Modular multi-mode virtual reality headset
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A modular multi-mode virtual reality headset comprising:
- a mount configured to be attached to a head of a user;
a display processor coupled to said mount;
a display module receiver coupled to said mount;
one or more swappable display modules, each configured to be detachably coupled to said display module receiver and located in front of said user'"'"'s eyes when coupled to said display module receiver, each comprisingone or more displays;
one or more cameras; and
,one or more display user input controls;
a display module electronic interface integrated into said display module receiver, comprisinga pixel channel that transfers pixel data from said display processor to said one or more displays;
a camera video channel that transfers camera video captured by said one or more cameras to said display processor;
a camera control channel that transfers camera control commands from said display processor to said one or more cameras; and
,a display user input channel that transfers user input commands from said one or more display user input controls to said display processor;
wherein said display processor is configured to function in a plurality of operating modes comprisinga virtual mode whereinsaid pixel data is generated from a model or a stored capture;
a real mode whereinsaid pixel data comprises said camera video;
an augmented reality mode whereinsaid pixel data comprises said camera video overlaid with text or graphics or images generated or obtained by said display processor;
wherein one or more of said one or more swappable display modules comprisea left display located in front of a left eye of said user, wherein said left display is tangent to a left plane;
a right display located in front of a right eye of a user, wherein said right display is tangent to a right plane; and
,one or more lenses located between the left and right eyes of said user and the left and right displays; and
,whereinan angle between said left plane and said right plane is less than 180 degrees, when measured from a side closest to the left and right eyes of said user;
said left display forms a left display image by said one or more lenses that is substantially in focus for said left eye of said user;
said right display forms a right display image by said one or more lenses that is substantially in focus for said right eye of said user;
said left display image viewed by said left eye of said user extends across a wider horizontal field of view than said left display viewed by said left eye of said user without said one or more lenses; and
,said right display image viewed by said right eye of said user extends across a wider horizontal field of view than said right display viewed by said right eye of said user without said one or more lenses.
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Abstract
A modular virtual reality headset that may be operated in multiple modes. Embodiments enable a mount with modular receivers having electronic and mechanical interfaces that accept swappable modules. Swappable modules may include swappable display modules, swappable audio modules, and swappable sensor modules. Embodiments enable multiple modes of operation, including for example a virtual mode to display virtual reality environments, a real mode to display images of the real environment surrounding the user, and an augmented reality mode that overlays real scenes with other information. Embodiments may also provide multiple modes of operation for audio.
24 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A modular multi-mode virtual reality headset comprising:
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a mount configured to be attached to a head of a user; a display processor coupled to said mount; a display module receiver coupled to said mount; one or more swappable display modules, each configured to be detachably coupled to said display module receiver and located in front of said user'"'"'s eyes when coupled to said display module receiver, each comprising one or more displays; one or more cameras; and
,one or more display user input controls; a display module electronic interface integrated into said display module receiver, comprising a pixel channel that transfers pixel data from said display processor to said one or more displays; a camera video channel that transfers camera video captured by said one or more cameras to said display processor; a camera control channel that transfers camera control commands from said display processor to said one or more cameras; and
,a display user input channel that transfers user input commands from said one or more display user input controls to said display processor; wherein said display processor is configured to function in a plurality of operating modes comprising a virtual mode wherein said pixel data is generated from a model or a stored capture; a real mode wherein said pixel data comprises said camera video; an augmented reality mode wherein said pixel data comprises said camera video overlaid with text or graphics or images generated or obtained by said display processor; wherein one or more of said one or more swappable display modules comprise a left display located in front of a left eye of said user, wherein said left display is tangent to a left plane; a right display located in front of a right eye of a user, wherein said right display is tangent to a right plane; and
,one or more lenses located between the left and right eyes of said user and the left and right displays; and
,wherein an angle between said left plane and said right plane is less than 180 degrees, when measured from a side closest to the left and right eyes of said user; said left display forms a left display image by said one or more lenses that is substantially in focus for said left eye of said user; said right display forms a right display image by said one or more lenses that is substantially in focus for said right eye of said user; said left display image viewed by said left eye of said user extends across a wider horizontal field of view than said left display viewed by said left eye of said user without said one or more lenses; and
,said right display image viewed by said right eye of said user extends across a wider horizontal field of view than said right display viewed by said right eye of said user without said one or more lenses. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A modular multi-mode virtual reality headset comprising:
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a mount configured to be attached to a head of a user; a display processor coupled to said mount; a display module receiver coupled to said mount; one or more swappable display modules, each configured to be detachably coupled to said display module receiver and located in front of said user'"'"'s eyes when coupled to said display module receiver, each comprising one or more displays; one or more cameras; one or more display user input controls; a display module electronic interface integrated into said display module receiver, comprising a pixel channel that transfers pixel data from said display processor to said one or more displays; a camera video channel that transfers camera video captured by said one or more cameras to said display processor; a camera control channel that transfers camera control commands from said display processor to said one or more cameras; and
,a display user input channel that transfers user input commands from said one or more display user input controls to said display processor; one or more audio module receivers coupled to said mount; an audio mixing processor coupled to said mount; one or more swappable audio modules, each configured to be detachably coupled to one of said one or more audio module receivers and located proximal to one or more of said user'"'"'s ears when coupled to said audio module receiver, each comprising one or more speakers; one or more microphones; and
,one or more audio user input controls; an audio module electronic interface integrated into each of said one or more audio module receivers, each comprising an audio output channel that transfers output sound data from said audio mixing processor to said one or more speakers; an audio input channel that transfers input sound data captured by said one or more microphones to said audio mixing processor; a microphone control channel that transfers microphone control commands from said audio mixing processor to said one or more microphones; and
,an audio user input channel that transfers user input commands from said one or more audio user input controls to said audio mixing processor; one or more sensor module receivers coupled to said mount; a sensor data processor coupled to said mount; one or more swappable sensor modules, each configured to be detachably coupled to one of said one or sensor module receivers, each comprising one or more sensors that measure one or sensor data values indicative of one or more of a position of said user; an orientation of said user; a change in the position of said user; and
,a change in the orientation of said user; a sensor module electronic interface integrated into each of said one or more sensor module receivers, each comprising a sensor data channel that transfers sensor data from said one or more sensors to said sensor data processor; wherein said display processor is configured to function in a plurality of operating modes comprising a virtual mode wherein said pixel data is generated from a model or a stored capture; a real mode wherein said pixel data comprises said camera video; and
,an augmented reality mode wherein said pixel data comprises said camera video overlaid with text or graphics or images generated or obtained by said display processor; wherein said audio mixing processor is configured to function in a plurality of operating modes comprising a virtual mode wherein said output sound data is generated from a model or a stored capture; a real mode wherein said output sound data comprises said input sound data; and
,an augmented reality mode wherein said output sound data comprises said input sound data modified by said audio mixing processor; and
,wherein said sensor data processor calculates said position of said user, or said orientation of said user, or both of said position of said user and said orientation of said user, from said one or more sensor data values; and
,transfers said position of said user, or said orientation of said user, or both of said position of said user and said orientation of said user to said display processor and to said audio mixing processor. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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Specification