Method of identification and detection of objects via infrared reflectance

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2025164237-A1
Application number	US-202418954088-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 20, 2024
Priority date	Nov 21, 2023
Publication date	May 22, 2025
Grant date	—

Abstract

In an embodiment, an object identification and detection system include an infrared reflectance assembly. The object identification and detection system include one or more infrared light sources and one or more sensors. The light is reflected from the object, and the one or more sensors detect light indicative of the reflected light and generate sensor data. A control system, coupled to the infrared reflectance assembly controls the one or more infrared light sources to illuminate a one transparent object. The control system also receives the sensor data from the one or more sensors and determines a characteristic of the object based on the sensor data. Further, the control system transmits a signal to activate a special effect based on the characteristic.

First claim

1 . An object identification and detection system, comprising:
an infrared reflectance assembly comprising:
one or more infrared light sources configured to illuminate an object; and
one or more sensors configured to detect light from the one or more infrared light sources and to generate sensor data indicative of the reflected light, wherein the light is reflected from the object; and
a control system, wherein the control system is coupled to the infrared reflectance assembly, and wherein the control system is configured to:
control the one or more infrared light sources to illuminate the object;
receive the sensor data from the one or more sensors;
determine a characteristic of the object based on the sensor data; and
transmit a signal to activate a special effect based on the characteristic.

2 . The object identification and detection system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more sensors comprise an infrared camera.

3 . The object identification and detection system of claim 1 , wherein the object is transparent to visible light.

4 . The object identification and detection system of claim 1 , wherein the object is an empty beverage container having exterior walls transparent to visible light.

5 . The object identification and detection system of claim 4 , wherein the exterior walls are at least partially transparent to visible light and at least partially reflective of infrared light.

6 . The object identification and detection system of claim 4 , wherein the light reflected from the object is reflected from the exterior walls of the object, and wherein the light reflected from the object is infrared light.

7 . The object identification and detection system of claim 1 , wherein the infrared light sources are disposed on a stand, and wherein the stand is positioned on a surface.

8 . The object identification and detection system of claim 7 , wherein the infrared light sources disposed on the stand comprise at least one infrared point light source, one or more LED strips, a gridded LED pattern, an infrared-backlit display, or a combination thereof.

9 . The object identification and detection system of claim 1 , wherein the special effect is projected to overlay the object.

10 . The object identification and detection system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more infrared light sources illuminate the object with a structured light projection, and wherein the one or more sensors detect perturbation of the structured light projection.

11 . The object identification and detection system of claim 1 , wherein the characteristic of the object comprises:
a height, a volume, a shape, a position, an identity, or a combination thereof.

12 . A method of operating an object identification and detection system, the method comprising:
controlling, via a control system, one or more infrared light sources to illuminate an object; detecting, via one or more sensors, light reflected from the illuminated object; receiving, via the control system, sensor data from the one or more sensors; determining, via the control system, a characteristic of the object based on the sensor data; and transmitting, via the control system, a signal to activate a special effect based on the characteristic.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the special effect comprises projected or displayed media overlaid on the object.

14 . The method of claim 12 , comprising;
receiving, via a special effects system, the signal to activate the special effect based on the characteristic; in response to receiving the signal, selecting, via one or more processors, the special effect based on the characteristic of the object; and generating, via the special effects system, imagery of the special effect on or near the object.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein determining the characteristic of the object based on the sensor data comprises selecting the object from a group of objects having different sizes or shapes based on the sensor data being characteristic of the selected object.

16 . The method of claim 14 , wherein determining the characteristic of the object uses a machine learning model, wherein one or more correlations between the characteristic of the object and historical object data are identified by the machine learning algorithm, and wherein the one or more correlations are used as training data to update the machine learning model.

17 . An object identification and detection system, comprising:
an infrared reflectance assembly comprising:
one or more infrared light sources configured to illuminate an object; and
one or more sensors configured to detect light from the one or more infrared light sources and to generate sensor data indicative of the reflected light, wherein the light is reflected from the object;
a control system, wherein the control system is coupled to the infrared reflectance assembly, and wherein the control system is configured to:
control the one or more infrared light sources to illuminate a transparent object;
receive the sensor data from the one or more sensors;
determine a characteristic of the object based on the sensor data; and
transmit a signal to activate a special effect; and
a special effect system, wherein the special effect system is configured to:
receive the signal from the control system coupled to the infrared reflectance assembly;
select, via one or more processors, the special effect; and
activate the special effect based on the selection, wherein the special effect comprises imagery generated on or near the object.

18 . The object identification and detection system of claim 17 , wherein the special effect is a Pepper's Ghost effect.

19 . The object identification and detection system of claim 17 , wherein the object is a beverage container having exterior walls at least partially transparent to visible light and at least partially reflective of infrared light.

20 . The object identification and detection system of claim 17 , wherein the infrared light sources are disposed on a stand in a U-shaped formation, and wherein the infrared light sources illuminate the object on multiple sides of the object.

Assignees

• Universal City Studios Llc

Inventors

• Chan Eric To
• Jeromin Aaron Chandler

Classifications

• G01B11/24 Primary

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