Flashlight Virtual Object for 3D Point Cloud Depth Perception
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users face difficulties in accurately selecting and snapping to points in a point cloud on a 2D display due to the lack of depth information and discontinuities, leading to frustrating and time-consuming reconstruction processes, as existing techniques like clipping and color-based methods are either processing intensive or impractical.
Innovation Solution
A 3D virtual flashlight object is introduced that simulates a physical flashlight, providing highlighting effects to indicate depth and surface continuity, allowing users to manipulate its position and orientation to visually select and snap to points within a specific field of view, enhancing perception of the 3D structure without needing to change viewing positions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If point clouds are displayed on a conventional 2-D display screen without perspective effects, then the display is simple and straightforward, but users cannot discern depth information and are unable to definitively determine whether two points are part of the same surface
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies color-based encoding to represent depth information in point clouds. Different colors are assigned to points at different depths or distances from the viewer, enabling users to visually distinguish depth variations and surface continuity without requiring complex 3-D display hardware. This resolves the contradiction by preserving depth information through color encoding while maintaining compatibility with conventional 2-D display screens.
2Measurement precision
If users manually select and snap to points in a point cloud without depth visualization, then the operation process is simple, but the selection accuracy is poor and the reconstruction process is time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements interactive feedback mechanisms where users can hover over or select points to receive immediate visual feedback about depth information, surface continuity, and spatial relationships. This feedback enables users to make accurate point selections without time-consuming trial and error, resolving the contradiction by providing real-time depth visualization that guides precise point selection while maintaining an efficient workflow.
3Ease of operation
If clipping techniques are used to limit visible points, then point selection becomes easier, but the processing becomes intensive and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality enhancement by selectively highlighting or emphasizing specific points or regions of the point cloud based on their spatial characteristics, depth, or surface continuity. Instead of clipping large portions of the data, the system enhances the visual properties of relevant local regions, making point selection easier while avoiding the computational overhead of extensive clipping operations.
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment, a user's perception of three-dimensional (3-D) structure of points in a point cloud is enhanced by use of a flashlight virtual object. The flashlight virtual object has a field of view that includes an inner cone that encloses an inner zone and an outer cone that encloses an outer zone. A current position and orientation of the flashlight virtual object within the 3-D space of the point cloud is found. It is determined whether the any points of the point cloud fall within the inner cone of the flashlight virtual object, and, if so, the points of the point cloud that fall within the inner cone are highlighted. It is further determined whether any points of the point cloud fall within the outer cone of the flashlight virtual object, and, if so, the points of the point cloud that fall within the outer cone are highlighted.