Head-Mounted Display for Free-Space Operation Input

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing virtual-experience gaming devices with ceiling-mounted sensors face limitations in areas with obstacles, leading to restricted movement and complex, time-consuming coordinate transformations.

Innovation Solution

A head-mounted unit with a relative position sensor and control unit that allows the operating unit to move freely by detecting and acting on changes in relative position and orientation, eliminating the need for ceiling-mounted sensors and simplifying coordinate transformations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If ceiling-mounted spatial sensors are used to detect positions and orientations, then coordinate transformation can be performed, but the area in which the operating unit can move is limited by obstacles such as illumination apparatus and measuring instruments

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvearea in which operating unit can moveVSAvoidcoordinate transformation complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of mounting sensors on the ceiling to detect the operating unit's position, the patent inverts the approach by mounting a display on the operating unit itself and using a camera on the ceiling to detect the display's position. This inversion allows the operating unit to move freely without being constrained by obstacles, as the display moves with the operating unit rather than requiring a fixed ceiling-mounted detection point.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses a camera to capture images of the display mounted on the operating unit, creating a visual copy of the display's position and orientation. This optical copying method simplifies the detection system compared to complex spatial sensors, and allows free movement since the camera can track the display's position through image capture rather than requiring direct sensor contact with the operating unit.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Measurement precision

If ceiling-mounted spatial sensors are used to detect positions and orientations, then the positions and orientations can be obtained, but computations involved in coordinate transformations are complicated and time consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveposition and orientation detection accuracyVSAvoidcomputation time for coordinate transformation

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a camera to capture images of the display, creating a visual copy that directly represents the display's position and orientation. This optical copying method provides accurate position and orientation data through image processing, eliminating the need for complex coordinate transformations required by traditional spatial sensors, thereby reducing computation time while maintaining measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical sensor-based detection system with an optical imaging system. Instead of using spatial sensors that require complex mathematical coordinate transformations, the system uses a camera to capture images of the display, substituting mechanical detection with optical detection that simplifies the computational process while maintaining accurate position and orientation measurement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Adaptability or versatility

If a display is mounted on the head of the operator, then the operator can move about freely, but the relative position detection system must be more complex to account for head movements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperator movement freedomVSAvoidrelative position detection complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the display with the operating unit, creating a combined system where the display moves together with the operating unit. This merging simplifies the detection system because the camera detects the combined display-operating unit assembly as a single entity, rather than requiring separate detection of head position and operating unit position, thereby maintaining operator movement freedom without increasing detection complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

Enables unrestricted movement of the operating unit and reduces computational complexity, allowing for high-speed processing and intuitive operation by using a head-mounted display and relative position sensors.

Implementation Method 1

an image-acquisition unit that is provided in the other of the head-mounted unit and the operating unit and that captures an image of the indicator

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectImage capture: Photography

Data Source

PatentUS9361818B2Operation input device and manipulator system

Publication Date: 2016.06.07 OLYMPUS CORPORATION(JP)

AI summary

With a simple configuration, a area in which an operating unit can move is prevented from being limited. Provided is an operation input device including a display; an operating unit that operates a display object displayed on the display; a head-mounted unit that is mounted on the head of an operator; relative position sensors that detect a relative position and a relative orientation of one of the head-mounted unit and the operating unit with respect to the other; and a control unit that actuates the display object displayed on the display on the basis of changes in the relative position and the relative orientation detected by the relative position sensors.