Patent Application
20240029377
The present disclosure relates generally to computer systems that are in communication with a display generation component and one or more input devices that provide computer-generated experiences, including, but not limited to, electronic devices that provide virtual reality and mixed reality experiences via a display.
The development of computer systems for augmented reality has increased significantly in recent years. Example augmented reality environments include at least some virtual elements that replace or augment the physical world. Input devices, such as cameras, controllers, joysticks, touch-sensitive surfaces, and touch-screen displays for computer systems and other electronic computing devices are used to interact with virtual/augmented reality environments. Example virtual elements include virtual objects, such as digital images, video, text, icons, and control elements such as buttons and other graphics. A computer system may use cameras and handheld controllers to detect user inputs directed to the three-dimensional virtual and/or augmented reality environments displayed via a display generation component in communication with the computer system.
Some methods and interfaces for interacting with environments that include at least some virtual elements (e.g., applications, augmented reality environments, mixed reality environments, and virtual reality environments) are cumbersome, inefficient, and limited. For example, systems that provide insufficient feedback for performing actions associated with virtual objects, systems that require a series of inputs to achieve a desired outcome in an augmented reality environment, and systems in which manipulation of virtual objects are complex, tedious, and error-prone, create a significant cognitive burden on a user, and detract from the experience with the virtual/augmented reality environment. In addition, these methods take longer than necessary, thereby wasting energy of the computer system. This latter consideration is particularly important in battery-operated devices.
Accordingly, there is a need for computer systems with improved methods and interfaces for providing computer-generated experiences to users that make interaction with the computer systems more efficient and intuitive for a user by using a physical input device. Such methods and interfaces optionally complement or replace conventional methods for providing extended reality experiences to users. Such methods and interfaces reduce the number, extent, and/or nature of the inputs from a user by helping the user to understand the connection between provided inputs and device responses to the inputs, thereby creating a more efficient human-machine interface.
The above deficiencies and other problems associated with user interfaces for computer systems are reduced or eliminated by the disclosed systems. In some embodiments, the computer system is a desktop computer with an associated display. In some embodiments, the computer system is portable device (e.g., a notebook computer, tablet computer, or handheld device). In some embodiments, the computer system is a personal electronic device (e.g., a wearable electronic device, such as a watch, or a head-mounted device). In some embodiments, the computer system has a touchpad. In some embodiments, the computer system has one or more cameras. In some embodiments, the computer system has a touch-sensitive display (also known as a “touch screen” or “touch-screen display”). In some embodiments, the computer system has one or more eye-tracking components. In some embodiments, the computer system has one or more hand-tracking components. In some embodiments, the computer system has one or more output devices in addition to the display generation component, the output devices including one or more tactile output generators and/or one or more audio output devices. In some embodiments, the computer system has a graphical user interface (GUI), one or more processors, memory and one or more modules, programs or sets of instructions stored in the memory for performing multiple functions. In some embodiments, the user interacts with the GUI through a stylus and/or finger contacts and gestures on the touch-sensitive surface, movement of the user's eyes and hand in space relative to the GUI (and/or computer system) or the user's body as captured by cameras and other movement sensors, and/or voice inputs as captured by one or more audio input devices. In some embodiments, the functions performed through the interactions optionally include image editing, drawing, presenting, word processing, spreadsheet making, game playing, telephoning, video conferencing, e-mailing, instant messaging, workout support, digital photographing, digital videoing, web browsing, digital music playing, note taking, and/or digital video playing. Executable instructions for performing these functions are, optionally, included in a transitory and/or non-transitory computer readable storage medium or other computer program product configured for execution by one or more processors.
There is a need for electronic devices with improved methods and interfaces for interacting with a three-dimensional environment. Such methods and interfaces may complement or replace conventional methods for interacting with a three-dimensional environment. Such methods and interfaces reduce the number, extent, and/or the nature of the inputs from a user and produce a more efficient human-machine interface. For battery-operated computing devices, such methods and interfaces conserve power and increase the time between battery charges.
A computer system that is in communication with one or more cameras, a display generation component, and an input device, wherein the input device includes a first portion of the input device and a second portion of the input device that are physically coupled in a first configuration and physically decoupled in a second configuration performs a method. The method includes displaying, via the display generation component, a three-dimensional environment that corresponds to a physical environment surrounding the input device, wherein displaying the three-dimensional environment includes displaying one or more virtual objects in the three-dimensional environment. The method includes, while displaying the three-dimensional environment, detecting, via the input device while the first portion of the input device is coupled to the second portion of the input device in the first configuration, a first input. The method includes, in response to detecting the first input while the first portion of the input device is coupled to the second portion of the input device in the first configuration, performing a first operation in the three-dimensional environment. The method further includes, while the first portion of the input device and the second portion of the input device are decoupled in the second configuration, detecting a sequence of one or more inputs that includes movement of the first portion of the input device relative to the second portion of the input device and in response to detecting the sequence of one or more inputs, performing one or more operations based on the sequence of one or more inputs that includes the movement of the first portion of the input device relative to the second portion of the input device, wherein the one or more operations are different from the first operation.
Note that the various embodiments described above can be combined with any other embodiments described herein. The features and advantages described in the specification are not all inclusive and, in particular, many additional features and advantages will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art in view of the drawings, specification, and claims. Moreover, it should be noted that the language used in the specification has been principally selected for readability and instructional purposes, and may not have been selected to delineate or circumscribe the inventive subject matter.
For a better understanding of the various described embodiments, reference should be made to the Description of Embodiments below, in conjunction with the following drawings in which like reference numerals refer to corresponding parts throughout the figures.
The present disclosure relates to user interfaces for providing an extended reality (XR) experience to a user, in accordance with some embodiments.
The systems, methods, and GUIs described herein improve user interactions, using an input device, with virtual/augmented reality environments in multiple ways.
In some embodiments, a computer system detects, via an input device that includes a first portion that is coupled to a second portion of the input device in a first configuration, a first input and performs a first operation in a three-dimensional environment. While the first portion of the input device and the second portion of the input device are decoupled in the second configuration, the computer system detects a sequence of one or more inputs that includes movement of the first portion of the input device relative to the second portion of the input device and performs one or more operations based on the sequence of one or more inputs, wherein the one or more operations are different from the first operation. The computer system thus allows the user with additional controls for interacting with an XR experience using an input device. The different manners by which the input device may be manipulated in the first, coupled configuration, and in the second, decoupled configuration provide a multitude of possibilities for controlling and interacting with an XR experience. The combinations of the manners that the input device are manipulated and corresponding operations that are performed in conjunction with one another and/or in sequence of one another, as disclosed herein, provide a more efficient human-machine interface interfaces, e.g., by reducing the number, extent, and/or the nature of the inputs from a user, and by providing useful and intuitive visual feedback that helps to reduced mistakes and intellectual burden placed on the user. In some embodiments, the input device may be attached to the computer system and/or placed in a configuration (e.g., in a coupled configuration, in an uncoupled configuration, coupled to a charging device as two decoupled portions charging via separate charging connections to the charging device, or coupled to a charging device via a single charging connection in a coupled configuration) that enables charging of the computer system and/or different portions of the input device more efficiently and/or quickly, which may extend the usage time and reduce down time due to depletion of power.
The processes described below enhance the operability of the devices and make the user-device interfaces more efficient (e.g., by helping the user to provide proper inputs and reducing user mistakes when operating/interacting with the device) through various techniques, including by providing improved visual feedback to the user, reducing the number of inputs needed to perform an operation, providing additional control options without cluttering the user interface with additional displayed controls, performing an operation when a set of conditions has been met without requiring further user input, improving privacy and/or security, and/or additional techniques. These techniques also reduce power usage and improve battery life of the device by enabling the user to use the device more quickly and efficiently.
In addition, in methods described herein where one or more steps are contingent upon one or more conditions having been met, it should be understood that the described method can be repeated in multiple repetitions so that over the course of the repetitions all of the conditions upon which steps in the method are contingent have been met in different repetitions of the method. For example, if a method requires performing a first step if a condition is satisfied, and a second step if the condition is not satisfied, then a person of ordinary skill would appreciate that the claimed steps are repeated until the condition has been both satisfied and not satisfied, in no particular order. Thus, a method described with one or more steps that are contingent upon one or more conditions having been met could be rewritten as a method that is repeated until each of the conditions described in the method has been met. This, however, is not required of system or computer readable medium claims where the system or computer readable medium contains instructions for performing the contingent operations based on the satisfaction of the corresponding one or more conditions and thus is capable of determining whether the contingency has or has not been satisfied without explicitly repeating steps of a method until all of the conditions upon which steps in the method are contingent have been met. A person having ordinary skill in the art would also understand that, similar to a method with contingent steps, a system or computer readable storage medium can repeat the steps of a method as many times as are needed to ensure that all of the contingent steps have been performed.
In some embodiments, as shown in
When describing a XR experience, various terms are used to differentially refer to several related but distinct environments that the user may sense and/or with which a user may interact (e.g., with inputs detected by a computer system 101 generating the XR experience that cause the computer system generating the XR experience to generate audio, visual, and/or tactile feedback corresponding to various inputs provided to the computer system 101). The following is a subset of these terms:
Physical environment: A physical environment refers to a physical world that people can sense and/or interact with without aid of electronic systems. Physical environments, such as a physical park, include physical articles, such as physical trees, physical buildings, and physical people. People can directly sense and/or interact with the physical environment, such as through sight, touch, hearing, taste, and smell.
Extended reality: In contrast, an extended reality (XR) environment refers to a wholly or partially simulated environment that people sense and/or interact with via an electronic system. In XR, a subset of a person's physical motions, or representations thereof, are tracked, and, in response, one or more characteristics of one or more virtual objects simulated in the XR environment are adjusted in a manner that comports with at least one law of physics. For example, a XR system may detect a person's head turning and, in response, adjust graphical content and an acoustic field presented to the person in a manner similar to how such views and sounds would change in a physical environment. In some situations (e.g., for accessibility reasons), adjustments to characteristic(s) of virtual object(s) in a XR environment may be made in response to representations of physical motions (e.g., vocal commands). A person may sense and/or interact with a XR object using any one of their senses, including sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell. For example, a person may sense and/or interact with audio objects that create a 3D or spatial audio environment that provides the perception of point audio sources in 3D space. In another example, audio objects may enable audio transparency, which selectively incorporates ambient sounds from the physical environment with or without computer-generated audio. In some XR environments, a person may sense and/or interact only with audio objects.
Examples of XR include virtual reality and mixed reality.
Virtual reality: A virtual reality (VR) environment refers to a simulated environment that is designed to be based entirely on computer-generated sensory inputs for one or more senses. A VR environment comprises a plurality of virtual objects with which a person may sense and/or interact. For example, computer-generated imagery of trees, buildings, and avatars representing people are examples of virtual objects. A person may sense and/or interact with virtual objects in the VR environment through a simulation of the person's presence within the computer-generated environment, and/or through a simulation of a subset of the person's physical movements within the computer-generated environment.
Mixed reality: In contrast to a VR environment, which is designed to be based entirely on computer-generated sensory inputs, a mixed reality (MR) environment refers to a simulated environment that is designed to incorporate sensory inputs from the physical environment, or a representation thereof, in addition to including computer-generated sensory inputs (e.g., virtual objects). On a virtuality continuum, a mixed reality environment is anywhere between, but not including, a wholly physical environment at one end and virtual reality environment at the other end. In some MR environments, computer-generated sensory inputs may respond to changes in sensory inputs from the physical environment. Also, some electronic systems for presenting an MR environment may track location and/or orientation with respect to the physical environment to enable virtual objects to interact with real objects (that is, physical articles from the physical environment or representations thereof). For example, a system may account for movements so that a virtual tree appears stationary with respect to the physical ground.
Examples of mixed realities include augmented reality and augmented virtuality.
Augmented reality: An augmented reality (AR) environment refers to a simulated environment in which one or more virtual objects are superimposed over a physical environment, or a representation thereof. For example, an electronic system for presenting an AR environment may have a transparent or translucent display through which a person may directly view the physical environment. The system may be configured to present virtual objects on the transparent or translucent display, so that a person, using the system, perceives the virtual objects superimposed over the physical environment. Alternatively, a system may have an opaque display and one or more imaging sensors that capture images or video of the physical environment, which are representations of the physical environment. The system composites the images or video with virtual objects, and presents the composition on the opaque display. A person, using the system, indirectly views the physical environment by way of the images or video of the physical environment, and perceives the virtual objects superimposed over the physical environment. As used herein, a video of the physical environment shown on an opaque display is called “pass-through video,” meaning a system uses one or more image sensor(s) to capture images of the physical environment, and uses those images in presenting the AR environment on the opaque display. Further alternatively, a system may have a projection system that projects virtual objects into the physical environment, for example, as a hologram or on a physical surface, so that a person, using the system, perceives the virtual objects superimposed over the physical environment. An augmented reality environment also refers to a simulated environment in which a representation of a physical environment is transformed by computer-generated sensory information. For example, in providing pass-through video, a system may transform one or more sensor images to impose a select perspective (e.g., viewpoint) different than the perspective captured by the imaging sensors. As another example, a representation of a physical environment may be transformed by graphically modifying (e.g., enlarging) portions thereof, such that the modified portion may be representative but not photorealistic versions of the originally captured images. As a further example, a representation of a physical environment may be transformed by graphically eliminating or obfuscating portions thereof. Augmented virtuality: An augmented virtuality (AV) environment refers to a simulated environment in which a virtual or computer-generated environment incorporates one or more sensory inputs from the physical environment. The sensory inputs may be representations of one or more characteristics of the physical environment. For example, an AV park may have virtual trees and virtual buildings, but people with faces photorealistically reproduced from images taken of physical people. As another example, a virtual object may adopt a shape or color of a physical article imaged by one or more imaging sensors. As a further example, a virtual object may adopt shadows consistent with the position of the sun in the physical environment.
In an augmented reality, mixed reality, or virtual reality environment, a view of a three-dimensional environment is visible to a user. The view of the three-dimensional environment is typically visible to the user via one or more display generation components (e.g., a display or a pair of display modules that provide stereoscopic content to different eyes of the same user) through a virtual viewport that has a viewport boundary that defines an extent of the three-dimensional environment that is visible to the user via the one or more display generation components. In some embodiments, the region defined by the viewport boundary is smaller than a range of vision of the user in one or more dimensions (e.g., based on the range of vision of the user, size, optical properties or other physical characteristics of the one or more display generation components, and/or the location and/or orientation of the one or more display generation components relative to the eyes of the user). In some embodiments, the region defined by the viewport boundary is larger than a range of vision of the user in one or more dimensions (e.g., based on the range of vision of the user, size, optical properties or other physical characteristics of the one or more display generation components, and/or the location and/or orientation of the one or more display generation components relative to the eyes of the user). The viewport and viewport boundary typically move as the one or more display generation components move (e.g., moving with a head of the user for a head mounted device or moving with a hand of a user for a handheld device such as a tablet or smartphone). A viewpoint of a user determines what content is visible in the viewport, a viewpoint generally specifies a location and a direction relative to the three-dimensional environment, and as the viewpoint shifts, the view of the three-dimensional environment will also shift in the viewport. For a head mounted device, a viewpoint is typically based on a location an direction of the head, face, and/or eyes of a user to provide a view of the three-dimensional environment that is perceptually accurate and provides an immersive experience when the user is using the head-mounted device. For a handheld or stationed device, the viewpoint shifts as the handheld or stationed device is moved and/or as a position of a user relative to the handheld or stationed device changes (e.g., a user moving toward, away from, up, down, to the right, and/or to the left of the device). For devices that include display generation components with virtual passthrough, portions of the physical environment that are visible (e.g., displayed, and/or projected) via the one or more display generation components are based on a field of view of one or more cameras in communication with the display generation components which typically move with the display generation components (e.g., moving with a head of the user for a head mounted device or moving with a hand of a user for a handheld device such as a tablet or smartphone) because the viewpoint of the user moves as the field of view of the one or more cameras moves (and the appearance of one or more virtual objects displayed via the one or more display generation components is updated based on the viewpoint of the user (e.g., displayed positions and poses of the virtual objects are updated based on the movement of the viewpoint of the user)). For display generation components with optical passthrough, portions of the physical environment that are visible (e.g., optically visible through one or more partially or fully transparent portions of the display generation component) via the one or more display generation components are based on a field of view of a user through the partially or fully transparent portion(s) of the display generation component (e.g., moving with a head of the user for a head mounted device or moving with a hand of a user for a handheld device such as a tablet or smartphone) because the viewpoint of the user moves as the field of view of the user through the partially or fully transparent portions of the display generation components moves (and the appearance of one or more virtual objects is updated based on the viewpoint of the user).
