Abstract:
A turntable with a light transmission round platter and at least one light collection spindle is provided. The light transmission round platter connects to the light collection spindle, and the light collection spindle is driven by a motor to rotate the light transmission round platter. A portion of surface of the light collection spindle is frosted. The incident light from a bottom or a lateral side is collected in a light collection area of the spindle and then transmitted toward a conjunctive area of the light transmission round platter via a transparent and smooth light guiding area, so as to lighten the originally dark conjunctive area and reduce the darkness thereof. Accordingly, the time spent in background removal of the dark conjunctive area can be reduced since the conjunctive area is lighted when the light transmission round platter is rotated for photographing an object to be photographed thereon.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a turntable, particularly to a turntable with a light transmission round platter and a light collection spindle, wherein the light transmission round platter is connected to a light collection spindle via a conjunctive area, and wherein incident light from the bottom or lateral side may be collected by a frosted portion of the surface of the light collection spindle and travel through the original smooth and transparent portion of the surface of the light collection spindle which is functioned as a light guiding area so as to lighten the conjunctive area. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     The round platter of a turntable is usually made of metal, plastic, wood, glass or other hard materials, as a conventional turntable illustrated in to  FIG. 1 . In  FIG. 1 , a round platter  1  of the turntable is connected to a spindle  2  of the turntable by a screw  3 . A motor  4  then rotates a gear chamber  6  via a coupling device  5  and further via spindle holder  7  holding the spindle  2  so as to drive the round platter  1  to rotate. The above-mentioned components are enclosed by a box  8 . Support rollers may also be arranged underneath the round platter  1 . The round platter  1  may be arranged within the box  8  or exposed from the top side of the box  8 . 
     A turntable capable of turning at various angles is utilized in taking 360 degree photography, hemispherical or spherical 3D photography to generate huge amount of still images. Then, those still images with pure-white-background or automatic background removal are generated before creating 3D animation or a 3D model so as to save time in removing background. The light transmission round platter is common used for assisting in taking photography and may be made of plastic or glass that are transparent or translucent. Generally, a plurality of pulleys are held against each rim of the light transmission round platter and drive the centerless light transmission round platter to rotate. 
     In  FIG. 2 , the centerless light transmission round platter  9  is equipped with a bottom light or a back light lower than the round platter  9 . The timing pulleys  10  and  11  is in contact with the rim of a centerless light transmission round platter  9  from at the right side, and idlers  12  and  13  is also in contact with the centerless light transmission round platter  9  from the left side. Plastic rolling balls  14 ,  15 ,  16  and  17  are utilized to support the bottom of the centerless light transmission round platter  9  near an edge. The timing pulleys  10  and  11  are entangled with a timing belt  18 . A motor  19  drives the timing belt  18  as well as the timing pulleys  10  and  11  to rotate the centerless light transmission round platter  9 . The upper edges of the timing pulleys  10  and  11  and the idlers  12  and  13  are respectively sleeved with rubber rings directly contacting the centerless light transmission round platter  9 . Each of the lower edges of the timing pulleys  10  and  11  is sleeved by the timing belt  18 . Refer to  FIG. 3 , which is a diagram schematically showing a conventional turntable with a centerless light transmission round platter driven by several motors. In  FIG. 3 , rubber rollers  21 ,  22  and  23  are held against the rim of a centerless light transmission round platter  20  in different directions. Motors  24 ,  25  and  26  simultaneously drive the rubber rollers  21 ,  22  and  23  to rotate, and the centerless light transmission round platter  20  to rotate. The bottom of the centerless light transmission round platter  20  near an edge is supported by plastic rolling balls  27 ,  28  and  29 . The turntable in  FIG. 4  is basically similar to that in  FIG. 1  except that the round platter in  FIG. 4  has a light source  30  thereon and is covered by a translucent cover  31 . Thus, pure-white-background images or the background removal images of the object to be photographed on the translucent cover  31  may be automatically generated. Refer to  FIG. 5 , which is a diagram schematically showing a conventional turntable with a light transmission round platter  32 , a transparent spindle  33  and a bottom light  34 . The turntable in  FIG. 5  is basically similar to that in  FIG. 1 , except that a light transmission round platter  32  is utilized and connected to a transparent spindle  33 . Further, a light source  34  is arranged under the light transmission round platter  32 . The bonding between the light transmission round platter  32  and the transparent spindle  33  may be achieved by gluing or plastic injection forming a one-piece component. However, the transparent spindle  33  is not frosted and the transparent spindle  33  is unlikely to concentrate the light emitted by the light source  34  to lighten the dark spot area  35  of the light transmission round platter  32 , resulted in dark area in generated images if the dark spot area  35  is not covered by the object to be photographed. 
