Method for operating a virtual reality system and virtual reality system

Abstract

Method for operating a virtual reality system (10), comprising the steps: - detecting a speed with which a person (20) wearing virtual reality glasses (12) changes position within a detection space (18); - if it is detected that the change in position occurs within a predetermined sub-area (24) of the detection space (18): specifying a virtual speed which is greater than the detected speed of the person (20) by a predetermined factor; - Changing a virtual observation position within a virtual environment (28) according to the predetermined virtual speed, wherein a virtual object (30) arranged within the virtual environment (28) is displayed from the changing virtual observation position by means of the virtual reality glasses (12); - wherein the factor is specified to be greater the larger the virtual dimensions of the virtual object (30), in particular in the horizontal direction, and / or the larger the virtual dimensions of the virtual object (30) are in relation to the dimensions of the detection space (18).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for operating a virtual reality system and a virtual reality system.

[0002] A virtual reality system can be used to represent a virtual reality, whereby virtual reality is usually defined as the representation and simultaneous perception of reality in its physical properties in a real-time computer-generated, interactive virtual environment.

[0003] Virtual reality systems typically include at least one pair of virtual reality glasses. Virtual reality glasses are a specific type of head-mounted display, a visual output device worn on the head. They present images on a screen close to the eyes or project them directly onto the retina. Virtual reality glasses also have sensors for detecting head movements. This allows the display of a calculated graphic to be adapted to the movements of the wearer of the virtual reality glasses. Due to the physical proximity, the image areas displayed on head-mounted displays appear considerably larger than those of free-standing screens and, in extreme cases, even cover the user's entire field of vision.Since the respective displays of virtual reality glasses follow all head movements of a wearer through the head position, the wearer gets the feeling of moving directly in an image landscape generated by a computer.

[0004] Such virtual reality systems can have a detection device by means of which the position of a wearer of virtual reality glasses in a detection space can be detected. Depending on the detected position of the person, the content displayed by the virtual reality glasses can be adapted such that the wearer of the virtual reality glasses can move within a displayed virtual environment relative to a virtual object. Due to technical and / or cost constraints, the detection space within which the position of the wearer of the virtual reality glasses can be reliably detected may be relatively small. The wearer of the virtual reality glasses can only move virtually within a limited area of ​​the virtual environment if they do not wish to leave the detection space.This can lead to the problem that the wearer of the virtual reality glasses cannot walk around the displayed virtual object and therefore cannot examine it from any virtual observation position without leaving the recording space.

[0005] The publication "Human sensitivity to dynamic translational gains in head-mounted displays" DOI: 10.1145 / 2659766.2659783 describes an experiment in which different people wear virtual reality glasses and walk along a straight path. During this experiment, the virtual speed at which the people move within a virtual environment displayed by the virtual reality glasses is increased or decreased compared to the people's actual movement speed. In the context of the experiment, it is explained that reducing the virtual speed, i.e., multiplying the actual movement speed by a factor less than one, can be useful.As an example, a situation is described in which a user approaches a virtual wall four meters away, with the boundary of a detection space within which the user's movement can be detected six meters away. By reducing the virtual movement speed, an adaptation between the virtual wall and the boundary of the detection space is achieved. When the user reaches the virtual wall, they also reach the boundary of the detection space, because they have to travel a greater distance in reality than in the virtual environment. If they then turn around and move away from the wall, they can do so along the entire detection space still in front of them.

[0006] US 2014 / 0240351 A1 describes a method in which a user of virtual reality glasses moves faster in a virtual environment than they move in reality. Along a main direction of movement, the factor by which the user moves faster than in reality is greater than in a direction perpendicular to the main direction of movement. For example, if the user walks forward, they move significantly faster in the virtual environment than if they move sideways. Furthermore, it is proposed to decouple the representation of the virtual environment from the user's real movement if real obstacles restrict the user's real movement and thus also restrict movement in the virtual environment.

[0007] It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a method for operating a virtual reality system and a virtual reality system by means of which a wearer of virtual reality glasses is enabled to change his virtual position in relation to a virtual object within a virtual environment essentially as desired.

[0008] This object is achieved by a method for operating a virtual reality system and by a virtual reality system having the features of the independent patent claims. Advantageous embodiments with expedient and non-trivial refinements of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

[0009] In the method according to the invention for operating a virtual reality system, a speed is detected at which a person wearing virtual reality glasses changes position within a detection space. If it is detected that the change in position occurs within a predetermined sub-area of ​​the detection space, a virtual speed is specified which is greater than the person's detected speed by a predetermined factor. A virtual observation position within a virtual environment is changed according to the predetermined virtual speed, with a virtual object arranged within the virtual environment being displayed from the changing virtual observation position by means of the virtual reality glasses.

