Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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The present invention relates to a method of ascertaining photographi-
cally the dimensions and measurements of an object; and more particularly, the
invention relates to ascertaining such measurements of a person for purposes
and in preparation of being clothed.
The German Patent 1,034,375 suggests the following procedure. A pic-
ture of a person is taken, together with a measuring tape which is strategically
placed in such a way that the scale can be directly referenced to the person.
Next, through double-exposure (the camera is not moved, but the person leaves
~ the scene), the image of a scale plate is superimposed. Usually, this procedure
i 10 is repeated in order to obtain a picture of the person from different directions.
This method is rather time-consuming and expensive. Moreover, the
double-exposure requires very accurate handling and manipulation to achieve
i meaningful results. Also, this method is not well suited to really ascertain
details concerning deviations from normal cases, such as a bent spine, a slightly
but noticeable extension of the shoulder blade, and so forth.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved
method and equipment for photographically ascertaining measurements ~size,
dimensions, and so forth) of an object, such as a person.
According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a method of
acquiring image information of an object, comprising the steps of sequentially -
exposing the same film portion in a camera to the object in a particular position
and to a superposed grid pattern; and projecting onto the object a line pattern,
to be reflected by the object during exposure thereof, the line pattern as
reflected being distorted commensurate with a surface contour of the object
being delineated therewith, the delineation being visible Oll the photograph.
According to another aspect of the invention there is provided the
method of acquiring image information of an object from different sides thereof,
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comprising the steps of placing the object in a first position and in a portion
of a field of view of a camera; providing a grid pattern next to that object;
projecting a line pattern onto the object; exposing on a film in the camera an
image of the object with projected line patterns and next to it an image of the
grid pattern; exchanging positions of the grid pattern and of the object, but
at a different angle to the angle of the camera projecting a line pattern onto
the object in the exchanged position; and exposing the same film strip in the
camera to an image of the object with projected line patterns and the grid
pattern in the exchanged position.
According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided an
apparatus comprising: a photographic camera directed towards a particular field
of view; a projector, projecting a line pattern into said field of view, con-
currently with photographic exposure by the camera of an object in the field of
view; and a grid pattern to be placed into the field of view, in lieu of the
object, to be photographed in superposed double-exposure fashion upon the photo-graphic exposure of the object.
` According to yet another aspect of the invention there is provided an
apparatus comprising: a photographic camera directed toward a particular field
of view; a stage means in the field of view; a vertical partition centrally
disposed on the stage means and having a front edge; a plate hinged to said edgeand carrying a grid pattern on both sides of the plate provided for covering
one half or the other half of the stage means; and projection means for projecting
a line pattern into the other half or the one half of the stage means not covered
by the plate.
If the object, e.g. a person, is to be depicted from different angles,
it is particularly advantageous to proceed as follows. A camera is directed to-
ward a particular field of viewJ half of which is occupied, at any particular
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instance, by a dark plate with a bright grid pattern; the object is placed into
the other half, while the line pattern is projected onto that object. A photo-
graphic picture is now taken of the entire field of view. Without changing the
film frame or plate, the parts are reversed, i.e. the object is placed into the
field of view portion previously occupied by the plate while the latter is
placed into the other field of view portion. A line pattern is again projected
i upon the object. As the second one of a double exposure is now taken, the grid
image is superimposed upon the previously photographed object, while an image is
superimposed upon the previously photographed grid. The result of this is the
; 10 creation of a single picture, produced by two exposures showing the object twice
with superimposed grid and line patterns. The line patterns should be projected
centrally onto the object, but from above, and preferably at an angle between
30 and 60 to the ~ertical. This angular projection, preferably resulting in
equidistantly spaced lines when projected onto a vertical plane, is particularly
well suited to delineate surface curvatures of the object.
In furtherance of practicing the invention, the field of view may be
partitioned physically by a divider to which is hinged a plate carrying similar
grid patterns on both sides and covering one half or the other of the field of
view, the object being respectively placed in the other half. A single projector
may be placed overhead and coupled to that plate so that upon pivoting the plate
the projection is repositioned. Use of two projectors, however, is, from the
standpoint of accuracy, preferred since they can be maintained in fixed positions.
While the specification concludes with claims, particularly pointing
out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which is regarded as the invention,
it is believed that the invention, the objects and features of the invention,
and further objects, features and advantages thereof, will be better understood
from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings,
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in which
Figure 1 is a top elevation of the equipment for practicing the prefer-
red embodiment of the invention in accordance with the best mode thereof;
Figure 2 is a side view of the equipment shown in Figure l;
Figure 3 is an example of a photograph made with the equipment shown in
Figures 1 and 2; and
Figure 4 is the top elevation of a modified example of the preferred
embodiment.
