System and method for a virtual reality system having a frame buffer that stores a plurality of view points that can be selected and viewed by the user
First Claim
1. The method of displaying information generated by a computer, comprising the steps of:
- storing information related to a multiplicity of view points of a model to be displayed in a frame buffer;
selecting one of the view points based on an input from a user;
accessing the information related to the selected one of the view points from the frame buffer;
displaying the information related to the selected one of the view points on a display device;
providing a virtual view space;
mapping the information related to the multiplicity of view points of the model to be displayed and stored in the frame buffer to the virtual view space;
mapping the entire virtual view space into the frame buffer;
displaying the information related to the selected on of the view points in a view window within the virtual view space.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A computer video display system and method is disclosed. The computer video display system includes a frame buffer for storing a multiplicity of view points of a model to be displayed, a measurement device for measuring an aspect of the user'"'"'s movement, a view point device for ascertaining a point of view of the model to be displayed in response to the measurement device, a computational device for modifying the view point according to a predefined algorithm, an access device for accessing the appropriate display information from the frame buffer, and a head mounted display for displaying the selected view point of the model. During operation, the measuring device, the view point device, and the computational device continuously update the view points of the model in response to movements of the user. In response thereto, the access device traverses the frame buffer and provides the updated display information to the head mounted display. The image, as seen through the head mounted display, appears to be continuous, fluid and natural.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. The method of displaying information generated by a computer, comprising the steps of:
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storing information related to a multiplicity of view points of a model to be displayed in a frame buffer;
selecting one of the view points based on an input from a user;
accessing the information related to the selected one of the view points from the frame buffer;
displaying the information related to the selected one of the view points on a display device;
providing a virtual view space;
mapping the information related to the multiplicity of view points of the model to be displayed and stored in the frame buffer to the virtual view space;
mapping the entire virtual view space into the frame buffer;
displaying the information related to the selected on of the view points in a view window within the virtual view space. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
selecting a second of the view points based on a change of the input from the user;
accessing the information related to the selected second view point from the frame buffer; and
displaying the information related to the selected second view point on the display device.
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12. The method of claim 1, wherein the access step further comprises:
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ascertaining a memory location in the frame buffer corresponding to the selected one of the view points;
defining a view port around the corresponding memory location in the frame buffer;
dividing the view port into a plurality of scan lines, each scan line including a fixed number of memory locations in the frame buffer; and
for each scan line;
accessing a predetermined number of words from the frame buffer containing the scan line; and
truncating any of the memory locations from the accessed words falling outside the dimensions of the view port.
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13. The method of claim 12, further comprising the steps of creating a view window in the display device from the plurality of truncated scan lines.
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14. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of generating scroll bars in the view window.
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15. An apparatus for displaying a model generated by a computer, comprising:
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a frame buffer configured to store ready for display information related to a multiplicity of view points of a model to be displayed;
an input device to select one of the view points;
a graphics system, coupled to the input device, to access from the frame buffer a subset of the information related to the selected one of the view points;
a display device, coupled to the graphics system, to display the subset of display information related to the selected one of the view points; and
a virtual view space mapped into the frame buffer and a view window in the virtual view space to display the subset of display information related to the selected one of the view points. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification