Focally-controlled imaging system and method

• US 20040233192A1
• Filed: 05/22/2003
• Published: 11/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Hopper, Stephen A.
• Application Number:
  US10/443,931
• Publication Number:
  US 20040233192A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/419
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/013 Eye tracking input arrangements G06F3/015 takes precedence

Abstract

A focally-controlled imaging system comprises a tracking system adapted to monitor a spatial focal point of a user and a virtual imager adapted to generate a virtual representation of an object for display to the user. The virtual imager is adapted to focalize the virtual representation corresponding to the spatial focal point of the user.

Claims

1. A focally-controlled imaging system, comprising:

a tracking system adapted to monitor a spatial focal point of a user; and

a virtual imager adapted to generate a virtual representation of an object for display to the user, the virtual imager adapted to focalize the virtual representation corresponding to the spatial focal point of the user.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the virtual imager is adapted to focalize one of a plurality of planar interface objects based on the spatial focal point of the user.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a head-mounted tracking device adapted to transmit eye position data relating to the user to the tracking system.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the virtual imager is adapted to transmit the virtual representation to a display environment.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the virtual imager is adapted to transmit the virtual representation to a head-mounted display device.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the virtual imager is adapted to generate a two-dimensional data interface objects for superimposition relative to the virtual representation.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the virtual imager comprises a registration system adapted to correlate eye position data of the user to the spatial focal point.

8. A focally-controlled imaging method, comprising:

obtaining tracking data corresponding to a spatial focal point of a user;

generating a virtual representation of an object for display to the user; and

focalizing the virtual representation corresponding to the spatial focal point of the user.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising transmitting the virtual representation to a display environment.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising transmitting the virtual representation to a head-mounted display device.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein obtaining tracking data comprises obtaining eye position data relating to the user.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein focalizing the virtual representation comprises focalizing one of a plurality of planar interface objects based on the spatial focal point of the user.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising correlating eye position data of the user to the spatial focal point.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein generating the virtual representation of the object comprises generating a two-dimensional data interface object for superimposition relative to the virtual representation.

15. A focally-controlled imaging system, comprising:

means for obtaining eye position data of a user;

means for determining a spatial focal point of the user based on the eye position data; and

means for focalizing a virtual representation of an object for display to the user corresponding to the spatial focal point of the user.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising means for transmitting the virtual representation of the object to a display environment.

17. The system of claim 15, further comprising means for generating a planar interface object for superimposition relative to the virtual representation.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the means for focalizing the virtual representation comprises means for focalizing the planar interface object corresponding to the spatial focal point of the user.

19. The system of claim 15, further comprising means for transmitting the virtual representation of the object to a head-mounted display device.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the means for obtaining the eye position data comprises a head-mounted optical-tracker.