Inverse Spherical Virtual Screen Head Tracking Display
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional virtual reality environments require user-worn optical devices like 3D glasses or headsets, increasing cost and complexity.
Innovation Solution
A system using a display, tracking device, and computing device to project a source file onto an inverse spherical virtual screen, determining the visible portion based on the user's head location, allowing the display to act as a viewing window into the virtual reality environment without the need for user-worn devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If user-worn optical devices (3D glasses or headsets) are used to create a virtual reality environment, then the virtual reality experience is achieved, but the cost and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the optical device from the user and relocates it to the display system. Instead of placing lenses or optical components in the user's eyes or on headsets, the system uses the display screen itself as the optical element through which the user views the virtual environment. This extraction eliminates the need for separate optical devices while maintaining the virtual reality effect.
Solution Approach 2:
The display serves multiple functions: it acts as both the viewing window and the optical element for creating the virtual reality effect. By making the display universal, the system eliminates the need for dedicated optical devices, reducing overall system complexity and cost while maintaining the virtual reality experience.
2Reliability
If user-worn optical devices are used to view the virtual environment, then the virtual reality effect is achieved, but the cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the optical device from the user side and integrates its function into the display system. This extraction eliminates the need to manufacture and supply separate optical devices to each user, significantly reducing system cost while maintaining the virtual reality effect through the display's optical properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates an optical effect copy of what would traditionally require physical lenses or headsets. By using software-based rendering and display optical properties to simulate the effect of optical devices, the system achieves the same visual result without the associated manufacturing costs.
3Area of stationary object
If the virtual screen is made larger than the display, then more of the source file is visible, but the viewing angle and head position tracking become more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a fixed 2D display plane to a 3D virtual spherical screen. By projecting the source file onto an inverse spherical surface in three-dimensional space, the system creates a larger virtual viewing area while using head position tracking to dynamically adjust the visible portion, managing the complexity through spatial dimensionality rather than physical screen expansion.
Solution Approach 2:
The system makes the visible portion of the virtual screen dynamic rather than static. Based on real-time head position tracking, the system adjusts which portion of the large virtual spherical screen is visible to the user, allowing a much larger total screen area while keeping the actual viewing complexity manageable through dynamic adaptation.
Data Source
AI summary
A virtual reality system and method comprises a display for displaying an image to a user, a tracking device for detecting location of the user's head relative to the display and a computing device respectively operatively connected to the display and to the tracking device, the computing device having a processor and a non-transitory memory which are operatively interconnected so that the processor can execute instructions stored on the memory for: projecting a source file on an inverse spherical virtual screen sized larger than the display; using a mathematical model relating the location of the user's head, the display and the virtual screen, determining a visible portion of the projected source file viewable to the user through the display acting as a viewing window between the user and the projected source file; and displaying on the display said visible portion of the projected source file.