Nvidia patents method to place cameras for best scene coverage
Nvidia describes a computer method for figuring out where to put cameras in a 3D space. It uses a grid to map out open areas and blocked spots, then calculates the best positions to ensure every important area is visible without wasting camera slots.
In the filing’s own words
Approaches are described for determining camera placement within an environment using a grid-based spatial representation. A grid model is generated to define accessible and inaccessible regions, with connectivity values computed for each grid cell based on the number of unobstructed sightlines in predefined directions. One or more focus points are identified within the grid model based on connectivity analysis to serve as target regions for coverage optimization. A candidate set of camera placement locations is determined by evaluating spatial constraints, occlusion conditions, and predefined placement parameters. A raycasting process is applied to validate camera positions to ensure an unobstructed view of the focus point. Once a camera is placed, its field of view is computed, and an accessibility update is performed to refine placement decisions iteratively. This process continues until all designated areas meet predefined coverage criteria, optimizing scene visibility while minimizing redundant placements and computational overhead.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. A computer-implemented method comprising: generating a spatial representation of an environment that defines accessible and inaccessible regions of the environment; determining connectivity information for a set of locations within spatial representation by analyzing one or more sightlines within the accessible regions in at least one direction; identifying one or more focus points within the spatial representation based at least on the connectivity information; selecting one or more camera placement locations for at least one of the one or more identified focus points based at least on a set of placement constraints; positioning a camera at a selected camera placement location based at least on an amount of visibility coverage of the environment at the location; and updating the spatial representation based at least on a visibility coverage of the positioned camera.
Facts
- Company
- Nvidia (Nvidia Corporation)
- Official title
- DETERMINING CAMERA PLACEMENT FOR OPTIMIZED SCENE COVERAGE USING LIGHT TRANSPORT SIMULATION
- Publication number
- US20260278187A1
- Application number
- 19080481
- Filed
- Mar 14, 2025
- Published
- Sep 17, 2026
- Inventors
- 6
- Claims
- 20
Classified under
G06F 30/13 Physics & computingG06T 15/06 Physics & computingG06T 2210/21 Physics & computingMore from Nvidia in AI & software
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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.