Proceeding now to the detailed description of the drawings, the equip-
ment illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 includes a wall 7 serving as a neutral or
dark background. Mirrors 8 are provided for purposes of obtaining a more uni-
form illumination of the scene. A vertically oriented divider 9 extends at right
angles from the wall, about halfway between the mirrors, and its front end serves
as support for a long plate 10. Plate 10 is hinged to the front edge of the
divider by means of a hinge frame, permitting pivoting at an angle of, at least,
180 on a vertical axis. The two operating positions of plate 10 are of a nature
in which one side or the other is coplanar with a plane lOa.
The plate or wall 10 is basically dark on both sides, and each side
carries a square ruling of white, vertical lines and white, horizontal lines.
Independently from plate 10, a ruler 3 is also hinged to that divider, for pivot-
ing on a horizontal axis. Moreover, ruler 3 is mounted onto divider 9 in order
to permit up and down sliding; but the ruler can be held (e.g., clamped) in an
adjusted position.
A camera 11 is positioned at a fixed distance Ce.g., three meters) from
the wall; the dash-dotted lines lla denote and delineate the entire field of view
of the camera. It can readily be seen that the divider wall 9 divides that
field of view into two portions: a left and right portion. These portions are
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equal in dimensions. Thus, the camera is positioned in such a way that the opti-
cal axis of the lens intercepts the front edge of wall 9. From a different point
of view, the space between the background wall 7 and the vertical plane lOa,
running parallel thereto and through the front edge of divider 9, constitutes a
stage and field of view of interest for the camera 11. The width of plate 10 is
chosen to cover one-half of that scene or the other, depending upon its position.
In Figure 1, plate 10 covers the right half; upon pivoting at a 180 angle, it
will cover the other half. The camera always sees the entire scene, except that,
in each instance, one half of the scene is covered by plate 10, but the white
ruling lines on the side facing the camera are visible to the camera.
The camera is equipped with a flash light. Moreover, the camera could
be of the instant development variety; but it must permit multiple exposure. The
scene or theatre stage is further equipped with two stands 16 and 17, defining
the exact position a person is to assume on the stage. The stand 16 is construct-
ed in such a way that a person, placing the heels of his (her) shoes against the
curved edges, will stand so that his ~her) back is, on the average, in that plane
lOa delineated by the surface of plate 10 facing the camera when in the alter-
native position. ~nalogously, stand 17 has a disposition which permits the spine
of a person to run through the plane lOa, coinciding with the other surface of
plate 10 in the illustrated position. Of course, a person can only stand in
stand 17 when plate 10 has been pivoted out of the way.
An arm 12 extends obliquely up from wall 9 and supports a horizontally
running, overhanging rail 13, outside the field of view of the camera. A pro-
jector 14 is mounted on a carriage 14a which is suspended from, but runs on, a
rail 13 by means of suitable rolls. The projector 14 has a projection lamp which
is, however, constructed as a flash light. The camera flash and the projection
flash are synchronized with each other.
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The projector 14 is shown in a position, in which projection axis,
while pointing downward, is nevertheless situated in a vertical plane ~hich inter-
cepts the stand 16 centrally. Thus, the projection is a central one as far as
orientation in the horizontal is concerned. The dashed lines 14a delineate the
projection cone. The downward angle of projection is shown to be 45. Actually,
any angle could be used, but one should limit oneself to the range of from 30
to 60 to the horizontal. A 45 angle, however, is clearly preferred.
The projector 14 has an optical system in which the slide side lens is
inclined to the optical axis of the projector. Thus, a slide in the projection
is imaged in a vertical plane without distortion. The projection is particularly
adjusted in order to focus into plane lOa of the surfaces of plate 10 when facing
the camera.
The projector 14 is fastened to a belt, or the like, which is also
connected to one end of a pair of telescoped rods 15. The other end of these
rods is articulated to wall 10. Upon moving plate 10 into the alternative posi-
tion, that belt or band pulls the projector 14, as shown in Figure 1, to the
right to assume the position in front of the right-hand portion of the scenery
in the field of view of the camera. Pivoting of plate 10 causes the rods to
be shifted into each other, at first; but subsequently, the rods drag the projec-
tor to the left. ~en the plate is in the alternative position, rods 15 are
extended again, and they as well as projector 14 have a disposition which re-
presents the mirror image position of the one shown in Figure l; the plane of
symmetry coincides with wall 9. The projector runs on the rail via its rolls,
and the belt or band drive, slaved to the movement of pivot plate 10, is al-most
noiseless and actually very simple. Moreover, the belt or band is dimensioned
to allow the projector to assume the desired, central positions relative to the
the left-hand portion or the right-hand portion of the stage whenever one side
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or the other of plate 10 is coplanar with plane lQa.