[0010] The method according to the invention enables a person to move within a relatively small detection space and yet cover relatively large distances within a virtual environment. Even in a relatively small detection space, due to technical or cost constraints, within which reliable position detection of a wearer of virtual reality glasses can take place, the method according to the invention makes it possible for a wearer of virtual reality glasses to still virtually cover relatively large distances within the displayed virtual environment. This is because as soon as the person moves within the predetermined sub-area of ​​the detection space, this movement is virtually implemented within the virtual environment at the virtual speed, which is greater than the person's detected speed by a predetermined factor.For example, it may be intended that the person moves within the virtual environment twice as fast as they actually do in real life. For example, if the wearer of the virtual reality headset only moves one meter within one second, the person within the virtual environment will move, say, two meters within the same time, i.e., within one second.

[0011] A virtual object that has relatively large virtual dimensions compared to the actual dimensions of the detection space can still be easily virtually circumnavigated by the wearer of the virtual reality glasses without the person reaching the boundaries of the detection space. Depending on the factor specified to increase the virtual speed, the person can also move very far away from the displayed virtual object relative to the dimensions of the detection space. The wearer of the virtual reality glasses can thus explore a very large virtual area within the virtual environment, even within a relatively small area of ​​the detection space.In addition to the advantage that the wearer of the virtual reality glasses can cover relatively large virtual distances even in a very small detection space, there is the advantage that the detection space itself is relatively compact and the technical means necessary for detecting the person's position can be designed relatively simply and inexpensively.

[0012] The invention further provides that the factor is specified to be larger the larger the virtual dimensions of the virtual object, particularly in the horizontal direction. For example, if a passenger car is displayed as the virtual object, the factor is selected to be smaller than if, for example, a truck is displayed. Regardless of the size of the virtual object to be displayed, it can thus be ensured that the person wearing the virtual reality glasses can comfortably and easily walk around the virtual object without leaving the detection space, even in a relatively small detection space.

[0013] Alternatively or additionally, the invention provides that the factor is specified to be larger the larger the virtual dimensions of the virtual object are in relation to the dimensions of the detection space. This makes it particularly easy to accommodate the technical and geometric boundary conditions of the detection space, since the larger the displayed virtual object is in relation to the size of the real detection space, the faster the person can move within the virtual environment in relation to their actual movement speed. If, for example, the detection space is particularly narrow in relation to the width of the virtual object to be displayed, the factor is selected to be particularly large if the person moves in the width direction of the detection space.If, for example, the length of the detection area is relatively large compared to the length of the virtual object, the factor is selected to be smaller for a person moving in the longitudinal direction of the detection area than for a person moving in the width direction of the detection area. Regardless of the length and width dimensions of the detection area, this ensures that the person can easily walk around the displayed virtual object without leaving the detection area.

[0014] An advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that a second virtual speed, which corresponds to the detected speed of the person, is specified if it is detected that the position change occurs outside the specified sub-area of ​​the detection space, wherein the virtual observation position within the virtual environment changes according to the specified second virtual speed, and meanwhile, the virtual object arranged within the virtual environment is displayed from the changing virtual observation position using the virtual reality glasses. If the person wearing the virtual reality glasses moves, i.e., within the detection space outside the specified sub-area, the actual detected position changes of the person are implemented one-to-one within the virtual environment.So, if a person is moving forward at 4 km / h in reality, for example, they will also be moving forward at 4 km / h in the virtual world. As long as the person moves outside the specified sub-area but still within the detection space, they can move very authentically relative to the virtual object virtually, since the person's movements are implemented one-to-one within the virtual environment. However, as soon as the person moves into the specified sub-area of ​​the detection space and moves within this specified sub-area, a type of accelerated movement occurs within the virtual environment, as already described, since in this case the virtual speed is again specified, which is greater than the person's detected real speed by the specified factor.Depending on where the person moves within the detection space, they can either move at an accelerated speed or move normally within the virtual environment in order to examine the displayed virtual object from a variety of angles.

