IP Library Granted Patent US 11,756,279
Granted Patent B1
US 11,756,279 · App. 17/524,276 · Granted Sep 12, 2023

Techniques for depth of field blur for immersive content production systems

Inventors: Roger Cordes (San Francisco, CA); Lutz Latta (San Francisco, CA)
Assignee: LUCASFILM ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY LTD.
G06T19/20G06T7/90G06T2207/10024G06T2219/2012
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,756,279
App. No.
17/524,276
Granted
Sep 12, 2023
Kind
B1
Abstract

An immersive content generation system can capture a plurality of images of an object in the performance area using a camera. The object is at least partially surrounded by one or more displays presenting images of a virtual environment. The system can determine attributes of a lens of the taking camera, a first distance from the taking camera to the physical object, and a second distance between a LED display presenting a virtual image of the physical object and the taking camera. The system can determine the depth of field blur for the virtual objects based on the attributes of the taking camera and the virtual depth of each of the virtual objects. The system can apply the depth of field blur to the virtual objects and generate content based on the plurality of captured images and the determined amount of depth of field blur to the virtual objects.

Claims (49)

1. A computer-implemented method of generating content, the computer-implemented method comprising:

capturing a plurality of images of a physical object in a performance area using a taking camera, wherein the physical object is at least partially surrounded by one or more displays presenting images of a virtual environment;

determining one or more attributes of a lens of the taking camera;

determining a first distance from the taking camera to the physical object;

determining a second distance between a light emitting diode (LED) display presenting a virtual image of the physical object and the taking camera;

generating an image of one or more virtual objects representing one or more physical objects in the virtual environment;

determining a virtual depth of each of the one or more virtual objects on the one or more displays relative to the taking camera based at least in part on the first distance and the second distance;

determining an amount of depth of field blur for the one or more virtual objects based on the one or more attributes of the taking camera and the determined virtual depth of each of the one or more virtual objects;

applying the determined amount of depth of field blur to the one or more virtual objects in the virtual environment; and

generating the content based on the plurality of captured images and the determined amount of depth of field blur to the one or more virtual objects.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the determined amount of depth of field blur applied to the one or more virtual objects varies based in part on the first distance.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more attributes of the lens of the taking camera includes at least one of a focal length and a lens aperture.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising determining a physical circle of confusion, wherein the physical circle of confusion is a simulation of the determined amount of depth of field blur that the taking camera will produce.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4 , further comprising determine a virtual circle of confusion, wherein the virtual circle of confusion is a calculated amount of depth of field blur based at least in part on the second distance of the one or more virtual objects in the virtual environment to the taking camera.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising calculating a corrected circle of confusion in a computer generated image based at least in part in a corrected amount of depth of field blur to apply to the images of the virtual environment to correct for depth of field effects of the taking camera.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising rendering two-dimensional images from three-dimensional data at interactive frame rates using a real time gaming engine.

8. A immersive content generation system, comprising:

one or more memories storing instructions; and

one or more processors communicatively coupled to the one or more memories, that execute the instructions to perform operations comprising:

capturing a plurality of images of a physical object in a performance area using a taking camera, wherein the physical object is at least partially surrounded by one or more displays presenting images of a virtual environment;

determining one or more attributes of a lens of the taking camera;

determining a first distance from the taking camera to the physical object;

determining a second distance between a light emitting diode (LED) display presenting a virtual image of the physical object and the taking camera;

generating an image of one or more virtual objects representing one or more physical objects in the virtual environment;

determining a virtual depth of each of the one or more virtual objects on the one or more displays relative to the taking camera based at least in part on the first distance and the second distance;

determining an amount of depth of field blur for the one or more virtual objects based on the one or more attributes of the taking camera and the determined virtual depth of each of the one or more virtual objects;

applying the determined amount of depth of field blur to the one or more virtual objects in the virtual environment; and

generating content based on the plurality of captured images and the determined amount of depth of field blur to the one or more virtual objects.

9. The immersive content generation system of claim 8 , wherein the determined amount of depth of field blur applied to the one or more virtual objects varies based in part on the first distance.

10. The immersive content generation system of claim 8 , wherein the one or more attributes of the lens of the taking camera includes at least one of a focal length and a lens aperture.

11. The immersive content generation system of claim 8 , wherein the operations further comprise determining a physical circle of confusion, wherein the physical circle of confusion is a simulation of the determined amount of depth of field blur that the taking camera will produce.

12. The immersive content generation system of claim 11 , wherein the operations further comprise determining a virtual circle of confusion, wherein the virtual circle of confusion is a calculated amount of depth of field blur based at least in part on the second distance of the one or more virtual objects in the virtual environment to the taking camera.

13. The immersive content generation system of claim 12 , wherein the operations further comprise determining calculating a corrected circle of confusion in a computer generated image based at least in part in a corrected amount of depth of field blur to apply to the images of the virtual environment to correct for depth of field effects of the taking camera.

14. The immersive content generation system of claim 8 , wherein the operations further comprise rendering two-dimensional images from three-dimensional data at interactive frame rates using a real time gaming engine.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions, that when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:

capturing a plurality of images of a physical object in a performance area using a taking camera, wherein the physical object is at least partially surrounded by one or more displays presenting images of a virtual environment;

determining one or more attributes of a lens of the taking camera;

determining a first distance from the taking camera to the physical object;

determining a second distance between a light emitting diode (LED) display presenting a virtual image of the physical object and the taking camera;

generating an image of one or more virtual objects representing one or more physical objects in the virtual environment;

determining a virtual depth of each of the one or more virtual objects on the one or more displays relative to the taking camera based at least in part on the first distance and the second distance;

determining an amount of depth of field blur for the one or more virtual objects based on the one or more attributes of the taking camera and the determined virtual depth of each of the one or more virtual objects;

applying the determined amount of depth of field blur to the one or more virtual objects in the virtual environment; and

generating content based on the plurality of captured images and the determined amount of depth of field blur to the one or more virtual objects.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the determined amount of depth of field blur applied to the one or more virtual objects varies based in part on the first distance.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the one or more attributes of the lens of the taking camera includes at least one of a focal length and a lens aperture.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the operations further comprise determining a physical circle of confusion, wherein the physical circle of confusion is a simulation of the determined amount of depth of field blur that the taking camera will produce.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18 , wherein the operations further comprise a virtual circle of confusion, wherein the virtual circle of confusion is a calculated amount of depth of field blur based at least in part on the second distance of the one or more virtual objects in the virtual environment to the taking camera.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19 , wherein the operations further comprise calculating a corrected circle of confusion in a computer generated image based at least in part in a corrected amount of depth of field blur to apply to the images of the virtual environment to correct for depth of field effects of the taking camera.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 11, 2021
From: CORDES, ROGER; LATTA, LUTZ
To: LUCASFILM ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY LTD.
Reel/Frame 058087/0965 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 16999893 · Aug 21, 2020
Provisional Application 62891052 · Aug 23, 2019
Cited By (1)
US 12,212,875