Terrain-based virtual camera tilting, and applications thereof

Terrain-Based Virtual Camera Tilting & Applications

Google has recently been awarded U.S. Patent for Terrain based virtual camera tilting and application. Systems prevailing in navigating via a three dimensional environment tends to display three dimensional data which comprises of a virtual camera defining what kind of three dimension data to display.

The virtual camera has a viewpoint based on its orientation as well as position and by changing the viewpoint of the virtual camera one can navigate through the three dimensional setting. Environmental information system could be one form of system which utilises a virtual camera in navigating through a three dimensional setting. It is a system for the purpose of storing, recovering and manipulating and display spherical three dimensional model of the Earth.

The three dimensional model could comprises of a satellite descriptions surface which could be mapped to terrain like canyons, valleys and mountains. In the terrestrial information system, the virtual camera tends to view the spherical three dimensional of the Earth’s model from various perspectives and the internal viewpoint of the model of the Earth tends to portray the satellite images though the terrain could be difficult to view. While on the other hand, ground level viewpoint of the model may portray the terrain in detail.

Method of Swooping Between Perspectives

To changeover from aerial viewpoint to a ground level perspective, U.S. Patent Application by Varadhan et all explains a method of example of swooping between perspectives, describing reduction of distance between the virtual camera as well as the target in determining a tilt value based on the condensed distance.

The virtual camera is then positioned as per the tilt value as well as the condensed distance. A method is available for swoop navigation and in cases where the terrain seems to be flat; a viewpoint which is parallel for ground could not be much interesting to a user than in instances where the terrain differs in altitude. On applying single swoop trajectory to a complete three dimensional environment which could comprise the flat as well as the rugged terrain, could lead to incidents where the swoop trajectory would not provide an optimal user experience.

Embodiment to Change Swoop Trajectory

To manage with the variation in terrain, embodiments tend to change the swoop trajectory based on the terrain inside the view of the virtual camera. A virtual camera could be positioned at an angle comparative to the upward normal vector from the target, to swoop into a target, the angle of which may be stated as a tilt angle.
As per the embodiments, the tilt angle could rise more quickly in areas of high terrain variance for instance, mountains or cities with high buildings, than in areas with less variance in terrain such as flat plains. In order to determine the level of terrain variance in an area, embodiments could weight terrain data with higher detail more deeply than terrain data with less detail.

Moreover, the tilt angle could also be varied depending on the amount of terrain variance even if the camera is otherwise static and/or the tilt angle may be varied at the time of another manoeuver rather than a swoop.

Sony Patent For Electronic Mirror Device And Electronic Mirror Program

An electronic mirror is really an electronic machine that works as both a TV set and a mirror simultaneously. In many hotels, it is seen that flat screen televisions are exactly placed right in the center of the mirror, occupying most part of the space, leaving only some spaces near it for seeing anyone’s reflection.

So, it would be better if a TV can be converted to an original mirror at only one click of a finger. Well, the mirror TV takes that concept one-step beyond, with the mirror itself becoming a television set at a click of a finger. The lavish hotels that cater to the discriminating customers can embraced this modernization, which merges technology and sophisticated set and also a mirror- all at once.

A patent application US20130314581 was filed regarding this new type of electronic device- an electronic mirror. According to the patent,the device will really work just like mirror, as it would reflect the user. Here, actually a TV set will do the work when it is in switch of mode.

Need of Such Device

A TV set with a flat-panel display machine, when not utilized, is just a stationary piece of a blackboard and otherwise it has no extraordinary use. In case of the TV set, a well-designed and multifunctional picture display device is present that can be used like a mirror for another function when it is not utilized as a display machine.

This multifunctional image displaying device comprises a liquid display machine and a half mirror, within which the half mirror usually runs as a mirror, and on identifying a person moving, the liquid display tool shows motion picture.

But the half mirror had some problems, and therefore there was a demand of an electronic mirror machine that does not get darkens when utilized as a mirror and helps the object to appear more beautiful than ordinary mirrors perform. This mirror works through an electronic mirror display technique along with the electronic mirror program.

System of the device-

It is to be noted that the electronic mirror device of this patent would consists of a camera, a display unit, along with a control unit that exhibits a screen image of an individual recorded by the camera unit on a primary portion acquired by opening the screen of the particular display unit.

It shows a basis of light for lighting the individual on a second area, and regulates an intensity of the light source in proportion to the sex and an age of the individual, identified by examining the screen image. In this electronic mirror device, the second area is placed in left sides and right sides and also in top or bottom sides.

The control unit of the electronic mirror does the function of eliminating a backdrop by cutting a picture of the individual out of the screen image trapped by the camera unit. This control unit has also the task of reversing the left as well as the right parts of the screen image of camera.

It even alters the emission color of the source of the light in the second area to control the image quality of the camera.

