GB2471071A

GB2471071A - System for producing virtual or digital interactive material swatches.

Info

Publication number: GB2471071A
Application number: GB0910121A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael John Chantler
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-06-12
Filing date: 2009-06-12
Publication date: 2010-12-22
Also published as: GB0910121D0

Abstract

Disclosed is a system and method for producing a digital swatch of a sample of a material or other such item. The system has a control unit 25, a number of lights 22, a number of image devices or cameras 24, and a device for moving, rotating and deforming the swatch 30. The images captured by the cameras is used by a software component in a connected computer to produce the interactive digital swatch. The system may move the swatch with the lights and cameras fixed or fix the swatch and hove the lights and cameras. The system may move in three dimensions and rotate about three axis. The swatch may be placed on different bases to deform the swatch in different ways.

Description

Description of Invention

Field of Invention

The invention relates to the field of swatches and the reproduction of the visual aspects of said swatches digitally, using potentially automated processes.

Background to the Invention

Physical swatches, small portions of material, are used throughout business to provide potential customers with a better understanding of the product than a still, photographic or digital image would provide.

These physical swatches are either typically cut from a larger portion of material or wall-covering, or pertain to an easily transported whole item, in order to be physically examined (e.g. a ceramic tile).

The primary benefit of using a physical swatch is to provide customers with the ability to manipulate the material or its position and rotation. In doing so, the customer is able to assess properties of the material which are not obvious in a still image, allowing them to easily and powerfully compare different materials.

The success of electronic commerce devices, such as websites, electronic catalogues and electronic magazines has been limited for textiles, materials and other products in which the surface texture or reflectance characteristics are important. Due to this, many companies still distribute physical swatches.

Whilst this allows customers to sample the materials, it is labour and time intensive, It is also inefficient when considering global markets; the shipping costs and wastefulness of the present methods provide a significant monetary, corn petitive and environmental disadvantage.

Our invention provides the rnuch-needed repeatable and systematic ability to produce and present swatches in an interactive digital form, allowing customers to manipulate the imagery without requiring the physical transport of swatches, thereby eliminating the cost associated with shipping and production. By granting retailers a simple and powerful representation of the product, digital swatches, i.e. interactive computer imagery of physical swatches, become cost effective selling tools.

Summary of the Invention

According to a first aspect of the invention, a system for producing digital swatches from physical swatches is provided, comprising; a subsystem comprising one or more imaging devices, one or more light sources and one or more bases or attachment points for mounting the physical swatches, in which the system can control the deformation of the swatches and the relative positions and orientations of the physical swatches, light sources and imaging devices and use the imaging devices to produce a sequence of images; secondly a component for generating interactive imagery from said sequence of images in which the interactive computer imagery can be viewed on a display device and controlled by user input to display particular images in particular orders that give the illusion of movement under direct user control.

Brief Description of the Figures

Further aspects of the invention will be apparent from the detailed description of a particular embodiment and the drawings thereof, in which: Figure 1 shows a representation of the apparatus that moves the physical swatches in translation and, or rotates the physical swatches about one o.r more axes Figure 2 shows the control device attached to the apparatus.

Figure 3 shows various shapes of the base that can be used with the apparatus already shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4 shows a vacuum base with suction to better attach materials and objects to the apparatus in Figure 1.

Figure 5 shows a base with extra functionality to shape and deform physical swatches.

Figure 6 shows the set-up of different lights sources that can be used with the apparatus and control device and it also shows attachable light sources on the base of the apparatus.

Figure 7 shows different set-ups for the mobility and positioning of imaging devices and light sources Figure 8 shows an example of a single control device attached to all available imaging devices, light sources and movement apparatus.

Figure 9 shows a flow chart of the process that is used to capture the sequence of images.

Figure 10 shows a flow chart of the process that is used to display the digital swatch to users.

Figure 11 shows an example of a digital swatch on a display unit.

Figure 12 shows a simple flow chart of the overall process for producing digital swatches from physical swatches.

Description of the Preferred Embodiments

Fig. 12 shows a diagram of an embodiment of a system for generating digital swatches, while Figure 1 is an example of the apparatus that may be used as part of this system. Before proceeding further with the detailed description of the Figures, however, a few general items of the embodiments will be discussed.

The embodiments are directed at a system for generating digital swatches from physical swatches.

A physical swatch is either typically cut from a larger portion of material or wall-covering to be used in the absence of the whole item, or pertains to an easily transported whole item, in order to be physically examined to convey the visual properties of the item.

The digital swatch provides an interactive digital experience that mimics that which typically occurs when a user inspects a physical swatch. It enables the user to apparently deform the swatch or change its position or orientation by exploring a sequence or sequences of images. The particular order and selection of the sequence of images is controlled by user input to produce the illusion of control over the movement and deformation of the physical swatch featured in the sequence of images.