In some embodiments a representation of a physical environment (e.g., displayed via virtual passthrough or optical passthrough) can be partially or fully obscured by a virtual environment. In some embodiments, the amount of virtual environment that is displayed (e.g., the amount of physical environment that is not displayed) is based on an immersion level for the virtual environment (e.g., with respect to the representation of the physical environment). For example, increasing the immersion level optionally causes more of the virtual environment to be displayed, replacing and/or obscuring more of the physical environment, and reducing the immersion level optionally causes less of the virtual environment to be displayed, revealing portions of the physical environment that were previously not displayed and/or obscured. In some embodiments, at a particular immersion level, one or more first background objects (e.g., in the representation of the physical environment) are visually de-emphasized (e.g., dimmed, blurred, and/or displayed with increased transparency) more than one or more second background objects, and one or more third background objects cease to be displayed. In some embodiments, a level of immersion includes an associated degree to which the virtual content displayed by the computer system (e.g., the virtual environment and/or the virtual content) obscures background content (e.g., content other than the virtual environment and/or the virtual content) around/behind the virtual content, optionally including the number of items of background content displayed and/or the visual characteristics (e.g., colors, contrast, and/or opacity) with which the background content is displayed, the angular range of the virtual content displayed via the display generation component (e.g., 60 degrees of content displayed at low immersion, 120 degrees of content displayed at medium immersion, or 180 degrees of content displayed at high immersion), and/or the proportion of the field of view displayed via the display generation component that is consumed by the virtual content (e.g., 33% of the field of view consumed by the virtual content at low immersion, 66% of the field of view consumed by the virtual content at medium immersion, or 100% of the field of view consumed by the virtual content at high immersion). In some embodiments, the background content is included in a background over which the virtual content is displayed (e.g., background content in the representation of the physical environment). In some embodiments, the background content includes user interfaces (e.g., user interfaces generated by the computer system corresponding to applications), virtual objects (e.g., files or representations of other users generated by the computer system) not associated with or included in the virtual environment and/or virtual content, and/or real objects (e.g., pass-through objects representing real objects in the physical environment around the user that are visible such that they are displayed via the display generation component and/or a visible via a transparent or translucent component of the display generation component because the computer system does not obscure/prevent visibility of them through the display generation component). In some embodiments, at a low level of immersion (e.g., a first level of immersion), the background, virtual and/or real objects are displayed in an unobscured manner. For example, a virtual environment with a low level of immersion is optionally displayed concurrently with the background content, which is optionally displayed with full brightness, color, and/or translucency. In some embodiments, at a higher level of immersion (e.g., a second level of immersion higher than the first level of immersion), the background, virtual and/or real objects are displayed in an obscured manner (e.g., dimmed, blurred, or removed from display). For example, a respective virtual environment with a high level of immersion is displayed without concurrently displaying the background content (e.g., in a full screen or fully immersive mode). As another example, a virtual environment displayed with a medium level of immersion is displayed concurrently with darkened, blurred, or otherwise de-emphasized background content. In some embodiments, the visual characteristics of the background objects vary among the background objects. For example, at a particular immersion level, one or more first background objects are visually de-emphasized (e.g., dimmed, blurred, and/or displayed with increased transparency) more than one or more second background objects, and one or more third background objects cease to be displayed. In some embodiments, a null or zero level of immersion corresponds to the virtual environment ceasing to be displayed and instead a representation of a physical environment is displayed (optionally with one or more virtual objects such as application, windows, or virtual three-dimensional objects) without the representation of the physical environment being obscured by the virtual environment. Adjusting the level of immersion using a physical input element provides for quick and efficient method of adjusting immersion, which enhances the operability of the computer system and makes the user-device interface more efficient.
Viewpoint-locked virtual object: A virtual object is viewpoint-locked when a computer system displays the virtual object at the same location and/or position in the viewpoint of the user, even as the viewpoint of the user shifts (e.g., changes). In embodiments where the computer system is a head-mounted device, the viewpoint of the user is locked to the forward facing direction of the user's head (e.g., the viewpoint of the user is at least a portion of the field-of-view of the user when the user is looking straight ahead); thus, the viewpoint of the user remains fixed even as the user's gaze is shifted, without moving the user's head. In embodiments where the computer system has a display generation component (e.g., a display screen) that can be repositioned with respect to the user's head, the viewpoint of the user is the augmented reality view that is being presented to the user on a display generation component of the computer system. For example, a viewpoint-locked virtual object that is displayed in the upper left corner of the viewpoint of the user, when the viewpoint of the user is in a first orientation (e.g., with the user's head facing north) continues to be displayed in the upper left corner of the viewpoint of the user, even as the viewpoint of the user changes to a second orientation (e.g., with the user's head facing west). In other words, the location and/or position at which the viewpoint-locked virtual object is displayed in the viewpoint of the user is independent of the user's position and/or orientation in the physical environment. In embodiments in which the computer system is a head-mounted device, the viewpoint of the user is locked to the orientation of the user's head, such that the virtual object is also referred to as a “head-locked virtual object.”
Environment-locked virtual object: A virtual object is environment-locked (alternatively, “world-locked”) when a computer system displays the virtual object at a location and/or position in the viewpoint of the user that is based on (e.g., selected in reference to and/or anchored to) a location and/or object in the three-dimensional environment (e.g., a physical environment or a virtual environment). As the viewpoint of the user shifts, the location and/or object in the environment relative to the viewpoint of the user changes, which results in the environment-locked virtual object being displayed at a different location and/or position in the viewpoint of the user. For example, an environment-locked virtual object that is locked onto a tree that is immediately in front of a user is displayed at the center of the viewpoint of the user. When the viewpoint of the user shifts to the right (e.g., the user's head is turned to the right) so that the tree is now left-of-center in the viewpoint of the user (e.g., the tree's position in the viewpoint of the user shifts), the environment-locked virtual object that is locked onto the tree is displayed left-of-center in the viewpoint of the user. In other words, the location and/or position at which the environment-locked virtual object is displayed in the viewpoint of the user is dependent on the position and/or orientation of the location and/or object in the environment onto which the virtual object is locked. In some embodiments, the computer system uses a stationary frame of reference (e.g., a coordinate system that is anchored to a fixed location and/or object in the physical environment) in order to determine the position at which to display an environment-locked virtual object in the viewpoint of the user. An environment-locked virtual object can be locked to a stationary part of the environment (e.g., a floor, wall, table, or other stationary object) or can be locked to a moveable part of the environment (e.g., a vehicle, animal, person, or even a representation of portion of the users body that moves independently of a viewpoint of the user, such as a user's hand, wrist, arm, or foot) so that the virtual object is moved as the viewpoint or the portion of the environment moves to maintain a fixed relationship between the virtual object and the portion of the environment.
In some embodiments a virtual object that is environment-locked or viewpoint-locked exhibits lazy follow behavior which reduces or delays motion of the environment-locked or viewpoint-locked virtual object relative to movement of a point of reference which the virtual object is following. In some embodiments, when exhibiting lazy follow behavior the computer system intentionally delays movement of the virtual object when detecting movement of a point of reference (e.g., a portion of the environment, the viewpoint, or a point that is fixed relative to the viewpoint, such as a point that is between 5-300 cm from the viewpoint) which the virtual object is following. For example, when the point of reference (e.g., the portion of the environment or the viewpoint) moves with a first speed, the virtual object is moved by the device to remain locked to the point of reference but moves with a second speed that is slower than the first speed (e.g., until the point of reference stops moving or slows down, at which point the virtual object starts to catch up to the point of reference). In some embodiments, when a virtual object exhibits lazy follow behavior the device ignores small amounts of movement of the point of reference (e.g., ignoring movement of the point of reference that is below a threshold amount of movement such as movement by 0-5 degrees or movement by 0-50 cm). For example, when the point of reference (e.g., the portion of the environment or the viewpoint to which the virtual object is locked) moves by a first amount, a distance between the point of reference and the virtual object increases (e.g., because the virtual object is being displayed so as to maintain a fixed or substantially fixed position relative to a viewpoint or portion of the environment that is different from the point of reference to which the virtual object is locked) and when the point of reference (e.g., the portion of the environment or the viewpoint to which the virtual object is locked) moves by a second amount that is greater than the first amount, a distance between the point of reference and the virtual object initially increases (e.g., because the virtual object is being displayed so as to maintain a fixed or substantially fixed position relative to a viewpoint or portion of the environment that is different from the point of reference to which the virtual object is locked) and then decreases as the amount of movement of the point of reference increases above a threshold (e.g., a “lazy follow” threshold) because the virtual object is moved by the computer system to maintain a fixed or substantially fixed position relative to the point of reference. In some embodiments the virtual object maintaining a substantially fixed position relative to the point of reference includes the virtual object being displayed within a threshold distance (e.g., 1, 2, 3, 5, 15, 20, 50 cm) of the point of reference in one or more dimensions (e.g., up/down, left/right, and/or forward/backward relative to the position of the point of reference).
Hardware: There are many different types of electronic systems that enable a person to sense and/or interact with various XR environments. Examples include head-mounted systems, projection-based systems, heads-up displays (HUDs), vehicle windshields having integrated display capability, windows having integrated display capability, displays formed as lenses designed to be placed on a person's eyes (e.g., similar to contact lenses), headphones/earphones, speaker arrays, input systems (e.g., wearable or handheld controllers with or without haptic feedback), smartphones, tablets, and desktop/laptop computers. A head-mounted system may have one or more speaker(s) and an integrated opaque display. Alternatively, a head-mounted system may be configured to accept an external opaque display (e.g., a smartphone). The head-mounted system may incorporate one or more imaging sensors to capture images or video of the physical environment, and/or one or more microphones to capture audio of the physical environment. Rather than an opaque display, a head-mounted system may have a transparent or translucent display. The transparent or translucent display may have a medium through which light representative of images is directed to a person's eyes. The display may utilize digital light projection, OLEDs, LEDs, uLEDs, liquid crystal on silicon, laser scanning light source, or any combination of these technologies. The medium may be an optical waveguide, a hologram medium, an optical combiner, an optical reflector, or any combination thereof. In one embodiment, the transparent or translucent display may be configured to become opaque selectively. Projection-based systems may employ retinal projection technology that projects graphical images onto a person's retina. Projection systems also may be configured to project virtual objects into the physical environment, for example, as a hologram or on a physical surface. In some embodiments, the controller 110 is configured to manage and coordinate a XR experience for the user. In some embodiments, the controller 110 includes a suitable combination of software, firmware, and/or hardware. The controller 110 is described in greater detail below with respect to
In some embodiments, the display generation component 120 is configured to provide the XR experience (e.g., at least a visual component of the XR experience) to the user. In some embodiments, the display generation component 120 includes a suitable combination of software, firmware, and/or hardware. The display generation component 120 is described in greater detail below with respect to
According to some embodiments, the display generation component 120 provides a XR experience to the user while the user is virtually and/or physically present within the scene 105.
In some embodiments, the display generation component is worn on a part of the user's body (e.g., on his/her head, on his/her hand, etc.). As such, the display generation component 120 includes one or more XR displays provided to display the XR content. For example, in various embodiments, the display generation component 120 encloses the field-of-view of the user. In some embodiments, the display generation component 120 is a handheld device (such as a smartphone or tablet) configured to present XR content, and the user holds the device with a display directed towards the field-of-view of the user and a camera directed towards the scene 105. In some embodiments, the handheld device is optionally placed within an enclosure that is worn on the head of the user. In some embodiments, the handheld device is optionally placed on a support (e.g., a tripod) in front of the user. In some embodiments, the display generation component 120 is a XR chamber, enclosure, or room configured to present XR content in which the user does not wear or hold the display generation component 120. Many user interfaces described with reference to one type of hardware for displaying XR content (e.g., a handheld device or a device on a tripod) could be implemented on another type of hardware for displaying XR content (e.g., an HMD or other wearable computing device). For example, a user interface showing interactions with XR content triggered based on interactions that happen in a space in front of a handheld or tripod mounted device could similarly be implemented with an HMD where the interactions happen in a space in front of the HMD and the responses of the XR content are displayed via the HMD. Similarly, a user interface showing interactions with XR content triggered based on movement of a handheld or tripod mounted device relative to the physical environment (e.g., the scene 105 or a part of the user's body (e.g., the user's eye(s), head, or hand)) could similarly be implemented with an HMD where the movement is caused by movement of the HMD relative to the physical environment (e.g., the scene 105 or a part of the user's body (e.g., the user's eye(s), head, or hand)).
While pertinent features of the operating environment 100 are shown in
In at least one example, the band assembly 1-106 can include a first band 1-116 configured to wrap around the rear side of a user's head and a second band 1-117 configured to extend over the top of a user's head. The second strap can extend between first and second electronic straps 1-105a, 1-105b of the electronic strap assembly 1-104 as shown. The strap assembly 1-104 and the band assembly 1-106 can be part of a securement mechanism extending rearward from the display unit 1-102 and configured to hold the display unit 1-102 against a face of a user.
In at least one example, the securement mechanism includes a first electronic strap 1-105a including a first proximal end 1-134 coupled to the display unit 1-102, for example a housing 1-150 of the display unit 1-102, and a first distal end 1-136 opposite the first proximal end 1-134. The securement mechanism can also include a second electronic strap 1-105b including a second proximal end 1-138 coupled to the housing 1-150 of the display unit 1-102 and a second distal end 1-140 opposite the second proximal end 1-138. The securement mechanism can also include the first band 1-116 including a first end 1-142 coupled to the first distal end 1-136 and a second end 1-144 coupled to the second distal end 1-140 and the second band 1-117 extending between the first electronic strap 1-105a and the second electronic strap 1-105b. The straps 1-105a-b and band 1-116 can be coupled via connection mechanisms or assemblies 1-114. In at least one example, the second band 1-117 includes a first end 1-146 coupled to the first electronic strap 1-105a between the first proximal end 1-134 and the first distal end 1-136 and a second end 1-148 coupled to the second electronic strap 1-105b between the second proximal end 1-138 and the second distal end 1-140.
In at least one example, the first and second electronic straps 1-105a-b include plastic, metal, or other structural materials forming the shape the substantially rigid straps 1-105a-b. In at least one example, the first and second bands 1-116, 1-117 are formed of elastic, flexible materials including woven textiles, rubbers, and the like. The first and second bands 1-116, 1-117 can be flexible to conform to the shape of the user' head when donning the HMD 1-100.
In at least one example, one or more of the first and second electronic straps 1-105a-b can define internal strap volumes and include one or more electronic components disposed in the internal strap volumes. In one example, as shown in
In at least one example, the housing 1-150 defines a first, front-facing opening 1-152. The front-facing opening is labeled in dotted lines at 1-152 in
In at least one example, the housing 1-150 can define a first aperture 1-126 between the first and second openings 1-152, 1-154 and a second aperture 1-130 between the first and second openings 1-152, 1-154. The HMD 1-100 can also include a first button 1-128 disposed in the first aperture 1-126 and a second button 1-132 disposed in the second aperture 1-130. The first and second buttons 1-128, 1-132 can be depressible through the respective apertures 1-126, 1-130. In at least one example, the first button 1-126 and/or second button 1-132 can be twistable dials as well as depressible buttons. In at least one example, the first button 1-128 is a depressible and twistable dial button and the second button 1-132 is a depressible button.
