Rotating Lighting Unit for White Background Photography

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for creating isolated images of objects require complex constructions like photo rooms or lengthy image editing to achieve a white background, which is inefficient and costly.

Innovation Solution

A lighting unit is rotated around an object or a turntable rotates the object, with cameras capturing images during long exposure to illuminate the background white, eliminating the need for physical enclosures and post-processing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If a photo room or tent with white walls is constructed to create isolated images, then a complete 360° white background is achieved, but the device complexity and construction cost increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebackground illuminationVSAvoidconstruction complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the lighting unit movable rather than constructing a static white room. The lighting unit rotates around the object on a circular path, dynamically illuminating different areas during the exposure time. This replaces the complex stationary white room construction with a simpler rotating lighting system that achieves the same background illumination effect.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the background illumination function from the physical white room structure. Instead of enclosing the object in a white room, the invention separates the background creation function into an independent rotating lighting unit that can be moved and positioned as needed, eliminating the need for permanent construction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Illumination intensity

If image editing software is used to remove the background after photography, then isolated images are achieved, but the loss of time and processing effort increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebackground illuminationVSAvoidpost-processing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by creating the white background effect during the image capture process itself, rather than attempting to remove or alter the background afterward. The rotating lighting unit illuminates the background area during exposure, pre-establishing the desired isolated image effect before the photo is taken, thus eliminating post-processing time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Illumination intensity

If long exposure photography is used to outshine distracting background content, then a white background effect is achieved, but the risk of overexposed areas in the image increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebackground illuminationVSAvoidimage quality control
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by directing the lighting unit to illuminate specific local areas (the background region) rather than uniformly illuminating the entire scene. The lighting unit rotates and positions itself to selectively brighten only the background areas that need to appear white, while maintaining proper exposure for the object, thus preventing overall overexposure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses periodic action through the rotational movement of the lighting unit around the object. The lighting unit periodically passes in front of different background areas during rotation, providing controlled illumination to each area in sequence during the exposure time, which distributes the light exposure evenly and prevents localized overexposure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

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

This method allows for efficient, cost-effective creation of digital images with even illumination and 360° views without the need for physical white rooms or extensive editing, scalable for various object sizes.

Implementation Method 1

The lighting unit (1), in particular LED strips, fluorescent tubes or rod lights

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight emission: Light

Implementation Method 2

A camera (6), which is located inside, outside or on the circular path (3), is aimed at the object (2) and photographs it with a long exposure time

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLong exposure photography: Photography

Data Source

PatentEP4451056A1Apparatus for product photography
Publication Date: 2024.10.23 LIGHTSPHERE UG (HAFTUNGSBESCHRÄNKT)
  • EP4451056A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4451056A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4451056A1 patent drawing

AI summary

Method and apparatus for producing isolated images of an object, wherein the object is photographed by means of long exposure, while a lighting unit is moved in the background of the image and overexposes this background.