Abstract:
An apparatus comprising a support element, a frame or enclosure rotatably attached to the support element and a camera rotatably attached to the frame or enclosure. The frame or enclosure can rotate about a subject placed on the support element in the horizontal and in the vertical. A camera mounted on the frame or enclosure rotates about the subject with the frame or enclosure and can also move toward or away from the subject. The frame can be covered with translucent material to create an enclosure around the subject and lighting may be applied either from outside the enclosure or inside the enclosure by placing lights affixed to the external frame through the material. In one embodiment, solid translucent material such as plexiglass can be both the frame and the enclosure. The support element includes at least one arm connected to a stage support which mounts a rotatable stage upon which the subject to be photographed is placed. The frame can support materials to create enclosures that are spherical in shape, conical, hemispherical and combinations of spheres, cones and hemispheres. The frame rotates about the support so that the subject stays stationary on the stage and the background of the subject always stays the same as the frame and camera rotate.

Description:
This application is a division of application Ser. No. 09/522,459, filed on Mar. 09, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,343,184. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to devices for controlling the lighting environment of a subject in relation to a background to be photographed and in particular to a device for controlling the lighting while rotating the camera about the subject in the horizontal and vertical axis. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Photographic studios use a variety of lighting instruments, light reflectors, light blockers (flags, fingers, dots), light intensity reducers (scrims), light pattern modifiers (go—betweens or “gobos”) and diffusers to control the lighting effects on a stationary subject to be photographed. Such photography can be for a live subject or an inanimate subject. The camera captures an image of the subject and typically a field behind the subject known as the background. The background is seen in the camera&#39;s frame (active field of view) when there is a absence of subject (or target). Light may be reflected from the subject, the background or both the subject and the background affecting the quality of the subject image. 
     For professional photographs the physical environment around the subject to be photographed creates the presentation of the subject. Therefore controlling the environment is an essential part of producing a quality photographic image. 
     Photographers use a technique known as feathering which employs curved surfaces to reduce sharp edged or abrupt differences between highlights and shadow thus establishing steps or gradients of shadow depth, tone, and value. One method of controlling the lighting to effect feathering of light and shadow on a subject and the surface on which the subject rests is the use of a “jeweler&#39;s cone.” A cone, shaped like a megaphone, having a truncated end with a small circular aperture at a first end and a large circular aperture at a second end is positioned over a subject and background to be photographed. The camera is positioned in the small circular aperture. The cone is made of translucent material and lighting is applied from angles selected by the photographer. Once positioned, the lights shine through the translucent material and the subject is photographed. Another method of employing a jeweler&#39;s cone is to hang a translucent drape above the subject where the bottom of the drape is a rigid ring to create a cone of material where slits or openings can be cut to insert the camera lens through the translucent material. 
     Another technique used by photographers is to place a translucent plexiglass dome over the subject to be photographed and to position lights outside and around the dome. A hole is cut in the dome to insert the camera lens. A further method is to place a subject on a table made of curving translucent material so that the subject rests on a curved surface and no sharp angles are present. Illumination from a lighting device on a boom above or below the curved surface made of diffuse plexiglass creates a graduated tone. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,857,119 discloses a motorized rotatable subject stand and a camera frame that is capable of swinging in an arc around the subject. U.S. Pat. 3,967,301 discloses a stand with a pedestal for the subject to be photographed, a hanger to hold a sheet of translucent material, and a lamp mounted on a base to illuminate the back of the sheet beyond which the subject is positioned. U.S. Pat. 3,690,242 discloses a studio in which the subject (which can be a person seated in a chair) is positioned on an inner portion and a camera and light stand are positioned on an outer portion and the inner portion and the outer portion are rotatable relative to each other. 
     The reason for all of these devices is to control the effect of light on the subject and to minimize the effect of darkness at the point where the lens is positioned. Most reflective surfaces create distorted images. Therefore, the environment of the subject to be photographed is a major concern in achieving a fine photographic effect. Additionally, due to the use of electronic catalogs on the Internet the need for high quality photographs of subjects is in increasing demand. Moreover, a studio in which lighting can be replicated with precision would allow programmed capturing of expert photographic techniques to be duplicated by amateurs following a computerized duplication of a professional or master&#39;s choice of lighting. Such a studio is both an artistic tool and a productivity tool. A further need is for a studio that can be operated by remote control and linked to a computer. 