Preferably, the system for generating digital swatches comprises both a subsystem for capturing image sequences and a method for creating digital swatches from the image sequences captured.

The invention comprises a subsystem with which to capture the sequence of images required.

This subsystem initially comprises an apparatus with which to hold and/or manoeuvre the physical swatch in one to six degrees of freedom whilst the sequence of images is captured. Figure 1 is an example of a potential apparatus that could be used. Later use of the apparatus in name and in figures serves only to illustrate the relative position and rotation of the swatch and any appropriate devices used to change this relative position and rotation.

Preferably, the system has a base 1 on which to mount the physical swatch 2.

Preferably, the system can utilise attachment points instead of a base 1. This will be further explained below supported by diagram 5A.

Preferably, the apparatus can also utilise more than one base at a time.

Preferably, the base 1 or swatch 2 is attached directly or indirectly to an actuator or actuators 3 Preferably, the actuators involved in the subsystem may be either linear actuators to provide a translation through the x, y and z axes, rotational actuators to provide a rotation through yaw, pitch and roll, or a combination of both so that the actuator covers up to six degrees of freedom..

Preferably, actuator 3 is mounted on a frame or framework 4.

Preferably, frame 4 is attached to an actuator 5.

Preferably, frame 4 is attached to a bearing 6.

Preferably, the bearings involved in the subsystem allow for both linear and rotational movement.

Preferably, actuator 5 and bearing 6 are attached to a further axis 7.

Preferably, the frame 7 is attached to an actuator 8.

Preferably, the frame 7 is attached to a bearing 9.

Preferably, the actuator 8 and bearing 9 are attached to support units 10 to allow the full apparatus to move and rotate.

Preferably, the system is under control of a control device, e.g. computer-based. This is illustrated by Figure 2.

Preferably, the control device 25 has the capability to control the movement and rotation of the actuators in translation and pitch. Preferably, the control device also has other capabilities as outlined below.

Preferably, the control device is in communication with all of the actuators involved in the subsystem.

Figure 2 shows an example of direct electronic communication to actuators 3, 5 and 8 using wires 19.

Preferably, the system contains elements that can deform and shape the physical swatch so that it may undergo a series of deformations and shapes during the image capture sequence.

Preferably, the subsystem has a selection of bases that can be used in the main apparatus (illustrated in Figure 1) to replace base 1.

Preferably, these bases are of different shapes in order to shape and deform the swatch as required.

Preferably, as shown in figure 3A, the system's selection includes a simple planar base 13 on which physical swatches can be mounted.

Preferably, the bases are of any width 13 required.

Preferably, the bases are of any depth 12 required.

Preferably, as shown in figure 3B, the system's selection includes a base in the shape of a curve 14, to help observers see the occlusions and different illumination gradients produced by the physical swatch when base 14 is used in the production of a sequence of images.

Preferably, as shown in figure 3C, the system's selection includes a base with more than one curve 15 to increase the difference in illumination gradients and occlusions produced by the physical swatch when base 15 is used in the production of a sequence of images Preferably, the bases available, for example 11, 14 and 15, can be covered by any material to improve perception of the physical swatches laid on top of the base; Preferably the bases available e.g. 11, 14 and 15 can also be any colour Preferably the bases available e.g. 11, 14 and 15 can be covered in chroma key screens and removed from the sequence of images in a later process.

Preferably the bases available e.g. 11, 14 and 15 can be transparent.

Preferably, as shown in Figure 4, example bases 28.a, 28.b and 28.c used by the system include various holes 16 which are connected to a suction mechanism 17, in order to attach the physical swatches to the base by applying a vacuum.

Preferably, as shown in Figure 5A, the bases have one or more attachment points 18 to hold the physical swatch 2.

Preferably, the attachment points 18 are mobile and able to deform and shape the physical swatch 2 as required.

Preferably, the subsystem illustrated in Figure 1 allows for the entire replacement of the base 1 with attachment points 21.

Figure SB illustrates an example of attachment points 21.

Preferably the attachment points 21 are attached to actuators 20, allowing the physical swatch to be rotated, positioned or deformed by the actuators under control of the control device 25 The apparatus (Figure 1) can use different forms of illumination, including incandescent lights, fluorescent lights, studio flashes and other forms of illumination. Some examples are illustrated by Figure 6A and 6B Preferably, the apparatus 30 can be lit by natural light 24.

Preferably, the apparatus 30 can be lit by stationary artificial light sources 22.

Preferably, all artificial light sources are connected to a control device 25.

