Active Infrared Tracking for Multi-User VR Clutter
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing virtual and augmented reality tracking systems face challenges in accurately tracking multiple subjects in a cluttered environment, particularly with reflective marker systems that suffer from marker confusion and decreased tracking quality due to the need for more markers and complex patterns, leading to reduced smoothness and increased errors.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an infrared light emitting tracking system that uses unique patterns of pulsed light for marker identification, allowing for more efficient tracking of multiple subjects with reduced marker confusion and improved tracking smoothness, and the use of a computing system that processes sensor and position tracking data to enhance the virtual and augmented reality experience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If reflective marker systems are used to track multiple subjects, then tracking coverage can be maintained, but marker confusion increases and tracking quality decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces reflective markers (passive optical system) with active infrared light-emitting markers. Each marker contains an infrared LED that actively emits light, allowing the camera system to actively query and identify markers by their unique pulsed light patterns. This active optical system eliminates marker confusion because each marker's identity is encoded in its light emission pattern rather than relying on passive reflection patterns that can be misidentified in cluttered environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of marker identification from passive reflection patterns to active light emission with unique temporal patterns. Each marker emits infrared light in distinctive pulsed sequences that encode its identity, transforming the identification problem from spatial pattern recognition to temporal signal analysis. This parameter change enables reliable differentiation of multiple markers even when they appear simultaneously in the camera field of view.
2Productivity
If more reflective markers with complex patterns are deployed to track multiple subjects, then tracking coverage improves, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic pulsed emission from each infrared marker, where markers emit light in repeated temporal cycles with unique patterns within each cycle. The camera system queries markers by detecting these periodic emissions and identifying them based on their distinctive pulsed patterns. This periodic action allows the system to efficiently track multiple subjects without requiring complex spatial patterns on each marker, as the temporal dimension provides the differentiation mechanism.
3Adaptability or versatility
If reflective marker systems track multiple subjects in cluttered environments, then multi-user capability is maintained, but tracking smoothness decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the passive reflective marker system with an active infrared light-emitting system, enabling reliable tracking of multiple users in cluttered environments. The active emission approach ensures that each marker's signal is detectable above background clutter, maintaining tracking smoothness even as multi-user capability scales. The camera system can continuously query and track multiple active markers without the marker confusion that plagues passive reflective systems in complex environments.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The infrared light emitting tracking system provides improved tracking accuracy and smoothness for multiple subjects, reducing errors and enhancing the overall quality of the virtual and augmented reality experience by providing high fidelity motion tracking and interactive capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
an infrared marker identification and position tracking system configured to interface and work in conjunction with a marker device and camera system
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are described for virtual and augmented reality. A position of a first user and a position of a second user in a physical space are received, wherein the positions are derived from detected infrared light from a plurality of cameras. An image corresponding to the first user is rendered at a first virtual position in a display device associated with the second user, wherein the first virtual position is determined based at least in part on a position of the first user in the physical space and on a determined viewpoint of the second user. An image corresponding to the second user is rendered at a second virtual position in a display device associated with the first user, wherein the second virtual position is determined based at least in part on a position of the second user in the physical space and on a determined viewpoint of the first user.