Reduction of glare in augmented reality

• US 9,237,274 B2
• Filed: 11/14/2013
• Issued: 01/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Empire Technology Development LLC (Allied Inventors Management, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Empire Technology Development LLC (Allied Inventors Management, LLC)
• Inventors: Russell, Jake Armstrong
• Primary Examiner(s): Misleh, Justin P
• Application Number:
  US14/364,017
• Publication Number:
  US 20150206347A1
• Time in Patent Office: 789 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0138 comprising image capture systems, e.g. camera
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/014 comprising information/image processing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0178 Eyeglass type eyeglass details G02C
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/14 Solving problems related to the presentation of information to be displayed
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2360/144 the light being ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/003 to produce spatial visual effects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/57 Mechanical or electrical details of cameras or camera modules specially adapted for being embedded in other devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/80 Camera processing pipelines; Components thereof

Abstract

Technologies are generally described for methods and systems effective to reduce glare in augmented reality. In some examples, a method for producing a modified image of an object may include receiving first image data. The first image data may correspond to a first light reflected from the object through a clear filter. The method may further include receiving second image data. The second image data may correspond to a second light reflected from the object through a polarized filter. The method may further include combining the first image data and the second image data to generate modified image data. The method may further include producing the modified image of the object based on the modified image data. The method may further include rendering the modified image on an augmented reality display. The modified image may be different from the first image and different from the second image.

Claims

1. A method to produce a modified image of an object, the method comprising, by a processor:

generating a first instruction to rotate a lens including a clear filter and a polarized filter to a first position such that the clear filter of the lens is aligned with an aperture of a camera;

receiving first image data from the camera, wherein the first image data is captured by the camera when the lens is at the first position, and the first image data corresponds to a first light reflected from the object through the clear filter, and wherein the first image data, when rendered on an augmented reality display, produces a first image that corresponds to the object;

generating a second instruction to rotate the lens to a second position such that the polarized filter of the lens is aligned with the aperture of the camera;

receiving second image data from the camera, wherein the second image data is captured by the camera when the lens is at the second position, and the second image data corresponds to a second light reflected from the object through the polarized filter, and wherein the second image data, when rendered on the augmented reality display, produces a second image that corresponds to the object;

combining the first image data and the second image data to generate modified image data, wherein the modified image data corresponds to the object;

producing the modified image of the object based on the modified image data; and

rendering the modified image on the augmented reality display, wherein the modified image is different from the first image and different from the second image.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising capturing the first image data and second image data by the camera.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the clear filter is equal to or larger in size than the aperture of the camera.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein combining the first image data and the second image data comprises:

identifying a first set of pixels in the first image data;

identifying a second set of pixels in the second image data; and

calculating a difference between the first set of pixels and the second set of pixels.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein combining first image data and the second image data comprises:

identifying a first set of pixels in the first image data;

identifying a second set of pixels in the second image data; and

selecting larger pixel values from the first and second set of pixels.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein combining the first image data and the second image data comprises:

identifying a first set of pixels in the first image data;

identifying a second set of pixels in the second image data; and

selecting smaller pixel values from the first and second set of pixels.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the first image data includes data that corresponds to a glare; and

the modified image data includes data that corresponds to a reduction of the glare compared with the first image data.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the modified image has less intensity than the first image.

9. A device effective to produce a modified image of an object, the device comprising:

a memory that includes instructions;

an augmented reality display;

a processor configured to be in communication with the memory and the augmented reality display, the processor effective to;

generate a first rotation instruction to rotate a lens comprising a clear filter and a polarized filter to a first position such that the clear filter of the lens is aligned with an aperture of a camera;

receive first image data from the camera, wherein the first image data is captured by the camera when the lens is at the first position, and the first image data corresponds to a first light reflected from the object through the clear filter, and wherein the first image data, when rendered on the augmented reality display, produces a first image that corresponds to the object;

store the first image data in the memory;

