Compact perspectively correct occlusion capable augmented reality displays

Number: 10921593
Published: 2021-02-16
Filed: 2018-03-28
Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
Inventors: Smithwick; Quinn Yorklun Jen, Howlett; Isela D.
CPC: G02B27/0172; G06T19/00
Verdict: Medium Hardware
Source: Google Patents · FreePatentsOnline

The keeper's note

Compact occlusion-capable AR display hardware (Smithwick).

Abstract

Embodiments herein describe AR systems that provide occluded AR content to a user while maintaining the perspective of the user. In one embodiment, the AR system includes an optical cloak that contains a mask display device and an AR display device and one or more focusing elements and a prism for focusing light captured from the user's environment. As the light enters the optical cloak, the mask display device occludes a portion of the user's view to generate a black silhouette. The AR system then combines AR content displayed by the AR display device with the image of the environment such that the location of the AR content overlaps with the location of the black silhouette. Furthermore, the spacing and characteristics of the focusing elements and the prism are set to maintain the perspective of the user as the light passes through the optical cloak.

Background

BACKGROUND Field of the Invention (1) The embodiments herein are generally directed to providing occlusion and maintaining the perspective of the user when displaying augmented reality (AR) content. Description of the Related Art (2) AR displays insert virtual content into real-world views of the user's environment. For example, a user may wear a headset that captures views of the real world and includes a lens and a display device that outputs the AR content. Using a beam-combiner, the headset combines the real-world image passing through the combiner with AR content viewed through the lens, so it appears in focus and at “infinity” (a far distance relative to the headset) before reaching the eye of the user. Thus, the user sees the AR content integrated into the real-world image. However, the appearance of the AR content is typically semi-transparent and cannot occlude the background since the light outputted by the display device combines with the light of the real-world image. Moreover, the AR content cannot display the color black since black is the absence of light, and thus, cannot be emitted by the display device. Put differently, if the any part of the AR content is black, when combined with the real-world image, the user will see only the real-world image at the portions of the AR content that should be black. Thus, occlusion and high-contrast AR content is important for visually integrating AR content and real-world imagery. (3) To improve the appearance of the AR c

Claims

1. An augmented reality (AR) system, comprising: a first focusing element configured to receive light defining a view of a user environment; a mask display screen configured to occlude a selected portion of the view; an AR display screen configured to generate AR content that appears in the view at a location of the occluded selected portion; a prism, wherein the light passes through the prism; and a second focusing element configured to emit the view containing the AR content to a user, wherein an optical path length of the prism and a spacing between the first and second focusing elements is set such that when the received light defining the view exits the AR system, the exiting light propagates in respective first directions that are the same as respective second directions of the received light entering the AR system such that the AR system is perspective correct, wherein the light from the user environment passes through both the first and second focusing elements before reaching the prism. || 8. An AR system, comprising: a first focusing element configured to receive light defining a view of a user environment; a mask display screen configured to occlude a selected portion of the view; an AR display screen configured to generate AR content that appears in the view at a location of the occluded selected portion; a prism, wherein the light passes through the prism; a second focusing element configured to emit the view containing the AR content to a user, wherein an optical path length of the prism and a spacing between the first and second focusing elements is set such that, to a perspective of the user, the first and second focusing elements and the prism do not redirect the light received from the user environment as the light travels through the AR system; and a field lens group collocated at focal planes of the first and second focusing elements. || 15. A method, comprising: receiving light defining a view of a user environment at a first focusing element in an AR system; passing the light received at the first focusing element through a prism; occluding a selected portion of the view to produce a silhouette of AR content in the view; introducing the AR content into the view at a location of the silhouette; and outputting the view containing the AR content at a second focusing element, wherein an optical path length of the prism and a spacing between the first and second focusing elements is set such that when the light defining the view exits the AR system, the exiting light propagates in respective first directions that are the same as respective second directions of the light when entering the AR system, wherein the light from the user environment passes through both the first and second focusing elements before reaching the prism.