The apparatus (Figure 1) can have light sources integrated into the bases 1 either on top of the base or below the base if the base is transparent.

Preferably, as shown in Figure 6B, any base 26 used contains tracks 27 and 28 which contain actuators on which light sources can be placed.

Preferably, the system contains mobile artificial light sources 23. These are further illustrated in Figures 7A, 7B and 7C.

The system requires both light sources and image capturing devices. Examples of where these can be located are presented in Figures 7A, B and C. Preferably, the image capturing devices are cameras.

Preferably, the subsystem contains lights 29 and image capturing devices 29 that are able to remain in a fixed position relative to the apparatus 30 whilst only the apparatus 30 moves to provide the relative movement required through the capture of the image sequence.

Preferably, as shown in diagram 7B, the subsystem contains lights 31 and imaging devices 31 that can be mounted on rails 32 and attached to actuators to allow movement along an axis or rotation relative to the apparatus 33 during the capture of the image sequence.

Preferably, these rails 32 can be attached to actuators to allow for full movement throughout the 6 degrees of freedom.

Preferably, as shown in diagram 7C, the subsystem contains lights 35 and imaging devices 34 that are mounted on a set of rails 37 with different shapes, such as the curve 37 illustrated, to show the apparatus 36 at a constant distance from the imaging device.

Preferably, the lights 35 and imaging devices 34 are connected to actuators to allow for full movement in the 6 degrees of freedom.

Preferably, as shown in diagram 7C, the rails 37 are connected to actuators to allow for full movement in the 6 degrees of freedom.

Preferably, the rails allow for multiple imaging devices 34 and light sources 35 so that multiple views can be captured on the apparatus 36.

Preferably, all of the components throughout the subsystem are attached to a control device 25 with the capability of changing and fully controlling these components in a process designed to produce a sequence of images with varying conditions.

Figure 8 shows an example of how the control device 25 can be in communication with all the components.

Figure 8 shows the control device 25 attached to the lights 22, imaging device 24 and apparatus 30 (Figure 1) electronically by wires.

Figure 8 and Figure 9 illustrate an example control device further.

Figure 9 illustrates an example process that the control device can perform.

Preferably, amongst the control parameters included are the position and rotation throughout the 6 axes of movement of any actuators involved in the subsystem.

Preferably, amongst the control parameters included is the intensity of any light sources used in the subsystem.

Preferably, amongst the control parameters included is the trigger for any light sources used in the subsystem.

Preferably, amongst the control parameters included is the trigger for any imaging devices used in the subsystem.

Preferably, the control device 25 has the capability to alter these components to produce a sequence of conditions as required.

Preferably, the control device 25 can take manual input to alter these components.

Preferably, the control device 25 can be given one or more extrema conditions and automatically alter the components to produce these conditions.

The invention produces digital swatches for interactive viewing.

Figure 10 illustrates an example of how the interactivity with the digital swatch can be processed.

Figure hA and 11B illustrate examples of the digital swatch being displayed.

Preferably, the digital swatch can be interacted with using an input device to give the illusion of control over the movement and rotation of the digital swatch relative to the observer.

Preferably, the digital swatch can be interacted with using an input device to give the illusion of control over the movement and rotation of the light source relative to the observer.

