Strobing of active marker groups in performance capture

A data capture system to distinguish groups of active markers for performance capture associated with a visual production, the system comprising:

• a computing device to specify a first pattern for a first group of active markers to emit light of at least one wavelength and a second pattern different from the first pattern, for a second group of active markers to emit light of at least one wavelength;
• a signal controller to transmit a first initial key sequence and first pattern signals for the first group of active markers and a second initial key sequence and second pattern signals for the second group of active markers;
• and
• at least one sensor device of the performance capture system to capture first data representing the light emitted by the first group of active markers, and second data representing the light emitted by the second group of active markers, in respective one or more illuminated frames and respective one or more blank frames of the of the at least one sensor device,
• wherein the computing device is further to distinguish the first group of active markers and the second group of active markers by comparing the first data with the first pattern and second data with the second pattern.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium carrying program instructions thereon to distinguish groups of active markers for performance capture associated with a visual production, the instructions when executed by one or more processors cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:

• generating a first pattern for a first group of active markers to emit light of at least one wavelength and a second pattern different from the first pattern, for a second group of active markers to emit light of at least one wavelength;
• determining a first initial key sequence for the first group of active markers and a second initial key sequence for the second group of active markers;
• transmitting the first initial key sequence and the first pattern to a signal controller and the second initial key sequence and the second pattern to the signal controller, to instruct the first group of active markers and the second group of active markers to emit light according to the respective first pattern and the second pattern;
• receiving first data and second data from a performance capture system, the first data and second data representing light from the respective first group of active markers and the second group of active markers, in one or more illuminated frames and an absence of the light in one or more blank frames;
• and
• distinguishing the first group of active markers and the second group of active markers by comparing the first data with the first pattern and second data with the second pattern.