Passive Reflective Surface for AR Object Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional simulation environments rely on embedded electronics to track real-world objects, which can be costly and limit the interaction with simulated experiences in augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) environments, as they require dedicated controllers with embedded electronics for accurate tracking and representation.
Innovation Solution
A passive reflective surface, such as a spheroid with etched patterns, is used to capture the location and orientation of real-world objects, allowing for the generation of a location profile that is transmitted to a simulation device to create a virtual representation of physical objects within the AR/VR environment, enabling dynamic tracking and interaction without embedded electronics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If embedded electronics are used to track real-world objects, then tracking accuracy is improved, but cost and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a reflective surface that copies optical information from the environment rather than using embedded electronics to actively transmit tracking data. The reflective surface acts as a passive copy mechanism, reflecting light patterns that encode position and orientation information, thereby achieving accurate tracking without complex electronic components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/electronic tracking system with an optical system. Instead of using motors, sensors, and processors embedded in the object, the system uses optical reflection and camera-based detection to achieve tracking, substituting a complex mechanical-electronic system with a simpler optical field-based system.
2Reliability
If embedded electronics are used in dedicated controllers, then tracking reliability is improved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The reflective surface serves itself by passively reflecting environmental light to encode tracking information. No power source, processor, or active component is needed on the tracked object itself - the object's motion naturally modulates the reflected light pattern, and the system self-corrects by continuously capturing new reflections, eliminating the need for reliable embedded electronics.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary reflective surface that mediates between the physical object and the tracking system. This intermediary passively transforms the object's spatial information into optical patterns that the camera can detect, replacing the need for direct electronic communication between the object and tracker, thereby improving reliability while reducing complexity.
3Device complexity
If passive reflective surfaces are used instead of embedded electronics, then cost is reduced, but measurement precision may worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent moves the tracking information encoding from the spatial position of electronic components to the angular distribution of reflected light. By measuring the direction and intensity of reflected light rays across multiple dimensions (azimuth, elevation, intensity), the system achieves precise 3D position and orientation tracking using passive optical fields rather than active electronic signals.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameters used for tracking from electronic signal characteristics (frequency, amplitude modulation) to optical reflection parameters (incident angle, reflection angle, intensity distribution). By measuring how light parameters change with object position and orientation, the system achieves accurate tracking using passive surfaces, compensating for the lack of active electronics through sophisticated optical parameter analysis.
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 method allows for accurate and cost-effective tracking of physical objects in AR/VR environments, enhancing user interaction and simulation experiences by utilizing passive reflective surfaces to generate virtual representations based on real-world object positions and orientations.
Implementation Method 1
a passive object having a reflective surface reflecting one or more real-world objects
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods, and devices are disclosed for tracking physical objects using a passive reflective object. A computer-implemented method includes obtaining a location profile derived from content capturing a passive object having a reflective surface reflecting one or more real-world objects. The passive object is attached to a physical object. The method further includes transmitting the location profile to a simulation device. The method further includes generating a virtual representation of the physical object based on the location profile of the passive object. The method further includes presenting the virtual representation in a simulation experience.