Mobile photography studio

A mobile photography studio for photographing objects. The studio has a main trailer body having an internal volume defined by a roof, a floor, a front wall, a rear wall, and two side walls. A control computer controls an expansion of the sidewalls of the trailer, and optionally the roof, to expand the internal volume of the trailer. A turntable, which is disposed on the trailer floor supports and rotates the object based on commands from the control computer. At least one camera takes photographs of the object on the turntable based on commands from a camera control computer. A plurality of lights illuminate the object on the turntable based on commands from the control computer. The camera control computer controls the camera(s), and stores and processes the photographs.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a mobile photography studio. The mobile photography studio is configured for taking images of large and small objects, such as automobiles, furniture, construction equipment, engines, etc. Additionally, the photography studio can be used for taking images of people and their activities. The images can then be converted into presentation images for online/off-line marketing campaigns. The images produced in the mobile photography studio can be, but are not limited to, digital still pictures, 360° images, 3D images, video, virtual reality VR, and 360° interactively rotatable digital images.

Taking large objects to a studio to photograph 360° interactively-rotatable digital images can be a problematic challenge for many businesses when creating customer accessible online inventory data bases. Having detailed photographs of each inventory item in the automobile industry, furniture industry, construction equipment industry, mannequin-garment industry and other types of business involving the sale of bulky or cumbersome equipment pieces on an online database is important in the current and future sales environment.

As an example, in the automobile marketplace, demand for sellers to have an online presence is ever increasing. The seller must be able to provide potential buyers all pertinent information about the vehicle on an online database; this includes detailed and clear photographs of the vehicles.

When dealing with new cars, a single image can be created for a particular make and model of vehicle which can represent the vehicle that is for sale. In the used car industry, because every car (even the same make and model) can take on unique wear and tear, each individual vehicle in the seller's inventory must be accounted for. This can either involve a multitude of standard 2D digital photographs taken by the seller of each vehicle to upload to an online database, or bringing the vehicles to a photo booth which will create a 360° image of the vehicle.

In the case of 2D inventory photographs, the potential buyer will have to scroll or click through a large amount of photographs of a particular vehicle. The photographs are taken on standard digital cameras on the car lot in non-uniform conditions such as light, weather, and camera positioning by the seller.

In the case of bringing a seller's inventory or bulky, cumbersome, or large object to a 360° imaging facility, transport of the vehicles to and from the facility are a inefficient use of time, money, and wear on the vehicles. Bringing a seller's entire inventory to a separate location to be photographed is neither time nor cost efficient.

The problem therefore arises of creating a mobile photography studio with a controlled photography environment. Additionally, the problem arises of creating a user friendly experience to a potential customer in the form of 360° interactively-rotatable digital images of large, bulky or cumbersome items. Furthermore it shall also be achieved a time and cost efficient way of creating 360° interactively-rotatable digital images of items in a seller's inventory.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a mobile photography studio which overcomes the above-mentioned and other disadvantages of the heretofore-known devices and which reduces the need for unnecessary movement of inventory, increased efficiency of inventory photography, and decrease in damaged goods.

With the foregoing and other objects in view there is provided, in accordance with the invention, mobile photography studio. The device comprises the following:

a main trailer body having an internal volume defined by a roof, a floor, a front wall, a rear wall, and two side walls;

a control computer;

the two side walls being expandable walls configured to expand from the main trailer body a predetermined distance and increase the internal volume of said main trailer body, the at least two expandable walls being expanded and contracted based on commands from the control computer;

a turntable, disposed on the trailer floor, configured to support and rotate the object based on commands from the control computer;

at least one camera configured to take photographs of the object on the turntable based on commands from a camera control computer;

a plurality of lights configured to illuminate the object on the turntable based on commands from the control computer; and

the camera control computer configured to control the at least one camera, and store and process the photographs.

In accordance with an added feature of the invention, the roof is an expandable roof configured to expand from the main trailer body a predetermined distance and increasing the internal volume of the main trailer body, the expandable roof being expanded and contracted based on commands from the control computer.

In accordance with an additional feature of the invention, the turntable has an angle sensor disposed to communicate a relative angle of the turntable to a predetermined point to the camera control computer.

In accordance with another feature of the invention, the camera control computer and the control computer are a single programmed processing unit.

In accordance with a further feature of the invention, the rear wall is a lowerable ramp configured to support objects being loaded into the main trailer body.

In accordance with yet an added feature of the invention, an entrance disposed at the rear wall expands as the expandable sidewalls expand.

In accordance with yet an additional feature of the invention, an entrance is disposed at the rear wall expands as the expandable roof expands.

In accordance with yet a further feature of the invention, an internal liner is configured to cover internal surfaces of the roof, said floor, said front wall, the rear wall, and the two side walls in an expanded state.

In accordance with yet again an added feature of the invention, an internal liner configured to cover internal surfaces of said roof, said floor, said front wall, said rear wall, and said two side walls in an expanded state.

In accordance with yet again an added feature of the invention, at least one axle with at least two wheels is configured to support the main trailer body.