Claims

Claims 1. A system for producing digital swatches from physical swatches comprising; a. a subsystem comprising one or more imaging devices, one or more control devices, one or more light sources and one or more bases or attachment points for mounting the physical swatches, in which the control device can control any of: the deformation of physical swatches and the relative positions and/orientations of the physical swatches, light sources and imaging devices and use the imaging devices to produce a sequence of images; b. A component for generating interactive imagery from said sequence of images in which the interactive computer imagery can be viewed on a display device and controlled by user input to display particular images in particular orders that give the illusion of movement under direct user control.
2. A control device or devices according to claim 1, which are able to automatically or manually control parts or the whole of the system according to claim 1.
3. A system according to claim 1, in which the physical swatch is used by itself or with other physical swatches in both whole samples and/or parts.
4. A system according to claim 1, in which the physical swatch is stationary.
5. A system according to claim 1, in which the physical swatch is able to move manually or under the control of the control device according to claim 2.
6. A physical swatch according to claim 5, in which the physical swatch is able to move along the x-axis at varying velocities and distances.
7. A physical swatch according to claim 5, in which the physical swatch is able to move along the y-axis at varying velocities and distances.
8. A physical swatch according to claim 5, in which the physical swatch is able to move along the z-axis at varying velocities and distances.
9. A physical swatch according to claim 5, in which the physical swatch is able to yaw.
10. A physical swatch according to claim 5, in which the physical swatch is able to pitch.
11. A physical swatch according to claim 5, in which the physical swatch is able to roll.
12. A physical swatch according to claim 5, in which different parts of the physical swatch or the entire physical swatches are able to be moved differently in any combination of the directions stated in claims 6 through 12.
13. A system according to claim 1, in which multiple bases or attachment points are used to move the physical swatch.
14. A series of different bases according to claim 1, in which the different bases are of different shapes to deform and/or shape the physical swatch.
15. A base according to claim 1, in which the base is transparent.
16. A base according to claim 1, in which the base is coloured as required, including chroma key colours.
17. A system according to claim 1, in which the movement of the physical swatch can be controlled either automatically or manually by a control device or devices, as according to claim 5.
18. A base or bases according to claim 1, in which the base is a vacuum base with suction to better attach physical swatches.
19. A system according to claim 1, allowing for claims 3 through 18 to be used in any possible combination.
20. A system according to claim 1, in which one or more imaging devices are used to capture a sequence of images.
21. A system according to claim 1, in which any of the imaging devices are stationary.
22. A system according to claim 1, in which any of the imaging devices are able to move along the x-axis at varying velocities and distances.
23. A system according to claim 1, in which any of the imaging devices are able to move along the y-axis at varying velocities and distances.
24. A system according to claim 1, in which any of the imaging devices are able to move along the z-axis at varying velocities and distances.
25. A system according to claim 1, in which any of the imaging devices are able to yaw.
26. A system according to claim 1, in which any of the imaging devices are able to pitch.
27. A system according to claim 1, in which any of the imaging devices are able to roll.
28. A system according to claim 1, in which the imaging devices can be controlled to move and take images independently.
29. A system according to claim 1, in which the movement of each imaging device can be controlled either manually, or automatically by the control device or devices according to claim 2.
30. A system according to claim 1, allowing for claims 20 through 29 to be used in any possible combination.
31. A system according to claim 1, in which one or more light sources are used to illuminate the physical swatches.
32. A light source according to claim 31, in which any of the light sources are a natural source.
33. A light source according to claim 31, in which the light source remains stationary.
34. A light source according to claim 31, in which any of the light sources are able to move along the x-axis at varying velocities and distances.
35. A light source according to claim 31, in which any of the light sources are able to move along the y-axis at varying velocities and distances.
36. A light source according to claim 31, in which any of the light sources are able to move along the z-axis at varying velocities and distances.
37. A light source according to claim 31, in which any of the light sources are able to yaw.
38. A light source according to claim 31, in which any of the light sources are able to pitch.
39. A light source according to claim 31, in which any of the light sources are able to roll.
40. A light source according to claim 31, in which the brightness of the light can be changed.
41. A light source according to claim 31, in which the light source can be controlled either manually, or automatically.
42. A system according to claim 1, allowing for claims 31 through 41 to be used in any possible combination.
43. A system according to claim 1, which sorts and stores the sequence of images captured, in an appropriate medium.
44. A system according to claim 1, which replaces the chroma key captured according to claim 16 in images before further manipulation is performed on the sequence of images.
45. A method according to claim 1 and claim 2, in which a user can automatically or manually sort or manipulate the images captured to produce interactive computer imagery of physical swatches.
46. A system and method in which all the components and options according to claims 1-45 can be controlled either automatically or manually in any possible combination or order, to produce digital swatches.
47. A system and method according to claim 45 in which the interaction and/or the image sequences of the digital swatch is encoded as any suitable digital interactive media capable of representing a sequence of images.
48. A system and method according to claim 45, in which the interaction and/or the image sequences of the digital swatch is encoded as any suitable interactive Internet Media Type.
49. A system and method according to claim 45, in which the interaction and/or the image sequences of the digital swatch is encoded as the Internet Media Type application/JavaScript as defined in RFC 4329.
50. A system and method according to claim 45 in which the interaction and/or the image sequences of the digital swatch is encoded as the Internet Media Type application/x-shockwave-flash as defined in Adobe Technical Note tn_4151.
51. A system and method according to claim 45, in which the interaction and/or the image sequences of the digital swatch is encoded as the Internet Media Type application/x-silverlight.
52. A system according to claim 1-45, in which the physical swatches are replaced with physical surfaces and the digital swatches produced according to claims 1 and 45-49 are instead produced as one or more digital surfaces i.e. interactive computer imagery of physical surfaces.
53. A system according to claim 1-45, in which the physical swatches are replaced with physical objects and the digital swatches produced according to claims 1 and 45-49 are instead produced as one or more digital objects i.e. interactive computer imagery of physical objects.
54. A system according to claim 1-45, in which the physical swatches are replaced with physical food samples and the digital swatches produced according to claims 1 and 45-49 are instead produced as one or more digital food samples i.e. interactive computer imagery of physical food sam pies.