Augmented reality (AR) gaming system with sight lines to other players

Number: 10300389
Published: 2019-05-28
Filed: 2017-08-17
Assignee: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
Inventors: Ackley; Jonathan, Smoot; Lanny S.
CPC: A63F13/65; A63F13/90; A63F13/843; A63F13/525; A63F13/27; A63F13/213; A63F13/25; A63F13/211; A63F13/216; G06T19/006; H04N13/363; H04N13/368; H04N13/334; G02B27/0101; H04N13/341; A63F13/285; H04N13/337; G02B5/30
Verdict: Medium Notable software
Source: Google Patents · FreePatentsOnline

The keeper's note

AR gaming system with sight lines to other players.

Abstract

An augmented reality (AR) gaming system of the present description includes 3D eyewear for each player that allows the player wearing the 3D eyewear to view the surrounding physical space. The 3D eyewear in conjunction with operation of a 3D display assembly of the AR gaming system allows the player to see other players while they also perceive 3D augmentation content that is rendered based on that particular player's tracked location. For example, the 3D augmentation content may include a game object that moves about the virtual gaming environment/space during the game as two (or more) players play the game such as by interacting with the game object via movement of their hand(s) with the movement/location being tracked. The AR gaming system generates the 3D augmentation content to correctly represent the present location of the game object relative to their location and view point.

Background

BACKGROUND1. Field of the Description(1) The present description relates, in general, to augmented reality (AR) systems and their uses to generate unique gaming experiences, and, more particularly, to systems and methods for providing a two (or more) player 3D gaming experience in which the two (or more) players can compete against each other or play with each other in the AR world or environment while being able to see their opponent or co-player (or opponents or co-players).2. Relevant Background(2) Virtual reality (VR) is a computer technology that uses VR headsets, sometimes in combination with physical spaces or multi-projected environments, to generate realistic images, sounds, and other sensations that simulate a user's physical presence in a virtual or imaginary environment. A person using virtual reality equipment is able to “look around” the artificial world, and, with high quality VR technologies, to move about in it and interact with virtual features in the VR space. VR headsets are head-mounted goggles with a screen in front of the eyes, and VR programs may include audio and sounds through speakers or headphones. The gaming industry has been quick to adopt VR technologies and to create VR-based gaming systems, and these include haptic systems providing physical feedback to the player as they interact with their VR gaming environment.(3) One ongoing challenge for creators of games and systems is how best to allow the participants to view another participant in the

