SENSORY FEEDBACK SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR GUIDING USERS IN VIRTUAL REALITY ENVIRONMENTS

• US 20160124502A1
• Filed: 11/05/2015
• Published: 05/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Valve Corporation
• Original Assignee: Valve Corporation
• Inventors: SAWYER, DAVID, BIRDWELL, KENNETH, BARNETT, KENNETH, REIDFORD, TRISTAN, LEIBY, AARON, RIDGWAY, EMILY, VLACHOS, ALEXANDER C.
• Granted Patent: US 10,241,566 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/16 using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/014 comprising information/image processing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0167 Emergency system, e.g. to prevent injuries
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0093 with means for monitoring data relating to the user, e.g. head-tracking, eye-tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/017 Head mounted
• 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

Abstract

Sensory feedback (“chaperoning”) systems and methods for guiding users in virtual/augmented reality environments such as walk-around virtual reality environments are described. Exemplary implementations assist with preventing collisions with objects in the physical operating space in which the user acts, among other potential functions and/or uses.

Claims

1. A method for warning a user of a head-mounted display of potential collisions with real-world obstacles, comprising the steps of:

defining the location of said obstacles relative to a reference point;

continually monitoring the location of said user relative to said reference point;

performing a first detection to determine when the distance between said location of said user relative to the location of one of said obstacles is smaller than a predetermined alarm threshold; and

in response to said first detection, displaying a visual alarm on said head-mounted display to provide an indication to said user of a potential collision with one of said obstacles.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said location of said user is determined by continually monitoring the location of a portion of said head-mounted display.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising continually monitoring the location of an object held by said user, performing a second detection to determine when the distance between said location of said object relative to the location of one of said obstacles is smaller than said predetermined alarm threshold, and, in response to said second detection, displaying a visual alarm on said head-mounted display to provide an indication to said user of a potential collision between said object and one of said obstacles