Are Drones coming to Disney World?

Disneyland has been the main source of entertainment when it comes to having ultimate fun for the kids and the family in the US and around the world. It has been able to attract a variety of crowds since its arrival into the global scene since the 30’s. Even though it has the variety and fatal attractions for the crowd, it is trying to bring up something that will give a unique experience to the crowd. Drone is that object of attraction that is getting everyone’s brains to run and predict a different zone into the area of Disneyland. Disneyland has filed for at least 3 patents over the last months to get giant drones to fly over the zone to animate giant puppets and act as a camera person also.

Thought behind bringing Drones into the scene:- 

• Giving the public a new image: - To majority of the population, Disneyland has been an attraction due to its characters with relation to Disney and the graphical interpretations of them along with the rides. This idea of introducing drones as flying objects will give a new image to Disneyland and increase the technological value.
• Setting a trend for future :- An enhancement of the characteristics and technological value of Disneyland through the use of Drones that will act as robots that will fly, carry objects and increase the cosmetic value is going a set a trend that has never been seen in any area which are counterparts to Disneyland. This will open new avenues and allow the future explorers to experiment on this feature.
• Newer aspects of Drones :- Helium filled balloons will be connected to other drones and will be synchronised with subsequent counterparts and will not need to be controlled from the ground. This will allow automatic operations.
• Will allow illustrations of characters: -These flying drones will be able to act as illustrations for various famous characters based on movies and comic characters giving an attractive feature that will be able to act as a motion sensor and carry varieties with it.
• Carriers: - Major wok for the drones will be as carriers, where they will act to carry display screens and lighting systems that will enhance the look of the Disney world complex and reanimate the features.

Matters to look at:-

• Use of demos to suite the technology: - Before getting into the thick of things, it will be necessary to test the new feature and see its effect along with validation. 
• Need for technology: -There has to be an enhanced technological feature that will allow the objects to be light, movable and be able to understand motion sensory movements.
• Study more about drones: - Drones have been a feature for the military use and has opened its way to be implemented into the commercial use, but a lot of research still needs to be done before bringing it into the commercial scene.

Drones look a substantial way to rock up the interest in the population but patent requests have to be accepted and tests are to be completed totally before taking it on.

LG Patent Approved For Automatic Recognition And Capture Of An Object

A method, a system and a device to capture an object for automatic recognition are disclosed and according to several embodiments the prevailing disclosure, a set or library on the images of objects has been created in a mobile terminal.

The user has the option of selecting the desired object for instance, a jumping dolphin etc.; for automatic recognition and the image of the expected object could be taken manually or automatically just as in a case of the user attending an event andgetting involved in some picture shoots at various point during the event but these tend to be difficult when the objects move fast in and out during the shoot.

The embodiment of the present disclosure features the mobile terminal which is taught to recognize an expected or desired object and shoot images when they appear.

The mobile terminal consist of a display unit, a camera module, a memory and a controller wherein the controller is configured in order to set at least one image of the desired object with the user’s input thereby receiving an image of the object through the camera module.

It generates a match indication as the image of the object tallies with one image of the desired object which is beyond the threshold value capturing the image of the object and on confirmation of the match indication.

Terminals – Mobile or Stationary

Terminal may consist of a mobile terminal or a stationary terminal and the mobile can be further classified into a handheld terminal or vehicle mount terminal. Since the features of the mobile terminal tend to get more diverse, the mobile terminal is turning out to be a multimedia player with various functions like capturing video and images, playing media files and music, receiving broadcast programs, playing games and much more.

Presently there is more emphasis on mobile terminal which is on the rise but if the need to capture objects tends to move rapidly in and out, it may become difficult to get a good image of the object.

A mobile terminal disclosed here could include a smart phone, a portable phone, a laptop computer, a navigation device, a digital broadcast terminal, a PDA – personal digital assistant, a portable multimedia player – PMP.

The Embodiment – Field of Electronic

However, it can only be understood by those who are skilledin the art and that a configuration according to the given description may be applicable to a stationary terminal as in the case of a digital TV or a desktop computer etc. excluding constituents elements which are particularly configured for the purpose of mobile.

 In the embodiment, the condition of matching is satisfied when the first image matches with the image of the first expected object which is beyond the first threshold value and when the second image matches with the image of the second expected object beyond a second threshold value.

The patent has been granted to LG. The embodiment of the disclosure is with regard to the field of electronics and especially to control methods as well as systems of the mobile devices.

Apple: 15 extraordinary patents - II

Apple likes that its products are cleaned up. Pushing the concept to the extreme, a patent suggests that the California Company plans to hide the camera from its computers within the screen. The goal is to end the paradox "being seen while seeing" that prevents the user to look up to his interlocutor in the eye. If since the filing of this patent, in 2009, the iPhone has developed Face Time, the sensor is not (yet) but behind the screen above.