[0015] A further advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that the subarea is specified in the form of an external area surrounding an internal area of ​​the detection space. Within the internal area of ​​the detection space, the person can therefore move quite naturally within the virtual environment in the aforementioned manner, since the real movements are implemented one-to-one within the virtual environment. As soon as the person moves within the external area, however, the person moves faster within the virtual environment than they actually do in reality. The advantage of specifying the subarea in the form of the external area surrounding the internal area of ​​the detection space lies in particular in the fact that the person wearing the virtual reality glasses is prevented from leaving the detection space.As soon as the person moves outside, they cover greater distances within the virtual environment than they actually do in reality.

[0016] According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that a virtual sub-area corresponding to the predefined sub-area is displayed within the virtual environment by means of the virtual reality glasses. Thus, when the virtual reality glasses are on, the person can see at any time how and where they need to move in order to perform an accelerated movement within the virtual environment. Although the person cannot see their real surroundings when the virtual reality glasses are on, displaying the virtual sub-area corresponding to the predefined sub-area simply shows the person where they need to go in order to achieve, on the one hand, the accelerated virtual movement and, on the other hand, the completely normal virtual movement, i.e., a one-to-one implementation of the real movement.

[0017] In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the change in the virtual observation position occurs at least substantially synchronously with the change in the person's position. For example, if the wearer of the virtual reality glasses actually moves one meter to the right within one second, they will also move synchronously, i.e., within the same second, to the right within the virtual environment. The temporal synchronization of the real movement and the virtual movement can improve the immersion of the wearer of the virtual reality glasses.

[0018] In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, a virtual movement direction, along which the change in the virtual observation position occurs, is specified in such a way that it corresponds to the direction of movement of the person's position change. For example, if the person moves forward, they also move forward virtually within the virtual environment. This significantly facilitates the virtual exploration of the virtual environment and thus also the viewing of the displayed virtual object, since the person moves virtually naturally within the virtual environment—except for the potentially virtually increased movement speed. This also contributes to increasing immersion.

[0019] Furthermore, according to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, only a horizontal velocity component of the virtual velocity is increased by the predetermined factor, and a vertical velocity component of the virtual velocity corresponds to a vertical velocity component of the person's velocity. For example, if the person moves up and down, they will move up and down within the virtual environment at the same speed, regardless of their positioning within the detection space. If, on the other hand, the person moves forwards, backwards, or sideways, they will move forwards, backwards, or sideways within the virtual environment—provided they move within the predetermined sub-area of ​​the detection space—at a greater virtual speed.The movement within the virtual environment, which may feel unnatural due to the increased virtual speed, only occurs when the person moves horizontally. In the vertical direction, the person's actual movements are always reproduced one-to-one in the virtual environment. Despite the increase in virtual movement speed, this at least partially supports a realistic representation of the virtual environment, since at least movements in the vertical direction are reproduced very realistically.For example, if the person moves from a standing position to a squat in order to change their vertical virtual observation position within the virtual environment, this happens quite naturally, since the real vertical position change of the person is converted one-to-one into a virtual vertical movement of the person within the virtual environment.

[0020] The virtual reality system according to the invention comprises virtual reality glasses and a detection device for detecting a speed at which a person wearing the virtual reality glasses changes position within a detection space. Furthermore, the virtual reality system comprises a control device configured to specify a virtual speed that is greater than the detected speed of the person by a predetermined factor if it is detected that the change in position occurs within a predetermined sub-area of ​​the detection space.Furthermore, the control device is designed to change a virtual observation position within a virtual environment according to the predetermined virtual speed and, in the meantime, to control the virtual reality glasses to display a virtual object arranged within the virtual environment from the changing virtual observation position. The control device is also designed to specify the factor to be greater the larger the virtual dimensions of the virtual object are, in particular in the horizontal direction, and / or the larger the virtual dimensions of the virtual object are in relation to the dimensions of the detection space. Advantageous embodiments of the method according to the invention are to be regarded as advantageous embodiments of the virtual reality system, wherein the virtual reality system in particular has means for carrying out the method steps.

[0021] Further advantages, features, and details of the invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments and from the drawings. The features and combinations of features mentioned above in the description, as well as the features and combinations of features mentioned below in the description of the figures and / or shown alone in the figures, can be used not only in the respective combinations specified, but also in other combinations or on their own, without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0022] The drawing shows: Fig. 1 a schematic representation of a virtual reality system comprising virtual reality glasses, a detection device for detecting a person wearing the virtual reality glasses and a control device for controlling the virtual reality glasses; Fig. 2 a schematic perspective view of a detection space within which a person is arranged who has put on the virtual reality glasses, and in Fig. 3 a schematic perspective view of a virtual environment displayed by means of the virtual reality glasses, within which a virtual motor vehicle is arranged, wherein a virtual observation position from which the person looks at the virtual environment through the virtual reality glasses is schematically shown.