As stated, a slide is used for the projection which depicts a line
pattern. The line pattern is such that the line images will be equidistantly
spaced in plane 10. The line pattern should be selected in accordance with the
task at hand. In the present example (a fashion patternl, horizontal lines are
clearly preferred. The line pattern could be supplemented by rows of dots,
whereby each row has one dot in between two lines. The rows may be spaced by a
distance between the twofold and the fivefold value of the line spacing.
As stated, the projector 14 provides a projection zone encompassing
one - half of the scene as observed by camera 11. Due to an orientation of the
projector in which its axis is inclined at a 45 angle to the horizontal, the
line pattern is imaged over the entire height of the scene (Figure 2~ and, for
that half of the scene in the horizontal, not covered by plate 10.
; The inventive equipment as illustrated permits practicing of the inven-
tive method as follows. Beginning with the setup of the equipment as depicted
in Figure 1, the left-hand scene or the stage is made available. A person may
step into stand 16. The right-hand scene is covered by plate 10, the outside
grid pattern being visible to the camera.
Camera 11 is now triggered (shutter release), and the two flash lights
go off. Accordingly, a line pattern is projected onto the person standing in
stand 16 and is photographed therewith. That particular portion covers only one
half of the picture. The other half is exposed to the grid pattern on plate 10.
Next, plate 10 is pivoted to cover the left-hand portion of the scene
and to expose its other side, also carrying a grid pattern, to the camera. As
plate 10 is swung over, tubes 15 are pushed together to some extent and, after
more than 90 have been covered by plate 10, it drags the projector into a central
position at the other side. The final position is reached when tubes 15 are ex-
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tended again and have a position at right angles to plane lOa.
Ncxt, the person steps into or onto stand 17, facing sideways. Now,
the same film frame or plate in camera 11 is exposed again, the two flash lightsbeing duly triggered. The grid pattern on plate 10 is, thereby, superposed upon
the previous back view image of the person, while the side view exposure of the
right-hand scene is also double-exposed, on top of the previously photographed
grid pattern. Thus, by means of two exposures, one has obtained a front view
and a side view of the person; grid patterns are superposed upon both images,
- and the projected line pattern appears on both pictures of this version. The
superposed grid pattern defines directly the scale values of all visible portions
of the person, and the projected line pat*ern establishes, so to speak, a topo-
; graphic map on the visible surface of the person. A composite picture of this
type is shown in Figure 3. A person is shown in a rear view and in a side view.
Grid patterns 1 and 2 of white lines are visible over the entire picture area,
although they originated with different sides of plate 10. The lines may have a
l-cm spacing and every fifth line is accentuated. Scale values may be written
along the margin of plate 10, which will then be visible on the picture. The
lines 1 and 2 of the grids are shown as black lines in the figure for ease of
illustration. They are, in actuality, white; the plate background is black to
avoid interference with the image of the person upon double-exposure.
; Reference numeral 4 refers to the line pattern as projected onto the
body of the person. The lines, as curved, delineate body curves. Bunching of
the lines near reference numeral 5 represents a slight bend in the upper spine
and the neck areas. The picture can now be used for producing patterns for the
manufacture of garments, such as trousers, jackets, dresses, coats, and so forth.
In particular, the picture, including the visible line patterns 4, permits the
generation of personalized garment patterns so that material can be cut for a
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direct and immediate fit. The picture of the back of the photographed person
is, in effect, of a nature that permits three-~dimensional eyaluation. The
picture shows also an image of ruler 3 by means of which one can ascertain, e.g.,
the step length~ The line pattern, as projected, permits also ready recognition
of any uneven and/or projecting shoulder portions, a bent spinal column, and/or
uneven hips. This information is also usable otherwise, e.g. for medical,
therapeutic purposes, to monitor objectively any healing progress following
injury or illness.
It can readily be seen that only two exposures are needed for two
different views of the object (person), and each picture has a superposed grid
pattern in addition to a line pattern. This method is, thus, simpler, more
economical, and much more accurate than the presently known patterns.
Figure 4 illustrates a modification which has certain advantages but
is more expensive. The equipment here includes two projectors, 14a and 14b,
which are mounted in fixed positions, one of each facing the left-hand side
and the right-hand side of the stage. The projectors are again mounted at an
angle as shown in Figure 2; they generally have dispositions which are identical
to the two operating positions of camera 14 in Pigures 1 and 2. One may use the
same slide for both exposures. Of course, the flash lamps of the two projectors
are not triggered at once, but separately for the two exposures. Conceivably,
the two stands, 16 and 17, may be provided with weight-responsive switches in
order to enable a respective projector flash.
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