In at least one example, referring to both
Any of the features, components, and/or parts, including the arrangements and configurations thereof shown in
In addition, the HMD 1-200 can include a light seal 1-210 configured to be removably coupled to the display unit 1-202. The HMD 1-200 can also include lenses 1-218 which can be removably coupled to the display unit 1-202, for example over first and second display assemblies including display screens. The lenses 1-218 can include customized prescription lenses configured for corrective vision. As noted, each part shown in the exploded view of
Any of the features, components, and/or parts, including the arrangements and configurations thereof shown in
In at least one example, the display unit 1-306 can also include a motor assembly 1-362 configured as an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the positions of the display screens 1-322a-b of the display assembly 1-320 relative to the frame 1-350. In at least one example, the display assembly 1-320 is mechanically coupled to the motor assembly 1-362, with at least one motor for each display screen 1-322a-b, such that the motors can translate the display screens 1-322a-b to match an interpupillary distance of the user's eyes.
In at least one example, the display unit 1-306 can include a dial or button 1-328 depressible relative to the frame 1-350 and accessible to the user outside the frame 1-350. The button 1-328 can be electronically connected to the motor assembly 1-362 via a controller such that the button 1-328 can be manipulated by the user to cause the motors of the motor assembly 1-362 to adjust the positions of the display screens 1-322a-b.
Any of the features, components, and/or parts, including the arrangements and configurations thereof shown in
The various parts, systems, and assemblies shown in the exploded view of
Any of the features, components, and/or parts, including the arrangements and configurations thereof shown in
In at least one example, as shown in
In at least one example, the shroud 3-104 can include a transparent or semi-transparent material through which the display assembly 3-108 projects light. In one example, the shroud 3-104 can include one or more opaque portions, for example opaque ink-printed portions or other opaque film portions on the rear surface of the shroud 3-104. The rear surface can be the surface of the shroud 3-104 facing the user's eyes when the HMD device is donned. In at least one example, opaque portions can be on the front surface of the shroud 3-104 opposite the rear surface. In at least one example, the opaque portion or portions of the shroud 3-104 can include perimeter portions visually hiding any components around an outside perimeter of the display screen of the display assembly 3-108. In this way, the opaque portions of the shroud hide any other components, including electronic components, structural components, and so forth, of the HMD device that would otherwise be visible through the transparent or semi-transparent cover 3-102 and/or shroud 3-104.
In at least one example, the shroud 3-104 can define one or more apertures transparent portions 3-120 through which sensors can send and receive signals. In one example, the portions 3-120 are apertures through which the sensors can extend or send and receive signals. In one example, the portions 3-120 are transparent portions, or portions more transparent than surrounding semi-transparent or opaque portions of the shroud, through which sensors can send and receive signals through the shroud and through the transparent cover 3-102. In one example, the sensors can include cameras, IR sensors, LUX sensors, or any other visual or non-visual environmental sensors of the HMD device.
Any of the features, components, and/or parts, including the arrangements and configurations thereof shown in
In at least one example, the transparent cover 6-104 can define a front, external surface of the HMD device 6-100 and the sensor system 6-102, including the various sensors and components thereof, can be disposed behind the cover 6-104 in the Y-axis/direction. The cover 6-104 can be transparent or semi-transparent to allow light to pass through the cover 6-104, both light detected by the sensor system 6-102 and light emitted thereby.
As noted elsewhere herein, the HMD device 6-100 can include one or more controllers including processors for electrically coupling the various sensors and emitters of the sensor system 6-102 with one or more mother boards, processing units, and other electronic devices such as display screens and the like. In addition, as will be shown in more detail below with reference to other figures, the various sensors, emitters, and other components of the sensor system 6-102 can be coupled to various structural frame members, brackets, and so forth of the HMD device 6-100 not shown in
In at least one example, the device can include one or more controllers having processors configured to execute instructions stored on memory components electrically coupled to the processors. The instructions can include, or cause the processor to execute, one or more algorithms for self-correcting angles and positions of the various cameras described herein overtime with use as the initial positions, angles, or orientations of the cameras get bumped or deformed due to unintended drop events or other events.
In at least one example, the sensor system 6-102 can include one or more scene cameras 6-106. The system 6-102 can include two scene cameras 6-102 disposed on either side of the nasal bridge or arch of the HMD device 6-100 such that each of the two cameras 6-106 correspond generally in position with left and right eyes of the user behind the cover 6-103. In at least one example, the scene cameras 6-106 are oriented generally forward in the Y-direction to capture images in front of the user during use of the HMD 6-100. In at least one example, the scene cameras are color cameras and provide images and content for MR video pass through to the display screens facing the user's eyes when using the HMD device 6-100. The scene cameras 6-106 can also be used for environment and object reconstruction.
In at least one example, the sensor system 6-102 can include a first depth sensor 6-108 pointed generally forward in the Y-direction. In at least one example, the first depth sensor 6-108 can be used for environment and object reconstruction as well as user hand and body tracking. In at least one example, the sensor system 6-102 can include a second depth sensor 6-110 disposed centrally along the width (e.g., along the X-axis) of the HMD device 6-100. For example, the second depth sensor 6-110 can be disposed above the central nasal bridge or accommodating features over the nose of the user when donning the HMD 6-100. In at least one example, the second depth sensor 6-110 can be used for environment and object reconstruction as well as hand and body tracking. In at least one example, the second depth sensor can include a LIDAR sensor.
In at least one example, the sensor system 6-102 can include a depth projector 6-112 facing generally forward to project electromagnetic waves, for example in the form of a predetermined pattern of light dots, out into and within a field of view of the user and/or the scene cameras 6-106 or a field of view including and beyond the field of view of the user and/or scene cameras 6-106. In at least one example, the depth projector can project electromagnetic waves of light in the form of a dotted light pattern to be reflected off objects and back into the depth sensors noted above, including the depth sensors 6-108, 6-110. In at least one example, the depth projector 6-112 can be used for environment and object reconstruction as well as hand and body tracking.
In at least one example, the sensor system 6-102 can include downward facing cameras 6-114 with a field of view pointed generally downward relative to the HDM device 6-100 in the Z-axis. In at least one example, the downward cameras 6-114 can be disposed on left and right sides of the HMD device 6-100 as shown and used for hand and body tracking, headset tracking, and facial avatar detection and creation for display a user avatar on the forward facing display screen of the HMD device 6-100 described elsewhere herein. The downward cameras 6-114, for example, can be used to capture facial expressions and movements for the face of the user below the HMD device 6-100, including the cheeks, mouth, and chin.
In at least one example, the sensor system 6-102 can include jaw cameras 6-116. In at least one example, the jaw cameras 6-116 can be disposed on left and right sides of the HMD device 6-100 as shown and used for hand and body tracking, headset tracking, and facial avatar detection and creation for display a user avatar on the forward facing display screen of the HMD device 6-100 described elsewhere herein. The jaw cameras 6-116, for example, can be used to capture facial expressions and movements for the face of the user below the HMD device 6-100, including the user's jaw, cheeks, mouth, and chin. for hand and body tracking, headset tracking, and facial avatar
In at least one example, the sensor system 6-102 can include side cameras 6-118. The side cameras 6-118 can be oriented to capture side views left and right in the X-axis or direction relative to the HMD device 6-100. In at least one example, the side cameras 6-118 can be used for hand and body tracking, headset tracking, and facial avatar detection and re-creation.
In at least one example, the sensor system 6-102 can include a plurality of eye tracking and gaze tracking sensors for determining an identity, status, and gaze direction of a user's eyes during and/or before use. In at least one example, the eye/gaze tracking sensors can include nasal eye cameras 6-120 disposed on either side of the user's nose and adjacent the user's nose when donning the HMD device 6-100. The eye/gaze sensors can also include bottom eye cameras 6-122 disposed below respective user eyes for capturing images of the eyes for facial avatar detection and creation, gaze tracking, and iris identification functions.
In at least one example, the sensor system 6-102 can include infrared illuminators 6-124 pointed outward from the MD device 6-100 to illuminate the external environment and any object therein with IR light for IR detection with one or more IR sensors of the sensor system 6-102. In at least one example, the sensor system 6-102 can include a flicker sensor 6-126 and an ambient light sensor 6-128. In at least one example, the flicker sensor 6-126 can detect overhead light refresh rates to avoid display flicker. In one example, the infrared illuminators 6-124 can include light emitting diodes and can be used especially for low light environments for illuminating user hands and other objects in low light for detection by infrared sensors of the sensor system 6-102.
In at least one example, multiple sensors, including the scene cameras 6-106, the downward cameras 6-114, the jaw cameras 6-116, the side cameras 6-118, the depth projector 6-112, and the depth sensors 6-108, 6-110 can be used in combination with an electrically coupled controller to combine depth data with camera data for hand tracking and for size determination for better hand tracking and object recognition and tracking functions of the MD device 6-100. In at least one example, the downward cameras 6-114, jaw cameras 6-116, and side cameras 6-118 described above and shown in
Any of the features, components, and/or parts, including the arrangements and configurations thereof shown in
In some examples, the shroud 6-204 includes a transparent portion 6-205 and an opaque portion 6-207, as described above and elsewhere herein. In at least one example, the opaque portion 6-207 of the shroud 6-204 can define one or more transparent regions 6-209 through which the sensors 6-203 of the sensor system 6-202 can send and receive signals. In the illustrated example, the sensors 6-203 of the sensor system 6-202 sending and receiving signals through the shroud 6-204, or more specifically through the transparent regions 6-209 of the (or defined by) the opaque portion 6-207 of the shroud 6-204 can include the same or similar sensors as those shown in the example of
Any of the features, components, and/or parts, including the arrangements and configurations thereof shown in
In at least one example, the various sensors of the sensor system 6-302 are coupled to the brackets 6-336, 6-338. In at least one example, the scene cameras 6-306 include tight tolerances of angles relative to one another. For example, the tolerance of mounting angles between the two scene cameras 6-306 can be 0.5 degrees or less, for example 0.3 degrees or less. In order to achieve and maintain such a tight tolerance, in one example, the scene cameras 6-306 can be mounted to the bracket 6-338 and not the shroud. The bracket can include cantilevered arms on which the scene cameras 6-306 and other sensors of the sensor system 6-302 can be mounted to remain un-deformed in position and orientation in the case of a drop event by a user resulting in any deformation of the other bracket 6-226, housing 6-330, and/or shroud.
Any of the features, components, and/or parts, including the arrangements and configurations thereof shown in
Any of the features, components, and/or parts, including the arrangements and configurations thereof shown in
In at least one example, the first and second optical modules 11.1.1-104a-b can include respective display screens configured to project light toward the user's eyes when donning the HMD 11.1.1-100. In at least one example, the user can manipulate (e.g., depress and/or rotate) the button 11.1.1-114 to activate a positional adjustment of the optical modules 11.1.1-104a-b to match the inter-pupillary distance of the user's eyes. The optical modules 11.1.1-104a-b can also include one or more cameras or other sensors/sensor systems for imaging and measuring the IPD of the user such that the optical modules 11.1.1-104a-b can be adjusted to match the IPD.
In one example, the user can manipulate the button 11.1.1-114 to cause an automatic positional adjustment of the first and second optical modules 11.1.1-104a-b. In one example, the user can manipulate the button 11.1.1-114 to cause a manual adjustment such that the optical modules 11.1.1-104a-b move further or closer away, for example when the user rotates the button 11.1.1-114 one way or the other, until the user visually matches her/his own IPD. In one example, the manual adjustment is electronically communicated via one or more circuits and power for the movements of the optical modules 11.1.1-104a-b via the motors 11.1.1-110a-b is provided by an electrical power source. In one example, the adjustment and movement of the optical modules 11.1.1-104a-b via a manipulation of the button 11.1.1-114 is mechanically actuated via the movement of the button 11.1.1-114.
Any of the features, components, and/or parts, including the arrangements and configurations thereof shown in
The mounting bracket 11.1.2-108 can include a middle or central portion 11.1.2-109 coupled to the inner frame 11.1.2-104. In some examples, the middle or central portion 11.1.2-109 may not be the geometric middle or center of the bracket 11.1.2-108. Rather, the middle/central portion 11.1.2-109 can be disposed between first and second cantilevered extension arms extending away from the middle portion 11.1.2-109. In at least one example, the mounting bracket 108 includes a first cantilever arm 11.1.2-112 and a second cantilever arm 11.1.2-114 extending away from the middle portion 11.1.2-109 of the mount bracket 11.1.2-108 coupled to the inner frame 11.1.2-104.
As shown in
The first cantilever arm 11.1.2-112 can extend away from the middle portion 11.1.2-109 of the mounting bracket 11.1.2-108 in a first direction and the second cantilever arm 11.1.2-114 can extend away from the middle portion 11.1.2-109 of the mounting bracket 11.1.2-10 in a second direction opposite the first direction. The first and second cantilever arms 11.1.2-112, 11.1.2-114 are referred to as “cantilevered” or “cantilever” arms because each arm 11.1.2-112, 11.1.2-114, includes a distal free end 11.1.2-116, 11.1.2-118, respectively, which are free of affixation from the inner and outer frames 11.1.2-102, 11.1.2-104. In this way, the arms 11.1.2-112, 11.1.2-114 are cantilevered from the middle portion 11.1.2-109, which can be connected to the inner frame 11.1.2-104, with distal ends 11.1.2-102, 11.1.2-104 unattached.
In at least one example, the HMD 11.1.2-100 can include one or more components coupled to the mounting bracket 11.1.2-108. In one example, the components include a plurality of sensors 11.1.2-110a-f. Each sensor of the plurality of sensors 11.1.2-110a-f can include various types of sensors, including cameras, IR sensors, and so forth. In some examples, one or more of the sensors 11.1.2-110a-f can be used for object recognition in three-dimensional space such that it is important to maintain a precise relative position of two or more of the plurality of sensors 11.1.2-110a-f. The cantilevered nature of the mounting bracket 11.1.2-108 can protect the sensors 11.1.2-110a-f from damage and altered positioning in the case of accidental drops by the user. Because the sensors 11.1.2-110a-f are cantilevered on the arms 11.1.2-112, 11.1.2-114 of the mounting bracket 11.1.2-108, stresses and deformations of the inner and/or outer frames 11.1.2-104, 11.1.2-102 are not transferred to the cantilevered arms 11.1.2-112, 11.1.2-114 and thus do not affect the relative positioning of the sensors 11.1.2-110a-f coupled/mounted to the mounting bracket 11.1.2-108.
Any of the features, components, and/or parts, including the arrangements and configurations thereof shown in
In at least one example, the optical module 11.3.2-100 can include an optical frame or housing 11.3.2-102, which can also be referred to as a barrel or optical module barrel. The optical module 11.3.2-100 can also include a display 11.3.2-104, including a display screen or multiple display screens, coupled to the housing 11.3.2-102. The display 11.3.2-104 can be coupled to the housing 11.3.2-102 such that the display 11.3.2-104 is configured to project light toward the eye of a user when the HMD of which the display module 11.3.2-100 is a part is donned during use. In at least one example, the housing 11.3.2-102 can surround the display 11.3.2-104 and provide connection features for coupling other components of optical modules described herein.