[0023] In the figures, identical or functionally identical elements are provided with the same reference symbols.

[0024] A virtual reality system 10 is shown in a schematic representation in Fig. 1. The virtual reality system 10 comprises virtual reality glasses 12, a detection device 14, and a control device 16. By means of the virtual reality system 10, a wide variety of virtual objects, for example virtual motor vehicles and the like, can be displayed within a virtual environment. The detection device 14 is designed to detect a position and a change in position of the virtual reality glasses 12. The detection device 14 is also designed to detect a speed at which a person wearing the virtual reality glasses 12 changes position. The control device 16 is designed to control the virtual reality glasses 12 depending on the detected speed at which a wearer of the virtual reality glasses 12 actually moves.

[0025] In Fig. 2 shows a schematic perspective view of a detection space 18 in which a person 20 is located, wearing virtual reality glasses 12. The person 20 can move freely along a walking area 22 of the detection space 18. As long as the person 20 with the virtual reality glasses 12 on is located within the detection space 18, i.e., does not leave the walking area 22, the detection device 14 can reliably detect changes in the position of the person 20 by detecting changes in the position of the virtual reality glasses 12. For example, the detection device 14 can have laser-based or infrared-based detection means by means of which the position of the virtual reality glasses 12 within the detection space 18 can be detected. Depending on the detected position of the virtual reality glasses 12, the position of the person 20 can also be determined accordingly.In addition, the position detection of the virtual reality glasses 12 can also be used to determine a movement speed of the virtual reality glasses 12 and thus also a movement speed of the person 20.

[0026] The access area 22 is divided into a partial area 24 in the form of an outdoor area and an indoor area 26, which is surrounded by the partial area 24.

[0027] In Fig.3 shows a virtual environment 28 in a schematic perspective view. A virtual motor vehicle 30 is arranged within the virtual environment 28. The virtual environment 28, including the virtual motor vehicle 30, is displayed using the virtual reality glasses 12. The person 20 is shown within the virtual environment 28 only for illustrative purposes in order to identify an unspecified virtual observation position of the person 20, from which the person 20 sees the virtual environment 28 and thus also the virtual motor vehicle 30 through the virtual reality glasses 12. If the person 20 moves on the real walking area 22 of the detection space 18, the person 20 moves virtually within the virtual environment 28 on a virtual walking area 32. The dimensions of the virtual walking area 32 can be significantly larger than the dimensions of the real walking area 22.As already mentioned, a change in position of the person 20 can only be reliably detected as long as the person 20, together with the virtual reality glasses 12, remains within the detection space 18. Therefore, if the detection space 18 is relatively small in relation to the virtual dimensions of the virtual motor vehicle 30, the problem could arise that the person 20 cannot even circle the displayed virtual motor vehicle 30 without necessarily leaving the detection space 18. To counteract this problem, it is provided that real movements of the person 20 are implemented differently within the virtual environment 28, depending on whether the person 20 is moving along the partial area 24 or the interior area 26.

[0028] A speed is continuously recorded at which the person 20 changes position within the detection space 18. If it is detected that the change in position of the person 20 occurs within the predetermined subarea 24, a virtual speed is specified which is greater than the detected real speed of the person 20 by a predetermined factor. The virtual observation position within the virtual environment 28 is then changed according to the predetermined virtual speed, with the virtual motor vehicle 30 arranged within the virtual environment 28 being displayed from the changing virtual observation position by means of the virtual reality glasses 12. For example, it can be provided that the said factor is specified with the value 2.If the person 20 moves on the sub-area 24 at 4 km / h, this movement is implemented within the virtual environment 28 at 8 km / h.

[0029] However, if it is detected that the position change of person 20 occurs within the interior area 26, a second virtual speed is specified, which corresponds to the actually detected real speed of person 20. In this case, the virtual observation position within the virtual environment 28 is changed according to the specified second virtual speed, wherein, in turn, the virtual motor vehicle 30 arranged within the virtual environment 28 is displayed from the changing virtual observation position using the virtual reality glasses 12. Thus, if person 20 moves within the interior area 26, their position changes are implemented one-to-one within the virtual environment 28. For example, if person 20 moves again at 4 km / h, this movement within the virtual environment 28 is also implemented at 4 km / h.

