OCCLUSION-CAPABLE AUGMENTED REALITY DISPLAY USING CLOAKING OPTICS

Number: 20170299866
Published: 2017-10-19
Filed: 2016-04-14
Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
Inventors: SMITHWICK; Quinn Yorklun Jen
CPC: G02B5/003; G06T19/006; G02B17/008; G02B27/0172
Verdict: High Hardware
Source: Google Patents · FreePatentsOnline

The keeper's note

An AR headset using an optical cloaking system with a mask display and focusing elements to properly occlude virtual content behind real-world objects.

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 containsa mask display device and an AR display device and one or more focusing elements 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 imageof the environment such that the location of the AR content overlaps with the location ofthe black silhouette. Furthermore, the spacing and characteristics of the focusing elements is set to maintain the perspective of the user as the light passes through the optical cloak.

Background

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

So that the manner in which the above recited aspects are attained and can be understood in detail, a more particular description of embodiments of the invention, briefly summarized above, may be had by reference to the appended drawings.

It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments.

FIG. 1is a block diagram of an AR system for maintaining the perspective of the user using an optical cloak, according to one embodiment described herein.

FIGS. 2A-2C illustrate AR systems with a linear optical cloak, according to one embodiment described herein.

FIGS. 3A-3C illustrate AR systems with folded optical cloaks, according to one embodimentdescribed herein.

FIG. 4 illustrates a folded optical cloak, according to one embodiment described herein.

FIG. 5 illustrates a front view of the optical cloak in FIG.4, according to one embodiment described herein.

FIG. 6 illustrates a side view of the optical cloak in FIG. 4, according to one embodiment described herein.

FIG. 7 isa flow chart for providing occluded AR content using a folded optical cloak, according toone embodiment described herein.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments herein describe ARsystems that provide occluded AR content to a user while mainta

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 screenconfigured to occlude a selected portion of the view as the received light passes throughthe mask display screen; an AR display screen configured to generate AR content that appears in the view at a location of the occluded selected portion; and a second focusing element configured to emit the view containing the AR content to a user, wherein a spacing between the first and second focusing elements is set such that the received light defining the view exits the second focusing element as if passing through free space. 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 as the received light passes through the mask display screen; an AR display screen configured to generate AR content that appears in the view at a location of the occluded selected portion; a second focusing element configured to emit the view containing the AR content to a user; and a plurality of reflective surfaces configured to redirect an optical pathof the received light as the received light travels between the first and second focusingelements, wherein the plurality of reflective surfaces fold the optical path. 15. A method, comprising: receiving light defining a view of a user environment at a first focusing element; 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 the location of the silhouette; outputting the view containing the AR content at a second focusing element, wherein a spacing between the first and second focusing elements is set such that the received light defining the view exits the second focusing element as if passing through free space.