AR Viewpoint Alignment via 3D Spatial Modeling

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

In Augmented Reality (AR) systems, virtual objects such as photographs or pictures may not align correctly with the real space's viewpoint, leading to a mismatch in angles of view, which can disrupt the immersive experience of augmenting the real world.

Innovation Solution

An information processing apparatus and method that display additional images corresponding to a user's viewpoint in the real world, guiding the user to a position where the virtual object's viewpoint matches the real space's, by constructing a three-dimensional model of the real world and estimating the position and posture of the additional image for accurate superimposition.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If virtual objects are displayed in AR space according to positions of real objects, then the AR system can provide additional information superimposed on real space, but the angle of view in AR space may not agree with that in real space depending on the viewing angle, causing mismatch between virtual and real viewpoints

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveviewpoint alignment precisionVSAvoidAR system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from 2D display coordinates to 3D spatial coordinates by constructing a three-dimensional model of the real world. This allows virtual objects to be positioned and oriented in three-dimensional space, enabling the viewpoint of additional images to correspond with the user's actual viewpoint in real space, thereby resolving the angle of view mismatch issue

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the parameters used for positioning virtual objects from simple 2D screen coordinates to 3D spatial parameters including position and posture (orientation). By estimating the position and posture of additional images in three-dimensional space and adjusting display parameters accordingly, the system achieves viewpoint alignment between virtual and real worlds

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If additional images are displayed without considering viewpoint correspondence, then the AR system can show virtual objects easily, but the immersive experience is disrupted due to angle of view mismatch

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveAR display easeVSAvoidviewpoint correspondence reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary construction of a three-dimensional model of the real world and pre-estimates the position and posture of additional images before displaying them. This preliminary spatial arrangement ensures that when images are displayed, their viewpoints already correspond with the user's viewpoint, maintaining both ease of operation and viewpoint reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3151202B1Information processing device and information processing method
Publication Date: 2021.06.30 SONY GROUP CORP
  • EP3151202B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3151202B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3151202B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

[Object] To present, to a user, an additional image, which is a virtual object, in a manner superimposed on a real-space image at a position corresponding to a viewpoint in the real space. [Solution] According to the present disclosure, provided is an information processing apparatus including a processing unit configured to display an additional image corresponding to a viewpoint of a user in the real world, and guide the user to the vicinity of the viewpoint in the real world where the additional image has been acquired.