XR Hand Tracking With IR Camera Switching for Low-Light Reliability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hand-tracking systems in XR environments struggle with reliable operation in low-light conditions due to insufficient environmental lighting and the limited dynamic range of visible spectrum light cameras.
Innovation Solution
Integration of IR cameras and an IR flare or emitter into XR systems, which activate when needed to provide reliable hand-tracking in low-light environments, and switching to wide-spectrum cameras capable of capturing both IR and visible light to supplement existing visible light cameras.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If visible spectrum light cameras are used for hand-tracking, then the system can operate in normal lighting conditions, but the system fails to provide reliable hand-tracking in low-light conditions due to insufficient environmental lighting and limited dynamic range
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates both visible spectrum light cameras and infrared cameras into a single hand-tracking system. The visible cameras handle normal lighting conditions while infrared cameras handle low-light conditions, making the system universally applicable across different lighting environments. The system selectively activates appropriate camera types based on ambient light levels, ensuring reliable hand-tracking regardless of lighting conditions.
2Reliability
If IR cameras and emitters are continuously activated to ensure reliable hand-tracking in low-light conditions, then hand-tracking reliability improves, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic camera activation where the system continuously monitors ambient light conditions and selectively activates infrared cameras and emitters only when low-light conditions are detected. During normal lighting conditions, only visible spectrum light cameras remain active. This dynamic adaptation ensures reliable hand-tracking in low-light while minimizing power consumption by keeping energy-intensive IR components inactive during daytime or well-lit environments.
3Reliability
If multiple camera types (IR and visible) are integrated into the XR system, then hand-tracking performance across different lighting conditions improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the camera system into distinct functional modules: visible spectrum light cameras for normal lighting, infrared cameras for low-light detection, and infrared emitters for active illumination. Each component type is independently controlled and activated based on specific lighting conditions. This segmentation allows the system to maintain multiple camera types for improved reliability while managing complexity through modular architecture and selective activation protocols.
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
Enables reliable hand-tracking in low-light conditions by using IR cameras and emitters, ensuring consistent performance and power efficiency by activating additional cameras only when necessary.
Implementation Method 1
IR cameras and an IR flare or emitter may be integrated into a XR system to provide a visual feed for hand-tracking systems in low light conditions
Implementation Method 2
an IR flare or emitter may be integrated into a XR system to provide a visual feed for hand-tracking systems in low light conditions
Data Source
AI summary
An extended Reality (XR) system provides methodologies for capturing hand poses being made by a user in low-light environments. The XR system capture, using one or more visible light cameras, tracking video frame data of a hand pose of a user of the XR system. The XR system generates hand-tracking data based on the tracking video frame data. The hand-tracking data includes a skeletal model and a hand-tracking confidence level indicating a probability that the skeletal model matches the hand pose. The XR system compares the hand-tracking confidence level to a threshold confidence value, and based on determining the first hand-tracking confidence level is below the threshold confidence value, activates one or more wide-spectrum cameras to capture subsequent tracking video frame data of the hand pose. The XR system may also activate an IR light emitter to illuminate the hands of the user.