In one example, the optical module 11.3.2-100 can include one or more cameras 11.3.2-106 coupled to the housing 11.3.2-102. The camera 11.3.2-106 can be positioned relative to the display 11.3.2-104 and housing 11.3.2-102 such that the camera 11.3.2-106 is configured to capture one or more images of the user's eye during use. In at least one example, the optical module 11.3.2-100 can also include a light strip 11.3.2-108 surrounding the display 11.3.2-104. In one example, the light strip 11.3.2-108 is disposed between the display 11.3.2-104 and the camera 11.3.2-106. The light strip 11.3.2-108 can include a plurality of lights 11.3.2-110. The plurality of lights can include one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs) or other lights configured to project light toward the user's eye when the HMD is donned. The individual lights 11.3.2-110 of the light strip 11.3.2-108 can be spaced about the strip 11.3.2-108 and thus spaced about the display 11.3.2-104 uniformly or non-uniformly at various locations on the strip 11.3.2-108 and around the display 11.3.2-104.
In at least one example, the housing 11.3.2-102 defines a viewing opening 11.3.2-101 through which the user can view the display 11.3.2-104 when the HMD device is donned. In at least one example, the LEDs are configured and arranged to emit light through the viewing opening 11.3.2-101 and onto the user's eye. In one example, the camera 11.3.2-106 is configured to capture one or more images of the user's eye through the viewing opening 11.3.2-101.
As noted above, each of the components and features of the optical module 11.3.2-100 shown in
Any of the features, components, and/or parts, including the arrangements and configurations thereof shown in
In at least one example, the optical module 11.3.2-200 can also include a lens 11.3.2-216 coupled to the housing 11.3.2-202 and disposed between the display assembly 11.3.2-204 and the user's eyes when the HMD is donned. The lens 11.3.2-216 can be configured to direct light from the display assembly 11.3.2-204 to the user's eye. In at least one example, the lens 11.3.2-216 can be a part of a lens assembly including a corrective lens removably attached to the optical module 11.3.2-200. In at least one example, the lens 11.3.2-216 is disposed over the light strip 11.3.2-208 and the one or more eye-tracking cameras 11.3.2-206 such that the camera 11.3.2-206 is configured to capture images of the user's eye through the lens 11.3.2-216 and the light strip 11.3.2-208 includes lights configured to project light through the lens 11.3.2-216 to the users' eye during use.
Any of the features, components, and/or parts, including the arrangements and configurations thereof shown in
In some embodiments, the one or more communication buses 204 include circuitry that interconnects and controls communications between system components. In some embodiments, the one or more I/O devices 206 include at least one of a keyboard, a mouse, a touchpad, a joystick, one or more microphones, one or more speakers, one or more image sensors, one or more displays, and/or the like.
The memory 220 includes high-speed random-access memory, such as dynamic random-access memory (DRAM), static random-access memory (SRAM), double-data-rate random-access memory (DDR RAM), or other random-access solid-state memory devices. In some embodiments, the memory 220 includes non-volatile memory, such as one or more magnetic disk storage devices, optical disk storage devices, flash memory devices, or other non-volatile solid-state storage devices. The memory 220 optionally includes one or more storage devices remotely located from the one or more processing units 202. The memory 220 comprises a non-transitory computer readable storage medium. In some embodiments, the memory 220 or the non-transitory computer readable storage medium of the memory 220 stores the following programs, modules and data structures, or a subset thereof including an optional operating system 230 and a XR experience module 240.
The operating system 230 includes instructions for handling various basic system services and for performing hardware dependent tasks. In some embodiments, the XR experience module 240 is configured to manage and coordinate one or more XR experiences for one or more users (e.g., a single XR experience for one or more users, or multiple XR experiences for respective groups of one or more users). To that end, in various embodiments, the XR experience module 240 includes a data obtaining unit 241, a tracking unit 242, a coordination unit 246, and a data transmitting unit 248.
In some embodiments, the data obtaining unit 241 is configured to obtain data (e.g., presentation data, interaction data, sensor data, location data, etc.) from at least the display generation component 120 of
In some embodiments, the tracking unit 242 is configured to map the scene 105 and to track the position/location of at least the display generation component 120 with respect to the scene 105 of
In some embodiments, the coordination unit 246 is configured to manage and coordinate the XR experience presented to the user by the display generation component 120, and optionally, by one or more of the output devices 155 and/or peripheral devices 195. To that end, in various embodiments, the coordination unit 246 includes instructions and/or logic therefor, and heuristics and metadata therefor.
In some embodiments, the data transmitting unit 248 is configured to transmit data (e.g., presentation data, location data, etc.) to at least the display generation component 120, and optionally, to one or more of the input devices 125, output devices 155, sensors 190, and/or peripheral devices 195. To that end, in various embodiments, the data transmitting unit 248 includes instructions and/or logic therefor, and heuristics and metadata therefor.
Although the data obtaining unit 241, the tracking unit 242 (e.g., including the eye tracking unit 243 and the hand tracking unit 244), the coordination unit 246, and the data transmitting unit 248 are shown as residing on a single device (e.g., the controller 110), it should be understood that in other embodiments, any combination of the data obtaining unit 241, the tracking unit 242 (e.g., including the eye tracking unit 243 and the hand tracking unit 244), the coordination unit 246, and the data transmitting unit 248 may be located in separate computing devices.
Moreover,
In some embodiments, the one or more communication buses 304 include circuitry that interconnects and controls communications between system components. In some embodiments, the one or more I/O devices and sensors 306 include at least one of an inertial measurement unit (IMU), an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a thermometer, one or more physiological sensors (e.g., blood pressure monitor, heart rate monitor, blood oxygen sensor, blood glucose sensor, etc.), one or more microphones, one or more speakers, a haptics engine, one or more depth sensors (e.g., a structured light, a time-of-flight, or the like), and/or the like.
In some embodiments, the one or more XR displays 312 are configured to provide the XR experience to the user. In some embodiments, the one or more XR displays 312 correspond to holographic, digital light processing (DLP), liquid-crystal display (LCD), liquid-crystal on silicon (LCoS), organic light-emitting field-effect transistor (OLET), organic light-emitting diode (OLED), surface-conduction electron-emitter display (SED), field-emission display (FED), quantum-dot light-emitting diode (QD-LED), micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS), and/or the like display types. In some embodiments, the one or more XR displays 312 correspond to diffractive, reflective, polarized, holographic, etc. waveguide displays. For example, the display generation component 120 (e.g., HMD) includes a single XR display. In another example, the display generation component 120 includes a XR display for each eye of the user. In some embodiments, the one or more XR displays 312 are capable of presenting MR and VR content. In some embodiments, the one or more XR displays 312 are capable of presenting MR or VR content.
In some embodiments, the one or more image sensors 314 are configured to obtain image data that corresponds to at least a portion of the face of the user that includes the eyes of the user (and may be referred to as an eye-tracking camera). In some embodiments, the one or more image sensors 314 are configured to obtain image data that corresponds to at least a portion of the user's hand(s) and optionally arm(s) of the user (and may be referred to as a hand-tracking camera). In some embodiments, the one or more image sensors 314 are configured to be forward-facing so as to obtain image data that corresponds to the scene as would be viewed by the user if the display generation component 120 (e.g., HMD) was not present (and may be referred to as a scene camera). The one or more optional image sensors 314 can include one or more RGB cameras (e.g., with a complimentary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor or a charge-coupled device (CCD) image sensor), one or more infrared (IR) cameras, one or more event-based cameras, and/or the like.
The memory 320 includes high-speed random-access memory, such as DRAM, SRAM, DDR RAM, or other random-access solid-state memory devices. In some embodiments, the memory 320 includes non-volatile memory, such as one or more magnetic disk storage devices, optical disk storage devices, flash memory devices, or other non-volatile solid-state storage devices. The memory 320 optionally includes one or more storage devices remotely located from the one or more processing units 302. The memory 320 comprises a non-transitory computer readable storage medium. In some embodiments, the memory 320 or the non-transitory computer readable storage medium of the memory 320 stores the following programs, modules and data structures, or a subset thereof including an optional operating system 330 and a XR presentation module 340.
The operating system 330 includes instructions for handling various basic system services and for performing hardware dependent tasks. In some embodiments, the XR presentation module 340 is configured to present XR content to the user via the one or more XR displays 312. To that end, in various embodiments, the XR presentation module 340 includes a data obtaining unit 342, a XR presenting unit 344, a XR map generating unit 346, and a data transmitting unit 348.
In some embodiments, the data obtaining unit 342 is configured to obtain data (e.g., presentation data, interaction data, sensor data, location data, etc.) from at least the controller 110 of
In some embodiments, the XR presenting unit 344 is configured to present XR content via the one or more XR displays 312. To that end, in various embodiments, the XR presenting unit 344 includes instructions and/or logic therefor, and heuristics and metadata therefor.
In some embodiments, the XR map generating unit 346 is configured to generate a XR map (e.g., a 3D map of the mixed reality scene or a map of the physical environment into which computer-generated objects can be placed to generate the extended reality) based on media content data. To that end, in various embodiments, the XR map generating unit 346 includes instructions and/or logic therefor, and heuristics and metadata therefor.
In some embodiments, the data transmitting unit 348 is configured to transmit data (e.g., presentation data, location data, etc.) to at least the controller 110, and optionally one or more of the input devices 125, output devices 155, sensors 190, and/or peripheral devices 195. To that end, in various embodiments, the data transmitting unit 348 includes instructions and/or logic therefor, and heuristics and metadata therefor.
Although the data obtaining unit 342, the XR presenting unit 344, the XR map generating unit 346, and the data transmitting unit 348 are shown as residing on a single device (e.g., the display generation component 120 of
Moreover,
In some embodiments, the hand tracking device 140 includes image sensors 404 (e.g., one or more IR cameras, 3D cameras, depth cameras, and/or color cameras, etc.) that capture three-dimensional scene information that includes at least a hand 406 of a human user. The image sensors 404 capture the hand images with sufficient resolution to enable the fingers and their respective positions to be distinguished. The image sensors 404 typically capture images of other parts of the user's body, as well, or possibly all of the body, and may have either zoom capabilities or a dedicated sensor with enhanced magnification to capture images of the hand with the desired resolution. In some embodiments, the image sensors 404 also capture 2D color video images of the hand 406 and other elements of the scene. In some embodiments, the image sensors 404 are used in conjunction with other image sensors to capture the physical environment of the scene 105, or serve as the image sensors that capture the physical environments of the scene 105. In some embodiments, the image sensors 404 are positioned relative to the user or the user's environment in a way that a field of view of the image sensors or a portion thereof is used to define an interaction space in which hand movement captured by the image sensors are treated as inputs to the controller 110.
In some embodiments, the image sensors 404 output a sequence of frames containing 3D map data (and possibly color image data, as well) to the controller 110, which extracts high-level information from the map data. This high-level information is typically provided via an Application Program Interface (API) to an application running on the controller, which drives the display generation component 120 accordingly. For example, the user may interact with software running on the controller 110 by moving his hand 406 and changing his hand posture.
In some embodiments, the image sensors 404 project a pattern of spots onto a scene containing the hand 406 and capture an image of the projected pattern. In some embodiments, the controller 110 computes the 3D coordinates of points in the scene (including points on the surface of the user's hand) by triangulation, based on transverse shifts of the spots in the pattern. This approach is advantageous in that it does not require the user to hold or wear any sort of beacon, sensor, or other marker. It gives the depth coordinates of points in the scene relative to a predetermined reference plane, at a certain distance from the image sensors 404. In the present disclosure, the image sensors 404 are assumed to define an orthogonal set of x, y, z axes, so that depth coordinates of points in the scene correspond to z components measured by the image sensors. Alternatively, the image sensors 404 (e.g., a hand tracking device) may use other methods of 3D mapping, such as stereoscopic imaging or time-of-flight measurements, based on single or multiple cameras or other types of sensors.
In some embodiments, the hand tracking device 140 captures and processes a temporal sequence of depth maps containing the user's hand, while the user moves his hand (e.g., whole hand or one or more fingers). Software running on a processor in the image sensors 404 and/or the controller 110 processes the 3D map data to extract patch descriptors of the hand in these depth maps. The software matches these descriptors to patch descriptors stored in a database 408, based on a prior learning process, in order to estimate the pose of the hand in each frame. The pose typically includes 3D locations of the user's hand joints and fingertips.
The software may also analyze the trajectory of the hands and/or fingers over multiple frames in the sequence in order to identify gestures. The pose estimation functions described herein may be interleaved with motion tracking functions, so that patch-based pose estimation is performed only once in every two (or more) frames, while tracking is used to find changes in the pose that occur over the remaining frames. The pose, motion, and gesture information are provided via the above-mentioned API to an application program running on the controller 110. This program may, for example, move and modify images presented on the display generation component 120, or perform other functions, in response to the pose and/or gesture information.
In some embodiments, a gesture includes an air gesture. An air gesture is a gesture that is detected without the user touching (or independently of) an input element that is part of a device (e.g., computer system 101, one or more input device 125, and/or hand tracking device 140) and is based on detected motion of a portion (e.g., the head, one or more arms, one or more hands, one or more fingers, and/or one or more legs) of the user's body through the air including motion of the user's body relative to an absolute reference (e.g., an angle of the user's arm relative to the ground or a distance of the user's hand relative to the ground), relative to another portion of the user's body (e.g., movement of a hand of the user relative to a shoulder of the user, movement of one hand of the user relative to another hand of the user, and/or movement of a finger of the user relative to another finger or portion of a hand of the user), and/or absolute motion of a portion of the user's body (e.g., a tap gesture that includes movement of a hand in a predetermined pose by a predetermined amount and/or speed, or a shake gesture that includes a predetermined speed or amount of rotation of a portion of the user's body).
In some embodiments, input gestures used in the various examples and embodiments described herein include air gestures performed by movement of the user's finger(s) relative to other finger(s) or part(s) of the user's hand) for interacting with an XR environment (e.g., a virtual or mixed-reality environment), in accordance with some embodiments. In some embodiments, an air gesture is a gesture that is detected without the user touching an input element that is part of the device (or independently of an input element that is a part of the device) and is based on detected motion of a portion of the user's body through the air including motion of the user's body relative to an absolute reference (e.g., an angle of the user's arm relative to the ground or a distance of the user's hand relative to the ground), relative to another portion of the user's body (e.g., movement of a hand of the user relative to a shoulder of the user, movement of one hand of the user relative to another hand of the user, and/or movement of a finger of the user relative to another finger or portion of a hand of the user), and/or absolute motion of a portion of the user's body (e.g., a tap gesture that includes movement of a hand in a predetermined pose by a predetermined amount and/or speed, or a shake gesture that includes a predetermined speed or amount of rotation of a portion of the user's body).
In some embodiments in which the input gesture is an air gesture (e.g., in the absence of physical contact with an input device that provides the computer system with information about which user interface element is the target of the user input, such as contact with a user interface element displayed on a touchscreen, or contact with a mouse or trackpad to move a cursor to the user interface element), the gesture takes into account the user's attention (e.g., gaze) to determine the target of the user input (e.g., for direct inputs, as described below). Thus, in implementations involving air gestures, the input gesture is, for example, detected attention (e.g., gaze) toward the user interface element in combination (e.g., concurrent) with movement of a user's finger(s) and/or hands to perform a pinch and/or tap input, as described in more detail below.
In some embodiments, input gestures that are directed to a user interface object are performed directly or indirectly with reference to a user interface object. For example, a user input is performed directly on the user interface object in accordance with performing the input gesture with the user's hand at a position that corresponds to the position of the user interface object in the three-dimensional environment (e.g., as determined based on a current viewpoint of the user). In some embodiments, the input gesture is performed indirectly on the user interface object in accordance with the user performing the input gesture while a position of the user's hand is not at the position that corresponds to the position of the user interface object in the three-dimensional environment while detecting the user's attention (e.g., gaze) on the user interface object. For example, for direct input gesture, the user is enabled to direct the user's input to the user interface object by initiating the gesture at, or near, a position corresponding to the displayed position of the user interface object (e.g., within 0.5 cm, 1 cm, 5 cm, or a distance between 0-5 cm, as measured from an outer edge of the option or a center portion of the option). For an indirect input gesture, the user is enabled to direct the user's input to the user interface object by paying attention to the user interface object (e.g., by gazing at the user interface object) and, while paying attention to the option, the user initiates the input gesture (e.g., at any position that is detectable by the computer system) (e.g., at a position that does not correspond to the displayed position of the user interface object).
