IR-Reflective Structural Support for Mixed Reality Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mixed reality devices face challenges in determining and tracking their positions within dynamic real-world environments, particularly due to occlusions and lighting changes caused by flashing lights, real-world objects, and projected video content.
Innovation Solution
The use of a structural support with an infrared (IR) light emitter and reflective surface, combined with an IR transmissive surface featuring a non-repetitive device-localization pattern, allows mixed reality devices to perform image-based localization and maintain accurate positioning within the environment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If mixed reality devices use on-board sensors and external beacons to determine and track their real-world positions, then positioning accuracy is improved, but the system becomes vulnerable to occlusions and lighting changes caused by flashing lights, real-world objects, and projected video content
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an infrared (IR) light emitter as an intermediary component that projects IR light patterns onto the environment. These IR patterns serve as dedicated localization markers that are invisible to users but detectable by the mixed reality device's sensors, creating a separate communication channel that is independent of visible lighting conditions and thus reliable under various occlusion and lighting scenarios
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes infrared light, which is invisible to the human eye but detectable by sensors, to create localization patterns. This effectively uses a different 'color' or wavelength of light that does not interfere with visible lighting conditions, allowing the system to maintain positioning reliability regardless of visible lighting changes or occlusions
2Adaptability or versatility
If the system uses visible light for environmental mapping and tracking, then the device can capture real-world content, but positioning becomes unreliable under dynamic lighting conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The IR light emitter acts as an intermediary that adds a dedicated positioning signal layer to the environment. This separate IR-based positioning system operates independently from visible light, allowing the device to maintain precise positioning while simultaneously capturing real-world visible content, thus resolving the conflict between environmental sensing and positioning precision under dynamic lighting
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the sensing functions by separating visible light capture (for environmental mapping and content capture) from infrared light detection (for positioning and tracking). This functional segmentation allows each subsystem to operate optimally without interference from dynamic visible lighting conditions
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
This solution enhances the ability of mixed reality devices to provide immersive experiences by maintaining accurate virtual object positioning relative to the real-world environment, even in environments with dynamic lighting and occlusions.
Implementation Method 1
An IR emitter in the hollow between the two sides is configured to emit IR light toward the IR reflective surface
Implementation Method 2
the IR light is reflected by the IR reflective surface toward the interior of the structure
Data Source
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AI summary
A structure for facilitating virtual experiences comprises: a structural support having a first side facing toward an interior of the structure, a second side opposite the first side, and an intra-support hollow disposed between the first and second sides. An IR reflective surface is adjacent to at least a portion of the second side of the structural support. An IR emitter within the hollow between the first and second sides is configured to emit IR light toward the IR reflective surface, such that the IR light is reflected toward the interior of the structure.