AR Transparency Control for Occluded Virtual Object Interaction

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing virtual reality and augmented reality technologies face challenges in controlling the transparency of real objects when they are positioned between a user and a virtual object, leading to potential collisions, difficulty in grasping virtual objects, and incorrect button operations due to inappropriate transparency adjustments.

Innovation Solution

An information processing apparatus and method that determines the scene context based on user actions and positional relationships to control the transparency of real objects, using sensors and algorithms to adjust opacity based on distance, speed, and user interaction with virtual objects.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the transparency of the real object is increased when the real object exists in front of a virtual object, then the virtual object becomes visible, but the user may collide with the real object due to reduced awareness

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevisibility of virtual objectVSAvoidcollision risk with real object

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the transparency of the real object dynamically adjustable based on user state. The system detects user movement speed and distance to the real object, and adjusts transparency accordingly - increasing transparency when the user is stationary or moving slowly, and decreasing transparency when the user is moving quickly, thus resolving the contradiction between visibility and collision risk

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the transparency parameter of the real object based on detected scene conditions. By monitoring user position, movement speed, and interaction state, the system adjusts the transparency parameter to appropriate levels, enabling the virtual object to remain visible while preventing collision hazards

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If the transparency of the real object (hand) is increased when the real object exists in front of the virtual object, then the virtual object becomes visible, but the user cannot grasp the sense of distance to the virtual object

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevisibility of virtual objectVSAvoiddistance perception accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by differentiating transparency control based on the specific interaction scenario. When the user's hand is near a virtual object that requires gripping, the system maintains higher transparency of the hand to preserve distance perception and gripping accuracy, while still allowing the virtual object to be visible through the semi-transparent hand

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If the transparency of the real object is increased when the real object exists in front of the virtual object, then the virtual object becomes visible, but the user cannot perform button operation as intended

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevisibility of virtual objectVSAvoidbutton operation accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent adjusts the transparency parameter based on the type of virtual object and intended interaction. For virtual buttons or operation targets, the system detects when the user's hand is positioned for button operation and adjusts transparency to an optimal level that allows both visibility of the button and accurate positioning of the user's hand

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4711896A1Information processing device, information processing method, and recording medium

Publication Date: 2026.03.18 SONY GROUP CORP

Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3

AI summary

An information processing apparatus according to the present technology includes a transparency control unit that performs scene determination related to at least one of action of a user or a positional relationship between the user and a real object in a case where the real object exists between a viewpoint position and a virtual object, and controls transparency of the real object on the basis of a result of the scene determination.