Display headset
First Claim
1. A display apparatus comprising an image data processor and a head mounted display (HMD) to be worn by a user, the apparatus including:
- a motion detector arranged to detect positional changes of the HMD with respect to its physical environment; and
an image generator coupled thereto and operable to generate images of a virtual environment from a user viewpoint, with the user viewpoint changing in response to positional changes of the HMD, and to display the images on a display screen of the HMD;
characterised in that limits on extents of HMD movement in at least one direction within the physical environment are specified to the motion detector, and the image data processor is further operable to indicate an alarm condition to the user of the HMD when at least one of the limits is exceeded.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A collision warning system is for a head mounted display (HMD) (10) worn by a user, for example as the interface to a virtual reality system, to warn of nearby objects in the physical environment. A motion detector (30,32) detects positional changes of the HMD, which changes are reflected in changes of a displayed image viewpoint, and a comparator stage (38,40) determines whether the movement takes the user into a "prohibited" area. If so, a visual and/or audible warning is provided to the user via the HMD (10). In an embodiment, the display screens (18) of the HMD include liquid crystal display shutters (20) which are switched to a transparent state in the event of an imminent collision such that the user is not only warned of the danger but also able to see it without having to remove or adjust the HMD.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A display apparatus comprising an image data processor and a head mounted display (HMD) to be worn by a user, the apparatus including:
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a motion detector arranged to detect positional changes of the HMD with respect to its physical environment; and an image generator coupled thereto and operable to generate images of a virtual environment from a user viewpoint, with the user viewpoint changing in response to positional changes of the HMD, and to display the images on a display screen of the HMD; characterised in that limits on extents of HMD movement in at least one direction within the physical environment are specified to the motion detector, and the image data processor is further operable to indicate an alarm condition to the user of the HMD when at least one of the limits is exceeded. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of operating a display apparatus comprised of an image processing system generating images of a virtual environment and displaying them to a user through a head mounted display (HMD), comprising the steps of:
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specifying limits of permissible extents of HMD movement in at least one direction within the physical environment; detecting positional changes of the HMD with respect to its physical environment; and when at least one of the limits is exceeded, providing an indication of an alarm condition to the user of the HMD. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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13. A display apparatus comprising:
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an image data processor, a head mounted display (HMD) to be worn by a user, that displays images of a virtual environment, a means for determining a location of the HMD, and a means for indicating an alarm condition when the location of the HMD is beyond a predefined boundary area. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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Specification