VR Controller Tracking With Overlapping HMD Sensor Coverage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional all-in-one (AIO) virtual reality (VR) systems face limitations in tracking user input devices due to a limited field-of-view, particularly when the devices are obscured by the user or other objects, leading to inaccurate tracking and reduced user immersion.
Innovation Solution
Incorporation of an array of additional sensors on the rear of the HMD to expand the field-of-view to near-360°, combined with a software-based solution to calculate translational positioning using orientation data from motion sensors, and integration of tracking data through a software development kit to align with the HMD's coordinate system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If additional sensors are added to expand field-of-view, then tracking accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor system is segmented into multiple independent sensor units distributed around the HMD. Each sensor covers a specific angular sector, and together they provide comprehensive 360-degree tracking coverage. This segmentation allows the system to achieve wide-field tracking without requiring a single complex sensor system.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple sensor data streams are merged and integrated by the processing device to create a unified tracking model. The system combines positional data from different sensors to continuously track controllers across the entire field of view, merging individual sensor capabilities into a comprehensive tracking system.
2Reliability
If more sensors are incorporated to expand tracking coverage, then tracking reliability is improved, but weight of the device increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses more sensors than the absolute minimum required for 360-degree coverage, placing sensors at strategic angular intervals (e.g., every 90 degrees). This excessive action ensures that no tracking gaps exist and provides redundancy, improving reliability while keeping the total sensor count manageable through careful angular spacing.
3Area of stationary object
If a wider field-of-view is implemented, then tracking coverage is improved, but processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The processing device segments the tracking task by assigning each sensor to monitor its specific angular sector. This segmentation allows parallel processing of sensor data, where each sensor's data is processed independently within its angular range, reducing the computational burden compared to processing all sensor data uniformly across the entire field of view.
Data Source
AI summary
A virtual reality system may comprise a head-mounted display (“HMD”) comprising: a first sensor for tracking a user input device, the first sensor having a first field-of-view; and a second sensor having a second field-of-view, wherein the first field-of-view and the second field-of-view overlap to form a combined field-of-view. The HMD may track a position of the user input device with the first sensor; render a virtual object in the virtual environment based on the position of the user input device determined by the first sensor; determine that the user input device has left the first field-of-view of the first sensor and entered the second field-of-view of the second sensor; track the position of the user input device with the second sensor; and render the virtual object in the virtual environment based on the position of the user input device determined by the second sensor.