     Therefore, what is needed beyond the prior art is a studio where the camera can rotate about the subject while the background stays fixed, zoom in on the subject and also photograph the subject from selected angles. What is further needed beyond the prior art is a studio which can transmit light from outside the studio, inside the studio or reflect off of the surface of the studio. What is further needed is a rotatable studio in which the background is always fixed in relation to the subject. Finally, what is needed beyond the prior art is a studio that can meet the needs identified above and that can also be adapted to a drive system and linked to a computer for computer control. 
     SUMMARY OF THEE INVENTION 
     The present invention which meets the needs identified above is an apparatus comprising a support element, a frame or enclosure rotatably attached to the support element and a camera rotatably attached to the frame or enclosure. The frame or enclosure can rotate about a subject placed on the support element in the horizontal and in the vertical. A camera mounted on the frame or enclosure rotates about the subject with the frame or enclosure and can also move toward or away from the subject. The frame can be covered with translucent material to create an enclosure around the subject and lighting may be applied either from outside the enclosure or inside the enclosure by placing lights affixed to the external frame through the material. In one embodiment, solid translucent material such as plexiglass can be both the frame and the enclosure. The support element includes at least one arm connected to a stage support which mounts a rotatable stage upon which the subject to be photographed is placed. The frame can support materials to create enclosures that are spherical, cylindrical, conical, hemispherical and combinations of spheres, cylinders, cones and hemispheres. While the aforementioned shapes are most desirable because of the absence of sharp angles, any shape can function and so the enclosures should not be limited to those enumerated above. The frame rotates about the support so that the subject stays stationary on the stage and the background of the subject always stays the same as the frame and camera rotate. 
    
    
     The foregoing and other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numbers represent like parts of the invention. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 depicts a left perspective view of the frame, stage and camera mount. 
     FIG. 2 depicts a left perspective view of the frame with spherical dome deployed. 
     FIG. 3 depicts the frame with spherical dome and camera. 
     FIG. 4 depicts a detailed view of the stage support and stage. 
     FIG. 5 depicts a detailed view of the first sleeve. 
     FIG. 6 depicts a detailed view of the camera mount. 
     FIG. 7 depicts a right side perspective view of the stage and frame of an alternate embodiment; 
     FIG. 8 depicts a view of a first alternate embodiment with cover; 
     FIG. 9 depicts a rear view of the first alternate embodiment. 
     FIG. 10 depicts a view of the first alternate embodiment with lighting affixed to the frame. 
     FIG. 11 depicts a view of a second alternate embodiment with the frame rotated to the vertical. 
     FIG. 12 depicts a third alternate embodiment of the studio. 
     FIG. 13 depicts the third alternate embodiment with cover. 
     FIG. 14 depicts a fourth alternate embodiment. 
     FIG. 15 depicts diagram of a computer controlled drive system for the studio. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     FIG. 1 depicts studio  100  with support element  20 , frame element  50  and camera element  80 . Support element  20  has first arm  10  fixedly connected to stage support  14  and second arm  12  fixedly connected to stage support  14 . Stage  22  is rotatably connected to stage support  14 . First arm  12  and second arm  14  may extend to a floor, a wall or a ceiling. 
     Frame element  50  has first ring  52  and second ring  54 . First ring  52  and second ring  54  are rotatably connected by first hinge  56  and second hinge  58  and may be fixedly connected by first hinge  56  and second hinge  58 . First ring  52  has first sleeve  30  and second sleeve  62  fixedly engaged to first ring  52 . First ring  52 , first sleeve  30  and second sleeve  32  have a continuous opening running the length of first sleeve  30 , second sleeve  32  and through first ring  52 . First arm  10  of support element  20  passes through first sleeve  30  and second arm  12  passes through second sleeve  32  so that frame element  50  may rotate a full three hundred and sixty degrees around support element  20 . Subject  26  is shown positioned upon stage  22  for photographing. Stage  22  is transparent so that subject  26  may be photographed from below stage  22 . Subject  26  is representative of any object that may be placed on stage  22  and is meant to embody all variations of size and shape including shapes with interior surfaces. Alternatively, stage  22  may be constructed as a grid or screen to allow passage of a borescope for obtaining images of interior surfaces of subject  26 . 
