Outdoor movie camera GPS-position and time code data-logging for special effects production
AssigneeTrimble Navigation Limited
InventorsArthur N. Woo, David S. Sprague
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A GPS navigation receiver with a data output port for communicating a position estimate frame-by-frame and time codes in SMPTE format. The conventional date and time sentence output of the GPS navigation receiver is combined with a highly-accurate one pulse-per-second (.+-.one microsecond) to form a time-keeping base for the time code output. A data-logger records the position estimates with their corresponding time in time code format frame-by-frame in a database. The recorded position estimates are then used in special-effects post-production to direct the special-effects animation, modeling kinetics, etc., in a composite, final film or video.
Claims13
A position and time code synchronization system for logging frame-by-frame the position of a first motion picture camera and the time of taking each frame for combining a plurality of video and film sequences into a special effects production, comprising:
- a first navigation satellite receiver physically-associated with said first motion picture camera for computing a plurality of three-dimensional earth coordinate positions of said first motion picture camera from microwave radio signals received from a plurality of orbiting navigation satellites, wherein a position is computed for each motion picture frame taken;
- first time code generation means connected to the first navigation satellite receiver for generating a plurality of frame synchronization signals derived from stable time-base signals included in said microwave radio signals received from said plurality of orbiting navigation satellites, wherein a time reference is computed for each motion picture frame taken;
- and
- data-logging means connected to the first navigation satellite receiver to receive said three-dimensional earth coordinate positions and connected to the first time code generation means to receive said frame synchronization signals and to pair a particular three-dimensional earth coordinate position with each motion picture frame in a sequence.
A position and time code synchronization system for logging the position of a motion picture camera frame-by-frame for video and film production of special effects sequences, comprising:
- a first navigation satellite receiver physically-associated with said motion picture camera for computing three-dimensional earth coordinate positions of said motion picture camera from microwave radio signals received from a plurality of orbiting navigation satellites;
- first time code generation means connected to the first navigation satellite receiver for generating frame synchronization signals derived from stable time-base signals included in said microwave radio signals received from said pluralityoof orbiting navigation satellites;
- data-logging means connected to the first navigation satellite receiver to receive said three-dimensional earth coordinate positions and connected to the first time code generation means to receive said frame synchronization signals and to pair a particular three-dimensional earth coordinate position with each frame in a sequence for said video and film production according to said frame synchronization signals;
- a differential-correction receiver connected to the first navigation satellite receiver for providing differential correction data to improve the accuracy of position estimates of said motion picture camera;
- a differential-correction reference station providing for radio communication with the differential-correction receiver of the difference between a computed position of the reference station with its known, fixed position;
- on-the-fly real-time kinematic (OTF-RTK) solution means included in the first navigation satellite receiver providing for position estimates of said motion picture camera with current updates at a rate of approximately twenty-five hertz;
- a first motion picture camera connected to the first time code generation means for synchronization with said first time code and for recording said time in each of a series of recorded frames which track said position estimates recorded in said data-logging means;
- a second navigation satellite receiver independent of said motion picture camera;
- second time code generation means connected to the second navigation satellite receiver for generating frame synchronization signals derived from stable time-base signals included in said microwave radio signals received from said plurality of orbiting navigation satellites that are instep with those generated by the first time code generation means;
- a second motion picture camera connected to the second time code generation means for synchronization with said second time code and for recording said time in each of a series of recorded frames which track said position estimates recorded in said data-logging means according to said first time code;
- and
- special-effects means for combining on a frame-by-frame basis a plurality of whole or partial frames of at least one of animation, modeling and computer imagery, frame-by-frame, according to time code and corresponding position estimate information in a database communicated over a connection from the data-logging means.
A data-logging apparatus, comprising:
- a data-logger with a database of position estimates related to corresponding times in a time code format organized according to the times that motion picture frames were taken;
- time code means for providing a time indication by motion picture frame number sequence with a connection to the data-logger;
- and
- position estimation means for providing an updated estimate of three-dimensional earth coordinate position in step with each motion picture frame in a sequence through a connection to the data-logger.
A method for producing special-effects from motion picture frame sequences, the method comprising the steps of:
- generating position estimates of a motion picture camera with a navigation satellite receiver from ranging microwave signal transmissions from orbiting navigation satellites;
- generating time-base signals with sequencing at said video or film frame rate with a navigation satellite receiver from time-base signals embedded in said microwave signal transmissions from said orbiting navigation satellites;
- and
- data-logging each of said position estimates with a corresponding contemporary one of said time-base signal in a frame-by-frame time code format.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.