System for physical rotation of volumetric display enclosures to facilitate viewing

• US 7,724,251 B2
• Filed: 08/22/2005
• Issued: 05/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autodesk, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Autodesk, Inc.
• Inventors: Kurtenbach, Gordon Paul, Balakrishnan, Ravin, Fitzmaurice, George William
• Primary Examiner(s): PAPPAS, PETER
• Application Number:
  US11/207,828
• Publication Number:
  US 20050275628A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,737 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 345/419
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 30/50 the image being built up from image elements distributed over a 3D volume, e.g. voxels
• 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 3/0346 with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0362 with detection of 1D translations or rotations of an operating part of the device, e.g. scroll wheels, sliders, knobs, rollers or belts
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04812 Interaction techniques based on cursor appearance or behaviour, e.g. being affected by the presence of displayed objects
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04815 Interaction with a metaphor-based environment or interaction object displayed as three-dimensional, e.g. changing the user viewpoint with respect to the environment or object
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04845 for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 15/00 3D [Three Dimensional] image rendering
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/0492 Change of orientation of the displayed image, e.g. upside-down, mirrored
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/003 to produce spatial visual effects

Abstract

The present invention is a system that allows a user to physically rotate a three-dimensional volumetric display enclosure with a corresponding rotation of the display contents. The rotation of the enclosure is sampled with an encoder and the display is virtually rotated by a computer maintaining the scene by an amount corresponding to the physical rotation before being rendered. This allows the user to remain in one position while viewing different parts of the displayed scene corresponding to different viewpoints. The display contents can be rotated in direct correspondence with the display enclosure or with a gain (positive or negative) that accelerates the rotation of the contents with respect to the physical rotation of the enclosure. Any display widgets in the scene, such as a virtual keyboard, can be maintained stationary with respect to the user while scene contents rotate by applying a negative rotational gain to the widgets. The rotation can also be controlled by a time value such that the rotation continues until a specified time is reached or expires.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a physically rotatable three-dimensional volumetric display enclosure having virtually rotatable display contents within the display; and

an interface controlling the rotation of the display contents with the interface being omni-directionally accessible and allowing a user to physically rotate the enclosure three-hundred and sixty degrees in three degrees of freedom and a portion of the contents virtually rotating in three dimensions response thereto, while another portion of the display contents remain in a static position, wherein at least a portion of said display contents is directly visible through said enclosure from all sides of said enclosure while said enclosure is static.

2. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the interface is omni-directionally controllable.

3. A method, comprising:

determining physical movement of a volumetric display enclosure applied by a user in three-hundred and sixty degrees in three degrees of freedom; and

displaying and moving a portion of virtual display contents within a volumetric display responsive to the movement, while displaying and maintaining another portion of display contents in a static position, wherein at least a portion of said display contents is directly visible through said enclosure from all sides of said enclosure while said enclosure is static.

4. A method, comprising:

physically rotating a volumetric display in three-hundred and sixty degrees in three degrees of freedom, and

displaying and rotating a portion of virtual contents in three dimensions within the display in correspondence to the rotation of the display, while displaying and maintaining another portion of display contents in a static position, wherein at least a portion of said display contents is directly visible through said enclosure from all sides of said enclosure while said enclosure is static.

5. A method, comprising:

physically rotating a display view orientation controller for a three dimensional display responsive to user rotational inputs applied physically to a display enclosure to rotate the display three-hundred and sixty degrees in three degrees of freedom; and

displaying and virtually rotating a portion of the display contents within the display in three dimensions responsive to rotation of the controller, while displaying and maintaining another portion of the display contents in a static position, wherein at least a portion of said display contents is directly visible through said enclosure from all sides of said enclosure while said enclosure is static.

6. A method, comprising:

physically rotating a rotatable user input device for a three dimensional display responsive to user rotational inputs applied physically to a display enclosure to rotate the display three-hundred and sixty degrees in three degrees of freedom; and

displaying and virtually rotating a portion of the display contents within the display in three dimensions responsive to rotation of the controller, while displaying and maintaining another portion of the display contents in a static position, wherein at least a portion of said display contents is directly visible through said enclosure from all sides of said enclosure while said enclosure is static.

7. A method as recited in claim 6, wherein the rotational inputs comprise inputs indicating actual rotation of the enclosure.

8. A method as recited in claim 6, wherein the rotation of the display contents is responsive to a time value.

9. A method as recited in claim 6, wherein a display apparatus rotates with the enclosure.

10. A method as recited in claim 6, wherein a gain is applied to the virtual rotation.

11. A method as recited in claim 10, wherein the gain is one of positive and negative.

12. A method as recited in claim 10, wherein the gain is one of less than one and greater than one.

13. A method, comprising:

physically rotating a volume rotational controller for a three dimensional volumetric display responsive to user rotational inputs physically applied by a person to a display enclosure displaying three dimensional volumetric display contents to physically rotate the display three-hundred and sixty degrees in three degrees of freedom, wherein at least a portion of said display contents is directly visible through said enclosure from all sides of said enclosure while said enclosure is static; and

virtually rotating a portion of the display contents within the display in three dimensions responsive to rotation of the controller, while maintaining another portion of the display contents in a static position, and

wherein said rotational inputs comprise a physical application of force directly applied by the person to said three dimensional volumetric display enclosure wherein the rotational inputs comprise a rotational force.