     Camera element  80  has mount  74 , base  72  and rod  70 . Base  72  is fixedly connected to rod  70 . Mount  74  is adjustably affixed to base  72 . Rod  70  passes through third sleeve  34  in second ring  54 . Rod  70  is rotatably and slidingly engaged in third sleeve  34 . Camera  90  is removably engaged to mount  74 . The center of the lens of camera  90  is aligned with the center of subject  26 . More specifically, the center of the lens of camera  90  is aligned to intersect an imaginary horizontal line running through the center of first sleeve  30 , second sleeve  32  and an imaginary vertical line running through the center of stage  22 . Camera  90  is meant to represent all formats of photography and videography including large, medium and miniature still cameras, digital still cameras, digital still and motion cameras, digital motion cameras, macro and micro photography analog and digital videography cameras, film motion picture cameras in all formats, cameras for sending images over the internet, cameras with borescopes, and cameras with zoom or fixed lenses. Because studio  100  and its alternative embodiments disclosed farther herein can be constructed of any size, any existing camera system can be adapated for mounting on mount  74 . 
     First arm  10  is bent after passing through first sleeve  30  and may be bent again prior to connecting to ring  14 . Second arm  12  is bent after passing through second arm  12  and may be bent again prior to connecting to ring  14 . The depth of ring  14  below a centerline passing through first sleeve  30  and second sleeve  32  will determine the size or height of subjects to be photographed in studio  100 . The center of mass of subject  26  when placed on stage  22  should be intersected by an imaginary line passing through first sleeve  30  and second sleeve  32  and an imaginary vertical line running through the center of stage  22 . The center of mass of subject  26  should also be intersected by an imaginary line passing through the center of the lens of camera  90  and perpendicular to the lens. As used herein the term subject means the physical object whose image is to be captured. A subject may be inanimate or it may be a living person, animal ro organism. 
     In the preferred embodiment, a first arm and a second arm are used. However, stage  22  may be supported by only one arm. Frame  50  may rotate about the single arm. 
     Camera  90  can rotate three hundred and sixty degrees about subject  26  because frame  50  will rotate on first sleeve  30  and second sleeve  32 . Subject  26  can rotate three hundred and sixty degrees about stage support  14  on stage  22  so that any view of subject  26  can be obtained including a bottom view. 
     FIG. 2 depicts sphere  64  mounted on first sleeve  30  and second sleeve  32 . First sleeve  30  cannot be seen; however, first arm  10  can been seen beyond spherical cover  64 . Second sleeve  32  can be seen with second arm  12  emerging from second sleeve  32 . Sphere  64  may be made of any transparent or translucent material. As used herein, transparent means a material which admits the passage of light and may permit a clear view of objects beyond the material. 
     Transparent material may distort the environment beyond the material by acting as a filter due to coloring. Moreover, a transparent material may have a pattern in it which can affect the color, tone and density of the light passing through the material. As used herein, translucent means allowing the passage of light, but not permitting a clear view of any object. In the preferred embodiment the translucent material would be semi-transparent. Moreover, by translucent material is further meant a material of any color or surface texture including but not limited to shiny, smooth, textured or matte. Moreover, in creating enclosures, transparent and translucent material may be used together in layers, together in sectional combination or separately. Moreover, transparent and translucent materials may be used in combinations of shapes such as a sphere inside a cone in order to achieve varying degrees of translucency and lighting effects. 
     FIG. 3 depicts camera  90  deployed inside sphere  64  on rod  70 . Rod  70  is slidingly and frictionally engaged in third sleeve  34 . 
     FIG. 4 depicts a portion of support element  20  showing the rotation of stage  22  around stage support  14 . Stage  22  can rotate clockwise or counterclockwise. 