In accordance with an added feature of the invention, at least one trailer hitch is configured to attach the main trailer body to a vehicle capable of moving the mobile photo studio.

In accordance with an additional feature of the invention, the main trailer body is a component part of a semi-trailer truck rig.

Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in mobile photography studio, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In general, the mobile photography studio1comprises a truck or trailer with a cuboid-shaped cargo area/trailer, such as semi-trailer truck or a box-truck. A turntable3is positioned inside of the cargo area/trailer and configured to support and rotate large/heavy items in addition to complex items which require special attention. The cargo area/trailer has expandable walls2′2″ and roof2′″ to accommodate and fit the rotation of items which can be bulkier than a standard trailer width could handle. The studio1has at least one camera7to take pictures of the item as it is being rotated on the turntable3, or alternatively, a camera7which can be rotated around the vehicle. It is also possible for both systems, namely, the turntable3and the rig with the camera(s)7to be rotated. The camera7, in one embodiment, is connected to a computer to process the images in software designed to create 360° interactively-rotatable digital images, virtual reality images, video, processed still images, etc. The inside of the trailer has lights which will create uniform lighting for taking pictures of the items, and with the appearance of continuous, solid walls, create an ideal uniform environment for taking photographs.

The trailer of a semi-trailer truck or box truck is generally about8feet wide, commonly in the range of 6.5-9 feet and has an opening at the back end for loading. Comparatively, a standard family sedan is over 14 feet long, so in order to be able to fully rotate large items such as automobiles, commercial equipment, compact excavators, skid steers, compact track loaders, etc., the width of the trailer and the height of the trailer in the present invention are expandable. In regard to the quality of the photograph, this expandability could not come at the cost of a generally solid and uniform interior appearance for the background of the pictures.

In one embodiment, each sidewall2′2″ of the trailer, and optionally the roof2″, expands outward from a main trailer body2. Each expandable sidewall2′2″ and roof2′″ has a frame that, upon activation, moves out from the main trailer body2a predetermined distance A A′ B. The frame of the expandable sidewalls and ceiling holds paneling on the interior portion which, along with the interior of main trailer body, forms a part of the uniform interior appearance. The trailer sidewalls2′2″ move outward by mechanically (telescoping support beams, scissor-type extension arms, etc.) expanding to move the sidewall frame and roof outward from the main trailer body2. In a preferred embodiment, the expansion of the roof2′″ away from the main trailer body2will allow for the entrance of the trailer to get taller, allowing for the studio to accommodate taller objects. Additionally, the expansion of the sidewalls2′2″ away from the main trailer body2will allow for the entrance of the trailer to get wider, allowing for the studio to accommodate wider objects.

The support arms of the expandable sidewalls2′2″ and roof2′″ are expanded by a motor/actuator. The activation of the expansion of the sidewalls2′2″ and roof2′″ is dependent on commands from the central control computer8. Alternatively, a separate expansion control computer11activates the expandable sidewalls2′2″ and roof2′″ expansion. In either case, the computer which controls the expansion can be operatively connected to the actuator by data cable/wire or wirelessly connected by a data transmitter(s) and receiver(s). In a further embodiment, the expandable sidewalls2′2″ and roof2′″ can be manually expanded by an operator pulling or pushing the expandable sidewalls2′2″ and roof2′″ to the predetermined operable distance from the main trailer body2.

A turntable/rotation apparatus3, powered by motor/actuator, is located inside of the trailer, generally centered on the bottom surface/floor of the trailer. The turntable3supports the weight of heavy objects in the upward range of 10,000 pounds, (mid-sized cars can weigh over 4,000). These weight indicators are but examples and should not limit the specific implementations. The turntable3is positioned generally in the center of the trailer so as to maximize the rotatable area of the large object being rotated when the trailer's sidewalls have been expanded. The rotation of the turntable3is dependent on activation by the operator of the photography studio1in conjunction with the operation of the photography equipment such as the camera7, lights10, and computer software8.

The turntable3and actuator are controlled by the control computer8which sends control signals to the actuator by data cable/wire or wirelessly connected by a data transmitter(s) and receiver(s). Alternatively these control signals are controlled by a separate turntable control computer12. In one preferred embodiment, the turntable has an angle sensor(s) which measures the relative angle of the turntable to the camera (or any predetermined location), and object thereon, and communicates angle information to the control computer8and/or the photograph storage and processing9bfor processing individual photographs into a 360° interactively rotatable image. The angle sensor is operatively connected to the actuator by data cable/wire or wirelessly connected by a data transmitter(s) and receiver(s). In a further embodiment, the turntable3is controlled manually by a geared crank system which the operator can rotate the loaded turntable3manual crank.

