Focus control for virtual objects in augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) displays

Number: 9996984
Published: 2018-06-12
Filed: 2016-07-05
Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
Inventors: Haseltine; Eric C.; Goslin; Michael P.; Olson; Joseph L.; Smith; James
CPC: A63F13/211; G06T19/006; G02B27/0093; G06F3/013; G06F1/163; A63F13/25; G02B27/0172; G06T19/20; A63F13/213; G06F3/011
Verdict: Medium Hardware
Source: Google Patents · FreePatentsOnline

The keeper's note

AR/VR display focus control (grant dup).

Abstract

Embodiments described herein include an optical system, and associated method and computer program product. The optical system comprises one or more display devices, and one or more computer processors configured to transmit display signals comprising at least one virtual object for updating imagery displayed by the display devices, and to selectively defocus a focus of the virtual object.

Background

BACKGROUNDField of the Disclosure(1) The present disclosure generally relates to home entertainment, and more specifically to techniques for controlling focus of virtual objects displayed using augmented reality (AR) and/or virtual reality (VR) displays.Description of the Related Art(2) 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.(3) 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 in

Claims

1. An optical system comprising: one or more display devices configured to display imagery; an optical arrangement comprising one or more optical elements, the optical arrangement defining a field of view relative to an optical reference point, wherein the one or more optical elements comprise: a beam-splitter disposed within the field of view and configured to cause the displayed imagery to appear in a focal plane within the field of view; and one or more computer processors configured to: transmit display signals for updating the displayed imagery, wherein the displayed imagery comprises a virtual object having a computed depth; and selectively defocus a focus of the virtual object, wherein selectively defocusing a focus of the virtual object comprises: adjusting a viewer parameter responsive to determining that the computed depth of the virtual object is outside a predetermined eye comfort range defined relative to the focal plane. 11. A method for operating an optical system comprising one or more optical elements that define a field of view relative to an optical reference point, the method comprising: using display signals transmitted by one or more computer processors, updating imagery displayed by one or more display devices, wherein the displayed imagery comprises a virtual object having a computed depth, wherein the displayed imagery appears in a focal plane within the field of view using a beam-splitter of the one or more optical elements; and selectively defocusing, by operation of the one or more computer processors, a focus of the virtual object, wherein selectively defocusing a focus of the virtual object comprises: adjusting a viewer parameter responsive to determining that the computed depth of the virtual object is outside a predetermined eye comfort range defined relative to the focal plane. 16. A computer program product for operating an optical system comprising one or more optical elements that define 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, using generated display signals, imagery displayed by one or more display devices, wherein the displayed imagery comprises a virtual object having a computed depth, wherein the displayed imagery appears in a focal plane within the field of view using a beam-splitter of the one or more optical elements; and selectively defocus a focus of the virtual object, wherein selectively defocusing a focus of the virtual object comprises: adjusting a viewer parameter responsive to determining that the computed depth of the virtual object is outside a predetermined eye comfort range defined relative to the focal plane.