     FIG. 5 depicts an enlarged view of second sleeve  32  which is fixedly engaged to first ring  52  so that second arm  12  passes through both sleeve  32  and second ring  52 . Frame  50  and second ring  52  can rotate three hundred and sixty degrees about second arm  12 . 
     FIG. 6 depicts an enlarged view of camera element  90  showing the rotation of mount  74  and base  72  around rod  70  in third sleeve  40 . Rod  70  passes through third sleeve  40  and second ring  54  and is slidingly engaged in third sleeve  40  so that camera  90  may move forward and backward on rod  70 . 
     FIG. 7 depicts an alternative embodiment of studio  100  shown in FIGS. 1 through 6. Second studio  200  has outer frame  260  supporting entry ring  220 , cone ring  224  and hemisphere ring  256 . Door element  240  allows access to second studio support element  230  having second studio first arm  232  fixedly connected to second studio stage support  236  and second studio second arm  234  fixedly connected to second studio stem support  236 . Second studio stage support  236  functions in the same manner as stage support  14  in FIG. 1 of studio  100 . Second studio stage support  236  will rotatably support stage  22  (not shown). Second studio door element  240  has second studio door outer frame  249  hingedly connected to second studio outer frame  260 . Second studio door outer frame  249  has second studio door outer frame first connecting arm  249  fixedly engaged to second studio door inner frame  241  and second studio outer frame second connecting arm  238  fixedly connected to second studio door first inner frame  241 . Second studio door first curved frame  242  is fixedly connected to second studio first inner frame  241  and second studio second inner frame  247 . Second studio second curved frame  243  is fixedly connected to second studio first inner frame  241  and to second studio second inner frame  247 . Second studio second outer frame  248  is fixedly connected to second studio second inner frame  247  by second studio second outer frame first connecting arm  244  and second studio second outer frame second connecting arm  246 . 
     FIG. 8 shows second studio  200  covered with three sections of translucent covering. Cone cover  252 , cylinder cover  254 , door cover  258  and hemisphere cover  256  provide translucent covering for second studio  200 . The translucent covering may be solid material such as plastic or polyurethane or it may be cloth or other material that can be slit to introduce lights inside the area enclosed by the material. A camera such as camera  90  (See FIG. 1) may be mounted on second studio camera arm  222 . Second studio rod  270  is slidingly engaged in second studio camera arm  222 . Second studio door element  240  has second studio door outer frame  249  (see FIG. 6) hingedly connected to second studio outer frame  260 . Second studio door element  240  allows access to the interior of second studio  200  so that subjects to be photographed may be placed on stage  22  rotatably mounted on second studio stage support  236  (not shown). Second studio outer frame  260  rotates about second studio second arm  216  and second studio first arm  214 . Second studio second arm  216  passes through second studio outer frame socket  217  and continues to meet stage support  14  (not shown in FIG. 8) in the same way as second arm  12  meets stage support  14  in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 9 shows second studio  200  from a rear view. The rounded aspect of hemisphere cover  256  can be seen in the rear view. 
     FIG. 10 shows second studio  200  with first light  270  and second light  280  adjustably affixed in to second studio frame  260 . First light  270  has first light first arm  272 , first light second arm  274 , first light bracket  276  and first light hood  278 . In the preferred embodiment first light  270  is mounted outside of second studio cone covering  252 . Any number of first light  270 &#39;s may be affixed to second studio frame  260 . Second light  280  has second light first arm  282 , second light second arm  284 , second light bracket  286  and second light hood (not shown) which is inside second studio cone covering  254  in light aperture  253  created by slit  255 . Any number of second light  280 &#39;s may be affixed to second studio frame  260 . In the preferred embodiment first light  280  is mounted so that second light hood is inside studio cone covering  252 . 
     FIG. 11 depicts studio  300  which is another embodiment of studio  200 . Studio  300  operates on the same principle as studio  100  and studio  200  to create an infinite variety of manageable, repeatable and seamless fighting options by allowing rotation about a subject while maintaining the same background and lighting effects. 