[0030] It can be provided that a sub-area within the virtual environment 28 corresponding to the predetermined sub-area 24, not shown in detail here, is displayed by means of the virtual reality glasses 12. The person 20 can therefore always recognize, with the virtual reality glasses 12 on, where they need to move if they want an accelerated movement or a completely normal movement within the virtual environment 28. The respective changes in the virtual observation position occur synchronously with the real change in the position of the person 20. A virtual direction of movement 34 along which the change in the virtual observation position occurs is specified in such a way that it corresponds to a direction of movement 36 of the person 20 in reality. For example, if the person 20 moves to the right in reality, the person 20 also moves to the right within the virtual environment 28.If the person 20 moves within the partial area 24, they simply cover a greater distance within the virtual environment 28 than they actually do in reality. As long as the person 20 moves within the interior area 26, these movements are implemented one-to-one in the virtual environment 28. The factor by which the actual movement speed in the virtual environment 28 is increased can be specified, for example, as a function of the virtual dimensions of the virtual motor vehicle 30. It is particularly advantageous if this factor is specified to be greater the larger the virtual dimensions of the virtual motor vehicle 30 are in the horizontal direction in relation to the dimensions of the virtual walking area 32.Irrespective of the size of the real inspection area 20, it can thereby be ensured that the person 20 can in any case walk around the displayed virtual motor vehicle 30 - regardless of the dimensions of the virtual motor vehicle 30 - within the virtual environment 28 without leaving the detection space 18.

[0031] The explained method for operating the virtual reality system 10 and the virtual reality system 10 therefore provide a solution by means of which, in the case of limited space in a detection space 18, it can be ensured that a wearer of the virtual reality glasses 12 can also comfortably explore a relatively large virtual environment 28 virtually without stepping out of the detection space 18.

Claims

[1] Method for operating a virtual reality system (10), comprising the steps: - detecting a speed with which a person (20) wearing virtual reality glasses (12) changes position within a detection space (18); - if it is detected that the change in position occurs within a predetermined sub-area (24) of the detection space (18): specifying a virtual speed which is greater than the detected speed of the person (20) by a predetermined factor; - Changing a virtual observation position within a virtual environment (28) according to the predetermined virtual speed, wherein a virtual object (30) arranged within the virtual environment (28) is displayed from the changing virtual observation position by means of the virtual reality glasses (12); - wherein the factor is specified to be greater the larger the virtual dimensions of the virtual object (30), in particular in the horizontal direction, and / or the larger the virtual dimensions of the virtual object (30) are in relation to the dimensions of the detection space (18). [2] Method according to claim 1, characterized by that a second virtual speed, which corresponds to the detected speed of the person (20), is specified if it is detected that the change in position occurs outside the predetermined sub-area (24) of the detection space (18), wherein the virtual observation position within the virtual environment (28) changes according to the predetermined second virtual speed and meanwhile the virtual object (30) arranged within the virtual environment (28) is displayed from the changing virtual observation position by means of the virtual reality glasses (12). [3] Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the partial area (24) is specified in the form of an outer area which surrounds an inner area (26) of the detection space (18). [4] Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that a virtual sub-area corresponding to the predetermined sub-area (24) is displayed within the virtual environment (28) by means of the virtual reality glasses (12). [5] Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the change in the virtual observation position occurs at least substantially synchronously with the change in the position of the person (20). [6] Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that a virtual direction of movement (34) along which the change in the virtual observation position takes place is predetermined in such a way that it corresponds to a direction of movement (36) of the change in position of the person (20). [7] Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that only a horizontal speed component of the virtual speed is increased by the predetermined factor and a vertical speed component of the virtual speed corresponds to a vertical speed component of the speed of the person (20). [8] Virtual reality system (10), with - virtual reality glasses (12); - a detection device (14) for detecting a speed with which a person (20) wearing the virtual reality glasses (12) changes position within a detection space (18); - a control device (16) which is designed to specify a virtual speed which is greater by a predetermined factor than the detected speed of the person (20) if it is detected that the change in position occurs within a predetermined sub-area (24) of the detection space (18), and to change a virtual observation position within a virtual environment (28) according to the predetermined virtual speed and, in the meantime, to control the virtual reality glasses (12) to display a virtual object (30) arranged within the virtual environment (28) from the changing virtual observation position; - wherein the control device (16) is designed to specify the factor to be greater the larger the virtual dimensions of the virtual object (30), in particular in the horizontal direction, and / or the larger the virtual dimensions of the virtual object (30) are in relation to the dimensions of the detection space (18).

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