In order to create an ideal environment for taking uniform photographs, the interior walls of the trailer would need to be as continuous and solid as possible. The apparatus' required to rotate the large items, expand the sidewalls, and bring the objects in and out of the trailer could potentially disturb the environment. These apparatus' must be hidden from view of the camera, blended into the background, or be easily edited out of photographs. This is achieved by having mostly solid, smooth walls lining the interior of the trailer, having the parts that must be exposed arranged and painted to blend into the interior lining of the trailer, and having the interior be colors that can be easily digitally edited (solid colors such as white, black, and easily contrastable colors such as neon green and blue). Additionally, the interior appearance of the studio can be controlled by an exchangeable hanging backdrops and/or projecting background images, patterns, or solid colors onto the walls.

Playing a key role in creating ideal environment for taking uniform photographs, the lighting arrangement must work together with the interior structure of the trailer. In conjunction with the inner walls, the lighting must be arranged to prevent/reduce shadows throughout the process of rotating and photographing the item. The lighting system10puts out either continuous lighting or strobe flashes that are synchronized with the camera7shutters. The interior design of the studio is configured to be operated no matter of the outside condition of weather, time of day, lighting, or location.

Located inside of the trailer, a stationary camera7is positioned to take pictures of items placed on the turntable3. A plurality of cameras7can be used at different height intervals to ensure a full range of angles are photographed to put together a digital 360° image of the item. The activation of the camera7would be dependent on the operator of the photography studio1in conjunction with the operation of the other photography equipment such as the lights10, turntable3, and computer software8. The camera(s)7are operatively connected to the control computer9(or8) by data cable/wire or wirelessly connected by a data transmitter(s) and receiver(s). When the photographing process is initiated, the camera(s)7will take pictures at given intervals as the turntable3rotates the large item (or the camera7rotates around the item), or the camera7will take images continuously. A camera7can optionally be connected to arms5and adjusting devices6which connects the camera7to a rotation device4mounted to the ceiling of the studio1. The rotating camera7can be used in conjunction with or independently of a stationary camera7and turntable3. Furthermore, the stationary camera(s)7, rotating camera(s)7, lights10, and turntable3can all be activated independently of each other.

As a further embodiment, in addition to the stationary camera(s)7and rotational camera(s)7, a portable camera(s) for photographing the interior of the item in the photography studio is included. As an example, for creating a 360° image of the inside of a dresser, internal components of large equipment, the interior of an automobile, etc.. The portable camera can be operated by a person, or on a stand which can be placed in an advantageous location to photograph the desired interior detail.

A main camera control computer(s)9is configured to receive the multitude of images from the camera, and through software, the computer9bwill create a 360° interactively-rotatable digital image, or other desired image formats, of the large item. This image will then be able to be uploaded onto the seller's inventory database or internal database. This computer9could be a same computer8which operates the entirety of the equipment of the photography studio or a separate computer9specifically for processing the images. Alternatively, the images can be transferred from the camera/studio wirelessly, in a storage medium, etc. for further processing the images.

As an example of use of the mobile photography studio, a pre-owned car dealership would bring the mobile photography studio1to their inventory lot. The trailer would be positioned so that inventory items, automobiles, could be driven in and out of the trailer by either lowering a ramp leading to the interior of the trailer1or by positioning the trailer at a loading dock. The expanding walls2′2″ would be activated by an operator via control computer8and expand the side walls to a predetermined operating width A A′ B. A first vehicle would be driven into the trailer and positioned on the turntable3so that a safe rotation of the vehicle could be achieved. The operator would then initiate the photographing process via camera control computer9and the camera control9a. Camera control computer9can be configured as a part of control computer8or as a separate computer. Photographs are taken in conjunction with the rotation of the vehicle on the turntable3, the lights10, and the camera7. The images are provided to the processing computer9bfor creating a 360° interactively-rotatable digital image(s), or other desired format. Once the vehicle has been photographed, that vehicle can be removed from the trailer1, and a subsequent vehicle can be brought into the trailer1for the photographing process to be initiated again.

Camera module7′ is an arrangement of a single camera7or a plurality of cameras7which are controlled by a camera control computer9. Camera control computer9controls the operation of the cameras7via camera control9b. Camera control computer9processes and/or stores the photographs and video captured by the cameras7of camera module7′ via processing computer9b. Camera control computer9is integrated with control computer8, or alternatively, separate from control computer8. Control computer8controls the operation of the lighting10, the trailer expansion11, and turntable control12. Control computer8can be disposed inside of the trailer2of the mobile photography studio1or separate from the trailer2. The control connections between the cameras7, camera control computer9, control computer8, light control10, trailer expansion control11, and turntable control12can through wire connection, or wireless transmission between the components.

This example should not limit the present invention. Similarly, furniture or large equipment can be brought into the trailer to be photographed in the same way. The mobile photography studio1can be used to take images of people doing activities, such as modeling clothing, playing music, doing yoga, etc. The mobile photography studio is a portable controlled environment designed to give the user controlled, consistent, known conditions for taking pictures, video, processable digital images of anything desired.

The following is a summary list of reference numerals and the corresponding structure used in the above description of the invention:1mobile photography studio2main trailer body2′ expandable wall2″ expandable wall2′″ expandable roof3turntable4rotation device5arm6adjusting device7camera8control computer9camera control computer10light control11trailer expansion control12turntable control