     FIG. 12 depicts third studio  400  which is another embodiment of studio  100  and second studio  200  which employs pedestal  480  having a pedestal stage  422 , a stage  482 , first leg  484  and second leg  486 . 
     FIG. 13 depicts studio  400  covered and rotated to a vertical position. FIG. 12 shows that pedestal  480  remains stationary when studio  400  rotates. 
     FIG. 14 depicts fifth studio  500 . Fifth studio frame  560  rotates about fifth studio stage  522  in both the horizontal and vertical axis by means of collar  518  rotatable affixed to pedestal stage support  586  and fixedly engaged to fifth studio first arm  514  and fifth studio second arm  516 . Fifth studio stage  522  rotates in the horizontal axis on pedestal stage support  586 . Additionally, fifth studio stage  522  can be raised or lowered by raising or lowering pedestal stage support  586 . Stop  512  can be tightened to anchor collar  518  in position. 
     FIG. 15 depicts computer  512  linked to camera  90  and to a drive for either studio  100 , second studio  200 , third studio  300 , fourth studio  400  or fifth studio  500 . As used herein, the term computer means a functional unit that can perform substantial computations, including numerous arithmetic operations and logic operations without human intervention during a run. In information processing, the term computer usually describes a digital computer. A computer may consist of a stand alone unit or may consist of several interconnected units. As used herein a personal computer (PC) means a microcomputer primarily intended for stand-alone use by an individual. As used herein, the term computer is mean to encompass desktop computers, laptop computers, mainframe computers, microcomputers, minicomputers, portable computers and super mini computers. Computer  512  can be a single computer or may be linked to a Local Area Network (LAN) or to a Wide Area Network (WAN). Computer  512  may be linked to the Internet thereby linking camera  90  and drive drives to the Internet for remote control of the camera and drives. As used herein, Internet means the worldwide collection of networks and gateways that use the TCP/IP suite of protocols to communicate with one another. At the heart of the internet is a backbone of high-speed data communication lines between major nodes or host computers, consisting of thousands of commercial, government, educational, and other computer systems, that route data and messages. All of the embodiments of the invention can be driveized and driven by a computer. Two types of drive systems are known in the art. First, the system may be driven by a direct current (DC) servo drive. In order to use a DC servo drive with any of the above described studio embodiments the exact position of the drive must be known. Therefore, an encoder must be used if a DC servo drive is employed. The second type of system is a step drive system. As used herein a step drive system means an electric drive whose shaft moves in individual steps of approximately 9 degrees each. The drive shaft has permanent magnets attached to it and each step is controlled by energizing one or more of the coils inside the drive which then interacts with the permanent magnets attached to the shaft. Turning these coils on and off in sequence causes the drive to rotate in either the forward or reverse direction. The time delay between each step determines the drive&#39;s speed. Step drive systems can be used to move a device driven by the step drive drive to any desired position by sending the step drive drive the number of step pulses corresponding to the desired position. Step drive systems therefore, do not need encoders. A further advantage of step drive systems is the ability to remain at one position rigidly. A computer connected to the step drive system will know the position of the drive at all times since the number of steps can be stored. In order to ensure the accuracy of the position an optical encoder could be attached to the drive. Most step control systems have a home switch associated with each drive that will allow the software to determine the starting or reference “home” position. 
     One available control system comprises a MD-2 Dual Stepper Drive Control System manufactured by Arrick Robotics, P.O. Box 1574, Hurst, Tex. 76053. The Arrick Robotics system connects to the parallel port of an IBM style personal computer by connecting a control device to the parallel port on the computer. Up to six drives (3 MD-2 systems) can be connected to one computer. Programming can be accomplished with Arrick motion control programs and DOS command-line interpreter. Custom programs can be written using Arrick subroutine libraries. The MD-2 system can be operated from an AC outlet or from a battery. 
     Likewise, the lights may be controlled by the computer. For example, X10 (USA) Inc., 91 Ruchmas Rd., Closter, N.J. 07674 provides a wireless computer interface for controlling up to  256  lights and appliances by remote control from a PC. The X10 system includes TM751 transceivers and LM465 lamp modules. 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.