     In  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 , rubber rings or rubber rollers are used for holding against the rim of the light transmission round platter from different directions, driving the light transmission round platter to rotate in a centerless manner. Although there is no dark area during photography, slight slip still takes place during synchronous driving with the rubber rings/rubber rollers holding against the rim of the light transmission round platter. Further, it is hard to guarantee a perfect round rotation without slip and a precise rotation radius as the rubber rings/rubber rollers are simultaneously pressed. Therefore, the turntables shown in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3  need calibrating to correct the rotation angle thereof. However, rotation errors still occur in such a case. In  FIG. 4 , a light source and a translucent cover are placed on a round platter of a common turntable. Slips may take place between the translucent cover and the round platter when the turntable starts or stops rotating. Besides, it is difficult for the translucent cover to carry a heavier object to be photographed. Further, as the light source rotates together with the round platter, power cannot be supplied to the rotating light source continuously and stably. The turntable shown in  FIG. 5  has no problems on such slips and inaccurate rotation of the turntables in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 , and discontinuous power supply of the light source on the turntable in  FIG. 4 . Although the dark conjunctive area is generated due to the binding between the light transmission round platter and the transparent spindle, it can be solved by adding another translucent platter onto the light transmission round platter. However, the light collection spindle of the present invention may lighten the dark conjunctive area and solve the problem more effectively. 
     Refer to  FIG. 6  a diagram schematically showing a conventional turntable with a light transmission round platter, a transparent spindle and a side light. The turntable in  FIG. 6  is basically similar to the turntable in  FIG. 5  except the light source is a side light in  FIG. 6  rather than a bottom light in  FIG. 5 . 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     One objective of the present invention is to provide a turntable, having a motor driving a light collection spindle through a spindle holder and then rotating a light transmission round platter connected to the light collection spindle. The objects to be photographed is placed on the light transmission round platter during photography for generating 2D or 3D still images with pure-white-background or automatic background-removal so as to save time in background removal. 
     Another objective of the present invention is to directly drive a light collection spindle held by a spindle holder with a motor and further drive a light transmission round platter connected to the light collection spindle so as to prevent the light transmission round platter from slips or erroneous turning angles in start or stop. 
     To achieve the above-mentioned objectives, a portion of the surface of the light collection spindle according to the present invention is processed with a frosting treatment so as to collect the incident light from the bottom or the lateral side and incident to the frosted area of the light collection spindle. The collected light is further guided to a smooth and transparent portion of the original surface of the light collection spindle and then reflected to the dark conjunctive area between the light transmission round platter and the light collection spindle to lighten the conjunctive area. Thereby, the images are exempted from the dark spot areas in photography. The frosting treatment includes at least one of grinding the light collection spindle with sandpaper, grinding the light collection spindle with a grinding wheel, sandblasting the light collection spindle, and sandblasting the mold of the light collection spindle. 