Claims

1. A system for providing an augmented reality (AR) experience for two or more participants, comprising: a first player space; a second player space; first three dimensional (3D) eyewear wearable by a first participant in the first player space; second 3D eyewear wearable by a second participant in the second player space; a 3D display assembly positioned between the first and second player spaces, wherein light from the second player space passes through the 3D display assembly and the first 3D eyewear whereby the first participant is able to view the second participant, wherein light from the first player space passes through the 3D display assembly and the second 3D eyewear whereby the second participant is able to view the first participant, wherein the 3D display assembly projects 3D content generated for the first participant from a first side into the first player space and projects 3D content generated for the second participant from a second side into the second player space, and wherein the 3D display assembly comprises: a projection screen positioned between the first and second player spaces with a first side facing the first player space and a second side facing the second player space; a first 3D projector projecting the 3D content generated for the first participant upon the first side of the projection screen; and a second 3D projector projecting the 3D content generated for the second participant upon the second side of the projection screen, wherein the first and second 3D eyewear each comprises 3D shutter glasses and wherein the first and second 3D projectors are operated with time multiplexing relative to each other and to alternate between displaying left and right eye images and with synchronized operations with the 3D shutter glasses to deliver the left and right eye images to left and right eyes of the first and second participants. | 9. A system for providing an augmented reality (AR) experience for two or more participants, comprising: a first player space; a second player space; first three dimensional (3D) eyewear wearable by a first participant in the first player space; second 3D eyewear wearable by a second participant in the second player space; a 3D display assembly positioned between the first and second player spaces, wherein light from the second player space passes through the 3D display assembly and the first 3D eyewear whereby the first participant is able to view the second participant, wherein light from the first player space passes through the 3D display assembly and the second 3D eyewear whereby the second participant is able to view the first participant, wherein the 3D display assembly projects 3D content generated for the first participant from a first side into the first player space and projects 3D content generated for the second participant from a second side into the second player space, and wherein the 3D display assembly comprises: a projection screen positioned between the first and second player spaces with a first side facing the first player space and a second side facing the second player space; a first notch filter 3D projector projecting the 3D content generated for the first participant upon the first side of the projection screen; and a second notch filter 3D projector projecting the 3D content generated for the second participant upon the second side of the projection screen, wherein the first and second 3D eyewear each comprises RGB notch filters corresponding to output light from the first and second notch filter 3D projectors, respectively. | 10. A system for providing an augmented reality (AR) experience for two or more participants, comprising: a first player space; a second player space; first three dimensional (3D) eyewear wearable by a first participant in the first player space; second 3D eyewear wearable by a second participant in the second player space; a 3D display assembly positioned between the first and second player spaces, wherein light from the second player space passes through the 3D display assembly and the first 3D eyewear whereby the first participant is able to view the second participant, wherein light from the first player space passes through the 3D display assembly and the second 3D eyewear whereby the second participant is able to view the first participant, wherein the 3D display assembly projects 3D content generated for the first participant from a first side into the first player space and projects 3D content generated for the second participant from a second side into the second player space, and wherein the 3D display assembly comprises: a projection screen positioned between the first and second player spaces with a first side facing the first player space and a second side facing the second player space, wherein the projection screen comprises an LCD display panel without a backlight sandwiched between first and second variable transparency films providing the first and second sides, respectively; a first illuminator projecting white light onto the second side of the projection screen when the 3D content generated for the first participant is being displayed on the LCD display panel and the second variable transparency film is operated to be translucent-to-opaque; and a second illuminator projecting white light onto the first side of the projection screen when the 3D content generated for the second participant is being displayed on the LCD display panel and the first variable transparency film is operated to be translucent-to-opaque; wherein the first and second 3D eyewear each comprises 3D shutter glasses and wherein the first and second illuminators are operated with time multiplexing relative to each other and with synchronized operations with the 3D shutter glasses to deliver left and right eye images to left and right eyes of the first and second participants. | 11. A system for providing an augmented reality (AR) experience for two or more participants, comprising: a first player space; a second player space; first three dimensional (3D) eyewear wearable by a first participant in the first player space; second 3D eyewear wearable by a second participant in the second player space; a 3D display assembly positioned between the first and second player spaces, wherein light from the second player space passes through the 3D display assembly and the first 3D eyewear whereby the first participant is able to view the second participant, wherein light from the first player space passes through the 3D display assembly and the second 3D eyewear whereby the second participant is able to view the first participant, wherein the 3D display assembly projects 3D content generated for the first participant from a first side into the first player space and projects 3D content generated for the second participant from a second side into the second player space, and wherein the 3D display assembly comprises: a beamsplitter positioned at an angle between the first and second player spaces with a first side facing the first player space and a second side facing the second player space; a first display surface displaying the 3D content generated for the first participant upon the first side of the beamsplitter; and a second display surface displaying the 3D content generated for the second participant upon the second side of the beamsplitter. | 12. A system for providing an augmented reality (AR) experience, comprising: first three dimensional (3D) eyewear wearable by a first participant; second 3D eyewear wearable by a second participant; and a 3D display assembly, wherein the 3D display assembly is configured to provide lines of sight between the first and second participants, wherein the 3D display assembly projects 3D content generated for the first participant from a first side into the first player space and projects 3D content generated for the second participant from a second side into the second player space, and wherein the 3D display assembly comprises: a projection screen positioned between the first and second participants with a first side facing the first participant and a second side facing the second participant; a first 3D projector projecting the 3D content generated for the first participant upon the first side of the projection screen; and a second 3D projector projecting the 3D content generated for the second participant upon the second side of the projection screen, wherein the participants wear 3D shutter glasses and wherein the first and second 3D projectors are operated with time multiplexing relative to each other and to alternate between displaying left and right eye images and with synchronized operations with the 3D shutter glasses to deliver the left and right eye images to left and right eyes of the first and second participants. | 16. A system for providing an augmented reality (AR) experience, comprising: first three dimensional (3D) eyewear wearable by a first participant; second 3D eyewear wearable by a second participant; and a 3D display assembly, wherein the 3D display assembly is configured to provide lines of sight between the first and second participants, wherein the 3D display assembly projects 3D content generated for the first participant from a first side into the first player space and projects 3D content generated for the second participant from a second side into the second player space, and wherein the 3D display assembly comprises: a projection screen positioned between the first and second participants with a first side facing the first participant and a second side facing the second participant; a first notch filter 3D projector projecting the 3D content generated for the first participant upon the first side of the projection screen; and a second notch filter 3D projector projecting the 3D content generated for the second participant upon the second side of the projection screen, wherein the first and second participants wear RGB notch filters corresponding to output light from the first and second notch filter 3D projectors, respectively. | 17. A system for providing an augmented reality (AR) experience, comprising: first three dimensional (3D) eyewear wearable by a first participant; second 3D eyewear wearable by a second participant; and a 3D display assembly, wherein the 3D display assembly is configured to provide lines of sight between the first and second participants, wherein the 3D display assembly projects 3D content generated for the first participant from a first side into the first player space and projects 3D content generated for the second participant from a second side into the second player space, and wherein the 3D display assembly comprises: a projection screen positioned between the first and second participants with a first side facing the first participant and a second side facing the second participant, wherein the projection screen comprises an LCD display panel without a backlight sandwiched between first and second variable transparency films providing the first and second sides, respectively; a first illuminator projecting white light onto the second side of the projection screen when the 3D content generated for the first participant is being displayed on the LCD display panel and the second variable transparency film is operated to be translucent-to-opaque; and a second illuminator projecting white light onto the first side of the projection screen when the 3D content generated for the second participant is being displayed on the LCD display panel and the first variable transparency film is operated to be translucent-to-opaque; wherein the first and second 3D eyewear each comprises 3D shutter glasses and wherein the first and second illuminators are operated with time multiplexing relative to each other and with synchronized operations with the 3D shutter glasses to deliver left and right eye images to left and right eyes of the first and second participants. | 18. A system for providing an augmented reality (AR) experience, comprising: first three dimensional (3D) eyewear wearable by a first participant; second 3D eyewear wearable by a second participant; and a 3D display assembly, wherein the 3D display assembly is configured to provide lines of sight between the first and second participants, wherein the 3D display assembly projects 3D content generated for the first participant from a first side into the first player space and projects 3D content generated for the second participant from a second side into the second player space, and wherein the 3D display assembly comprises: a beamsplitter positioned at an angle between the first and second participants with a first side facing the first participant and a second side facing the second participant; a first display surface displaying the 3D content generated for the first participant upon the first side of the beamsplitter; and a second display surface displaying the 3D content generated for the second participant upon the second side of the beamsplitter.