Augmented Reality Beacons for Precise Image Placement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current augmented reality systems face challenges in efficiently and inexpensively determining the accurate placement and orientation of augmenting images within ambient scenes, which hinders the creation of seamless augmented reality experiences.
Innovation Solution
The use of light emitting beacons, such as those with infrared LEDs arranged in specific patterns, that emit modulated light to encode identification data, allowing image augmentation devices to determine their location and orientation within the scene, enabling precise superimposition of augmenting images.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional image analysis techniques are used to determine feature locations and orientations in ambient scenes, then accurate placement and orientation of augmenting images can be achieved, but the computational complexity and processing time increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces beacons as intermediary objects placed in the ambient scene that emit encoded identification data. These beacons serve as mediators between the imaging device and the environment, providing pre-defined reference points that eliminate the need for complex real-time feature detection and analysis. The beacons contain embedded identification data that directly indicates their location and orientation, simplifying the tracking process while maintaining high precision for augmenting image placement.
2Measurement precision
If complex scene analysis is performed to identify features for augmenting image placement, then accurate orientation determination is achieved, but the processing time and computational resources increase
Solution Approach 1:
The beacons are pre-configured with encoded identification data that contains information about their location and orientation within the ambient scene. This preliminary encoding of spatial information in the beacons eliminates the need for time-consuming real-time analysis during the augmented reality operation. The imaging device can quickly decode the pre-stored identification data to determine the precise orientation for placing augmenting images, significantly reducing processing time while maintaining accuracy.
3Adaptability or versatility
If natural scenes without artificial markers are used for augmented reality, then the system works in unmodified environments, but determining accurate locations and orientations becomes more difficult and computationally intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The beacons act as portable intermediary markers that can be placed in any unmodified natural environment. They provide artificial reference points in otherwise featureless or complex natural scenes, enabling the augmented reality system to accurately determine locations and orientations without requiring modification of the underlying environment. The beacons' encoded identification data provides clear, machine-readable spatial information that is easy to detect and measure, even in challenging natural lighting and geometric conditions.
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
This approach allows for efficient and cost-effective creation of augmented reality experiences by enabling accurate placement and orientation of augmenting images relative to physical beacons, enhancing the realism and user experience of augmented reality environments.
Implementation Method 1
The beacons include three infrared (IR) LEDs that are arranged in a triangular configuration
Implementation Method 2
emit modulated light to encode identification data
Implementation Method 3
A time sequence of light intensity data is received from a photo-detector that has detected light within a view angle
Data Source
AI summary
An augmented reality system with encoding light emitting beacons placed in a scene. Beacons placed at desired locations in a scene emit light modulated with multiple access encoding that conveys an identifier for its emitting beacon. The emitted light signals are also blanked for longer than a time between image capturing by an image augmenting device. Beacons viewed in captured images are identified by correlating an absence of a beacon in an image with an absence of a received identifier in received light signals. In a view of the scene presented to a user, augmenting images are obtained based upon the determined beacon identifier and are displayed at locations in the scene based upon the determined location of that beacon. Beacons that emit pulsed light signals encoded with the multiple access coding are also provided.