Tracking constellation assembly for use in a virtual reality system

• US 9,977,494 B2
• Filed: 01/08/2016
• Issued: 05/22/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: META Platforms Technologies LLC (Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.))
• Original Assignee: Oculus VR, LLC (Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.))
• Inventors: Drinkwater, Jared I., Miller, Robin Michael, Allin, Boyd Drew
• Primary Examiner(s): Kumar, Srilakshmi K
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILLS-BURNS, CHINEYERE D
• Application Number:
  US14/991,875
• Publication Number:
  US 20170192495A1
• Time in Patent Office: 865 Days
• Field of Search: 345 8
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0176 characterised by mechanical features
• 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: G06F 3/014 Hand-worn input/output arrangements, e.g. data gloves
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0308 comprising a plurality of distinctive and separately oriented light emitters or reflectors associated to the pointing device, e.g. remote cursor controller with distinct and separately oriented LEDs at the tip whose radiations are captured by a photo-detector associated to the screen
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/28 Recognition of hand or arm movements, e.g. recognition of deaf sign language static hand signs G06V40/113

Abstract

Technology is provided for a tracking constellation assembly for use in a virtual reality system. The tracking constellation assembly includes a translucent panel having an outward facing surface, and an inward facing surface and a mounting surface each opposite the outward facing surface. The translucent panel is substantially opaque to visible light and translucent to infrared light. The assembly includes a flexible circuit board including first and second opposed surfaces. A spacer interconnects the first surface of the flexible circuit board and the mounting surface of the translucent panel. Infrared light emitting diodes are connected to the flexible circuit board and positioned to direct light through the translucent panel.

Claims

1. A tracking constellation assembly for use in a virtual reality system, comprising:

a translucent panel having an outward facing surface, and an inward facing surface and a mounting surface each opposite the outward facing surface;

a circuit board including first and second opposed surfaces, wherein the first surface is connected to the mounting surface of the translucent panel; and

at least one light emitting diode connected to the circuit board and positioned to direct light through the translucent panel and project a substantially round point of light from the outward facing surface;

wherein at least a portion of the inward facing surface has a first surface finish and at least a portion of the outward facing surface has a second surface finish having roughness different than the first surface finish.

2. The tracking constellation assembly of claim 1, further comprising a spacer interconnecting the first surface of the circuit board and the mounting surface.

3. The tracking constellation assembly of claim 1, wherein the light emitting diode is connected to the first surface of the circuit board.

4. The tracking constellation assembly of claim 1, wherein the circuit board includes an aperture formed therethrough and wherein the light emitting diode is connected to the second surface of the circuit board and positioned to direct light through the aperture.

5. The tracking constellation assembly of claim 1, further comprising a fabric layer disposed on at least a portion of the outward facing surface.

6. The tracking constellation assembly of claim 1, wherein the translucent panel is substantially opaque to visible light and translucent to infrared light.

7. The tracking constellation assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one light emitting diode is an infrared light emitting diode.

8. The tracking constellation assembly of claim 1, wherein the circuit board comprises a flexible circuit board.

9. A tracking constellation assembly for use in a virtual reality system, comprising:

a translucent panel having an outward facing surface, and an inward facing surface and a mounting surface each opposite the outward facing surface, wherein the translucent panel is substantially opaque to visible light and translucent to infrared light;

a flexible circuit board including first and second opposed surfaces;

a spacer interconnecting the first surface of the flexible circuit board and the mounting surface of the translucent panel; and

at least one infrared light emitting diode connected to the flexible circuit board and positioned to direct light through the translucent panel;

wherein at least a portion of the inward facing surface has a first surface finish and at least a portion of the outward facing surface has a second surface finish having a roughness different than the first surface finish.

10. The tracking constellation assembly of claim 9, wherein the flexible circuit board includes an aperture formed therethrough and wherein the infrared light emitting diode is connected to the second surface of the circuit board and positioned to direct light through the aperture.

11. The tracking constellation assembly of claim 9, wherein the translucent panel includes a counterbore formed in the translucent panel and wherein the at least one infrared light emitting diode is positioned in the counterbore.

12. The tracking constellation assembly of claim 11, wherein the inward facing surface comprises a bottom surface of the counterbore.

13. The tracking constellation assembly of claim 11, wherein the infrared light emitting diode is connected to the first surface of the circuit board.

14. A virtual reality system, comprising:

a head mounted display;

one or more handheld controllers; and

a tracking camera;

wherein at least one of the head mounted display and the one or more controllers includes a tracking constellation assembly including;

a translucent panel having an outward facing surface, and an inward facing surface and a mounting surface each opposite the outward facing surface;

a circuit board including first and second opposed surfaces, wherein the first surface is connected to the mounting surface of the translucent panel; and

at least one light emitting diode connected to the circuit board and positioned to direct light through the translucent panel;

wherein at least a portion of the inward facing surface has a first surface finish and at least a portion of the outward facing surface has a second surface finish having a roughness different than the first surface finish.

15. The virtual reality system of claim 14, further comprising a spacer interconnecting the first surface of the circuit board and the mounting surface.

16. The virtual reality system of claim 14, wherein the light emitting diode is connected to the first surface of the circuit board.

17. The virtual reality system of claim 14, wherein the circuit board includes an aperture formed therethrough and wherein the light emitting diode is connected to the second surface of the circuit board and positioned to direct light through the aperture.

18. The virtual reality system of claim 14, wherein the translucent panel is substantially opaque to visible light and translucent to infrared light, and wherein the at least one light emitting diode is an infrared light emitting diode.

19. The virtual reality system of claim 14, wherein the mounting surface and the inward facing surface are coplanar.

20. The virtual reality system of claim 14, wherein the translucent panel is substantially transparent to infrared light and wherein the at least one light emitting diode is an infrared light emitting diode.