Occluded virtual image display

Number: 9922464
Published: 2018-03-20
Filed: 2016-05-10
Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
Inventors: Haseltine; Eric C.; Smithwick; Quinn Yorklun Jen
CPC: G02B27/0172; G06F3/011; G06T19/006; G06F3/012; G02B27/017; G02B30/34
Verdict: Medium Hardware
Source: Google Patents · FreePatentsOnline

The keeper's note

Occluded AR virtual-image display.

Abstract

Embodiments described herein include an augmented reality (AR) optical system, and associated method and computer program product, defining a field of view relative to an optical reference point. The optical system comprises an imagery display configured to display images using a received first display signal, and a beam-splitter disposed within the field of view and configured to cause the displayed images to appear in a first focal plane within the field of view. The optical system further comprises an occluding display disposed within the field of view and configured to display, based on the first display signal, occluding images in a second focal plane nearer to the beam-splitter than the first focal plane, thereby reducing environmental light at the optical reference point for at least a portion of the displayed images.

Background

BACKGROUND(1) Field of the Disclosure(2) The present disclosure generally relates to home entertainment, and more specifically to techniques for providing an augmented reality (AR) display.(3) Description of the Related Art(4) Computer graphics technology has significantly progressed since the first video games were developed. Relatively inexpensive 3D graphics engines now provide nearly photo-realistic interactive game play on hand-held video game, home video game, and personal computer hardware platforms costing only a few hundred dollars. These video game systems typically include a hand-held controller, game controller, or, in the case of a hand-held video game platform, an integrated controller. A user interacts with the controller to send commands or other instructions to the video game system to control a video game or other simulation. For example, the controller may include a joystick and buttons operated by the user.(5) While video games allow the user to interact directly with the video game system, such interactions primarily influence the graphical depiction shown on the video game device (or on a connected display), and rarely influence any other objects outside of the virtual world. That is, a user may specify an input to the video game system, indicating that the user's avatar should perform a jump action, and in response the video game system could display the user's avatar jumping. However, such interactions are typically limited to the virtual world, and an

Claims

1. An augmented reality (AR) optical system defining a field of view relative to an optical reference point, the optical system comprising: an imagery display configured to display images using a received first display signal; a beam-splitter disposed within the field of view and configured to cause the displayed images to appear in a first focal plane within the field of view; and an occluding display disposed within the field of view and configured to display, based on the first display signal, occluding images in a second focal plane nearer to the beam-splitter than the first focal plane, thereby reducing environmental light at the optical reference point for at least a portion of the displayed images. 8. A method for operating an augmented reality (AR) optical system for a viewer within an environment, the viewer having a field of view, the method comprising: updating an imagery display using a first display signal, the imagery display configured to display images that are coupled by a beam-splitter into the field of view, the displayed images appearing in a first focal plane relative to the viewer; and updating, in synchronization with updating the imagery display, an occluding display based on the first display signal, the occluding display disposed within the field of view and configured to display occluding images in a second focal plane nearer to the viewer than the first focal plane, thereby reducing environmental light viewed by the viewer for at least a portion of the displayed images. 15. A computer program product for operating an augmented reality (AR) optical system defining a field of view relative to an optical reference point, the computer program product comprising: a computer-readable device having computer-readable program code embodied therewith, the computer-readable program code executable by one or more computer processors to: update an imagery display using a first display signal, the imagery display configured to display images that are caused by a beam-splitter to appear in a first focal plane within the field of view; and update, in synchronization with updating the imagery display, an occluding display based on the first display signal, the occluding display disposed within the field of view and configured to display occluding images in a second focal plane nearer to the beam-splitter than the first focal plane, thereby reducing environmental light at the optical reference point for at least a portion of the displayed images.