Method and apparatus for configuring screen for virtual reality

• US 10,595,011 B2
• Filed: 08/28/2015
• Issued: 03/17/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Han, Woo-Jung, Hong, Seung-Hwan, Kim, So-Ra, Yoon, Seo-Young
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Benjamin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Neupane, Krishna P
• Application Number:
  US14/838,905
• Publication Number:
  US 20160065952A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,663 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/19 Sensors therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/194 Transmission of image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/279 the virtual viewpoint locations being selected by the viewers or determined by tracking
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/327 Calibration thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/344 with head-mounted left-right displays

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses are provided for configuring a screen of an electronic device. A first object, corresponding to a left eye of a user of the electronic device, and a second object, corresponding to a right eye of the user, are displayed on the screen. A threshold distance is obtained, which is one of a minimum distance and a maximum distance between the first object and the second object at which an image, corresponding to the first object and the second object, is properly viewed by the user. An interpupillary distance (IPD) is determined between the first eye and the second eye based on the threshold distance.

Claims

1. A method for controlling an electronic device, the method comprising:

displaying, on a display of the electronic device, an image comprising a first object corresponding to a left eye of a user of the electronic device, and a second object corresponding to a right eye of the user;

gradually adjusting a distance between the first object and the second object through subsequently displayed images on the display;

gradually adjusting a size of each of the first object and the second object as a distance between the first object and the second object is adjusted, wherein, as the distance decreases, the size of each of the first object and the second object increases, and as the distance increases, the size of each of the first object and the second object decreases;

receiving a threshold distance between the first object and the second object, which is one of a minimum distance and a maximum distance between the first object and the second object for forming an image corresponding to the first object and the second object, while gradually adjusting the distance between the first object and the second object, wherein the image is formed at a point where a straight line passing through a left eye of a user and the first object crosses a straight line passing through a right eye of the user and the second object; and

determining an interpupillary distance (IPD) between the left eye and the right eye of the user corresponding to the received threshold distance between the first object and the second object.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a distance adjustment command for gradually adjusting the distance between the first object and the second object.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein gradually adjusting the distance between the first object and the second object comprises adjusting and displaying the distance between the first object and the second object based on the received distance adjustment command.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the IPD between the left eye and the right eye of the user comprises:

obtaining a standard IPD and a standard threshold distance; and

determining the IPD between the left eye and the right eye of the user based on the standard IPD, the standard threshold distance, and the received threshold distance.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

correcting a virtual reality (VR) image stored in the electronic device based on the determined IPD between the left eye and the right eye of the user, when the user uses a VR application; and

displaying the corrected VR image based on the determined IPD between the left eye and the right eye of the user.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising updating an IPD value of a virtual reality (VR) application based on the determined IPD between the left eye and the right eye of the user, when the user uses the VR application.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying a grid-shaped reference object proximate to the image.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying two cross-shaped (+) objects respectively corresponding to the left eye and the right eye.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing user identification information of the user and the IPD between the left eye and the right eye of the user in association with each other.

10. An electronic device, comprising:

a display configured to display an image comprising a first object corresponding to a left eye of a user of the electronic device, and a second object corresponding to a right eye of the user on a display of the electronic device; and

a controller configured to;

gradually adjust a distance between the first object and the second object through subsequently displayed images on the display,

gradually adjusting a size of each of the first object and the second object as a distance between the first object and the second object is adjusted, wherein, as the distance decreases, the size of each of the first object and the second object increases, and as the distance increases, the size of each of the first object and the second object decreases,

receive a threshold distance between the first object and the second object, which is one of a minimum distance and a maximum distance between the first object and the second object for forming an image corresponding to the first object and the second object, while gradually adjusting the distance between the first object and the second object, wherein the image is formed at a point where a straight line passing through a left eye of a user and the first object crosses a straight line passing through a right eye of the user and the second object, and

determine an interpupillary distance (IPD) between the left eye and the right eye of the user corresponding to the received threshold distance between the first object and the second object.

11. The electronic device of claim 10, whether the controller is further configured to receive a distance adjustment command for adjusting the distance between the first object and the second object.

12. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the controller is further configured to gradually adjust and display the distance between the first object and the second object based on the received distance adjustment command.

13. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the controller is further configured to obtain a standard IPD and a standard threshold distance, and determine the IPD between the left eye and the right eye of the user based on the standard IPD, the standard threshold distance, and the received threshold distance.

14. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the controller is further configured to:

correct a virtual reality (VR) image stored in the electronic device based on the determined IPD between the left eye and the right eye of the user, when the user uses a VR application; and

control the display to display the corrected VR image based on the determined IPD between the left eye and the right eye of the user.

15. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the controller is further configured to update an IPD value of a virtual reality (VR) application based on the determined IPD between the left eye and the right eye of the user.

16. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the display is further configured to display a grid-shaped reference object proximate to the image.

17. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the display is further configured to display two cross-shaped (+) objects respectively corresponding to the left eye and the right eye.

18. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a virtual reality (VR) application including a first interpupillary distance (IPD), the VR application:

displaying, on a display of an electronic device, in image comprising a first object corresponding to a left eye of a user of the electronic device, and a second object corresponding to a right eye of a user of the electronic device;

gradually adjusting a distance between the first object and the second object through subsequently displayed images on the display;

gradually adjusting a size of each of the first object and the second object as a distance between the first object and the second object is adjusted, wherein, as the distance decreases, the size of each of the first object and the second object increases, and as the distance increases, the size of each of the first object and the second object decreases;

receiving a threshold distance between the first object and the second object, which is one of a minimum distance and a maximum distance between the first object and the second object for forming an image corresponding to the first object and the second object, while gradually adjusting the distance between the first object and the second object, wherein the image is formed at a point where a straight line passing through a left eye of a user and the first object crosses a straight line passing through a right eye of the user and the second object;

determining a second IPD between the left eye and the right eye corresponding to the received threshold distance between the first object and the second object;

updating the first IPD to the second IPD; and

displaying a VR image stored in the electronic device based on the second IPD.