{"schema_version":"1.0","canonical_url":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-9854176","patent":{"patent_number":"US-9854176","title":"Dynamic lighting capture and reconstruction","assignee":null,"inventors":[],"filing_date":"2014-01-24T00:00:00.000Z","publication_date":"2017-12-26T00:00:00.000Z","cpc_codes":["H04N","G06T","H04N","H04N","H04N"],"num_claims":23,"abstract":"Systems and techniques for dynamically capturing and reconstructing lighting are provided. The systems and techniques may be based on a stream of images capturing the lighting within an environment as a scene is shot. Reconstructed lighting data may be used to illuminate a character in a computer-generated environment as the scene is shot. For example, a method may include receiving a stream of images representing lighting of a physical environment. The method may further include compressing the stream of images to reduce an amount of data used in reconstructing the lighting of the physical environment and may further include outputting the compressed stream of images for reconstructing the lighting of the physical environment using the compressed stream, the reconstructed lighting being used to render a computer-generated environment."},"analysis":{"summary":"Dynamic Lighting Capture and Reconstruction is a patented system and method designed to streamline and enhance the process of integrating computer-generated imagery (CGI) with real-world footage by dynamically capturing and reconstructing lighting information from a physical environment. The core innovation lies in the ability to efficiently capture a stream of images representing the lighting conditions of a scene as it is being shot, compress this data, and then use it to reconstruct the lighting environment for rendering CGI elements. This solves the long-standing problem of achieving realistic and seamless integration of CGI into live-action scenes, which traditionally requires manual and time-consuming adjustments to lighting in post-production.\n\nThe key technical approach involves capturing a stream of images, compressing this stream to reduce data size, and then using advanced algorithms to reconstruct the lighting environment. This reconstructed lighting is then applied to CGI characters or objects, ensuring that they are realistically illuminated and integrated into the scene. This offers significant business value by reducing the time and cost associated with traditional VFX workflows, improving the quality and realism of CGI, and enabling new possibilities for real-time VFX in applications like VR and AR.\n\nThe market opportunity for this technology is vast, spanning the film, television, gaming, and advertising industries. As the demand for high-quality visual effects continues to grow, Dynamic Lighting Capture and Reconstruction is well-positioned to become a key enabling technology, offering a more efficient, accurate, and cost-effective solution for CGI integration. The potential for real-time applications further expands its reach into emerging fields like VR/AR, where realistic lighting is essential for creating immersive experiences.","layman_explanation":"Dynamic Lighting Capture and Reconstruction addresses a significant challenge in the world of visual effects (VFX): seamlessly integrating computer-generated imagery (CGI) into live-action footage. Imagine watching a movie where a CGI character looks obviously fake because the lighting doesn't match the real-world environment. This is the problem this patent aims to solve. \n\nThe invention works by capturing the lighting conditions of a real-world scene as it's being filmed. Instead of relying on artists to manually recreate the lighting in a computer, this system uses a stream of images to 'learn' the lighting of the environment. Think of it like taking a bunch of pictures of the lights in a room and then using those pictures to perfectly light a CGI object in that same room. The key is that the system also compresses this lighting data so it can be used efficiently. \n\nThis matters because it can drastically reduce the time and cost associated with creating high-quality visual effects. It also improves the realism of CGI, making it harder to distinguish between the real and the virtual. This has a huge impact on the entertainment industry, allowing for more immersive and believable digital experiences. \n\nLooking ahead, this technology could be used in a variety of applications, from creating more realistic video games to developing more immersive virtual reality experiences. As the demand for high-quality visual effects continues to grow, Dynamic Lighting Capture and Reconstruction is well-positioned to become a valuable tool for filmmakers, game developers, and other content creators. Investment in this technology could lead to significant returns as it becomes more widely adopted and integrated into existing VFX workflows.","technical_analysis":"Dynamic Lighting Capture and Reconstruction offers a novel approach to dynamically capturing and reconstructing lighting information from a physical environment, enabling more seamless integration of digital elements. The technical architecture of this system centers around three key stages: image capture, data compression, and lighting reconstruction. The image capture stage involves using a stream of images to represent the lighting of a physical environment as a scene is being shot. This can be achieved using various types of cameras and lighting capture devices, depending on the specific requirements of the application.