SPATIAL POSITION CALCULATION SYSTEM FOR OBJECTS IN VIRTUAL REALITY OR AUGMENTED REALITY ENVIRONMENT

Number: 20190180516
Published: 2019-06-13
Filed: 2017-12-12
Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
Inventors: Chapman; Steven, Hager; Joseph, Popp; Joseph, Agyemang; Calis, Patel; Mehul
CPC: G06T19/20; G01S17/89; G01S17/04; G01S7/4817; G01S7/4814; G06T19/006
Verdict: Medium Notable software
Source: Google Patents · FreePatentsOnline

The keeper's note

Spatial position calculation for objects in VR/AR (LIDAR sensing).

Abstract

A user control apparatus has a laser emitter that emits a laser beam in a real-world environment. Further, the user control apparatus has an optical element that receives the laser beam and generates a plurality of laser beams such that a starting point and a plurality of endpoints, each corresponding to one of the plurality of laser beams, form a laser frustum. In addition, the user control apparatus has an image capture device that captures an image of a shape of the laser frustum based on a reflection of the plurality of laser beams from an object in the real-world environment so that a spatial position of the object in the real-world environment is determined for an augmented reality or virtual reality user experience.

Background

BACKGROUND1. Field

This disclosure generally relates to the field of user experiences. More particularly, the disclosure relates to a virtual reality (“VR”) and/or an augmented reality (“AR”) environment.2. General Background

VR and AR configurations typically involve a determination of user control and consumption devices (e.g., a remote control) with respect to three-dimensional (“3-D”) locations of objects in the real world. Such configurations thereby allow for an augmented user experience. Yet, multiple sensors and transmitters are often used in current configurations to perform such analyses. The multitude of sensors and transmitters often leads to a cumbersome and expensive user experience. As a result, current configurations do not provide an optimal VR and/or AR user experience.SUMMARY

In one aspect, a user control apparatus has a laser emitter that emits a laser beam in a real-world environment. Further, the user control apparatus has an optical element that receives the laser beam and generates a plurality of laser beams such that a starting point and a plurality of endpoints, each corresponding to one of the plurality of laser beams, form a laser frustum. In addition, the user control apparatus has an image capture device that captures an image of a shape of the laser frustum based on a reflection of the plurality of laser beams from an object in the real-world environment so that a spatial position of the object in the real-world environment is

Claims

1. A user control apparatus comprising: a laser emitter that emits a laser beam in a real-world environment; an optical element that receives the laser beam and generates a plurality of laser beams such that a starting point and a plurality of endpoints, each corresponding to one of the plurality of laser beams, form a laser frustum; and an image capture device that captures an image of a shape of the laser frustum based on a reflection of the plurality of laser beams from an object in the real-world environment so that a spatial position of the object in the real-world environment is determined for an augmented reality or virtual reality user experience. | 9. A system comprising: a storage device that stores one or more dimensions of a real-world environment; a receiver that receives an image of a shape of a laser frustum based on a plurality of laser beams being emitted toward, and reflected from, an object in the real-world environment; and a processor that determines a spatial position of the object in the real-world environment based on the one or more dimensions of the real-world environment and the shape of the laser frustum, the spatial position of the object being determined for an augmented reality or virtual reality user experience. | 16. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable storage device having a computer readable program stored thereon, wherein the computer readable program when executed on a computer causes the computer to: store, at a storage device, one or more dimensions of a real-world environment; receive, at a receiver, an image of a shape of a laser frustum based on a plurality of laser beams being emitted toward, and reflected from, an object in the real-world environment; and determine, with a processor, a spatial position of the object in the real-world environment based on the one or more dimensions of the real-world environment and the shape of the laser frustum, the spatial position of the object being determined for an augmented reality or virtual reality user experience.