14. A method, comprising:

physically rotating a volume rotational controller for a three dimensional volumetric display responsive to user rotational inputs physically applied by the user to a display enclosure displaying three dimensional volumetric display contents to physically rotate the display three-hundred and sixty degrees in three degrees of freedom, wherein at least a portion of said display contents is directly visible through said enclosure from all sides of said enclosure while said enclosure is static; and

virtually rotating a portion of the display contents within the display in three dimensions responsive to rotation of the controller, while maintaining another portion of the display contents in a static position, and

wherein the display is divided into two or more segments and the segments each rotate with a different gain responsive to the rotational inputs.

15. A method, comprising:

physically rotating a volume rotational controller for a three dimensional volumetric display responsive to user rotational inputs physically applied by the user to a display enclosure to physically rotate the display three-hundred and sixty degrees in three degrees of freedom and displaying three dimensional volumetric display contents, wherein at least a portion of said display contents is directly visible through said enclosure from all sides of said enclosure while said enclosure is static; and

virtually rotating a portion of the display contents within the display in three dimensions responsive to physical rotation of the controller, while maintaining another portion of the display contents in a static position, and

wherein said volume rotational controller is contoured to said three dimensional volumetric display.

16. A method, comprising:

displaying display contents via a volumetric display having an enclosure with a base;

physically rotating the enclosure responsive to user rotational inputs applied physically to the enclosure base by the user to physically rotate the display three-hundred and sixty degrees in three degrees of freedom, wherein at least a portion of said display contents is directly visible through said enclosure from all sides of the enclosure while said enclosure is static; and

virtually rotating a portion of the display contents within the display in three dimensions responsive to rotation of the enclosure, while maintaining another portion of the display contents in a static position.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein rotating the display contents changes the volumetric orientation of the display contents relative to the user to reveal at least one of hidden and obscured display content.

18. A method, comprising:

displaying display contents via a volumetric display having an enclosure;

physically rotating the enclosure in any rotatable direction responsive to user rotational inputs applied physically to the enclosure by the user to rotate the display three-hundred and sixty degrees in three degrees of freedom, wherein at least a portion of said display contents is directly visible through said enclosure from all sides of said enclosure while said enclosure is static; and

virtually rotating a portion of the display contents within the display in three dimensions responsive to physical rotation of the enclosure, while maintaining another portion of the display contents in a static position.

19. A method, comprising:

displaying display contents via a volumetric display having an enclosure;

physically rotating the enclosure responsive to user rotational inputs applied physically to the enclosure by the user to physically rotate the display three-hundred and sixty degrees in three degrees of freedom, wherein at least a portion of said display contents is directly visible through said enclosure from all sides of said enclosure while said enclosure is static; and

virtually rotating a portion of the display contents within the display in three dimensions relative to physical rotation of the enclosure, while maintaining another portion of the display contents in a static position.

20. A method, comprising:

physically rotating a display view orientation controller for a three dimensional volumetric display responsive to user rotational inputs applied physically to a display enclosure to physically rotate the display three-hundred and sixty degrees in three degrees of freedom;

displaying display widgets within the volumetric display; and

virtually rotating a first grouping of the display widgets within the display responsive to the physical rotating while maintaining a second grouping of the display widgets stationary within the display, wherein at least a portion of display widgets is directly visible through said enclosure from all sides of said enclosure while said enclosure is static.

21. A method, comprising:

physically rotating a display view orientation controller for a three dimensional volumetric display responsive to user rotational inputs applied physically to a display enclosure to physically rotate the display three-hundred and sixty degrees in three degrees of freedom; and

displaying and virtually rotating a portion of display contents within the display in three dimensions responsive to rotation of the controller, wherein at least a portion of the display contents is directly visible through said enclosure from all sides of said enclosure while said enclosure is static.

22. A method as recited in claim 21, wherein the rotational inputs comprise a rotational force.

23. A method as recited in claim 21, wherein the rotational inputs comprise inputs indicating actual rotation of the enclosure.

24. A method as recited in claim 21, wherein the rotation of the display contents is responsive to a time value.

25. A method as recited in claim 21, wherein a display apparatus rotates with the enclosure.

26. A method as recited in claim 21, wherein a gain is applied to the virtual rotation.

27. A method as recited in claim 26, wherein the gain is one of positive and negative.

28. A method as recited in claim 26, wherein the gain is one of less than one and greater than one.

29. A method as recited in claim 21, wherein the display includes scene objects and widgets and further comprising virtually rotating the widgets differently than the scene objects.

30. A method as recited in claim 29, wherein the widgets remain stationary with respect to the user as the scene objects rotate.

31. A computer readable medium for controlling a computer and storing a program which causes the computer to execute a process, comprising:

physically rotating a display view orientation controller for a three dimensional volumetric display responsive to user rotational inputs applied physically to a display enclosure to physically rotate the display three-hundred and sixty degrees in three degrees of freedom; and

displaying and virtually rotating a portion of display contents within the display in three dimensions responsive to rotation of the controller, wherein at least a portion of the display contents is directly visible through said enclosure from all sides of said enclosure while said enclosure is static.

32. An apparatus, comprising:

a display view orientation controller;

a three dimensional volumetric display physically rotating responsive to user rotational inputs applied physically to a display enclosure to physically rotate the display three-hundred and sixty degrees in three degrees of freedom; and

a portion of display contents displaying and virtually rotating within the display in three dimensions responsive to rotation of the controller, wherein at least a portion of the display contents is directly visible through said enclosure from all sides of said enclosure while said enclosure is static.