System and Method for Controlling a Virtual Reality Environment by an Actor in the Virtual Reality Environment

• US 20100039377A1
• Filed: 01/22/2008
• Published: 02/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Textron Innovations Incorporated (Textron Inc)
• Original Assignee: Textron Innovations Incorporated (Textron Inc)
• Inventors: Valentino, John, Bothwell, Christopher Michael, Lewis, George Steven
• Granted Patent: US 9,013,396 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/012 Head tracking input arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/014 Hand-worn input/output arrangements, e.g. data gloves
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04815 Interaction with a metaphor-based environment or interaction object displayed as three-dimensional, e.g. changing the user viewpoint with respect to the environment or object
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials

Abstract

A motion capture environment includes at least one sensor-tracker for tracking a location of a tracked object within the motion capture environment and one or more computers collectively operable to generate a virtual reality environment including a virtual control panel having a virtual control that, when actuated, effects a predetermined result in the virtual reality environment; determine a virtual location of the tracked object within the virtual reality environment; and determine when the virtual location of the tracked object coincides with the location of the virtual control to actuate the virtual control. The motion capture environment further includes a display device for displaying the virtual reality environment to an actor within the motion capture environment.

Claims

1. A motion capture environment, comprising:

at least one sensor-tracker for tracking a location of a tracked object within the motion capture environment;

one or more computers collectively operable to;

generate a virtual reality environment including a virtual control panel having a virtual control that, when actuated, effects a predetermined result in the virtual reality environment;

determine a virtual location of the tracked object within the virtual reality environment; and

determine when the virtual location of the tracked object coincides with the location of the virtual control to actuate the virtual control; and

a display device for displaying the virtual reality environment to an actor within the motion capture environment.

2. The motion capture environment, according to claim 1, wherein the one or more computers are collectively operable to provide information to the actor via the virtual control panel.

3. The motion capture environment, according to claim 2, wherein the information concerns a computer-generated simulation.

4. The motion capture environment, according to claim 2, wherein the information is textual.

5. The motion capture environment, according to claim 2, wherein the information is graphical.

6. The motion capture environment, according to claim 1, wherein the virtual control is a virtual button.

7. The motion capture environment, according to claim 1, wherein the virtual control is a virtual knob.

8. The motion capture environment, according to claim 1, wherein the virtual control is a virtual switch.

9. The motion capture environment, according to claim 1, wherein the one or more computers are collectively operable to generate a virtual ruler for measuring distances in the virtual reality environment.

10. The motion capture environment, according to claim 1, wherein the tracked object is attachable to the actor.

11. The motion capture environment, according to claim 1, wherein the tracked object is a portion of a glove.

12. A method for controlling a virtual reality environment by an actor in the virtual reality environment, the method comprising:

generating a virtual reality environment including a virtual control panel having a virtual control that, when actuated, effects a predetermined result in the virtual reality environment;

displaying the virtual reality environment to an actor participating in the virtual reality environment;

determining a virtual location of a tracked object within the virtual reality environment; and

determining when the virtual location of the tracked object coincides with the location of the virtual control to actuate the virtual control.

13. The method, according to claim 12, further comprising:

providing information to the actor via the virtual control panel.

14. The method, according to claim 13, wherein the information concerns a computer-generated simulation.

15. The method, according to claim 13, wherein providing information to the actor is accomplished by providing textual information to the actor.

16. The method, according to claim 13, wherein providing information to the actor is accomplished by providing graphical information to the actor.

17. The method, according to claim 12, wherein the virtual control is a virtual button.

18. The method, according to claim 12, wherein the virtual control is a virtual knob.

19. The method, according to claim 12, wherein the virtual control is a virtual switch.

20. The method, according to claim 12, further comprising:

generating a virtual ruler for measuring distances in the virtual reality environment.

21. The method, according to claim 12, wherein determining the virtual location of the tracked object within the virtual reality environment is accomplished by tracking an object operably associated with the actor.

22. The method, according to claim 12, wherein the object operably associated with the actor is a portion of a glove.

23. Software for generating a virtual reality environment, the software embodied in a computer-readable medium and when executed operable to:

generate a virtual reality environment including a virtual control panel having a virtual control that, when actuated, effects a predetermined result in the virtual reality environment;

display the virtual reality environment to an actor participating in the virtual reality environment;

determine a virtual location of a tracked object within the virtual reality environment; and

determine when the virtual location of the tracked object coincides with the location of the virtual control to actuate the virtual control.

24. The software, according to claim 23, further operable to provide information to the actor via the virtual control panel.