Light-Emitting Input Device Halo for AR/VR Pairing and Calibration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional handheld user input devices for wearable AR/VR/MR devices are limited by the number of fingers available for interaction, reducing the types of user interface functionalities that can be achieved, and the field of view (FOV) of wearable displays is often smaller than the natural human FOV, making it difficult to detect objects outside the current view.
Innovation Solution
A light-emitting user input device with a touch-sensitive portion and a light-emitting halo surrounding it, allowing for multiple interactable regions and providing visual cues about objects outside the FOV through customizable light patterns, enhancing interaction capabilities and user interface experiences.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a conventional handheld user input device is used, then the device structure is simple, but the user interface functionalities are limited due to the number of fingers available for interaction
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into multiple interactable regions (first region, second region, third region) with different input modes. The first region accepts single-finger input, the second region accepts multi-finger input, and the third region provides visual feedback. This segmentation allows different finger configurations to interact with different regions, expanding UI functionalities without increasing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a visual feedback dimension through the light-emitting halo that surrounds the touch-sensitive surface. This halo provides an additional layer of information and interaction beyond the traditional touch surface, allowing users to receive visual cues about objects outside the FOV and enabling new interaction paradigms in 3D virtual environments.
2Area of stationary object
If the field of view of wearable displays is reduced, then the display can be more compact, but it becomes difficult to detect objects outside the current view
Solution Approach 1:
The light-emitting halo provides visual feedback about objects and events that are outside the current field of view. The halo can indicate the presence, type, and priority of objects beyond what is currently visible in the AR/VR display, allowing users to maintain awareness of their environment without needing to expand the FOV.
Solution Approach 2:
The halo acts as an intermediary between the user and objects outside the FOV. Instead of requiring users to directly see objects in their peripheral vision, the halo translates information about external objects into visible light patterns that can be easily perceived within the constrained FOV.
3Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If a light-emitting halo is added to provide visual cues, then object detection capability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The light-emitting halo is merged with the existing touch-sensitive surface structure. The halo and the touch surface share common components and control systems, allowing the visual feedback functionality to be integrated into the existing device architecture rather than adding a completely separate system.
Solution Approach 2:
The light-emitting halo serves multiple functions: it provides visual feedback about objects outside the FOV, indicates user input device status, assists in calibration, and aids in pairing with other devices. This multi-functionality justifies the added complexity by delivering multiple benefits from a single added component.
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
The device extends user interface experiences to a 3D environment, provides visual feedback on objects outside the FOV, and allows for customizable interaction mappings, improving usability and interaction efficiency with wearable systems.
Implementation Method 1
a light emitting portion configured to output a light pattern
Data Source
AI summary
A light-emitting user input device can include a touch sensitive portion configured to accept user input (e.g., from a user's thumb) and a light-emitting portion configured to output a light pattern. The light pattern can be used to assist the user in interacting with the user input device. Examples include emulating a multi-degree-of-freedom controller, indicating scrolling, swiping, or other actions, indicating presence of objects nearby the device, indicating receipt of notifications, assisting pairing the user input device with another device, or assisting calibrating the user input device. The light-emitting user input device can be used to provide user input to a wearable device, such as, e.g., a head mounted display device.