Passive virtual reality

• US 7,439,940 B1
• Filed: 10/22/2001
• Issued: 10/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Simulated Percepts, LLC
• Original Assignee: Francis J. Maguire
• Inventors: Maguire, Francis J. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shalwala; Bipin
• Assistant Examiner(s): KOVALICK, VINCENT E
• Application Number:
  US10/038,313
• Time in Patent Office: 2,556 Days
• Field of Search: 345 7- 9, 345/961, 345/965, 345/967, 348/13, 348/15, 348 42- 51, 348/53, 348135-169, 348/222, 348/239, 348373-376, 348/134, 348/333.03, 358/530, 358/540, 396/51
• US Class Current: 345/7
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 30/34 Stereoscopes providing a stereoscopic pair of separated images corresponding to parallactically displaced views of the same object, e.g. 3D slide viewers
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2310/0205 Simultaneous scanning of several lines in flat panels
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/003 to produce spatial visual effects
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/20 for presentation of an assembly of a number of characters, e.g. a page, by composing the assembly by combination of individual elements arranged in a matrix no fixed position being assigned to or needed to be assigned to the individual characters or partial characters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/156 Mixing image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/161 Encoding, multiplexing or demultiplexing different image signal components for multi-view video sequence encoding H04N19/597
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/167 Synchronising or controlling image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/189 Recording image signals; Reproducing recorded image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/194 Transmission of image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/239 using two 2D image sensors having a relative position equal to or related to the interocular distance H04N13/243 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/289 Switching between monoscopic and stereoscopic modes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/296 Synchronisation thereof; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/322 using varifocal lenses or mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/324 Colour aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/337 using polarisation multiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/341 using temporal multiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/344 with head-mounted left-right displays
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/363 using image projection screens volumetric display H04N13/388
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/366 using viewer tracking
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/383 for tracking with gaze detection, i.e. detecting the lines of sight of the viewer's eyes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/398 : Synchronisation thereof; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/597 : specially adapted for multi-view video sequence encoding
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2013/0081 : Depth or disparity estimation from stereoscopic image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2013/0088 : Synthesising a monoscopic image signal from stereoscopic images, e.g. synthesising a panoramic or high resolution monoscopic image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/55 : Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/63 : by using electronic viewfinders
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/00 : Circuitry of solid-state image sensors [SSIS]; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/002 : Special television systems not provided for by H04N7/007 - H04N7/18 still pictures via a television channel H04N1/00098
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/961 : Operator interface with visual structure or function dictated by intended use
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/965 : for process control and configuration
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/967 : Visual or iconic programming

Abstract

A method and apparatus for providing, in response to image signals originating in an object space, mixed image signals for providing nonuniform resolution images for stimulating simulated active percepts for passive perception by a viewer in an image space. The images have a highly detailed component which has its image content changed according to changes in the direction of a simulated observer'"'"'s eye position in an object space. The images may be provided stereoscopically. The images may be provided at various apparent distances and the relationship between accommodation and convergence may be preserved. Audio waves for directionally simulating that which would be heard by the simulated observer may be provided.

Claims

1. Apparatus, comprising:

means for providing successive mixed optical images of an object space in an image space for presentation to a viewer'"'"'s eye, each mixed optical image having a highly detailed component and a lesser detailed component, the successive mixed images for simulating percepts of optical images of the object space cast on a simulated eye'"'"'s retina; and

means for changing the image content of selected successive mixed images according to changes in the direction of the simulated eye'"'"'s visual axis in the object space such that the relative direction of the visual axis of the viewer'"'"'s eye with respect to the image space may analogously and passively follow the relative direction of the simulated eye'"'"'s visual axis with respect to the object space by following the highly detailed component of the successive mixed optical images presented thereto such that the highly detailed component may be cast on the fovea of the retina of the viewer'"'"'s eye and the lesser detailed component may be cast on at least the remainder of the retina of the viewer'"'"'s eye for stimulating the viewer to experience percepts corresponding to the simulated percepts.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the highly detailed component is mobile with respect to the lesser detailed component to simulate movement of the simulated eye with respect to the simulated eye'"'"'s orbit, the lesser detailed component encompassing a field of view which changes to simulate movement of the orbit'"'"'s head with respect to the object space.