Hood-shaped support frame for a low cost virtual reality system

• US 6,452,574 B1
• Filed: 09/19/2000
• Issued: 09/17/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Teitel, Michael, Lasko-Harvill, Ann, Lanier, Jaron Z
• Primary Examiner(s): Mengistu, Amare
• Application Number:
  US09/665,429
• Time in Patent Office: 728 Days
• Field of Search: 345/8, 345/7, 345/163, 348/77, 348/121, 348/142, 348/699, 342/07, 344/64.R, 340/407.1, 340/825.19, 128/782, 434/22, 434/46, 434/55, 434/57, 352/39
• US Class Current: 345/8
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/012 Head tracking input arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 21/00 Teaching, or communicating with, the blind, deaf or mute audible presentation of material to be studied G09B5/04; devices or methods for replacing direct visual or auditory perception by another kind of perception A61F9/08, A61F11/04; audible indication of meter readings or of colour G01D7/12; watches for blind persons G04B25/02; speech analysis, speech recognition G10L; sound-recording or reproducing, per se G11B
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/22 including aircraft sound simulation
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/308 by LCD, gas plasma display or electroluminescent display
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/326 the image being transformed by optical means

Abstract

Apparatus is disclosed for viewing computer generated images and for tracking the positions of the user'"'"'s head and hand. One alternative of the apparatus includes a frame element, versatilely mountable, with sensors for the head tracking of a user whose bodily movement is constrained to a small area. Short range and inexpensive sensors are deployed for tracking the position of the user'"'"'s head; these sensors are deployed partly on a on the user'"'"'s head and partly on the tracking frame. All the electronics for tracking and user input are enclosed in a mobile pack. In another alternative of the tracking invention natural forces such as gravity, the Earth'"'"'s magnetic field, and inertia are used, so additional references. The display allows for interchangeable optical elements so that it may be tailored to suit the needs of a particular user or application. One optical element disclosed is a bicolor polarizer, which allows an lcd to inexpensively provide a bicolor display without loss of resolution.

Claims

1. A frame for use in a system to determine a position of a person, the frame comprising:

a plurality of tracking elements;

a hood-shaped support system for supporting the plurality of tracking elements, wherein the hood-shaped support system at least partially surrounds the person'"'"'s head;

wherein the plurality of tracking elements are usable to track a position of at least one component of an orientation of the person'"'"'s head relative to the hoodshaped support system; and

a plurality of adjustable arms.

2. A frame according to claim 1, further comprising a stand for holding the hood shaped support system.

3. A frame according to claim 2, wherein the stand includes three legs.

4. A frame according to claim 2, wherein the stand is for resting on a table.

5. A frame according to claim 1, further comprising a clamping system, connected to the hood shaped support system, for clamping the hood shaped support system to a chair.

6. A frame according to claim 5, wherein the clamping system includes two clamps for clamping to the chair.

7. A frame according to claim 1, further comprising means for determining a position of the person using the plurality of tracking elements.

8. A frame according to claim 1, wherein the tracking elements are sensors and a transmitter is mounted to the person'"'"'s head.

9. A frame for use in a system to determine a position of a person, the frame comprising:

a plurality of tracking elements;

a hood-shaped support system for supporting the plurality of tracking elements, wherein the hood-shaped support system at least partially surrounds the person'"'"'s head; and

a stand for holding the hood shaped support system;

wherein the plurality of tracking elements are usable to track a position of at least one component of an orientation of the person'"'"'s head relative to the hood-shaped support system.

10. The frame as recited in claim 9, wherein the stand includes three legs.

11. The frame as recited in claim 9, wherein the stand is for resting on a table.

12. The frame as recited in claim 9, further comprising a clamping system, connected to the hood-shaped support system, for clamping the hood shaped support system to a chair.

13. The frame as recited in claim 12, wherein the clamping system includes two clamps for clamping to the chair.

14. The frame as recited in claim 9, further comprising means for determining a position of the person using the plurality of tracking elements.

15. The frame as recited in claim 9, wherein the tracking elements are sensors and a transmitter is mounted to the person'"'"'s head.

16. A frame for use in a system to determine a position of a person, the frame comprising:

a plurality of tracking elements;

a hood-shaped support system for supporting the plurality of tracking elements, wherein the hood-shaped support system at least partially surrounds the person'"'"'s head; and

a clamping system, connected to the hood-shaped support system, for clamping the hood-shaped support system to a chair;

wherein the plurality of tracking elements are usable to track a position of at least one component of an orientation of the person'"'"'s head relative to the hood-shaped support system.

17. The frame as recited in claim 16, wherein the clamping system includes two clamps for clamping to the chair.

18. The frame as recited in claim 16, further comprising means for determining a position of the person using the plurality of tracking elements.

19. The frame as recited in claim 16, wherein the tracking elements are sensors and a transmitter is mounted to the person'"'"'s head.