Augmented reality system for layering depth on head-mounted displays using external stereo screens

Number: 10659772
Published: 2020-05-19
Filed: 2019-04-23
Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
Inventors: Hager; Joseph George, Pyczynski; Loyal J., Smoot; Lanny S.
CPC: G02B27/0172; H04N13/344; G02B27/14; G02B30/25; H04N13/398; H04N13/363; G02B27/288
Verdict: Low Hardware
Source: Google Patents · FreePatentsOnline

The keeper's note

AR headset depth-layering display hardware.

Abstract

An augmented reality (AR) system that enhances an AR participant's experience by providing a visual effect with added depth. The AR system displays previously achieved by an AR HMD are augmented with a second layer of accessible depth. This added depth is achieved by including, in the AR space/real world environment, external stereo screens upon which 3D stereo content is projected by one or more 3D projectors. The AR HMD is equipped with an external 3D screen viewing assembly so the AR HMD allows an AR participant wearing the AR HMD to view images on the external stereo screens in stereo. The external stereo screens can be used to produce 3D imagery that may differ in depth from the depth of the fixed focal length images displayed to the viewer by the AR HMD. The AR system enlarges the AR participant's simultaneous angular viewing range to 55 to 160 degrees.

Background

BACKGROUND1. Field of the Description(1) The present description relates, in general, to augmented reality (AR) and systems and methods for providing AR experiences to participants. More particularly, the description relates to a new AR system that is adapted to provide imagery and depth beyond the conventional AR imagery that is provided at specific focal distances of each head-mounted display (HMD) of the AR system.2. Relevant Background(2) The use of augmented reality (AR) is rapidly expanding in the entertainment industry, in educational settings, and in commercial or business applications. In brief, AR is an interactive experience of a real world environment where the physical objects that reside in that real world are augmented with computer-generated information. Often, the augmentation will be visual and bring digital images into the AR participant's real world.(3) In most AR systems, a head-mounted display (HMD) is provided for each AR participant. An HMD is a display device worn on the head and has a small display optic in front of each eye. In AR systems, optical HMDs may be used that reflect projected images while also allowing a user to see through the display optics. An optical mixer, which may be made of partly silvered mirrors, may be used to reflect artificial or digital images and let real world images pass through to let a user look through it into the nearby real world. In this way, AR HMDs operate to layer virtual information over a see-through view of th

Claims

1. An augmented reality (AR) system for providing augmenting images at additional depth layers to AR participants, comprising: an AR space; an AR head mounted display (HMD) wearable by an AR participant in the AR space; and in the AR space, a display screen displaying stereo content using a stereo display technology, wherein an optical system in the AR HMD displays to the AR participant wearing the AR HMD objects at an HMD focal distance via transparent displays, and wherein the AR HMD includes an external screen viewing assembly adapted based on the stereo display technology to receive light associated with the displayed stereo content on the display screen and provide left eye content to a left eye of the AR participant wearing the AR HMD and right eye content to a right eye of the AR participant wearing the AR HMD. 13. An augmented reality (AR) system, comprising: an AR space; a first AR head mounted display (HMD) wearable by a first AR participant in the AR space; a second AR HMD wearable by a second AR participant in the AR space; and in the AR space, a display screen displaying stereo content using a stereo display technology, wherein a transparent optical system in each of the first and second AR HMDs displays to the first and second AR participants wearing the first and second AR HMD first and second augmenting images at an HMD focal distance, and wherein each of the first and second AR HMDs includes an external screen viewing assembly adapted based on the stereo display technology to receive light associated with the displayed stereo content on the display screen and provide left eye content to a left eye of the first or second AR participant wearing the first or second AR HMD and right eye content to a right eye of the first or second AR participant wearing the first or second AR HMD. 19. An augmented reality (AR) system for providing augmenting images at additional depth layers to AR participants, comprising: an AR head mounted display (HMD); a projection screen positioned in a space including physical objects viewable through an optical system of the AR HMD; a projector, configured to operate based on a stereo projection technology, projecting stereo content using the stereo projection technology, wherein a transparent optical system in the AR HMD displays to a viewer, wearing the AR HMD, digital augmenting information at an HMD focal distance; and a viewing assembly, provided in the AR HMD and configured to have 3D glasses capability matching the stereo projection technology, selectively transmitting left eye content and right eye content when light from the projection screen during the projecting of the stereo content is received at the AR HMD, wherein the projection screen is positioned in the space a distance from the AR participant that is greater than the HMD focal distance.