AR Beacons with Modulated Light Encoding for Precise Placement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current augmented reality systems face inefficiencies in determining accurate locations and orientations for superimposing augmenting images within natural scenes, requiring computationally intensive methods and lacking cost-effective solutions.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating light emitting beacons with unique light emitter patterns, such as triangular arrangements of infrared LEDs, that emit modulated light to encode identification data, allowing for efficient determination of their position and orientation within the scene, enabling the precise placement of augmenting images.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If computationally intensive methods are used to determine position and orientation for augmenting images, then accuracy of placement is improved, but processing time and computational resources increase
Solution Approach 1:
The beacon emits modulated light signals that pre-encode position and orientation information before the augmented reality system needs to process them. This preliminary encoding of spatial data in the light signal allows the system to acquire placement information directly without performing computationally intensive image analysis, thus resolving the contradiction between accuracy and processing time
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex computational image processing mechanisms with a simpler optical signaling mechanism. Instead of using heavy computational algorithms to analyze scene images for feature detection and pose estimation, the system uses modulated light emission from beacons to directly convey spatial information, substituting mechanical/computational complexity with optical signal transmission
2Measurement precision
If complex image analysis is performed to identify features in the scene, then accurate positioning is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complex feature identification and pose estimation tasks from the augmented reality system and relocates them to the beacon device. The beacon independently computes and encodes its position and orientation information into modulated light signals, allowing the AR system to simply decode these signals without performing complex image analysis, thus reducing system complexity while maintaining positioning accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The modulated light signal acts as an intermediary that carries pre-processed spatial information from the beacon to the augmented reality system. This intermediary mechanism eliminates the need for the AR system to directly analyze scene images for feature detection, simplifying the system architecture while preserving accurate positioning capabilities
3Adaptability or versatility
If traditional methods are used to determine beacon location, then compatibility with existing systems is maintained, but cost and computational overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The beacon device performs multiple functions: it serves as a positioning reference, an orientation marker, and a data transmission source all through a single modulated light emission mechanism. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate systems or components for each function, reducing overall system cost and complexity while maintaining compatibility with existing augmented reality platforms that can decode the emitted signals
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 enables a cost-effective and efficient method for creating augmented reality experiences by allowing for accurate placement of augmenting images relative to physical beacons, improving the user's view with minimal computational overhead.
Implementation Method 1
Each beacon includes three infrared (IR) light emitters, such as light emitting diodes (LEDs)
Implementation Method 2
The light emitters are configured to emit pulses of light... The emitted light is modulated to convey data that identifies the beacon
Data Source
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AI summary
An augmented reality system (122, 124) with encoding light emitting beacons (106, 112, 608) placed in a scene (102, 602). 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 (516, 518, 520). 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 (610) 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.