HEAD TRACKING EYEWEAR SYSTEM

• US 20150350635A1
• Filed: 08/10/2015
• Published: 12/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: zSpace Inc.
• Original Assignee: zSpace Inc.
• Inventors: Tu, Jerome C., Chavez, David A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,473,763 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/30 Image reproducers optical systems for producing stereoscopic or other three-dimensional effects G02B30/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/349 Multi-view displays for displaying three or more geometrical viewpoints without viewer tracking for viewing without the aid of special glasses using fly-eye lenses H04N13/307
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/366 using viewer tracking
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/398 Synchronisation thereof; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2213/008 Aspects relating to glasses for viewing stereoscopic images

Abstract

In some embodiments, a system for tracking with reference to a three-dimensional display system may include a display device, an image processor, a surface including at least three emitters, at least two sensors, a processor. The display device may image, during use, a first stereo three-dimensional image. The surface may be positionable, during use, with reference to the display device. At least two of the sensors may detect, during use, light received from at least three of the emitters as light blobs. The processor may correlate, during use, the assessed referenced position of the detected light blobs such that a first position/orientation of the surface is assessed. The image processor may generate, during use, the first stereo three-dimensional image using the assessed first position/orientation of the surface with reference to the display. The image processor may generate, during use, a second stereo three-dimensional image using an assessed second position/orientation of the surface with reference to the display.

Claims

1. A system for tracking with reference to a three-dimensional display system, comprising:

a display device which images, during use, a first stereo three-dimensional image;

a surface comprising at least three emitters, wherein the surface is configured to be positioned with reference to the display device;

at least two sensors coupled to the display device in a known position and orientation referenced to the display device, wherein the at least two sensors are configured to detect light received from the at least three of the emitters;

a processor coupled to the at least two sensors, wherein the processor is configured to;

assess a referenced position of the detected light;

correlate the assessed referenced position of the detected light for each of the at least two sensors such that a first position/orientation of the surface with reference to the display device is assessed; and

an image processor configured to generate the first stereo three-dimensional image using the assessed first position/orientation of the surface with reference to the display device; and

wherein the first stereo three-dimensional image is from a first perspective, and wherein the first stereo three-dimensional image is distinct from a second stereo three-dimensional image which is derived from a second perspective using a second assessed position/orientation of the surface with reference to the display device.

2. The system of claim 1,

wherein the surface comprises at least 6 degrees of freedom of movement proximate to the display device.

3. The system of claim 1,

wherein the surface comprises at least four emitters, and wherein the at least two sensors are further configured to detect light received from at least three of the at least four emitters.

4. The system of claim 1,

wherein the surface comprises at least five emitters, and wherein the at least two sensors are further configured to detect light received from at least three of the at least five emitters.

5. The system of claim 1,

wherein at least a portion of the surface adjacent to at least one of the emitters absorbs light.

6. The system of claim 1,

wherein the surface forms at least a portion of a device which couples to the head of a user.

7. The system of claim 1,

wherein the surface forms at least a portion of a pair of glasses which couple to the head of a user.

8. The system of claim 1,

wherein the emitters at least partially extend from the surface.

9. The system of claim 1,

wherein at least one of the emitters comprises a substantially cylindrical, spherical, and/or hemi-spherical shape.

10. The system of claim 1,

wherein the at least two sensors are further configured to detect infrared light projected from the at least three emitters.

11. The system of claim 1,

wherein the at least two sensors are further configured to detect light reflected from the at least three emitters.

12. The system of claim 1,

wherein to correlate the assessed referenced position of the detected light the processor is further configured to:

identify a first emitter of the at least three emitters along a perimeter determined by a bounding function by assigning a first detected light blob closest to a predetermined first portion of the perimeter;

move in a first direction away from the first emitter along the perimeter assessing relative angles formed by adjacent detected light blobs along the perimeter such that a second emitter of the at least three emitters is identified; and

identify at least one additional emitter of the at least three emitters along the perimeter with reference to the identified first and second emitter.

13. The system of claim 1,

wherein the processor is further configured to verify the assessed referenced position of the detected light per sensor by comparing the assessed relative position of the detected light to a database of different configurations of emitters.

14. The system of claim 1,

wherein the processor if further configured to:

assess a first position/orientation of a head to which the surface is coupled to using the assessed first position/orientation of the surface with reference to the display device; and

assess a first viewpoint using the assessed first position/orientation of the head to assess a second perspective for use by the image processor to assist in generating a second stereo three-dimensional image.

15. A method for tracking with reference to a three-dimensional display system, comprising:

positioning a surface with reference to a display device, wherein the surface comprises at least three emitters;

detecting light received from the at least three emitters via at least two sensors coupled to the display device in a known position and orientation with reference to the display device;

assessing a referenced position of the detected light;

correlating the assessed referenced position of the detected light for each of the at least two sensors such that a first position/orientation of the surface with reference to the display device is assessed, wherein said correlating the assessed referenced position of the detected light comprises;

identifying a first emitter along a perimeter determined by the bounding function by assigning a first detected light blob closest to a predetermined first portion of the perimeter;

moving in a first direction away from the first emitter along the perimeter assessing relative angles formed by adjacent detected light blobs along the perimeter such that a second emitter is identified; and

identifying an at least third emitter along the perimeter with reference to the identified first and second emitter.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

generating a first stereo three-dimensional image on the display device using an image processor, wherein the image processor is configured to use the assessed first position/orientation of the surface with reference to the display device to generate the first stereo three-dimensional image; and

generating a second stereo three-dimensional image on the display device using the image processor, wherein the image processor is configured to use an assessed second position/orientation of the surface with reference to the display device to generate the second stereo three-dimensional image.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

verifying the assessed referenced position of the detected light by comparing the assessed referenced position of the detected light blobs to a database of different configurations of emitters.

18. A non-transitory computer readable memory medium storing program instructions executable by a processor to:

position a surface with reference to a display device, wherein the surface comprises at least three emitters;

detect, via at least two sensors coupled to a display device, light received from at least three emitters comprised on a surface, wherein the surface is position with reference to the display device;

assess a referenced position of the detected light;

correlate the assessed referenced position of the detected light for each of the at least two sensors such that a first position/orientation of the surface with reference to the display device is assessed, wherein to correlate the assessed referenced position of the detected light, the program instructions are further executable to;

identify a first emitter along a perimeter determined by the bounding function by assigning a first detected light blob closest to a predetermined first portion of the perimeter;

move in a first direction away from the first emitter along the perimeter assessing relative angles formed by adjacent detected light blobs along the perimeter such that a second emitter is identified; and

identify an at least third emitter along the perimeter with reference to the identified first and second emitter.

19. The non-transitory computer readable memory medium of claim 18, wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to:

generate a first stereo three-dimensional image on the display device using an image processor, wherein the image processor is configured to use the assessed first position/orientation of the surface with reference to the display device to generate the first stereo three-dimensional image; and

generate a second stereo three-dimensional image on the display device using the image processor, wherein the image processor is configured to use an assessed second position/orientation of the surface with reference to the display device to generate the second stereo three-dimensional image.

20. The non-transitory computer readable memory medium of claim 18, wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to:

verify the assessed referenced position of the detected light by comparing the assessed referenced position of the detected light blobs to a database of different configurations of emitters.