Orad Hi-Tec Systems Limited

Orad Hi-Tech Systems Ltd.

Orad, Inc.

Avi Sharir

Michael Tamir

Itzhak Wilf

Alexander Steinberg

Zinovy Livshits

Zion Azar

Yair Granot

Peter Sprogis

Moshe Nissim

Ofir Benovici

Guillaume Godet

Andrzej Wojdala

David Aufhauser

A method and system are presented for use in real-time insertion of visual effects in a video stream. At least one reference image is used that contains a region of interest, which is to be involved in the video stream. the reference image is processed by defining a set of at least a few reference features therein, and inserting the visual effects into the reference image with a desired orientation of the visual effects with respect to the region of interest in the reference image. Successive video frames are grabbed in a sequence of a few video frames, and at least one of video frames is used as at least one snapshot image. The snapshot image(s) is/are process by selecting therein at least two from the reference features and determining a reference transformation between the snapshot image and the reference image. Independently of this processing of the snapshot image, the snapshot image and other video frames are processed to determine a sequence of transformations between them. These data are utilized to determine an operative transformation between the reference image and either one of the video frames, thereby enabling real-time management of the appearance of the visual effects in the video stream by using the operative transformation for the insertion of the visual effects in other video frames.

System and method for managing the visual effects insertion in a video stream

A cooperative tracking system designed to track multiple cooperative targets within a given field in real time with high precision and high update rate comprises a microwave transmitter and two receivers with each target being provided with one or more coded microwave transponders which enable calculation of both position, speed and in a preferred embodiment direction of movement of each target.

Tracking system for sports

Apparatus and method for inserting virtual objects into a video sequence including a camera position sensing system which uses LED's to provide perspective information for the camera sensing system thereby allowing natural scenery to be used.

Virtual studio position sensing system

A position detecting device for an object within virtual set comprises providing the object with an emitting device and using the device in conjunction with a plain or patterned chroma-key background to provide the exact position of a TV camera or alone to provide a position for another object or actor.

Apparatus for automatic electronic replacement of a billboard in a video image including an automatic camera orientation measurement apparatus including motion measurement means operative to measure the Field of View (FOV) of the TV camera relative to a known reference position.

Method and apparatus for automatic electronic replacement of billboards in a video image

The position of players which may be persons or other objects such as racing cars, sail boats etc. in a sports event is identified and this data is used to create a 3-D image of the event enabling the event to be viewed from any desired angle and also enabling the data to be transmitted to remote viewers enabling the viewers to view the event in 3-D and also to introduce virtual players to compete with real players in the event and to compete with other viewers.

Graphical video system

Method and apparatus for determining the position of a TV camera for use in a virtual studio

A system (FIGS.,and,) and method (FIG.,) for video transmission of active events, for example sports events, having in the background physical images in designated targets, wherein the physical images are electronically exchanged with preselected virtual images, so that objects or shadows actually blocking the same portions of the virtual images, and the motion of players or a ball blocking the physical image will block corresponding regions of the exchanged virtual image, so that the exchanged electronic image will remain in the background of the event, exactly as the original image.

Apparatus and method for detecting, identifying and incorporating advertisements in a video image

Apparatus for automatic replacement of a billboard in a video image is provided. The billboard comprises a chroma-key surface, and the apparatus includes a video camera for viewing the billboard, and a chroma-key unit operative to detect at least one chroma-key color of the billboard chroma-key surface. A reference color of the chroma-key unit is adjustable to conform to the color of the chrom-key surface, thereby enabling the chroma-key unit to correctly identify the billboard surface and to correctly replace the chroma-key surface of the billboard by a virtual advertisement in a video image with correct occlusion of any foreground object.

A chromokeying panel for use in conjunction with a chromakeying system includes a plurality of first and second location. Each of the first and the second locations has a color within the color of a color keying spectrum of the chromakeying system. In addition, each of the first and the second locations are arranged to define a coded pattern for a computation of a perspective of the chromakeying panel with respect to a camera independently in each video field produced by the camera. The coded pattern may include a plurality of straight lines that intersect to define vertices. The plurality of straight lines may be spaced apart from each other so that for a given vertex, a ratio of the distance of one of the lines extending from the given vertex to a first adjacent vertex, to the distance of another of the lines from the given vertex to a second adjacent vertex is unique.

Chromakeying system

A position detecting device for an object with virtual set comprises providing the object with an emitting device and using the device in conjunction with a plain or patterned chroma-key background to provide the exact position of a TV camera or alone to provide a position for another object or actor.

An electronic billboard replacement system for use in a TV broadcast system including electronic billboard storage device for storing a plurality of replacement billboards and an electronic sequencer device for controlling the time period that each one of the plurality of billboards is displayed to a TV viewer.

Electronic billboard replacement switching system

A sports event video manipulating system for manipulating a representation of a sports event, the sports editor including a video field grabber operative to grab at least one video field including a video image A/D converter operative to digitize a grabbed video field, an object tracker operative to track an object through a plurality of successive video fields, an object highlighter receiving input from the object tracker and operative to highlight the tracked object on each of the plurality of successive video fields, a D/A image converter operative to convert output of the object highlighter into a video standard format, and a video display monitor.

Growing community of inventors

Ramat Hasharon, Israel

Avi Sharir