Face-Tracking Follow-Spot System
AssigneeWiSys Technology Foundation, Inc.
InventorsValliammai Arunachlam, Dlpankar Mltra, Doug Wilken
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A face-tracking follow-spot system is provided that automatically directs light toward an individual as that individual moves about a stage or other area. The system may include a movable spotlight unit, an imaging device such as a video camera, and a control system. The control system receives signals from the video camera that correspond to location of an individual being illuminated, identifies the individual's location, and commands movement of the spotlight unit to direct its focused beam of light toward the individual. Evaluating the individual's location may be performed non-intrusively or without worn targets, tags, or other markers, such as by way of facial recognition methodologies.
Claims17
A face-tracking follow-spot system, comprising:
- a spotlight unit including:
- a spotlight movably mounted with respect to a support structure to direct a light toward an area;
- a spotlight drive mounted between the support structure and the spotlight and configured to selectively move the spotlight for illuminating an individual in the area;
- an imaging device facing the area and configured to capture video of the area and transmit a video signal;
- a control system configured to:
- receive the video signal;
- apply a non-intrusive feature recognition evaluation to the captured video from the video signal to identify a location of the individual in the area;
- and
- command the spotlight drive to drive movement of the spotlight to illuminate the individual at the identified location.
A method of automatically tracking an individual with a spotlight, the method comprising:
- monitoring an area with an individual with an imaging device that captures video of an individual in the monitored area;
- transmitting a video signal that corresponds to the monitored area from the imaging device to a control system;
- with the control system:
- applying a non-intrusive feature recognition evaluation to the captured video from the video signal to identify a location of the individual within the monitored area;
- commanding driving of a spotlight to the identified location;
- illuminating the individual with the spotlight at the identified location.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.