VR Headset Camera Integration for Physical Input Device Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Virtual reality headsets struggle to seamlessly integrate physical input devices into the virtual environment, leading to increased latency and a disjointed user experience due to challenges in accurately positioning and displaying these devices within the VR environment.
Innovation Solution
A VR system that includes a camera to capture images of physical input devices and composite them with the virtual environment, using a processor in the headset to reduce latency and accurately position the devices within a window in the VR environment, either by mounting the camera within the headset or externally, and employing markers or shape recognition to define the interaction area.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If physical input devices are integrated into the virtual environment using external cameras and complex positioning systems, then the devices can be displayed within the VR environment, but display latency increases and the user experience becomes disjointed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the camera and processing unit directly into the VR headset, merging the imaging function with the display system. This integration eliminates the need for separate external cameras and complex positioning systems, reducing the number of components and data transmission paths, thereby reducing display latency while maintaining positioning accuracy through direct optical capture and immediate processing within the headset.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the camera and processing functionality from external systems and relocates them directly into the VR headset. This extraction eliminates the latency introduced by external camera capture, transmission, and processing, allowing for real-time capture and display of physical input devices within the virtual environment without the time delays associated with external system coordination.
2Ease of operation
If physical input devices are displayed within the VR environment, then user interaction is improved, but the integration becomes complex and the experience disjointed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the camera, processing unit, and display system into a single integrated VR headset platform. This consolidation simplifies the overall system architecture by eliminating the need for complex external positioning systems, multiple cameras, and sophisticated synchronization mechanisms. The integrated design allows physical input devices to be captured and displayed within the VR environment through a unified system, improving ease of operation while reducing integration complexity.
3Measurement precision
If markers are used to define interaction areas, then device positioning is accurate, but the system requires additional components and setup
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the VR headset's camera to directly capture and identify physical input devices without requiring external markers or predefined interaction areas. The system uses the camera's field of view and image processing to automatically detect and position virtual representations of physical devices based on their visual characteristics. This self-service approach eliminates the need for markers, pre-configured interaction zones, and complex calibration procedures, reducing system components while maintaining positioning accuracy through direct visual recognition.
Data Source
AI summary
An example system includes a camera to capture an image of at least one physical input device, a virtual reality (VR) environment display portion to generate a VR environment, a window forming portion to create a window in the VR environment, the position of the window in the VR environment corresponding to a physical location of an interaction area that includes the at least one physical input device, an input device display portion to form an image of the at least one physical input device from the camera, and a VR headset including a head-mounted display to display a composite image of the VR environment, the window and the image of the at least one physical input device. The composite image includes the image of the at least one physical input device within the window.