IP Library Granted Patent US 12,170,840
Granted Patent B2
US 12,170,840 · App. 18/478,225 · Granted Dec 17, 2024

Automated guide for image capturing for 3D model creation

Inventors: Manish Upendran (San Francisco, CA); William Castillo (San Carlos, CA); Derek Halliday (Oakland, CA)
Assignee: Hover Inc.
H04N23/64G06T17/00H04N23/633H04N23/661G06T2200/08G06T2200/24G06T2200/28G06T2207/30168
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,170,840
App. No.
18/478,225
Granted
Dec 17, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

An image capture system provides automated prompts for aiding a user in capturing images for use in 3D model creation. While a user is preparing to capture an image, the system provides visual indications that indicate whether a quality-based condition is satisfied. Based on the visual indications, a user can determine whether an image, if captured, would likely be suitable for use in creating a 3D model. Determining if the quality-based condition is satisfied may include monitoring output generated by one or more sensors and comparing the output against a threshold value. Additionally, the system may analyze the visual content or metadata associated with an image to determine if the quality-based condition is satisfied and request user input to further identify certain image features that were identified by the system.

Claims (52)

1. A system for capturing images used to create 3D models, the system comprising:

one or more processors; and

one or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the processors to:

receive an image frame for quality analysis;

generate, based on the image frame, a bounding box for a feature of a building object;

determine whether a quality-based condition for the image frame is satisfied, the quality-based condition indicating that an entirety of the bounding box is disposed within the image frame; and

provide one or more visual indications associated with the image frame based on a status of the quality-based condition.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the building object comprises at least one of a door, a window, or a roof.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the feature comprises at least one of a roof facet, a roof line, or a gable.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the feature comprises a corner of the building object.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the image frame is captured by a device.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the processors to:

determine whether a different quality-based condition for the image frame is satisfied, the different quality-based condition indicating an angle of tilt associated with the device is within a particular range.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the processors to:

determine whether a different quality-based condition for the image frame is satisfied, the different quality-based condition indicating that a brightness and a contrast of the image frame are sufficient to detect features.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the processors to:

determine whether a different quality-based condition for the image frame is satisfied, the different quality-based condition indicating whether all expected edges of the feature are visible in the image frame.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the building object is an object that forms at least part of a building.

10. A method for capturing images used to create 3D models, the method being implemented by a system of one or more processors, and the method comprising:

receiving an image frame for quality analysis;

identifying, based on the image frame, a feature of a building object;

determining whether a quality-based condition for the image frame is satisfied, the quality-based condition indicating that an entirety of the feature disposed within the image frame;

determining whether a different quality-based condition is satisfied, wherein determining whether the different quality-based condition is satisfied comprises determining at least one of:

whether an angle of tilt associated with a device that captured the image frame is within a particular range,

whether a brightness and a contrast of the image frame are sufficient to detect features, or

whether all expected edges of the feature are visible in the image frame; and

providing one or more visual indications associated with the image frame based on a status of the quality-based condition.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the building object comprises at least one of a door, a window, or a roof.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the feature comprises at least one of a roof facet, a roof line, or a gable.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the feature comprises a corner of the building object.

14. The method of claim 10 , the method further comprising:

generating a bounding box around the feature;

wherein determining whether the quality-based condition for the image frame is satisfied comprises determining whether an entirety of the bounding box is within the image frame.

15. The method of claim 10 , wherein determining whether the different quality-based condition is satisfied comprises:

determining whether the angle of tilt associated with the device is within the particular range.

16. The method of claim 10 , wherein determining whether the different quality-based condition is satisfied comprises:

determining whether the brightness and the contrast of the image frame are sufficient to detect features.

17. The method of claim 10 , wherein determining whether the different quality-based condition is satisfied comprises:

determining whether all expected edges of the feature are visible in the image frame.

18. The method of claim 10 , wherein the building object is an object that forms at least part of a building.

19. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing one or more sequences of instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the processors to:

receive an image frame for quality analysis;

identify, based on the image frame, a feature of a building object;

determine whether a quality-based condition for the image frame is satisfied, the quality-based condition indicating that an entirety of the feature disposed within the image frame;

determine whether a different quality-based condition is satisfied, wherein to determine whether the different quality-based condition is satisfied the instructions cause the processors to determine at least one of:

whether an angle of tilt associated with a device that captured the image frame is within a particular range,

whether a brightness and a contrast of the image frame are sufficient to detect features, or

whether all expected edges of the feature are visible in the image frame; and

provide one or more visual indications associated with the image frame based on a status of the quality-based condition.

20. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 19 , wherein to determine whether the different quality-based condition is satisfied, the instructions cause the processors to:

determine whether a brightness and a contrast of the image frame are sufficient to detect features.

21. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 19 , wherein the building object is an object that forms at least part of a building.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 7, 2024
From: UPENDRAN, MANISH; CASTILLO, WILLIAM; HALLIDAY, DEREK
To: HOVER INC.
Reel/Frame 069190/0904 →
Continuity (6)
Continuation 18089425 · Dec 27, 2022
Continuation 17700235 · Mar 21, 2022
Continuation 17010625 · Sep 2, 2020
Continuation 16450717 · Jun 24, 2019
Continuation 15404044 · Jan 11, 2017
Related Publication 20240107152A1 · Mar 28, 2024
Cited By (2)
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