     The embodiments are described in detail in cooperation with the attached drawings to make easily understood the characteristics and advantages of the present invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The foregoing aspects and many of the accompanying advantages of this invention will become more readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed descriptions, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a diagram schematically showing a common turntable in the conventional technology; 
         FIG. 2  is a diagram schematically showing a conventional turntable with a centerless light transmission round platter driven by timing pulleys; 
         FIG. 3  is a diagram schematically showing a conventional turntable with a centerless light transmission round platter driven by several motors; 
         FIG. 4  is a diagram schematically showing a conventional turntable where a light source and a translucent cover are placed on the round platter; 
         FIG. 5  is a diagram schematically showing a conventional turntable with a light transmission round platter, a transparent spindle and a bottom light; 
         FIG. 6  is a diagram schematically showing a conventional turntable with a light transmission round platter, a transparent spindle and a side light; 
         FIG. 7  is a diagram schematically showing the principle of collecting and guiding light in a turntable with a light transmission round platter and a light collection spindle according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a diagram schematically showing the complete structure of a turntable with a light transmission round platter, a light collection spindle and a bottom light according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  is a diagram schematically showing the complete structure of a turntable with a light transmission round platter, a light collection spindle and a side light according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 10  is a diagram schematically showing a light box device with a complete structure of a turntable embedded therein according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 11  is a diagram schematically showing that a light transmission round platter and a light collection spindle both are directly installed on a first round platter of a turntable according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 12  is a diagram schematically showing that a light transmission round platter and a light collection spindle both are directly installed on a second round platter according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 13  is a diagram schematically showing that a light transmission round platter and a light collection spindle both are directly installed on a second round platter and that the second round platter is directly placed on a first round platter of a turntable according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 14  is a diagram schematically showing that at least two light collection spindles are connected to a light transmission round platter and that a side light illuminates the light collection spindles according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 15  is a diagram schematically showing that at least two light collection spindles are connected to a light transmission round platter and that distal ends opposite conjunctive areas of light collection spindles are placed on a first round platter of a turntable and that a side light illuminates the light collection spindles according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 16  is a diagram schematically showing that at least two light collection spindles are connected to a light transmission round platter and that distal ends opposite conjunctive areas of light collection spindles are placed on a second round platter according to one embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 17  is a diagram schematically showing that at least two light collection spindles are connected to a light transmission round platter and that distal ends opposite the conjunctive areas of light collection spindles are placed on a second round platter and that the second round platter is placed on a first round platter of a turntable according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Refer to  FIG. 7 , which is a diagram schematically showing the connection a light transmission round platter and a light collection spindle according to one embodiment of the present invention. The main configuration of the present invention mainly refers to a light transmission round platter  36  and a light collection spindle  37 , which are connected at a conjunctive area  38  by gluing or plastic injection forming a one-piece component. A portion of the surface of the light collection spindle  37  is frosted to form a crude surface functioning as a light collection area  39 . A portion of the surface of the light collection spindle  37  is unfrosted and remains smooth and transparent, functioning as a light guiding area  40 . While a bottom light  41  or a side light  41  illuminates a crude surface  42  of the light collection spindle  37 , the direction of the light is changed to generate the first-stage diffusion. While the diffused light reaches another crude surface  43 , the second-stage diffusion takes place. The light is diffused back and forth between the crude surface  42  and the crude surface  43 . Thus, most of the bottom light  41  or the side light  41  is collected in the light collection area  39  of the light collection spindle  37 . The light collected in the light collection area  39  is then reflected and guided by the light guiding area  40  to the conjunctive area  38  to lighten the conjunctive area  38  which is originally dark. In the present invention, the light collection spindle  37  may have a shape of a round column, a triangular prism, a square prism, or a polygonal prism. In the present invention, the light collection spindle  37  may be made of a transparent glass material or a transparent plastic material. The bottom/side light  41  is came from a bottom/side lamp (not shown) respectively. 
     In the present invention, the light transmission round platter  36  is made of a plastic or glass material, which is transparent or translucent. However, the light collection spindle  37  is made of a transparent plastic or glass material with a frosted portion of the surface. In one embodiment, a translucent round platter may be added on the light transmission round platter  36  such that that the conjunctive area  38  appears less visible during photography. 
