Patent Application
20170131767
This patent application is directed to handheld controllers and, more specifically, to hand held controllers for virtual reality systems.
In a virtual reality system, a user typically wears a head-mounted display that presents a selected virtual reality (VR) environment in front of the user's eyes. In some VR systems, a user can manipulate items in the virtual environment with handheld controllers. The controllers include tracking patterns comprised of a pattern of lights, for example. The system monitors the movement of the tracking patterns with a tracking camera and reproduces the user's hand movements in the virtual environment.
Embodiments of the controllers with asymmetric tracking patterns introduced herein may be better understood by referring to the following Detailed Description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals indicate identical or functionally similar elements:
The headings provided herein are for convenience only and do not necessarily affect the scope or meaning of the claimed embodiments. Further, the drawings have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be expanded or reduced to help improve the understanding of the embodiments. Moreover, while the disclosed technology is amenable to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are described in detail below. The intention, however, is not to limit the embodiments described. On the contrary, the embodiments are intended to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the embodiments as defined by the appended claims.
A pair of handheld controllers with asymmetric tracking patterns for use with a tracking camera is disclosed. In some VR systems, a user can manipulate items in the virtual environment with a pair of handheld controllers. A tracking camera monitors the movement of a tracking pattern, comprised of a pattern of tracking features, such as lights or other markers, disposed on the controllers, so that the VR system can reproduce the users hand movements in the virtual environment. The pair of controllers includes a right-hand controller and a left-hand controller. In some embodiments, the right-hand and the left-hand controllers are substantially symmetric with respect to each other with the exception of their respective patterns of tracking features. A right-hand pattern of lights is disposed on the right-hand controller and a left-hand pattern of lights is disposed on the left-hand controller. The right-hand pattern of lights and the left-hand pattern of lights are asymmetric with respect to each other in order to facilitate distinguishing the left and right controllers from each other with the tracking camera.
In some embodiments, the right-hand controller includes a right-hand handle portion and a surrounding right-hand ring portion and the left-hand controller includes a left-hand handle portion and a surrounding left-hand ring portion. In some embodiments, the right-hand pattern of lights and the left-hand pattern of lights are disposed on the right-hand ring portion and the left-hand ring portion, respectively.
Various examples of the devices introduced above will now be described in further detail. The following description provides specific details for a thorough understanding and enabling description of these examples. One skilled in the relevant art will understand, however, that the techniques discussed herein may be practiced without many of these details. Likewise, one skilled in the relevant art will also understand that the technology can include many other features not described in detail herein. Additionally, some well-known structures or functions may not be shown or described in detail below so as to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the relevant description.
The terminology used below is to be interpreted in its broadest reasonable manner, even though it is being used in conjunction with a detailed description of some specific examples of the embodiments. Indeed, some terms may even be emphasized below; however, any terminology intended to be interpreted in any restricted manner will be overtly and specifically defined as such in this section.
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Each light of the second rows 128 and 132 of the illustrated embodiment are positioned at approximately the same distance from their respective rear edges 136 and 140. For example, the second row of lights 128 on the right-hand controller 102 includes lights 142A and 142B positioned a distance VR from the rear edge 136. The left-hand controller 104 includes a second row of lights 132 positioned a distance VL from the rear edge 140. In the depicted embodiment, the distances VR and VL are substantially equal. However, the circumferential distance between corresponding lights of the right-hand controller 102 and the left-hand controller 104 varies, thereby, making the light pattern asymmetric. For example, the distance between the light 142A and the light 142B is WR which is less than the distance WL between the light 146A and 146B of the left-hand controller 104.
Also disclosed herein are methods of distinguishing between right- and left-hand handheld controllers with a tracking camera. In a representative embodiment, the method includes positioning a right-hand pattern of lights on the right-hand controller and positioning a left-hand pattern of lights on the left-hand controller wherein the left- and right-hand patterns of lights are asymmetric with respect to each other. In some embodiments, the method may also include illuminating the right-hand pattern of lights and the left-hand pattern of lights and capturing images of the right-hand pattern of lights and the left-hand pattern of lights with the tracking camera. The images of the right-hand pattern of lights and the left-hand pattern of lights are then compared to each other to distinguish between the right and left controllers. In some embodiments, the right-hand pattern of lights and the left-hand pattern of lights each comprise a plurality of infrared light emitting diodes generally arranged in a ring.
The above description and drawings are illustrative and are not to be construed as limiting. Numerous specific details are described to provide a thorough understanding of the disclosure. However, in some instances, well-known details are not described in order to avoid obscuring the description. Further, various modifications may be made without deviating from the scope of the embodiments. Accordingly, the embodiments are not limited except as by the appended claims.
Reference in this specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the disclosure. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, nor are separate or alternative embodiments mutually exclusive of other embodiments. Moreover, various features are described which may be exhibited by some embodiments and not by others. Similarly, various requirements are described which may be requirements for some embodiments but not for other embodiments.
The terms used in this specification generally have their ordinary meanings in the art, within the context of the disclosure, and in the specific context where each term is used. It will be appreciated that the same thing can be said in more than one way. Consequently, alternative language and synonyms may be used for any one or more of the terms discussed herein, and any special significance is not to be placed upon whether or not a term is elaborated or discussed herein. Synonyms for some terms are provided. A recital of one or more synonyms does not exclude the use of other synonyms. The use of examples anywhere in this specification, including examples of any term discussed herein, is illustrative only and is not intended to further limit the scope and meaning of the disclosure or of any exemplified term. Likewise, the disclosure is not limited to various embodiments given in this specification. Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure pertains. In the case of conflict, the present document, including definitions, will control.
