TECHNIQUES FOR CUT-AWAY STEREO CONTENT IN A STEREOSCOPIC DISPLAY

• US 20150235409A1
• Filed: 02/13/2015
• Published: 08/20/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autodesk, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Autodesk, Inc.
• Inventors: GROSSMAN, Tovi, FITZMAURICE, George, BOGDAN, Natalia
• Granted Patent: US 9,986,225 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• 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 3/0483 Interaction with page-structured environments, e.g. book metaphor
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/144 for flicker reduction
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/302 for viewing without the aid of special glasses, i.e. using autostereoscopic displays
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/398 Synchronisation thereof; Control thereof

Abstract

A computer-implemented method for stereoscopically displaying content includes determining a first position of an object within in a region of display space proximate to a stereoscopic display device and calculating a second position of a virtual object in the region. The method further includes determining an occluded portion of the virtual object that is occluded the object when the virtual object is disposed at the second position and causing the display device to stereoscopically render for display one or more portions of the virtual object that do not include the occluded portion. One advantage of the disclosed method is that a viewer can perform direct touch operations with stereoscopically displayed (3D) content with reduced visual discomfort.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for displaying stereoscopic content, the method comprising:

determining a first position of an object within in a region of display space proximate to a stereoscopic display device;

calculating a second position of a virtual object in the region;

determining an occluded portion of the virtual object that is occluded by the object when the virtual object is disposed at the second position; and

causing the display device to stereoscopically render for display one or more portions of the virtual object that do not include the occluded portion.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the object comprises a physical object disposed within in the region and between the second position and a particular viewpoint associated with a viewer disposed proximate to the region.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the object comprises a physical object operable to interact with the virtual object.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the virtual object comprises a 3D user interface element, and causing the display device to stereoscopically render for display one or more portions of the virtual object comprises causing the display device to truncate the 3D user interface element at a depth corresponding to the first position.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the visible object comprises a 2D image rendered on the display device.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the 2D image comprises a 2D user interface element.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the 2D user interface element comprises one of a cursor, a menu bar, and a tool palette.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein causing the display device to stereoscopically render for display one or more portions of the virtual object comprises causing the display device to render portions of the virtual object to appear three-dimensional to a viewer located at the particular viewpoint.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein determining an occluded portion of the virtual object comprises assuming a particular viewpoint associated with a viewer disposed proximate the region.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more portions of the virtual object rendered for display do not include a portion of the virtual object adjacent to the occluded portion.

11. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the steps of:

determining a first position of an object within a region of display space proximate to a stereoscopic display device;

calculating a second position of a virtual object in the region;

determining an occluded portion of the virtual object that is occluded by the object when the virtual object is disposed at the second position; and

causing the display device to stereoscopically render for display one or more portions of the virtual object that do not include the occluded portion.

12. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein the object comprises a physical object disposed within the region between the display device and a particular viewpoint associated with a viewer disposed proximate to the region.

13. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 12, wherein the object comprises a physical object operable to interact with the virtual object.

14. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13, wherein the virtual object comprises a 3D user interface element, and causing the display device to stereoscopically render for display one or more portions of the virtual object comprises causing the display device to truncate the 3D user interface element at a depth corresponding to the first position.

15. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein the visible object comprises a 2D image rendered on the display device.

16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the 2D image comprises a 2D user interface element.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein causing the display device to render for display one or more portions of the virtual object comprises causing the display device to render portions of the virtual object to appear three-dimensional to a viewer located proximate to the region.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein determining an occluded portion of the virtual object comprises assuming a particular viewpoint associated with a viewer disposed proximate the region.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein the one or more portions of the virtual object rendered for display do not include a portion of the virtual object adjacent to the occluding portion.

20. A computing device comprising:

a processor; and

a memory that is coupled to the processor and includes instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to perform the steps of;

determining a first position of an object within a region of display space proximate to a stereoscopic display device;

calculating a second position of a virtual object in the region;

determining an occluded portion of the virtual object that is occluded by the

object when the virtual object is disposed at the second position; and

causing the display device to stereoscopically render for display one or more portions of the virtual object that do not include the occluded portion.