generate a second rotation instruction to rotate the lens to a second position such that the polarized filter of the lens is aligned with the aperture of the camera;

receive second image data from the camera, wherein the second image data is captured by the camera when the lens is at the second position, and the second image data corresponds to a second light reflected from the object through the polarized filter, and wherein the second image data, when rendered on the augmented reality display, produces a second image that corresponds to the object;

store the second image data in the memory;

combine, with use of the instructions, the first image data and the second image data to generate modified image data, wherein the modified image data corresponds to the object;

produce the modified image of the object based on the modified image data; and

render the modified image on the augmented reality display, wherein the modified image is different from the first image and different from the second image.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the processor is further effective to:

identify a first set of pixels in the first image data;

identify a second set of pixels in the second image data; and

calculate a difference between the first set of pixels and the second set of pixels.

11. The device of claim 9, wherein the processor is further effective to:

identify a first set of pixels in the first image data;

identify a second set of pixels in the second image data; and

select larger pixel values from the first and second set of pixels.

12. The device of claim 9, wherein the processor is further effective to:

identify a first set of pixels in the first image data;

identify a second set of pixels in the second image data; and

select smaller pixel values from the first and second set of pixels.

13. The device of claim 9, wherein the modified image has less intensity than the first image.

14. The device of claim 9, wherein the processor is further effective to produce the modified image on an augmented reality glasses device.

15. An augmented reality glasses device effective to produce a modified image of an object, the augmented reality glasses device comprising:

a camera that includes a lens comprising a clear filter and a polarized filter;

a memory that includes instructions;

an augmented reality display; and

a processor configured to be in communication with the camera, the memory and the augmented reality display, the processor effective to;

generate a first instruction to rotate the lens to a first position such that the clear filter of the lens is aligned with an aperture of the camera;

receive first image data from the camera, wherein the first image data is captured by the camera when the lens is at the first position, and the first image data corresponds to a first light reflected from the object, wherein the first image data is received by the camera through the clear filter, and wherein the first image data, when rendered on an augmented reality display, produces a first image that corresponds to the object;

store the first image data in the memory;

generate a second instruction to rotate the lens to a second position such that the polarized filter of the lens is aligned with the aperture of the camera;

receive second image data from the camera, wherein the second image data is captured by the camera when the lens is at the second position, and the second image data corresponds to a second light reflected from the object, wherein the second image data is received by the camera through the polarized filter, and wherein the second image data, when rendered on the augmented reality display, produces a second image that corresponds to the object;

store the second image data in the memory;

combine, with use of the instructions, the first image data and the second image data to generate modified image data, wherein the modified image data corresponds to the object;

produce the modified image of the object based on the modified image data; and

render the modified image on the augmented reality display, wherein the modified image is different from the first image and different from the second image.

16. The augmented reality glasses device of claim 15, wherein the clear filter is equal to or larger in size than the aperture of the camera.

17. The augmented reality glasses device of claim 15, wherein the processor is effective to combine the first image data and the second image data by:

identification of a first set of pixels in the first image data;

identification of a second set of pixels in the second image data; and

calculation of a difference between the first set of pixels and the second set of pixels.

18. The augmented reality glasses device of claim 15, wherein the processor is effective to combine the first image data and the second image data by:

identification of a first set of pixels in the first image data;

identification of a second set of pixels in the second image data; and

selection of larger pixel values from the first and second set of pixels.

19. The augmented reality glasses device of claim 15, wherein the processor is effective to combine the first image data and the second image data by:

identification of a first set of pixels in the first image data;

identification of a second set of pixels in the second image data; and

selection of smaller pixel values from the first and second set of pixels.

20. The augmented reality glasses device of claim 15, wherein:

the first image data includes data that corresponds to a glare; and

the modified image data includes data that corresponds to a reduction of the glare compared with the first image data.

21. The augmented reality glasses device of claim 15, wherein the modified image has less intensity than the first image.