In some embodiments, input gestures (e.g., air gestures) used in the various examples and embodiments described herein include pinch inputs and tap inputs, for interacting with a virtual or mixed-reality environment, in accordance with some embodiments. For example, the pinch inputs and tap inputs described below are performed as air gestures.
In some embodiments, a pinch input is part of an air gesture that includes one or more of: a pinch gesture, a long pinch gesture, a pinch and drag gesture, or a double pinch gesture. For example, a pinch gesture that is an air gesture includes movement of two or more fingers of a hand to make contact with one another, that is, optionally, followed by an immediate (e.g., within 0-1 seconds) break in contact from each other. A long pinch gesture that is an air gesture includes movement of two or more fingers of a hand to make contact with one another for at least a threshold amount of time (e.g., at least 1 second), before detecting a break in contact with one another. For example, a long pinch gesture includes the user holding a pinch gesture (e.g., with the two or more fingers making contact), and the long pinch gesture continues until a break in contact between the two or more fingers is detected. In some embodiments, a double pinch gesture that is an air gesture comprises two (e.g., or more) pinch inputs (e.g., performed by the same hand) detected in immediate (e.g., within a predefined time period) succession of each other. For example, the user performs a first pinch input (e.g., a pinch input or a long pinch input), releases the first pinch input (e.g., breaks contact between the two or more fingers), and performs a second pinch input within a predefined time period (e.g., within 1 second or within 2 seconds) after releasing the first pinch input.
In some embodiments, a pinch and drag gesture that is an air gesture includes a pinch gesture (e.g., a pinch gesture or a long pinch gesture) performed in conjunction with (e.g., followed by) a drag input that changes a position of the user's hand from a first position (e.g., a start position of the drag) to a second position (e.g., an end position of the drag). In some embodiments, the user maintains the pinch gesture while performing the drag input, and releases the pinch gesture (e.g., opens their two or more fingers) to end the drag gesture (e.g., at the second position). In some embodiments, the pinch input and the drag input are performed by the same hand (e.g., the user pinches two or more fingers to make contact with one another and moves the same hand to the second position in the air with the drag gesture). In some embodiments, the pinch input is performed by a first hand of the user and the drag input is performed by the second hand of the user (e.g., the user's second hand moves from the first position to the second position in the air while the user continues the pinch input with the user's first hand. In some embodiments, an input gesture that is an air gesture includes inputs (e.g., pinch and/or tap inputs) performed using both of the user's two hands. For example, the input gesture includes two (e.g., or more) pinch inputs performed in conjunction with (e.g., concurrently with, or within a predefined time period of) each other. For example, a first pinch gesture performed using a first hand of the user (e.g., a pinch input, a long pinch input, or a pinch and drag input), and, in conjunction with performing the pinch input using the first hand, performing a second pinch input using the other hand (e.g., the second hand of the user's two hands). In some embodiments, movement between the user's two hands (e.g., to increase and/or decrease a distance or relative orientation between the user's two hands)
In some embodiments, a tap input (e.g., directed to a user interface element) performed as an air gesture includes movement of a user's finger(s) toward the user interface element, movement of the user's hand toward the user interface element optionally with the user's finger(s) extended toward the user interface element, a downward motion of a user's finger (e.g., mimicking a mouse click motion or a tap on a touchscreen), or other predefined movement of the user's hand. In some embodiments a tap input that is performed as an air gesture is detected based on movement characteristics of the finger or hand performing the tap gesture movement of a finger or hand away from the viewpoint of the user and/or toward an object that is the target of the tap input followed by an end of the movement. In some embodiments the end of the movement is detected based on a change in movement characteristics of the finger or hand performing the tap gesture (e.g., an end of movement away from the viewpoint of the user and/or toward the object that is the target of the tap input, a reversal of direction of movement of the finger or hand, and/or a reversal of a direction of acceleration of movement of the finger or hand).
In some embodiments, attention of a user is determined to be directed to a portion of the three-dimensional environment based on detection of gaze directed to the portion of the three-dimensional environment (optionally, without requiring other conditions). In some embodiments, attention of a user is determined to be directed to a portion of the three-dimensional environment based on detection of gaze directed to the portion of the three-dimensional environment with one or more additional conditions such as requiring that gaze is directed to the portion of the three-dimensional environment for at least a threshold duration (e.g., a dwell duration) and/or requiring that the gaze is directed to the portion of the three-dimensional environment while the viewpoint of the user is within a distance threshold from the portion of the three-dimensional environment in order for the device to determine that attention of the user is directed to the portion of the three-dimensional environment, where if one of the additional conditions is not met, the device determines that attention is not directed to the portion of the three-dimensional environment toward which gaze is directed (e.g., until the one or more additional conditions are met).
In some embodiments, the detection of a ready state configuration of a user or a portion of a user is detected by the computer system. Detection of a ready state configuration of a hand is used by a computer system as an indication that the user is likely preparing to interact with the computer system using one or more air gesture inputs performed by the hand (e.g., a pinch, tap, pinch and drag, double pinch, long pinch, or other air gesture described herein). For example, the ready state of the hand is determined based on whether the hand has a predetermined hand shape (e.g., a pre-pinch shape with a thumb and one or more fingers extended and spaced apart ready to make a pinch or grab gesture or a pre-tap with one or more fingers extended and palm facing away from the user), based on whether the hand is in a predetermined position relative to a viewpoint of the user (e.g., below the user's head and above the user's waist and extended out from the body by at least 15, 20, 25, 30, or 50 cm), and/or based on whether the hand has moved in a particular manner (e.g., moved toward a region in front of the user above the user's waist and below the user's head or moved away from the user's body or leg). In some embodiments, the ready state is used to determine whether interactive elements of the user interface respond to attention (e.g., gaze) inputs.
In some embodiments, the software may be downloaded to the controller 110 in electronic form, over a network, for example, or it may alternatively be provided on tangible, non-transitory media, such as optical, magnetic, or electronic memory media. In some embodiments, the database 408 is likewise stored in a memory associated with the controller 110. Alternatively or additionally, some or all of the described functions of the computer may be implemented in dedicated hardware, such as a custom or semi-custom integrated circuit or a programmable digital signal processor (DSP). Although the controller 110 is shown in
In some embodiments, the display generation component 120 uses a display mechanism (e.g., left and right near-eye display panels) for displaying frames including left and right images in front of a user's eyes to thus provide 3D virtual views to the user. For example, a head-mounted display generation component may include left and right optical lenses (referred to herein as eye lenses) located between the display and the user's eyes. In some embodiments, the display generation component may include or be coupled to one or more external video cameras that capture video of the user's environment for display. In some embodiments, a head-mounted display generation component may have a transparent or semi-transparent display through which a user may view the physical environment directly and display virtual objects on the transparent or semi-transparent display. In some embodiments, display generation component projects virtual objects into the physical environment. The virtual objects may be projected, for example, on a physical surface or as a holograph, so that an individual, using the system, observes the virtual objects superimposed over the physical environment. In such cases, separate display panels and image frames for the left and right eyes may not be necessary.
As shown in
In some embodiments, the eye tracking device 130 is calibrated using a device-specific calibration process to determine parameters of the eye tracking device for the specific operating environment 100, for example the 3D geometric relationship and parameters of the LEDs, cameras, hot mirrors (if present), eye lenses, and display screen. The device-specific calibration process may be performed at the factory or another facility prior to delivery of the AR/VR equipment to the end user. The device-specific calibration process may be an automated calibration process or a manual calibration process. A user-specific calibration process may include an estimation of a specific user's eye parameters, for example the pupil location, fovea location, optical axis, visual axis, eye spacing, etc. Once the device-specific and user-specific parameters are determined for the eye tracking device 130, images captured by the eye tracking cameras can be processed using a glint-assisted method to determine the current visual axis and point of gaze of the user with respect to the display, in accordance with some embodiments.
As shown in
In some embodiments, the controller 110 renders AR or VR frames 562 (e.g., left and right frames for left and right display panels) and provides the frames 562 to the display 510. The controller 110 uses gaze tracking input 542 from the eye tracking cameras 540 for various purposes, for example in processing the frames 562 for display. The controller 110 optionally estimates the user's point of gaze on the display 510 based on the gaze tracking input 542 obtained from the eye tracking cameras 540 using the glint-assisted methods or other suitable methods. The point of gaze estimated from the gaze tracking input 542 is optionally used to determine the direction in which the user is currently looking.
The following describes several possible use cases for the user's current gaze direction, and is not intended to be limiting. As an example use case, the controller 110 may render virtual content differently based on the determined direction of the user's gaze. For example, the controller 110 may generate virtual content at a higher resolution in a foveal region determined from the user's current gaze direction than in peripheral regions. As another example, the controller may position or move virtual content in the view based at least in part on the user's current gaze direction. As another example, the controller may display particular virtual content in the view based at least in part on the user's current gaze direction. As another example use case in AR applications, the controller 110 may direct external cameras for capturing the physical environments of the XR experience to focus in the determined direction. The autofocus mechanism of the external cameras may then focus on an object or surface in the environment that the user is currently looking at on the display 510. As another example use case, the eye lenses 520 may be focusable lenses, and the gaze tracking information is used by the controller to adjust the focus of the eye lenses 520 so that the virtual object that the user is currently looking at has the proper vergence to match the convergence of the user's eyes 592. The controller 110 may leverage the gaze tracking information to direct the eye lenses 520 to adjust focus so that close objects that the user is looking at appear at the right distance.
In some embodiments, the eye tracking device is part of a head-mounted device that includes a display (e.g., display 510), two eye lenses (e.g., eye lens(es) 520), eye tracking cameras (e.g., eye tracking camera(s) 540), and light sources (e.g., light sources 530 (e.g., IR or NIR LEDs), mounted in a wearable housing. The light sources emit light (e.g., IR or NIR light) towards the user's eye(s) 592. In some embodiments, the light sources may be arranged in rings or circles around each of the lenses as shown in
In some embodiments, the display 510 emits light in the visible light range and does not emit light in the IR or NIR range, and thus does not introduce noise in the gaze tracking system. Note that the location and angle of eye tracking camera(s) 540 is given by way of example, and is not intended to be limiting. In some embodiments, a single eye tracking camera 540 is located on each side of the user's face. In some embodiments, two or more NIR cameras 540 may be used on each side of the user's face. In some embodiments, a camera 540 with a wider field of view (FOV) and a camera 540 with a narrower FOV may be used on each side of the user's face. In some embodiments, a camera 540 that operates at one wavelength (e.g., 850 nm) and a camera 540 that operates at a different wavelength (e.g., 940 nm) may be used on each side of the user's face.
Embodiments of the gaze tracking system as illustrated in
As shown in
At 610, for the current captured images, if the tracking state is YES, then the method proceeds to element 640. At 610, if the tracking state is NO, then as indicated at 620 the images are analyzed to detect the user's pupils and glints in the images. At 630, if the pupils and glints are successfully detected, then the method proceeds to element 640. Otherwise, the method returns to element 610 to process next images of the user's eyes.
At 640, if proceeding from element 610, the current frames are analyzed to track the pupils and glints based in part on prior information from the previous frames. At 640, if proceeding from element 630, the tracking state is initialized based on the detected pupils and glints in the current frames. Results of processing at element 640 are checked to verify that the results of tracking or detection can be trusted. For example, results may be checked to determine if the pupil and a sufficient number of glints to perform gaze estimation are successfully tracked or detected in the current frames. At 650, if the results cannot be trusted, then the tracking state is set to NO at element 660, and the method returns to element 610 to process next images of the user's eyes. At 650, if the results are trusted, then the method proceeds to element 670. At 670, the tracking state is set to YES (if not already YES), and the pupil and glint information is passed to element 680 to estimate the user's point of gaze.
In some embodiments, the captured portions of real world environment 602 are used to provide a XR experience to the user, for example, a mixed reality environment in which one or more virtual objects are superimposed over representations of real world environment 602.
Thus, the description herein describes some embodiments of three-dimensional environments (e.g., XR environments) that include representations of real world objects and representations of virtual objects. For example, a three-dimensional environment optionally includes a representation of a table that exists in the physical environment, which is captured and displayed in the three-dimensional environment (e.g., actively via cameras and displays of a computer system, or passively via a transparent or translucent display of the computer system). As described previously, the three-dimensional environment is optionally a mixed reality system in which the three-dimensional environment is based on the physical environment that is captured by one or more sensors of the computer system and displayed via a display generation component. As a mixed reality system, the computer system is optionally able to selectively display portions and/or objects of the physical environment such that the respective portions and/or objects of the physical environment appear as if they exist in the three-dimensional environment displayed by the computer system. Similarly, the computer system is optionally able to display virtual objects in the three-dimensional environment to appear as if the virtual objects exist in the real world (e.g., physical environment) by placing the virtual objects at respective locations in the three-dimensional environment that have corresponding locations in the real world. For example, the computer system optionally displays a vase such that it appears as if a real vase is placed on top of a table in the physical environment. In some embodiments, a respective location in the three-dimensional environment has a corresponding location in the physical environment. Thus, when the computer system is described as displaying a virtual object at a respective location with respect to a physical object (e.g., such as a location at or near the hand of the user, or at or near a physical table), the computer system displays the virtual object at a particular location in the three-dimensional environment such that it appears as if the virtual object is at or near the physical object in the physical world (e.g., the virtual object is displayed at a location in the three-dimensional environment that corresponds to a location in the physical environment at which the virtual object would be displayed if it were a real object at that particular location).
In some embodiments, real world objects that exist in the physical environment that are displayed in the three-dimensional environment (e.g., and/or visible via the display generation component) can interact with virtual objects that exist only in the three-dimensional environment. For example, a three-dimensional environment can include a table and a vase placed on top of the table, with the table being a view of (or a representation of) a physical table in the physical environment, and the vase being a virtual object.
In a three-dimensional environment (e.g., a real environment, a virtual environment, or an environment that includes a mix of real and virtual objects), objects are sometimes referred to as having a depth or simulated depth, or objects are referred to as being visible, displayed, or placed at different depths. In this context, depth refers to a dimension other than height or width. In some embodiments, depth is defined relative to a fixed set of coordinates (e.g., where a room or an object has a height, depth, and width defined relative to the fixed set of coordinates). In some embodiments, depth is defined relative to a location or viewpoint of a user, in which case, the depth dimension varies based on the location of the user and/or the location and angle of the viewpoint of the user. In some embodiments where depth is defined relative to a location of a user that is positioned relative to a surface of an environment (e.g., a floor of an environment, or a surface of the ground), objects that are further away from the user along a line that extends parallel to the surface are considered to have a greater depth in the environment, and/or the depth of an object is measured along an axis that extends outward from a location of the user and is parallel to the surface of the environment (e.g., depth is defined in a cylindrical or substantially cylindrical coordinate system with the position of the user at the center of the cylinder that extends from a head of the user toward feet of the user). In some embodiments where depth is defined relative to viewpoint of a user (e.g., a direction relative to a point in space that determines which portion of an environment that is visible via a head mounted device or other display), objects that are further away from the viewpoint of the user along a line that extends parallel to the direction of the viewpoint of the user are considered to have a greater depth in the environment, and/or the depth of an object is measured along an axis that extends outward from a line that extends from the viewpoint of the user and is parallel to the direction of the viewpoint of the user (e.g., depth is defined in a spherical or substantially spherical coordinate system with the origin of the viewpoint at the center of the sphere that extends outwardly from a head of the user). In some embodiments, depth is defined relative to a user interface container (e.g., a window or application in which application and/or system content is displayed) where the user interface container has a height and/or width, and depth is a dimension that is orthogonal to the height and/or width of the user interface container. In some embodiments, in circumstances where depth is defined relative to a user interface container, the height and or width of the container are typically orthogonal or substantially orthogonal to a line that extends from a location based on the user (e.g., a viewpoint of the user or a location of the user) to the user interface container (e.g., the center of the user interface container, or another characteristic point of the user interface container) when the container is placed in the three-dimensional environment or is initially displayed (e.g., so that the depth dimension for the container extends outward away from the user or the viewpoint of the user). In some embodiments, in situations where depth is defined relative to a user interface container, depth of an object relative to the user interface container refers to a position of the object along the depth dimension for the user interface container. In some embodiments, multiple different containers can have different depth dimensions (e.g., different depth dimensions that extend away from the user or the viewpoint of the user in different directions and/or from different starting points). In some embodiments, when depth is defined relative to a user interface container, the direction of the depth dimension remains constant for the user interface container as the location of the user interface container, the user and/or the viewpoint of the user changes (e.g., or when multiple different viewers are viewing the same container in the three-dimensional environment such as during an in-person collaboration session and/or when multiple participants are in a real-time communication session with shared virtual content including the container). In some embodiments, for curved containers (e.g., including a container with a curved surface or curved content region), the depth dimension optionally extends into a surface of the curved container. In some situations, z-separation (e.g., separation of two objects in a depth dimension), z-height (e.g., distance of one object from another in a depth dimension), z-position (e.g., position of one object in a depth dimension), z-depth (e.g., position of one object in a depth dimension), or simulated z dimension (e.g., depth used as a dimension of an object, dimension of an environment, a direction in space, and/or a direction in simulated space) are used to refer to the concept of depth as described above.