\n\nThe data compression stage is crucial for reducing the amount of data required for storage and processing. The patent likely employs advanced compression algorithms to minimize data size while preserving the essential lighting information. This may involve techniques such as wavelet compression, discrete cosine transform (DCT), or other lossy or lossless compression methods. The choice of compression algorithm will depend on the trade-off between data size and reconstruction accuracy. The lighting reconstruction stage involves using the compressed stream of images to recreate the lighting environment. This may involve complex algorithms that analyze the image data and estimate the intensity, direction, and color of the light sources in the scene. The reconstructed lighting data can then be used to illuminate computer-generated characters or objects within the environment.\n\nFrom an implementation perspective, this system can be integrated with existing rendering engines and VFX software packages. This would allow VFX artists to easily incorporate the reconstructed lighting data into their workflows. The system could also be implemented as a standalone application or as a plugin for existing software. The performance characteristics of the system will depend on the specific hardware and software components used. However, the system is designed to be efficient and scalable, allowing it to be used in real-time applications such as VR and AR. Code-level implications include the need for efficient data structures and algorithms for image processing, compression, and reconstruction. The system may also require specialized hardware, such as GPUs or FPGAs, to achieve real-time performance.","business_analysis":"Dynamic Lighting Capture and Reconstruction presents a significant business opportunity within the visual effects (VFX) industry and beyond. The core value proposition lies in its ability to streamline and enhance the process of integrating computer-generated imagery (CGI) with real-world footage, reducing costs, improving quality, and enabling new applications. The market opportunity is substantial, encompassing the film, television, gaming, advertising, and VR/AR industries. The demand for high-quality visual effects is constantly growing, driven by the increasing sophistication of audiences and the desire for more immersive and engaging experiences. Dynamic Lighting Capture and Reconstruction addresses a critical pain point in the VFX workflow: the time-consuming and often inaccurate process of recreating realistic lighting environments.\n\nBy providing a more efficient and accurate way to capture and reconstruct lighting information, this technology can significantly reduce the time and cost associated with traditional VFX workflows. This translates into increased profitability for VFX studios and lower production costs for film and television productions. The competitive advantages of this technology include its ability to capture and compress lighting data in a way that preserves the nuances of the original environment, resulting in a more accurate and realistic reconstruction. This improved accuracy leads to a more seamless integration of CGI elements into live-action footage, enhancing the overall visual quality of the final product. The revenue potential for this technology is significant, with multiple potential business models including licensing the technology to VFX studios, offering it as a cloud-based service, or integrating it into existing VFX software packages. The strategic positioning of this technology is strong, as it addresses a critical need in the VFX industry and offers a clear competitive advantage over existing solutions. ROI projections are highly favorable, with the potential for significant cost savings and increased revenue generation for users of the technology.","faqs":null,"topics":["dynamic lighting capture","lighting reconstruction","CGI integration","visual effects","VFX","dynamic","lighting","capture"],"tech_cluster":null},"seo":{"title":"Dynamic Lighting Capture & Reconstruction - US-9854176","description":"Explore Dynamic Lighting Capture and Reconstruction, a patent revolutionizing VFX. Capture real-world light, seamlessly integrate CGI. Discover the technology!","keywords":["dynamic lighting capture","lighting reconstruction","CGI integration","visual effects","VFX","patent","patent US-9854176","real-time rendering","virtual reality","augmented reality"]},"attribution":{"source":"Patentable","source_url":"https://patentable.app","canonical_url":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-9854176","license":"CC-BY-4.0-like","license_terms":"AI-generated analysis on this page (summary, layman_explanation, technical_analysis, business_analysis, faqs) may be reused with attribution and a visible link back to the canonical URL above. Patent abstracts, claims, and bibliographic data are USPTO public domain.","required_link":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-9854176","citation_suggestion":"Patentable. \"Dynamic lighting capture and reconstruction\" (US-9854176). https://patentable.app/patents/US-9854176","copyright_holder":"Nomic Interactive Technology LLC"},"links":{"html":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-9854176","json":"https://patentable.app/api/llm-context/US-9854176","site":"https://patentable.app","llms_txt":"https://patentable.app/llms.txt"},"generated_at":"2026-05-31T08:33:48.084Z"}