# US 2021/0241493 A1 · Time-lapse stereo macro photography systems and methods and stereo time-lapse video made with same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0241493 A1 - Document ID: US20210241493A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/050,450 - Filed: 2019-05-03 - Published: 2021-08-05 - Earliest claimed: 2018-05-07 - Assignees: Within Unlimited, Inc. - Applicants: Within Unlimited, Inc. - Inventors: Aaron KOBLIN - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210241493A1 ## CPC - G06T 7/85: {Stereo camera calibration} - G03B 35/02: by sequential recording - G06T 7/285: using a sequence of stereo image pairs - G06T 7/38: Registration of image sequences - G06T 7/596: {from three or more stereo images} - G03B 3/00: Focusing arrangements of general interest for cameras, projectors or printers - G03B 39/00: High-speed photography - G06T 2207/10021: Stereoscopic video; Stereoscopic image sequence - G06T: IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL - G03B: APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR (optical parts of such apparatus G02B; photosensitive materials or processes for photographic purposes G03C; apparatus for processing exposed photographic materials G03D) ## Abstract Systems and methods for macro stereo time-lapse photography, producing a stereographic time-lapse digital video, and macro stereographic time-lapse digital videos. A method of producing a sequence of time-lapse stereographic images of a subject, by positioning a camera with a macro lens at a first position relative to the subject; using the camera to obtain a first stack of images of the subject from the first position; positioning the camera at a second position relative to the subject; using the camera to obtain a second stack of images of the subject from the second position; and storing the first stack of images and the second stack of images as a stack pair; and then selectively repeating. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of producing a sequence of time-lapse stereographic images of a subject, the method comprising: (A) positioning a camera with a macro lens at a first position relative to the subject; (B) using the camera to obtain a first stack of images of the subject from the first position; (C) positioning the camera at a second position relative to the subject; (D) using the camera to obtain a second stack of images of the subject from the second position; (E) storing the first stack of images and the second stack of images as a stack pair; and (F) selectively repeating acts (A)-(E). ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said selectively repeating in (F) is based on a period of total elapsed time and/or a number of stack pairs obtained. ### Claim 3 (canceled) ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein a focus of the lens is the same at the first position and the second position. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the camera is located in a three-dimensional space relative to the subject, and wherein said positioning in (A) and (C) changes the camera's position for only one of the dimensions. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein each repetition of acts (A)-(E) forms a corresponding stack pair, the method further comprising: forming a series of image pairs from the stack pairs. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further is comprising: (A2) waiting a predetermined amount of time after position the camera in (A) and before using the camera in (B). ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the acts (A)-(F) are, at least in part, controlled by a controller. ### Claim 9 (canceled) ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein one or more of the following are parameterized: (i) the first position; and/or (ii) the second position; and/or (iii) a number of images in the first stack; and/or (iv) a number of images in the second stack; and/or (v) a number of times acts (A)-(E) are repeated; and/or (vi) a time period during which acts (A)-(F) are repeated; and/or (vii) a number of stack pairs obtained; and/or (viii) a total elapsed time. ### Claim 11 A method of producing a sequence of time-lapse stereographic images of a subject, the method comprising: (A) positioning a camera with a macro lens at a first position relative to the subject; (B) using the camera to obtain a first stack of images of the subject from the first position; (C) positioning the camera at a second position relative to the subject; (D) using the camera to obtain a second stack of images of the subject from the second position; (E) storing the first stack of images and the second stack of images as a stack pair; and (F) selectively repeating acts (A)-(E), wherein the second position is determined as a function of the first position and/or a distance of the camera to the subject. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said using the camera in (B) occurs a first preset time after said positioning in (A). ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein said first preset time is selected to avoid vibration based on said positioning in (A). ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said using the camera in (D) occurs a second preset time after said positioning in (C). ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein said second preset time is selected to avoid vibration based on said positioning in (C). ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the camera moves along a line, the method further comprising: (A1) rotating the camera by a particular angle (R) with respect to the line prior to using the camera in (B). ### Claim 17 (canceled) ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, further comprising: (C1) rotating the camera by a negative of the particular angle (-R) with respect to the line prior to using the camera in (D). ### Claim 19 (canceled) ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein a distance between said first position and said second position, referred to as a stereo base, is based on one or more of: a parallax desired; and/or a largest distance of the subject from the camera lens, and/or the nearest distance of the subject from the camera lens, and/or a focal length of the lens. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein a distance between said first position and said second position, referred to as a stereo base, is determined automatically by said controller based on information obtained from said camera and/or information provided by a user. ### Claim 22 A method of producing a sequence of time-lapse stereographic images of a subject, the method comprising: (A) positioning a camera with a macro lens at a first position relative to the subject; (B) using the camera to obtain a first stack of images of the subject from the first position; (C) positioning the camera at a second position relative to the is subject; (D) using the camera to obtain a second stack of images of the subject from the second position; (E) storing the first stack of images and the second stack of images as a stack pair; and (F) selectively repeating acts (A)-(E), wherein the camera moves along a line, the method further comprising: (A1) rotating the camera by a particular angle (R) with respect to the line prior to using the camera in (B), wherein said particular angle R is determined automatically, based on one or both of: a distance between the first position and the second position; and/or a distance of the camera from a part of the subject. ### Claim at position 23 23-25. (canceled) ### Claim 26 (depends on 1) A stereo time-lapse video comprising multiple image pairs obtained by the method of claim 1. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The stereo time-lapse video of claim 26, wherein the video comprises a digital video.