Mixed Reality Virtual Object Rendering for Real-World Collision Avoidance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mixed reality technologies fail to notify users of real objects in their vicinity, such as tables or walls, when using head-mounted displays, as they primarily focus on user proximity notifications without considering real-world objects.
Innovation Solution
An information processing apparatus that generates virtual objects with attributes for approach warnings, allowing users to be notified when approaching real objects by calculating distances and outputting alerts when threshold values are reached, while also managing virtual object positioning and rendering to avoid collisions with real objects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a head-mounted display is used to provide immersive mixed reality, then user immersion in virtual objects is improved, but user awareness of real objects in the environment deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces virtual objects as intermediary elements that represent real-world objects in the virtual space. These virtual objects serve as mediators between the user and actual real objects, providing informational alerts when users approach real objects while maintaining immersion in the mixed reality environment. The virtual objects with alert functions act as a communication bridge without breaking the immersive experience.
2Adaptability or versatility
If virtual objects are superimposed on real space to enhance immersion, then mixed reality experience is improved, but collision with real objects cannot be prevented
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by providing advance warning through informational alerts before users physically collide with real objects. The system calculates distances between users and real objects, and triggers alerts at predetermined thresholds, allowing users to take preventive action to avoid collisions before they occur, thus ensuring safety while maintaining the mixed reality experience.
3Reliability
If distance calculation and alert systems are added to notify users of real objects, then user safety is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies multi-functionality by enabling virtual objects to serve multiple purposes: they maintain the mixed reality immersive experience while simultaneously providing safety functions through distance calculation and informational alerts. This universal approach allows a single system component to address both immersion and safety requirements without significantly increasing overall system complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A warning information output outputs warning information for a user, based on a position of the user and a position of a real object with which data is associated in a case where a first attribute indicates outputting of the warning information for the user. An image output outputs an image to be generated, in a case where a second attribute indicates drawing of a virtual object in accordance with the position of the real object and a position at which the virtual object to be viewed by the user is arranged, by not drawing the virtual object in a region in which the position of the real object with which the data is associated is closer to the position of the user than the position at which the virtual object is arranged.