In some embodiments, a user is optionally able to interact with virtual objects in the three-dimensional environment using one or more hands as if the virtual objects were real objects in the physical environment. For example, as described above, one or more sensors of the computer system optionally capture one or more of the hands of the user and display representations of the hands of the user in the three-dimensional environment (e.g., in a manner similar to displaying a real world object in three-dimensional environment described above), or in some embodiments, the hands of the user are visible via the display generation component via the ability to see the physical environment through the user interface due to the transparency/translucency of a portion of the display generation component that is displaying the user interface or due to projection of the user interface onto a transparent/translucent surface or projection of the user interface onto the user's eye or into a field of view of the user's eye. Thus, in some embodiments, the hands of the user are displayed at a respective location in the three-dimensional environment and are treated as if they were objects in the three-dimensional environment that are able to interact with the virtual objects in the three-dimensional environment as if they were physical objects in the physical environment. In some embodiments, the computer system is able to update display of the representations of the user's hands in the three-dimensional environment in conjunction with the movement of the user's hands in the physical environment.
In some of the embodiments described below, the computer system is optionally able to determine the “effective” distance between physical objects in the physical world and virtual objects in the three-dimensional environment, for example, for the purpose of determining whether a physical object is directly interacting with a virtual object (e.g., whether a hand is touching, grabbing, holding, etc. a virtual object or within a threshold distance of a virtual object). For example, a hand directly interacting with a virtual object optionally includes one or more of a finger of a hand pressing a virtual button, a hand of a user grabbing a virtual vase, two fingers of a hand of the user coming together and pinching/holding a user interface of an application, and any of the other types of interactions described here. For example, the computer system optionally determines the distance between the hands of the user and virtual objects when determining whether the user is interacting with virtual objects and/or how the user is interacting with virtual objects. In some embodiments, the computer system determines the distance between the hands of the user and a virtual object by determining the distance between the location of the hands in the three-dimensional environment and the location of the virtual object of interest in the three-dimensional environment. For example, the one or more hands of the user are located at a particular position in the physical world, which the computer system optionally captures and displays at a particular corresponding position in the three-dimensional environment (e.g., the position in the three-dimensional environment at which the hands would be displayed if the hands were virtual, rather than physical, hands). The position of the hands in the three-dimensional environment is optionally compared with the position of the virtual object of interest in the three-dimensional environment to determine the distance between the one or more hands of the user and the virtual object. In some embodiments, the computer system optionally determines a distance between a physical object and a virtual object by comparing positions in the physical world (e.g., as opposed to comparing positions in the three-dimensional environment). For example, when determining the distance between one or more hands of the user and a virtual object, the computer system optionally determines the corresponding location in the physical world of the virtual object (e.g., the position at which the virtual object would be located in the physical world if it were a physical object rather than a virtual object), and then determines the distance between the corresponding physical position and the one of more hands of the user. In some embodiments, the same techniques are optionally used to determine the distance between any physical object and any virtual object. Thus, as described herein, when determining whether a physical object is in contact with a virtual object or whether a physical object is within a threshold distance of a virtual object, the computer system optionally performs any of the techniques described above to map the location of the physical object to the three-dimensional environment and/or map the location of the virtual object to the physical environment.
In some embodiments, the same or similar technique is used to determine where and what the gaze of the user is directed to and/or where and at what a physical stylus held by a user is pointed. For example, if the gaze of the user is directed to a particular position in the physical environment, the computer system optionally determines the corresponding position in the three-dimensional environment (e.g., the virtual position of the gaze), and if a virtual object is located at that corresponding virtual position, the computer system optionally determines that the gaze of the user is directed to that virtual object. Similarly, the computer system is optionally able to determine, based on the orientation of a physical stylus, to where in the physical environment the stylus is pointing. In some embodiments, based on this determination, the computer system determines the corresponding virtual position in the three-dimensional environment that corresponds to the location in the physical environment to which the stylus is pointing, and optionally determines that the stylus is pointing at the corresponding virtual position in the three-dimensional environment.
Similarly, the embodiments described herein may refer to the location of the user (e.g., the user of the computer system) and/or the location of the computer system in the three-dimensional environment. In some embodiments, the user of the computer system is holding, wearing, or otherwise located at or near the computer system. Thus, in some embodiments, the location of the computer system is used as a proxy for the location of the user. In some embodiments, the location of the computer system and/or user in the physical environment corresponds to a respective location in the three-dimensional environment. For example, the location of the computer system would be the location in the physical environment (and its corresponding location in the three-dimensional environment) from which, if a user were to stand at that location facing a respective portion of the physical environment that is visible via the display generation component, the user would see the objects in the physical environment in the same positions, orientations, and/or sizes as they are displayed by or visible via the display generation component of the computer system in the three-dimensional environment (e.g., in absolute terms and/or relative to each other). Similarly, if the virtual objects displayed in the three-dimensional environment were physical objects in the physical environment (e.g., placed at the same locations in the physical environment as they are in the three-dimensional environment, and having the same sizes and orientations in the physical environment as in the three-dimensional environment), the location of the computer system and/or user is the position from which the user would see the virtual objects in the physical environment in the same positions, orientations, and/or sizes as they are displayed by the display generation component of the computer system in the three-dimensional environment (e.g., in absolute terms and/or relative to each other and the real world objects).
In the present disclosure, various input methods are described with respect to interactions with a computer system. When an example is provided using one input device or input method and another example is provided using another input device or input method, it is to be understood that each example may be compatible with and optionally utilizes the input device or input method described with respect to another example. Similarly, various output methods are described with respect to interactions with a computer system. When an example is provided using one output device or output method and another example is provided using another output device or output method, it is to be understood that each example may be compatible with and optionally utilizes the output device or output method described with respect to another example. Similarly, various methods are described with respect to interactions with a virtual environment or a mixed reality environment through a computer system. When an example is provided using interactions with a virtual environment and another example is provided using mixed reality environment, it is to be understood that each example may be compatible with and optionally utilizes the methods described with respect to another example. As such, the present disclosure discloses embodiments that are combinations of the features of multiple examples, without exhaustively listing all features of an embodiment in the description of each example embodiment.
Attention is now directed towards embodiments of user interfaces (“UI”) and associated processes that may be implemented on a computer system, such as a portable multifunction device or a head-mounted device, in communication with a display generation component, one or more input devices, and optionally one or more cameras.
In some embodiments, a three-dimensional environment that is visible via a display generation component described herein is a virtual three-dimensional environment that includes virtual objects and content at different virtual positions in the three-dimensional environment without a representation of the physical environment. In some embodiments, the three-dimensional environment is a mixed reality environment that displays virtual objects at different virtual positions in the three-dimensional environment that are constrained by one or more physical aspects of the physical environment (e.g., positions and orientations of walls, floors, surfaces, direction of gravity, time of day, and/or spatial relationships between physical objects). In some embodiments, the three-dimensional environment is an augmented reality environment that includes a representation of the physical environment. In some embodiments, the representation of the physical environment includes respective representations of physical objects and surfaces at different positions in the three-dimensional environment, such that the spatial relationships between the different physical objects and surfaces in the physical environment are reflected by the spatial relationships between the representations of the physical objects and surfaces in the three-dimensional environment. In some embodiments, when virtual objects are placed relative to the positions of the representations of physical objects and surfaces in the three-dimensional environment, they appear to have corresponding spatial relationships with the physical objects and surfaces in the physical environment. In some embodiments, the computer system transitions between displaying the different types of environments (e.g., transitions between presenting a computer-generated environment or experience with different levels of immersion, and/or adjusting the relative prominence of audio/visual sensory inputs from the virtual content and from the representation of the physical environment) based on user inputs and/or contextual conditions.
In some embodiments, the display generation component includes a pass-through portion in which the representation of the physical environment is visible. In some embodiments, the pass-through portion of the display generation component is a transparent or semi-transparent (e.g., see-through) portion of the display generation component revealing at least a portion of a physical environment surrounding and within the field of view of user. For example, the pass-through portion is a portion of a head-mounted display or heads-up display that is made semi-transparent (e.g., less than 50%, 40%, 30%, 20%, 15%, 10%, or 5% of opacity) or transparent, such that the user can see through it to view the real world surrounding the user without removing the head-mounted display or moving away from the heads-up display. In some embodiments, the pass-through portion gradually transitions from semi-transparent or transparent to fully opaque when displaying a virtual or mixed reality environment. In some embodiments, the pass-through portion of the display generation component displays a live feed of images or video of at least a portion of physical environment captured by one or more cameras (e.g., rear facing camera(s) of a mobile device or associated with a head-mounted display, or other cameras that feed image data to the computer system). In some embodiments, the one or more cameras point at a portion of the physical environment that is directly in front of the user's eyes (e.g., behind the display generation component relative to the user of the display generation component). In some embodiments, the one or more cameras point at a portion of the physical environment that is not directly in front of the user's eyes (e.g., in a different physical environment, or to the side of or behind the user).
In some embodiments, when displaying virtual objects at positions that correspond to locations of one or more physical objects in the physical environment (e.g., at positions in a virtual reality environment, a mixed reality environment, or an augmented reality environment), at least some of the virtual objects are displayed in place of (e.g., replacing display of) a portion of the live view (e.g., a portion of the physical environment captured in the live view) of the cameras. In some embodiments, at least some of the virtual objects and content are projected onto physical surfaces or empty space in the physical environment and are visible through the pass-through portion of the display generation component (e.g., viewable as part of the camera view of the physical environment, or through the transparent or semi-transparent portion of the display generation component). In some embodiments, at least some of the virtual objects and virtual content are displayed to overlay a portion of the display and block the view of at least a portion of the physical environment visible through the transparent or semi-transparent portion of the display generation component.
In some embodiments, the display generation component displays different views of the three-dimensional environment in accordance with user inputs or movements that change the virtual position of the viewpoint of the currently displayed view of the three-dimensional environment relative to the three-dimensional environment. In some embodiments, when the three-dimensional environment is a virtual environment, the viewpoint moves in accordance with navigation or locomotion requests (e.g., in-air hand gestures, and/or gestures performed by movement of one portion of the hand relative to another portion of the hand) without requiring movement of the user's head, torso, and/or the display generation component in the physical environment. In some embodiments, movement of the user's head and/or torso, and/or the movement of the display generation component or other location sensing elements of the computer system (e.g., due to the user holding the display generation component or wearing the HMD), relative to the physical environment, cause corresponding movement of the viewpoint (e.g., with corresponding movement direction, movement distance, movement speed, and/or change in orientation) relative to the three-dimensional environment, resulting in corresponding change in the currently displayed view of the three-dimensional environment. In some embodiments, when a virtual object has a preset spatial relationship relative to the viewpoint (e.g., is anchored or fixed to the viewpoint, optionally, with or without a lazy follow behavior), movement of the viewpoint relative to the three-dimensional environment would cause movement of the virtual object relative to the three-dimensional environment while the position of the virtual object in the field of view is maintained (e.g., the virtual object is said to be head locked). In some embodiments, a virtual object is body-locked to the user, and moves relative to the three-dimensional environment when the user moves as a whole in the physical environment (e.g., carrying or wearing the display generation component and/or other location sensing component of the computer system), but will not move in the three-dimensional environment in response to the user's head movement alone (e.g., the display generation component and/or other location sensing component of the computer system rotating around a fixed location of the user in the physical environment). In some embodiments, a virtual object is, optionally, locked to another portion of the user, such as a user's hand or a user's wrist, and moves in the three-dimensional environment in accordance with movement of the portion of the user in the physical environment, to maintain a preset spatial relationship between the position of the virtual object and the virtual position of the portion of the user in the three-dimensional environment (optionally, with or without a lazy follow behavior). In some embodiments, a virtual object is locked (optionally, with or without a lazy follow behavior) to a preset portion of a field of view provided by the display generation component and moves in the three-dimensional environment in accordance with the movement of the field of view, irrespective of movement of the user that does not cause a change of the field of view.
In some embodiments, as shown in
Physical environment 7000 further includes a physical object 7026. In some embodiments, the physical object 7026 includes at least one surface (e.g., a horizontal surface parallel to floor 7008). For example, the physical object 7026 includes a table, a box, or another physical object on which physical items may be placed.
In some embodiments, physical environment 7000 includes a computer system 7100 that includes a display generation component, and one or more cameras. In some embodiments, user 7002 uses input device 7024 to interact with (e.g., control and/or manipulate) the computer system 7100 and the three-dimensional environment generated/displayed by the computer system 7100. In some embodiments, the computer system supports user interaction by user 7002 via other means (e.g., air gestures and touch inputs, as described above) that may not require input device 7024. In some embodiments, computer system 7100 detects a current position of input device 7024 via one or more sensors of computer system 7100. For example, one or more cameras of computer system 7100 and/or one or more magnetometers of computer system 7100 track movements of the input device 7024. In some embodiments, the one or more magnetometers of computer system 7100 determine changes in a magnetic field surrounding the input device 7024 (e.g., different portions of input device 7024 include respective magnets that may alter the magnetic field near the different portions of the input device).
