Head-mounted display, display control method, and program

• US 10,685,211 B2
• Filed: 08/02/2016
• Issued: 06/16/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Nakamura, Yuichiro, Okumura, Yasushi
• Primary Examiner(s): Niu, Feng
• Application Number:
  US15/744,341
• Publication Number:
  US 20180204050A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,414 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0127 comprising devices increasing the depth of field
• 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 2027/0167 Emergency system, e.g. to prevent injuries
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/017 Head mounted
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0172 characterised by optical features
• 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: G06T 7/285 using a sequence of stereo image pairs
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/64 Three-dimensional objects

Abstract

A head-mounted display, a display control method, and a program that facilitate a user to understand proximity between the user and an object around the user are provided. A display block (36) is arranged in front of the eyes of the user wearing a HMD (12). In accordance with proximity between the user and an object around the user, the HMD (12) controls the display block (36) so as to have the user visually recognize a forward direction of the display block (36).

Claims

1. A head-mounted display worn by a user, comprising:

a display block arranged in front of eyes of the user for displaying a first video image generated by an entertainment apparatus,

wherein the display block is non-transmissive;

a detection block configured to detect proximity between the user and an object around the user on the basis of one of an image and data generated by an apparatus separate from the head-mounted display;

a control block configured to have the user visually recognize a forward direction of the display block by controlling the display block in accordance with proximity detected by the detection block; and

a camera configured to take an image of a forward direction of the display block,

wherein the display block switches from displaying the first video image to a second video image of the object from the camera when the object is less than a first predetermined distance from the user,

wherein the display block resumes display of the first video image only when the object is greater than a second predetermined distance from the user,

wherein the second predetermined distance is greater than the first predetermined distance.

2. The head-mounted display according to claim 1, wherein

the detection block detects proximity between the user and the object on the basis of a distance between the user and the object that is identified on the basis of one of an image and data generated by the separate apparatus.

3. A display control method comprising:

displaying a game image to a user on a display of a head-mounted display,

wherein the game image is controlled by a user of the head-mounted display;

detecting proximity between the user and an object around the user on the basis of one of an image and data generated by an apparatus separate from the head-mounted display;

replacing the game image with an image of the object captured by a camera if the object is less than a first predetermined distance from the user; and

redisplaying the game image only when the object is greater than a second predetermined distance from the user,

wherein the second predetermined distance is greater than the first predetermined distance.

4. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon a program for a computer, the program comprising:

displaying a game image to a user on a display of a head-mounted display,

wherein the game image is controlled by a user of the head-mounted display;

detecting proximity between the user and an object around the user on the basis of one of an image and data generated by an apparatus separate from the head-mounted display; and

replacing the game image with an image of the object captured by a camera if the object is less than a first predetermined distance from the user; and

redisplaying the game image only when the object is greater than a second predetermined distance from the user,

wherein the second predetermined distance is greater than the first predetermined distance.