Virtual Light Source Manipulator for XR Lighting
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current computer graphics editors lack intuitive and efficient interfaces for manipulating virtual light sources in extended reality environments, leading to increased user interaction time and power consumption in battery-powered devices.
Innovation Solution
The development of light source manipulators with affordances for adjusting boundaries, such as radial and axial boundaries, and spherical adjustments, tailored for different types of virtual light sources (point, spot, frustum, area, directional, and ambient) to simplify the process of creating desired lighting in XR environments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional computer graphics editors are used to manipulate virtual light sources, then the editing functionality is provided, but the user interaction time increases and power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The light source manipulator is segmented into multiple affordances, each controlling a specific boundary aspect (radial boundary, axial boundary, fade boundary). This segmentation allows users to manipulate each boundary independently through dedicated controls, reducing the complexity of interaction and enabling more efficient editing compared to traditional unified interface approaches.
Solution Approach 2:
The light source manipulator acts as an intermediary interface between the user and the virtual light source properties. By introducing this intermediate layer with visual affordances that directly represent boundary characteristics, the system enables more intuitive and efficient manipulation than traditional property-based editing interfaces.
2Ease of operation
If traditional computer graphics editors are used to manipulate virtual light sources, then the editing functionality is provided, but the number of interfaces and interactions increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple boundary control functions (radial, axial, fade) are merged into a single light source manipulator interface. This consolidation allows users to access and manipulate all boundary aspects from one unified interface rather than navigating through multiple separate interfaces, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining comprehensive editing capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The light source manipulator is designed as a universal interface that handles multiple types of virtual light sources (point, spot, frustum, area, directional, ambient) and multiple boundary aspects through a single unified control mechanism. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate specialized interfaces for different light source types.
3Ease of operation
If enhanced user interface interactions are provided for light source manipulation, then the user experience is improved, but the power usage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The light source manipulator provides dynamic visual feedback that updates in real-time as users interact with the boundaries. This dynamic response enhances user experience by immediately showing the effect of manipulations, while the efficiency of direct manipulation reduces the number of interaction cycles needed compared to traditional iterative editing approaches.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer-generated virtual light source manipulator having one or more affordances for manipulating a computer-generated virtual light sources is disclosed. Selection of a virtual light source can cause a light source manipulator tailored for that virtual light source to be displayed over the virtual light source. The light source manipulator can include various lines, circles and the like that can define starting boundaries (e.g., surfaces that represent the start location and initial aperture of light emission from the virtual light source), ending boundaries (e.g., surfaces that represent the extent or reach (i.e., end location or projection distance) and final aperture of light transmission from the virtual light source), and fade boundaries (e.g., surfaces that represent the beginning of the fading of the virtual light source). The light source manipulators can also include one or more disc or spherical affordances for adjusting these boundaries.