In some embodiments, input device 7024 includes at least a first portion 7024-1 and a second portion 7024-2 that are physically coupled together at a first point of physical contact with each other, where the first portion 7024-1 and the second portion 7024-2 are configurated such that a user may be able to break (e.g., by bending, twisting, clicking, and/or pulling apart the input device at the first point of physical contact, and/or opening, disabling, disengaging a physical connection at) the first point of physical contact and decouple the first portion and the second portion of the input device from physical contact with each other. In some embodiments, when the first portion and the second portion of the input device 7024 are physically coupled in the first configuration, the entirety of the input device 7024 moves as an integrated whole, irrespective of which portion of the input device 7024 is being held and moved by the user. For example, the computer system detects movement of the input device 7024 in various manners, such as rotating around a longitudinal axis of the input device 7024, rotating around a pivot point at a first position along the body of the input device 7024, moving horizontally when an upright/supine attitude or posture, moving vertically when an upright/supine attitude or posture, and/or moving around a pivot or axis that is outside of the body of the input device), moving in a respective direction with the elongated body of the input device substantially aligned with the respective direction, moving in a respective direction with the elongated body of the input device transverse to the respective direction. In some embodiments, the computer system does not differentiate between the first portion or the second portion (e.g., whether the first portion leads and the second portion follows, or whether the second portion leads and the first portion follows) during the movement of the input device. In some embodiments, the computer system provides differentiated responses depending on whether the first portion or the second portion of the computer system leads the movement of the input device as a whole. In some embodiments, when the first portion and the second portion of the input device 7024 has been physically decoupled from each other, the first portion and the second portion are able to be moved relative to each other in accordance with user's manipulation of either or both of the first and second portions of the input device 7024. For example, the computer system detects rotational movement of the first portion around the second portion of the input device (e.g., while the second portion is kept stationary at a respective position or is moving in a respective manner), or vice versa. In some embodiments, the computer system detects translational movement of the first portion relative to the second portion of the input device (e.g., while the second portion is kept stationary at a respective position or is moving in a respective manner), or vice versa. In some embodiments, the computer system detects the respective positions and/or attitudes or postures of the first and second portions of the input device while the first portion and the second portion of the input device are kept stationary and/or moving according to user's manipulation. In some embodiments, the computer system detects rotation of the first portion and/or the second portion of the input device around their respective longitudinal axes, respective internal pivot points, and/or axes and/or pivot points outside of the first portion and second portion of the input device. In some embodiments, the input device includes touch-sensitive surfaces and/or other sensors (e.g., motion sensors, attitude sensors, and/or light sensors) that detect touch locations touch durations and/or movement of contacts on the surface(s) of the first portion and/or second portion of the input device. 7024. In some embodiments, the computer system detects different touch gestures (e.g., tap, tap-hold, swipe, and/or flick) and/or air gestures (e.g., air tap, air flick, air swipe, and/or air pinch) by evaluating position and/or movement of the first portion and/or second portion of the input device against preset criteria corresponding to the different touch gestures and/or air gestures. In some embodiments, the input device optionally includes one or more buttons and/or switches on the first portion and/or the second portion of the input device. In some embodiments, the computer system detects the respective position, attitudes/postures, and/or orientations of the first portion and the second portion and the input device, the relative position, orientation, and/or spatial relationship between the first portion and the second portion of the input device, and/or the coupled/decoupled state of the first portion and the second portion of the input device, during movement of the first portion and/or second portion of the input device and while the first portion and/or second portion of the input device is kept stationary. In some embodiments, the first portion and the second portion of the input device are physically coupled to each other at a first physical point of contact to form a first configuration (e.g., connected to form a linear object, and/or connected with the first portion covering a part of the second portion (e.g., like a pen cap on pen tip)). In some embodiments, the first portion and the second portion of the input device are optionally coupled to each other at a second physical point of contact and/or form a different configuration (e.g., connected to form an angle, nested and/or telescoped out). In some embodiments, any combinations of one or more the inputs and states of the first portion, the second portion, and the integrated whole of the input device described above and later in this disclosure are optionally detected by the computer system and the computer system provides corresponding responses (e.g., changing the content of the three-dimensional environment, performing operations, and/or changing the states of the computer system, content, and/or objects) according to the detected inputs. More details of the use of the input device 7024 are provided with respect to
In some embodiments, the one or more cameras of the computer system capture portions of physical environment 7000, and the computer system displays a representation of the portion of the physical environment 7000 that is within a field of view of the one or more cameras. For example, as illustrated in
In some embodiments, as illustrated in
In some embodiments, a representation of the input device 7024′ is displayed in the representation of the three-dimensional environment 7000′. In some embodiments, the representation of the input device 7024′ and/or the representation of physical object 7026′ are pass-through views of the physical objects (e.g., as described with reference to
In some embodiments, the computer system 7100 comprises a head mounted display (HMD) 7100a. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 7E1, the head mounted display 7100a includes one or more displays that display a representation of a portion of the three-dimensional environment 7000′ that corresponds to the perspective of the user, while an HMD typically includes multiple displays including a display for a right eye and a separate display for a left eye that display slightly different images to generate user interfaces with stereoscopic depth, in the figures a single image is shown that corresponds to the image for a single eye and depth information is indicated with other annotations or description of the figures. In some embodiments, HMD 7100a includes one or more sensors (e.g., one or more interior- and/or exterior-facing image sensors 314), such as sensor 7101a, sensor 7101b and/or sensor 7101c for detecting a state of the user, including facial and/or eye tracking of the user (e.g., using one or more inward-facing sensors 7101a and/or 7101b) and/or tracking hand, torso, or other movements of the user (e.g., using one or more outward-facing sensors 7101c). In some embodiments, HMD 7100a includes one or more input devices that are optionally located on a housing of HMD 7100a, such as one or more buttons, trackpads, touchscreens, scroll wheels, digital crowns that are rotatable and depressible or other input devices. In some embodiments input elements are mechanical input elements, in some embodiments input elements are solid state input elements that respond to press inputs based on detected pressure or intensity. For example, in FIG. 7E1 HMD 7100a includes one or more of button 701, button 702 and digital crown 703 for providing inputs to HMD 7100a. It will be understood that additional and/or alternative input devices may be included in HMD 7100a.
FIG. 7E1 illustrates the first portion 7024-1 and the second portion 7024-2 of the input device 7024 that are held in the different hands of the user. In some embodiments, the hands of the user are located, in the physical environment 7000, on the other side, relative to the user's viewpoint, of the display of HMD 7100a. For example, HMD 7100a is closer to the user's eyes than the user's hands, which are, from the perspective of the user, located behind the display of HMD 7100a. In some embodiments, representations of the hands of the user are optionally displayed in the portion of the three-dimensional environment 7000′ (e.g., the representations of the user's hands are displayed as passthrough objects or as virtual representations). In some embodiments, the representations of the user's hands are not displayed in the portion of the three-dimensional environment 7000′, while a representation 7024-1′ of the first portion of the input device and a representation 7024-2′ of the second portion of the input device are displayed.
FIG. 7E1 further illustrates a selection of the virtual object 7104 (e.g., in response to detecting a press input on a button of the first portion of the input device 7024 (e.g., same as the button on the input device previously used to select the virtual object 7104 in the process shown in
FIG. 7E2 illustrates a top-down view of the user 7002 in the physical environment 7000. For example, the user 7002 is wearing HMD 7100a, such that the input device portions 7024-1 and 7024-2 are physically present within the physical environment 7000 behind the display of HMD 7100a, and optionally in front of the physical object 7026 (e.g., where virtual object 7104 is displayed on top of a surface of physical object 7026).
FIG. 7E1 illustrates an alternative display of the computer system than the display illustrated in
As described above with reference to
FIGS. 7E1-7F illustrate performing a sequence of operations in response to inputs detected by the input device 7024, in accordance with some embodiments. In some embodiments, the input device 7024 is physically split into two portions: the first portion 7024-1 and the second portion 7024-2 of the input device. For example, the first portion 7024-1 and the second portion 7024-2 are magnetically coupled such that, when the ends of the portions of the input device are brought together (e.g., at a distance close enough for the magnets to attract each other), the end portions of the input device snap together (e.g., via the magnets or other mechanical coupling) and operate as a single unit. As described herein, operations performed in response to a respective movement of the input device 7024 as a single unit are optionally distinct operations than the same respective movement performed with one portion of the input device (e.g., first portion 7024-1 and/or second portion 7024-2) while separated from the other portion of the input device. For example, a same drag motion with the input device 7024 as a single unit causes the computer system 7100 to perform a first operation (e.g., to drag an object, as described with reference to
In some embodiments, while the first portion 7024-1 of the input device is held and/or moved to control the orientation and/or position of the virtual object 7104, the computer system optionally detects position, attitude, and/or movements of the second portion 7024-2 of the input device and displays the representation 7024-2′ of the second portion of the input device in the three-dimensional environment 7000′ with a position, attitude, and/or movements that correspond to the position, attitude, and/or movements of the second portion 7024-2 of the input device. In some embodiments, the computer system optionally displays the representation 7024-1′ of the first portion of the input device with a different set of visual properties (e.g., higher color saturation, luminance, and/or opacity) from that (e.g., lower color saturation, luminance, and/or opacity) of the representation 7024-2′of the second portion of the input device, to indicate that the first portion 7024-1 of the input device is currently being used to control the virtual object 7104 and the second portion 7024-2 of the input device is not being used to control the virtual object 7104. In some embodiments, the computer system provides user-adjustable settings to allow a user to establish and/or change which portion of the input device is to be used to control the position, attitude, and/or movements of the virtual object in the manners described with respect to FIGS. 7E1-7F.
In some embodiments, in response to detecting a deselection input from the user (e.g., detecting a tap on a touch-sensitive surface of the first portion of the input device, detecting a press input on a button on the first portion of the input device, detecting physical contact between the first portion and the second portion of the input device (e.g., a tap made by the second portion of the input device on the first portion of the input device, or coupling the two portions together at the first point of physical contact), detecting selection of the virtual object by the second portion of the input device, detecting selection of another virtual object by the user's gaze, and/or another preset input of other input types), the computer system unselects the virtual object 7104 and ceases to move the virtual object 7104 in accordance with the movement of the first portion 7024-1 of the input device after the deselection of the virtual object 7104.
In some embodiments, in response to detecting the second portion 7024-2 of the input device tapping at a location that corresponds to a portion of the virtual object 7104 (e.g., a surface or facet of the virtual object 7104), the computer system changes the current value of the target visual property on the portion of the virtual object to the target value of the target visual property. For example, as shown in
In some embodiments, the computer system performs a resizing operation using both portions of the input device 7024. For example, in
In some embodiments, inputs using the second portion 7024-2 of the input device and inputs using the first portion 7024-1 of the input device can be detected in sequence or contemporaneously with each other. For example, as illustrated in
In this example, the second portion 7024-2 of the input device is placed outside of a current field of view of the three-dimensional environment (e.g., the user puts the right hand with the second portion 7024-2 to the user's side, instead of in front of the user in the physical environment that corresponds to a current view of the three-dimensional environment 7000′). In some embodiments, while first portion of the input device is within the current field of view (e.g., optionally, without the second portion of the input device in the current field of view, or while the first portion of the input device is not currently selecting or controlling another virtual object in the field of view), the computer system performs a fourth operation in response to detecting inputs via the first portion 7024-1 of the input device. In some embodiments, the computer system selects the types of operation performed respectively by the first and second portions of the input device and/or the combination of the first and second portion of the input device, based on user's selection inputs in a settings interface or in a currently displayed user interface. In some embodiments, the user selects respective current modes of operation for the first and second portions of the input device. In some embodiments, the user does not select a current mode of operation, and the computer system automatically detects, based on default settings, user-driven settings, and/or past use of the user, the current mode of operation for a respective portion of the input device. In some embodiments, the fourth operation is selected from an operation to place a first virtual object in the three-dimensional environment (e.g., adding a virtual object, extruding a virtual object from an existing virtual object, and/or duplicating or multiplying a virtual object), applying a visual effect (e.g., turn on virtual lighting, changing virtual lighting, changing wallpaper, changing virtual scene, and/or changing texture) in the three-dimensional environment, changing a first visual property (e.g., font, font size, color, format, texture, and/or style) of virtual text or graphical content, deleting a virtual object or content, removing a visual effect, and/or skipping forward in content. In some embodiments, the computer system selects the location of the fourth operation based on the location of the first portion of the input device at the time when the required input for triggering the fourth operation (e.g., a tap input on a physical surface, or in the air) is provided by the first portion of the input device. In some embodiments, the fourth operation is optionally performed multiple times at multiple locations in response to a sequence of the required inputs (e.g., a sequence of taps on one or more physical surfaces, or in the air) performed by the first portion of the input device. In some embodiments, the computer system detects an input performed by the second portion of the input device that causes performance of a fifth operation that undoes the last performed fourth operation. In some embodiments, the fifth operation is optionally performed multiple times in sequence to undo a sequence of fourth operations that were performed before the fifth operation.
In some embodiments, as illustrated in
In some embodiments, as illustrated in
In some embodiments, the first portion 7024-1 of the input device is placed at a location within the physical environment 7000 that is within a currently displayed portion of three-dimensional environment 7000′. For example, the first portion 7024-1 is positioned on a surface of a physical object 7026 for which a representation of the physical object 7026′ is within the three-dimensional environment. In some embodiments, a representation of first portion 7024-1′ of the input device is displayed via the display generation component of computer system 7100. In some embodiments, the first portion 7024-1 of the input device is positioned at a location that corresponds to a position of a virtual object that is displayed within the three-dimensional environment 7000′. For example, in
In some embodiments, as shown in
In some embodiments, the pivot point is identified at a position that overlaps the object that is to be rotated about the pivot point. In some embodiments, placing a pivot point at a corner of an object allows the user to change a direction or otherwise rotate an orientation of the object about the corner. For example, while an object is facing a first direction (e.g., such that the user views a front portion of the object) and a pivot point is indicated on a front corner of the object (e.g., the pivot point being indicated by the first portion 7024-1), movement of the second portion 7024-2 of the input device causes the object to change orientation where the object is facing a second direction, distinct from the first direction. For example, the user is enabled to see the back of the object after changing its orientation by moving the object about the pivot point. In addition, in some cases, the position of the center of the object is also moved in conjunction with the change of the orientation of the object. In some embodiments, placing a pivot point at a center of an object allows the user to change a direction or otherwise rotate an orientation of the object about the corner, without changing the position of the center of the object.
In some embodiments, in response to detecting that the first portion 7024-1 of the input device has been placed on top of the virtual texture 7108, the computer system 7100 copies the virtual texture (e.g., saving it in a clipboard for subsequent pasting and/or move operations). In some embodiments, in response to detecting a user input provided via the second portion 7024-2 of the input device, the computer system pastes the copied virtual texture on an area of the three-dimensional environment 7000′ indicated by the second portion 7024-2 of the input device (e.g., indicated by the location and/or movement path of the second portion of the input device). For example, as illustrated in
As shown in the examples in
Additional descriptions regarding
The method 800 relates to interactions using an input device that is optionally separated into two distinct parts, such that a user is enabled to navigate and control objects in a three-dimensional environment, with different operations being performed with the input device depending on whether the input device is being used a single unit, separated into portions, and/or which of the separate portions of the input device are being used to provide inputs. Automatically detecting whether an input device has been physically decoupled into two distinct portions, without requiring the user to manually change input device settings, reduces the number of inputs needed to switch between using the input device as a single unit and as two distinct portions. Further, performing different operations based on which portion of the input device is maneuvered, and/or how the portions are maneuvered in combination (e.g., relative to each other), provides additional control options for the user without displaying additional controls. Reducing the number of user input and providing additional control options to the user enhances the operability of the system and makes the user-system interface more efficient (e.g., by helping the user to provide proper inputs and reducing user mistakes when operating/interacting with the system) which, additionally, reduces power usage and improves battery life of the system by enabling the user to use the system more quickly and efficiently.
In some embodiments, the computer system is in communication with one or more cameras, a display generation component, and an input device. The input device includes (802) a first portion of the input device and a second portion of the input device that are physically coupled in a first configuration and physically decoupled in a second configuration. For example, input device 7024 is illustrated in the first configuration in
The computer system displays (804), via the display generation component, a three-dimensional environment that corresponds to a physical environment surrounding the input device, wherein displaying the three-dimensional environment includes displaying one or more virtual objects (e.g., application windows, user interface objects, pass-through objects, or controls) in the three-dimensional environment (e.g., in a VR, AR, or XR environment). For example, virtual object 7104 is displayed in three-dimensional environment 7000′, as illustrated in
While displaying the three-dimensional environment, the computer system detects (806), via the input device while the first portion of the input device is coupled (e.g., is not physically separated, is magnetically connected, or is mechanically connected) to the second portion of the input device in the first configuration, a first input. In some embodiments, the input that is detected comprises translational movement of the input device as a whole in the physical environment that corresponds to a request to perform a drag operation on the first user interface object, comprises flick movement of the input device as a whole in the physical environment that corresponds to a request to invoke a menu associated with the first user interface object, or comprises activation of a button on the input device to invoke a preset system function or a preset application function. For example, as illustrated in
In response to detecting the first input while the first portion of the input device is coupled to the second portion of the input device in the first configuration, the computer system performs (808) a first operation in the three-dimensional environment. For example, the first operation comprises translating a first user interface object, rotating a first user interface object, displaying a menu associated with a first user interface object, displaying a system menu, generating a system sound, or launching a preset application in the three-dimensional environment. In some embodiments, the first operation is associated with a first user interface object that is located in the three-dimensional environment at a first location that is pointed at or directed to by the input device. In some embodiments, performing the first operation optionally includes changing an appearance, location, posture, attitude, or arrangement of the first user interface object, and optionally, changing other aspects of the three-dimensional environment.