     Refer to  FIG. 8 , which is a diagram schematically showing the complete structure of a turntable with a bottom light according to one embodiment of the present invention. In  FIG. 8 , a motor  44  drives a gear chamber  46  via a coupling device  45  and then drives a spindle holder  47 . A light collection spindle  48  with a frosted portion of surface is held by the spindle holder  47 . While the spindle holder  47  rotates the light collection spindle  48 , the light collection spindle  48  further rotates a light transmission round platter  50 , which is connected to the light collection spindle  48  at a conjunctive area  49 . The gear chamber  46  is utilized to change the direction of rotation and increase the rotation force and may be optional. A bottom lamp  51  illuminates the partially-frosted light collection spindle  48 , especially the portion above the bottom lamp  51 . In  FIG. 8 , the oblique line area is the frosted area functioning as a light collection area. While the incident light from the bottom lamp  51  is collected by the light collection area, the light is reflected and guided to a smooth and transparent light guiding area. Then, the light enters the conjunctive area and lightens the conjunctive area  49 . The bottom lamp  51  is fixed to a lower bracket, not rotating together with the motor  44  and the light transmission round platter  50 . The light transmission round platter  50  is a platform made of a plastic or glass material, which may be transparent or translucent. The light collection spindle  48  is made of a transparent plastic or glass material with a frosted portion of surface as a light collection area and another smooth and transparent portion of surface as a light guiding area. Refer to  FIG. 9 , which is a diagram schematically showing the complete structure of a turntable with a side light according to one embodiment of the present invention. The structure in  FIG. 9  is basically similar to the structure in  FIG. 8  except that the bottom lamp  51  in  FIG. 8  is different from the side lamp  52  in  FIG. 9 . 
     Refer to  FIG. 10 , which is a diagram schematically showing a light box device with a complete structure of a turntable according to one embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, a turntable identical to that shown in  FIG. 8  is embedded in a main body of a light box  53 . The main body of light box  53  has a bottom lamp  54 , a back lamp  55 , a side lamp  56 , a front lamp  57  and a top lamp  58 . When an object to be photographed is placed on a light transmission round platter  59 , due to the lightening of the conjunctive area  60  and assistance of the bottom lamp  54 , 2D or 3D images with pure-white-background or automatic back-removal can be easily achieved. The side lamp  56 , front lamp  57  and top lamp  58  are utilized to illuminate the object to be photographed (not shown in the drawing) placed on the light transmission round platter  59 . The arrangement of the side lamp  56  and the top lamp  58  may be optional in the present invention. 
     Refer to  FIG. 11 , which is a diagram schematically showing that a light transmission round platter and a light collection spindle. A light transmission round platter  36  and a light collection spindle  37  connected to the light transmission round platter  36  at a conjunctive area  38  are identical to those shown in  FIG. 7  and directly installed on a first round platter  63  of a turntable  61 . In the turntable  61 , a motor  62  directly or indirectly drives a transparent, translucent or opaque first round platter  63  to rotate and thus indirectly rotates the light transmission round platter  36  and the light collection spindle  37 , which are installed on the first round platter  63 . In the case of the light collection spindle  37  directly installed on the first round platter  63  of the turntable  61 , a contact area  64  at a distal end opposite the conjunctive area  38  is connected to the first round platter  63  in a fixed or movable manner by placing, gluing or screwing. While a side light  41  illuminates at the light collection spindle  37 , the conjunctive area  38  is lightened. 
     Refer to  FIG. 12 , which is a diagram schematically showing that a light transmission round platter and a light collection spindle are directly installed on a second round platter according to one embodiment of the present invention. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 12 , a second round platter  65  is arranged below at the distal end of the light collection spindle  37 . The second round platter  65  is connected to a contact area  64  by placing, gluing or screwing. Refer to  FIG. 13 , which is a diagram schematically showing that a light transmission round platter and a light collection spindle both are directly installed on a second round platter and that the second round platter is directly placed on a first round platter of a turntable according to one embodiment of the present invention. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 13 , the second round platter  65  is installed on the first round platter  63  of the turntable  61 . In this way, the light transmission round platter  36  and the light collection spindle  37  connected to the light transmission round platter  36  at the conjunctive area  38 , can be driven by the motor  62  more stably. Similar to the above-mentioned embodiment, the side light  41  lightens the conjunctive area  38 . 
