Pressure sensing to identify fitness and comfort of virtual reality headset

• US 10,359,806 B2
• Filed: 03/28/2016
• Issued: 07/23/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Osman, Steven
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Chanh D
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kiyabu, Karin
• Application Number:
  US15/082,335
• Publication Number:
  US 20170277254A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,212 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/211 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/212 using sensors worn by the player, e.g. for measuring heart beat or leg activity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/213 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. cameras, photodiodes or infrared cells A63F13/219, A63F13/655 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/218 using pressure sensors, e.g. generating a signal proportional to the pressure applied by the player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/25 Output arrangements for video game devices
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/285 Generating tactile feedback signals via the game input device, e.g. force feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/32 using local area network [LAN] connections
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/327 using wireless networks, e.g. Wi-Fi® or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/33 using wide area network [WAN] connections
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/335 using Internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/533 for prompting the player, e.g. by displaying a game menu
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/85 Providing additional services to players
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1087 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. a camera
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/405 being a wireless ad hoc network, e.g. Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Pico net
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/407 Data transfer via internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8082 Virtual reality
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0138 comprising image capture systems, e.g. camera
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/014 comprising information/image processing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0178 Eyeglass type eyeglass details G02C
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/017 Head mounted
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0172 : characterised by optical features
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 : Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1686 : the I/O peripheral being an integrated camera
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3231 : Monitoring the presence, absence or movement of users
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3234 : Power saving characterised by the action undertaken
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3265 : Power saving in display device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 : Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/013 : Eye tracking input arrangements G06F3/015 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 : Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 : Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 : Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

A sensor generates signals representing whether a computer game headset is being worn properly so that the wearer may be advised. The sensor may be a pressure sensor or motion sensor or stretch sensor on the headset, or it may be a camera that images the wearer and uses image recognition to determine if the headset is on correctly.

Claims

1. A device, comprising:

at least one computer memory that is not a transitory signal and that comprises instructions executable by at least one processor to;

receive a signal from at least one sensor;

compare the signal from the sensor to a reference;

based on the comparison of the signal from the sensor to the reference, output a first signal representing whether a virtual reality (VR) or augmented reality (AR) headset is being worn; and

based at least in part on the first signal, output feedback keyed to content of a computer simulation being played by a wearer of the headset such that first feedback is output based on the first signal for first content of the computer simulation and second feedback is output based on the first signal for second content of the computer simulation; and

alert the wearer of the headset to adjust the headset based at least in part on the second content.

2. The device of claim 1, comprising the at least one processor configured to communicate with the at least one computer memory to execute the instructions.

3. The device of claim 1, comprising the headset configured to play the first and second content.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor is a pressure sensor mounted on the headset and the reference is a pressure reference.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor is a motion sensor mounted on the headset and the reference is a motion reference.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor is a strain gage mounted on the headset and the reference is a strain reference.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor is a stretch sensor mounted on the headset and the reference is a stretch reference.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor includes a camera imaging a wearer of the headset, and the reference includes an image recognition template.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the instructions are executable to select a first reference to compare the signal from the sensor to responsive to a wearer of the headset having a first physical trait and a second reference to compare the signal from the sensor to responsive to the wearer having a second physical trait.

10. A method, comprising:

receiving respective first and second signals from at least first and second sensors on a virtual reality (VR) or augmented reality (AR) headset communicating computer content to a person indicating whether the headset is being worn by the person;

responsive to receiving the first and second signals, determining whether the headset is being worn by the person;

outputting a third signal representing whether the headset is being worn based on comparison of the first and second signals to at least one reference;

based at least in part on the third signal, output a feedback keyed to content of a computer simulation being played by the Person such that first feedback is output based on the third signal for first content of the computer simulation and second feedback is output based on the third signal for second content of the computer simulation; and

alerting the person wearing the headset to adjust the headset based at least in part on the second content.

11. The method of claim 10, comprising:

responsive to a determination that the headset is not being worn by a person, sending from the headset to a component external to the headset a signal representative thereof.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the signal is a command to redirect video presentation to a display other than the headset.

13. An assembly, comprising:

a virtual reality (VR) or augmented reality (AR) headset wearable by a person;

at least one processor; and

at least one storage with instructions executable by the processor to;

receive a signal from at least one sensor;

compare the signal from the sensor to a reference;

based on the comparison of the signal from the sensor to the reference, output a first signal representing whether the headset is being worn;

based at least in part on the first signal, output feedback keyed to content of a computer simulation being played by a wearer of the headset such that first feedback is output based on the first signal for first content of the computer simulation and second feedback is output based on the first signal for second content of the computer simulation; and

generate an alert to the wearer of the headset to adjust the headset based at least in part on the second content.

14. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the alert is audible.

15. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the alert is visible.

16. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the alert is tactile.

17. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the at least one sensor is a pressure sensor mounted on the headset.

18. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the at least one sensor is a motion sensor mounted on the headset.

19. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the at least one sensor includes a camera imaging a wearer of the headset.

20. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the instructions are executable for:

responsive to a determination, based on the signal, that the headset is not being worn by a person, automatically configuring the headset in a power conservation mode or deenergizing the headset.