implementation Method 3
The use of infrared-absorptive material can improve matteing, by suppressing reflections in the infrared range
Implementation Method 4
a surface of an object in the field of view of the device includes a fluorescent material that converts incident light into infrared light, which is emitted from the surface toward the filtering apparatus
Implementation Method 5
a surface of an object in the field of view of the device includes an energy-absorbing (e.g., phosphorescent) material that converts incident light into infrared light, which is emitted from the surface toward the filtering apparatus
Data Source
AI summary
A device (e.g., an image capture device, or camera) includes a sensor and a filtering apparatus. Incident light received by the device includes visible spectrum light and infrared light. The filtering apparatus can alternately filter out the infrared light while allowing the sensor to be exposed to the visible spectrum light, and filter out the visible spectrum light while allowing the sensor to be exposed to the infrared light. For example, the filtering apparatus can include a shutter that, when in a first position, filters out the infrared light and, when in a second position, filters out the visible spectrum light. In particular, the shutter can be a rotating shutter that includes a visible spectrum pass filter in one sector and an infrared pass filter in another sector.