     Refer to  FIG. 14 , which is a diagram schematically showing that at least two light collection spindles are connected to a light transmission round platter and that a side light illuminates the light collection spindles according to one embodiment of the present invention. In  FIG. 14 , at least two of light collection spindles  66 ,  67 ,  68  and  69 , which are identical to that shown in  FIG. 7 , are connected to a light transmission round platter  70  at conjunctive areas  71 ,  72 ,  73 , and  74 . While a side light  75  illuminates these light collection spindles, the conjunctive areas  71 ,  72 ,  73 , and  74  are lightened. 
     Refer to  FIG. 15 , which is a diagram schematically showing that at least two light collection spindles are connected to a light transmission round platter and that distal ends opposite conjunctive areas of light collection spindles are placed on a first round platter of a turntable and that a side light illuminates the light collection spindles according to one embodiment of the present invention. In  FIG. 15 , the distal ends of the light collection spindles  66 ,  67 ,  68  and  69  that are connected to the light transmission round platter  70  respectively at the conjunctive areas  71 ,  72 ,  73 , and  74  (shown in  FIG. 14 ) are directly installed on the transparent, translucent or opaque first round platter  63  of the turntable  61 . The motor  62  directly or indirectly drives the first round platter  63  to rotate and thus indirectly drives the light collection spindles  66 ,  67 ,  68  and  69  and the light transmission round platter  70 , which are installed on the first round platter  63 . While the side light  75  illuminates these light collection spindles  66 ,  67 ,  68  and  69 , the conjunctive areas  71 ,  72 ,  73 , and  74  are lightened. Contact areas  76 ,  77 ,  78 , and  79 , which are respectively at the distal ends distal from the conjunctive areas  71 ,  72 ,  73 , and  74  of the light collection spindles  66 ,  67 ,  68  and  69 , are connected to the first round platter  63  in a fixed or movable manner by placing, gluing or screwing. In addition to the side light  75 , a bottom light (not shown in the drawing), which does not rotate together with the motor  62 , may also be utilized to provide illumination. 
     Refer to  FIG. 16 , which is a diagram schematically showing that at least two light collection spindles are connected to a light transmission round platter and that distal ends distal from conjunctive areas of the light collection spindles are placed on a second round platter according to one embodiment of the present invention. In  FIG. 16 , a second round platter  80  is disposed below the distal ends of the light collection spindles  66 ,  67 ,  68  and  69  and connected at contact areas  76 ,  77 ,  78 , and  79 . In  FIG. 17 , the combination of the light transmission round platter  70 , the light collection spindles  66 ,  67 ,  68  and  69  and the second round platter  80  shown in  FIG. 16  is placed on the first round platter  63  of the turntable  61 , wherein the whole second round platter  80  functions as the contact face. The turntable  61  directly or indirectly drives the first round platter  63  to rotate by using the motor  62  and thus indirectly drives the light transmission round platter  70  above the first round platter  63 . A portion of surface of each of the light collection spindles  66 ,  67 ,  68  and  69  is frosted. While a side light  75  illuminates these light collection spindles, the conjunctive areas  71 ,  72 ,  73 , and  74  are lightened. In addition to the side light  75 , a bottom light (not shown in the drawing), which does not rotate together with the motor  62 , may also be utilized to provide illumination. In  FIGS. 11-17 , all the oblique line areas on the light collection spindles represent the frosted areas. In addition to the side light  41  or  75 , a bottom light, which does not rotate together with the motor, may also be utilized to illuminate the frosted areas of the light collection spindles. The light collection spindles  66 ,  67 ,  68  and  69  are made of a transparent plastic or glass material with a portion surface thereof frosted. The light collection spindles  66 ,  67 ,  68  and  69  may have a round column shape, a triangular prism, a square prism, or a polygonal prism. 
     While the invention can be subject to various modifications and alternative forms, a specific example thereof has been shown in the drawings and is herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not to be limited to the particular form disclosed, but on the contrary, the invention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.