While the first portion of the input device and the second portion of the input device are decoupled in the second configuration (e.g., after the first operation is performed and after a user action causes the first portion of the input device to be separated from the second portion of the input device), the computer system detects (810) a sequence of one or more inputs that includes movement of the first portion of the input device relative to the second portion of the input device. For example, the sequence of one or more inputs includes movements of the first portion and/or the second portion of the input device that occur after the first portion and the second portion of the input device have been physically separated from each other, as described with reference to
In response to detecting the sequence of one or more inputs, the computer system performs (812) one or more operations based on the sequence of one or more inputs that includes the movement of the first portion of the input device relative to the second portion of the input device, wherein the one or more operations are different from the first operation. For example, the one or more operations include rotating the first user interface object around a pivot point, copying and pasting textures from one location to another location, modifying the first user interface object and undoing the modification, and/or one or more additional operations. For example,
In some embodiments, after performing the first operation (e.g., while the effect of the first operation persists in the three-dimensional environment, or after the effect of the first operation has ceased in the three-dimensional environment due to lapse of time or additional user interactions), the computer system detects (e.g., via sensors embedded in the physical connection of the first and second portions of the input device, via sensors embedded in the first and/or second portions of the input device, and/or via external sensors outside of the input device) that the input device has separated (e.g., in response to a user physically splitting (e.g., dividing or otherwise decoupling) the input device) into the first portion of the input device and the second portion of the input device. For example, in
In some embodiments, performing the first operation includes performing a drag operation on a first object of the one or more virtual objects in the three-dimensional environment. For example, the first operations include performing a drag operation to move a user interface object (e.g., virtual object 7104,
In some embodiments, performing the one or more operations, optionally while the first and second portions of the input device are decoupled in the second configuration, based on the sequence of one or more inputs include performing a fourth operation with respect to a second object of the one or more virtual objects displayed in the three-dimensional environment and performing a fifth operation with respect to the second object, the fifth operation being distinct from the fourth operation. In some embodiments, the second object is the same object as the first object mentioned above (e.g., virtual object 7104). In some embodiments, the second object is a different object from the first object mentioned above. For example, in some embodiments, the sequence of one or more inputs comprise a fourth input (e.g., to lift the first object and/or turn the object 7104) performed with the first portion of the input device and a fifth input (e.g., a tap input, a drag input, or other selection input) performed with the second portion of the input device, wherein the fourth input causes the computer system to perform a distinct operation than the fifth input (e.g., the fourth input causes the object to change direction and the fifth input modifies one or more visual properties of the object (e.g., the object's color, texture and/or translucency), but the operations are performed with respect to the same object. For example, in
In some embodiments, performing the fourth operation includes changing a position of the second object relative to a current viewpoint of the user. In some embodiments, the position of the second object is changed in accordance with one or more user inputs detected via the first portion of the input device. For example, in
In some embodiments, performing the one or more operations, while the first and second portions of the input device are decoupled in the second configuration, based on the sequence of one or more inputs include performing a sixth operation that adds (e.g., creates, pastes, or draws) a third object to a portion of the three-dimensional environment (e.g., at a location selected by a position of one of the first portion or second portion of the input device or at a location in the currently displayed view of the three-dimensional environment). For example, virtual object 7105 is created in
In some embodiments, performing the one or more operations, while the first and second portions of the input device are decoupled in the second configuration, based on the sequence of one or more inputs include performing a single operation based on a respective input received from the first portion of the input device and a respective input received from the second portion of the input device. For example, the single operation comprises, a rotation, a measurement, or a change in position that is directed to a fourth object of the one or more virtual objects displayed in the three-dimensional environment. In some embodiments, both portions of the input device are used concurrently to perform the operation. In some embodiments, a location of the first portion of the input device is detected in conjunction with a rotational movement of the second portion of the input device around the first portion of the input device. For example, the first portion 7024-1 is placed on a surface, as illustrated in
In some embodiments, performing the single operation based on a respective input received from the first portion of the input device and a respective input received from the second portion of the input device includes rotating a fourth object of the one or more virtual objects in the three-dimensional environment (or rotating a scene that includes the fourth object and one or more additional virtual objects) relative to a pivot point in the three-dimensional environment in accordance with movement of the first portion of the input device, wherein the pivot point is selected based on a position of the second portion of the input device in the three-dimensional environment. In some embodiments, the pivot point corresponds to a current position of the second portion of the input device (e.g., a position of second portion 7024-2 in physical environment 7000 and/or within the three-dimensional environment 7000′). In some embodiments, the pivot point at least partially overlaps the fourth object (e.g., a corner of the fourth object or a center of the fourth object). In some embodiments, the pivot point is at a location that does not overlap the fourth object. In some embodiments, the first portion of the input device moves around the second portion of the input device or the pivot point to cause the fourth object to change positions (e.g., rotate) around the pivot point. In some embodiments, the respective roles of the first portion of the input device and the second portion of the input device are reversed in performing the above-mentioned rotation operation (e.g., the pivot point is selected based on the position of the first portion of the input device, and the rotation of the fourth object or the scene is based on the movement of the second portion of the input device relative to the first portion of the input device). For example, in
In some embodiments, detecting the sequence of one or more inputs includes detecting placement of the second portion of the input device (e.g., on a surface, such as a table or a floor) in the three-dimensional environment. In some embodiments, while the second portion is placed on the surface, the second portion of the input device is left stationary (e.g., the user is not holding or moving the second portion of the input device). In accordance with a determination that the placement of the second portion of the input device meets preset criteria (e.g., the second portion of the input device is placed on a flat surface, and the second portion of the input device remains substantially stationary on the flat surface for at least a threshold amount of time, etc.), the computer system uses a location (and, optionally, an orientation, a tilt angle, a facing direction, an angle relative to the direction of gravity, an angle relative to a reference surface, etc.) of the second portion of the input device as a basis for determining a viewpoint (e.g., position, viewing angle, viewing direction, etc.) from which to generate a view of the three-dimensional environment, as illustrated in
In some embodiments, the one or more operations performed are selected based at least in part on a currently selected mode of operation of the input device (e.g., a user selects to put the input device in a mode for modifying visual properties of an object, a mode for copying and/or pasting an object, or a mode for displaying the three-dimensional environment from a viewpoint corresponding to the placement location and angle of the second portion of the input device). In some embodiments, the computer system automatically determines a current mode of operation of the input device (e.g., by inferring, based on the user's movement of the input device and/or based on the user's interaction history with the input device and the three-dimensional environment) without additional user input (e.g., the user does not explicitly change modes), and operates in the determined mode.
In some embodiments, before detecting the sequence of one or more inputs, the computer system detects that the input device transitions from the first configuration to the second configuration, including, detecting that the first portion of the input device is physically separated from contact with the second portion of the input device (e.g., after the scenario shown in
In some embodiments, detecting the sequence of the one or more inputs includes detecting a selection input (e.g., an air gesture, a tap input, a double tap input, or a placement of a portion of the input device at a location of a subject of the selection) and detecting a drag input after detecting the selection input (e.g., detecting the drag input without detecting another input that is different from the selection input that has already been detected). In some embodiments, the selection input and drag input are performed with the same portion of the input device. In some embodiments, the selection input is performed with the first portion of the input device and the drag input is performed with the second portion of the input device. In some embodiments, performing the one or more operations based on the sequence of one or more inputs includes, in response to detecting the selection input, performing a copy operation that copies a portion of the three-dimensional environment corresponding to a position of the selection input (e.g., the texture and/or surface on which the selection input is detected, is copied), and, in response to detecting the drag input after detecting the tap input, displaying a copy of the portion of the three-dimensional environment in one or more additional portions of the three-dimensional environment (e.g., copying the texture to another portion of the three-dimensional environment) in accordance with the drag input, as described with reference to
In some embodiments, detecting the sequence of the one or more inputs includes detecting placement of the second portion of the input device on a surface corresponding to a fifth virtual object of the one or more virtual objects in the three-dimensional environment. In some embodiments, detecting placement of the second portion of the input device comprises detecting the second portion of the input device is set down on a physical surface that corresponds to a virtual object (e.g., the fifth virtual object). In some embodiments, the fifth virtual object is placed relative to (e.g., on top of or next to) the physical surface in the three-dimensional environment and/or is touching the physical surface or is virtually touching the virtual object using the second portion of the input device to select the object that is to be rotated. In some embodiments, while the second portion of the input device is placed on the surface corresponding to the fifth virtual object of the one or more virtual objects in the three-dimensional environment, the computer system detects rotation of the second portion of the input device around an internal pivot point of the second portion of the input device, optionally while the first portion of the input device remains substantially stationary, and performing the one or more operations based on the sequence of one or more inputs includes rotating the fifth object relative to an internal pivot point of the fifth object in accordance with corresponding to the rotation of the second portion of the input device. In some embodiments, the fifth virtual object is rotated relative to the current viewpoint of the user (e.g., the pivot point is the center of the fifth virtual object) such that the user rotates the fifth virtual object (e.g., to view the object at different angles) without changing the position of the fifth virtual object within the three-dimensional environment. In some embodiments, the respective roles of the first portion of the input device and the second portion of the input device are reversed in performing the above-mentioned rotation operation (e.g., the first portion of the input device is placed on the surface corresponding to the fifth virtual object, and the above-mentioned of the fifth virtual object is based on the rotation of the first portion of the input device around its internal pivot point). For example, in
In some embodiments, detecting the sequence of the one or more inputs includes detecting placement of the first portion of the input device on a surface corresponding to a sixth virtual object of the one or more virtual objects in the three-dimensional environment. For example, detecting that the first portion of the input device is set down on a physical surface that corresponds to a virtual object, wherein the virtual object is optionally placed relative to the physical surface in the three-dimensional environment. In some embodiments, detecting placement of the first portion of the input device on the surface comprises physically touching the physical surface or virtually touching the virtual object using the first portion of the input device to select the object. In some embodiments, while the first portion of the input device is placed on the surface corresponding to the sixth virtual object of the one or more virtual objects in the three-dimensional environment, the computer system detects rotation of the second portion of the input device around an internal pivot point of the second portion of the input device, optionally while the first portion of the input device remains substantially stationary on the surface corresponding to the sixth virtual object. In some embodiments performing the one or more operations based on the sequence of one or more inputs includes rotating the sixth object relative to an internal pivot point of the sixth object in accordance with the rotation of the second portion of the input device. In some embodiments, the sixth virtual object is rotated (e.g., turned or changed in orientation) relative to the current viewpoint of the user (e.g., the pivot point is the center of the sixth virtual object) such that the user rotates the sixth virtual object (e.g., to view the object at different angles) without changing the position of the sixth virtual object within the three-dimensional environment. For example, after the first portion 7024-1 of the input device is set down at a location that corresponds to a virtual object represented by two squares (e.g., outline of object 7107 and the outline of texture 7108 as shown in
In some embodiments, detecting the sequence of the one or more inputs includes detecting placement of the first portion of the input device at a first location that corresponds to a first texture in the three-dimensional environment. In some embodiments, the first texture includes a texture image or respective values for a preset of visual characteristics such as color, pattern, brightness, opacity, and/or blur radius. In some embodiments, detecting placement of the first portion of the input device at the first location that corresponds to the first texture includes detecting the first portion of the input device coming into contact with an object that has a representation at the first location in the three-dimensional environment, detecting the first portion of the input device moving within a threshold distance of the first location in the three-dimensional environment, and/or detecting that the first portion of the input device remaining substantially stationary for at least a threshold amount of time within a threshold distance of the first location. In some embodiments, while the first portion of the input device is placed at the first location, wherein the first portion of the input device optionally remains substantially stationary at the first location, detecting placement of the second portion of the input device at a second location, wherein the second location optionally corresponds to a second texture or that has no currently used texture, in the three-dimensional environment. In some embodiments, detecting placement of the second portion of the input device at the second location includes detecting the second portion of the input device coming into contact with an object that has a representation at the second location in the three-dimensional environment, detecting the second portion of the input device moving within a threshold distance of the second location in the three-dimensional environment, and/or detecting that the second portion of the input device remaining substantially stationary for at least a threshold amount of time within a threshold distance of the second location. In some embodiments, performing the one or more operations based on the sequence of one or more inputs includes copying the first texture corresponding to the first location in the three-dimensional environment and displaying the copied first texture at the second location in the three-dimensional environment. In some embodiments, as the second portion of the input device moves in the three-dimensional environment after the initial placement at the second location, the first texture is further copied to and displayed at one or more additional positions in the three-dimensional environment indicated by a position of the second portion of the input device, as described with reference to
In some embodiments, the computer system detects movement of the first portion of the input device from the first location and placement of the first portion of the input device at a third location that corresponds to a second texture in the three-dimensional environment. In some embodiments, the first location and placement of the first portion of the input device corresponds to a third position in the three-dimensional environment that has a second texture, which is optionally distinct from the first texture. In some embodiments, in response to detecting placement of the first portion of the input device at the third location that corresponds to the second texture in the three-dimensional environment, the computer system copies the second texture corresponding to the third location in the three-dimensional environment and displays the copied second texture at one or more locations indicated by the second portion of the input device in the three-dimensional environment. In some embodiments, the computer system optionally updates display of the copied first texture at the second location to display the second texture as well. In some embodiments, as the first portion of the input device is moved to different textures (e.g., to different positions in the three-dimensional environment that correspond to different textures), the new areas indicated by the second portion of the input device (e.g., by a drag input detected using the second portion of the input device over the additional locations) are updated to copy the texture that is currently indicated by the first portion of the input device. For example, as described in
In some embodiments, performing the one or more operations based on the sequence of one or more inputs includes resizing an object (e.g., a currently selected object of the one or more virtual objects displayed in the three-dimensional environment) in accordance with a change in distance between the first portion of the input device and the second portion of the input device. For example, detecting the sequence of the one or more inputs comprises detecting both portions of the input device moving away or towards one another, and in response to detecting both portions of the input device moving away or towards one another, the computer system resizes an object in accordance with the speed of the movement and/or distance between the portions of the input device, as described with reference to
In some embodiments, the input device includes an affordance coupled to a respective portion of the input device (e.g., the first portion 7024-1 and/or the second portion 7024-2 in
The foregoing description, for purpose of explanation, has been described with reference to specific embodiments. However, the illustrative discussions above are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in view of the above teachings. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best use the invention and various described embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.
As described above, one aspect of the present technology is the gathering and use of data available from various sources to improve user input for XR experiences. The present disclosure contemplates that in some instances, this gathered data may include personal information data that uniquely identifies or can be used to contact or locate a specific person. Such personal information data can include demographic data, location-based data, telephone numbers, email addresses, twitter IDs, home addresses, data or records relating to a user's health or level of fitness (e.g., vital signs measurements, medication information, exercise information), date of birth, or any other identifying or personal information.
The present disclosure recognizes that the use of such personal information data, in the present technology, can be used to the benefit of users. For example, the personal information data can be used to improve user input for XR experiences. Further, other uses for personal information data that benefit the user are also contemplated by the present disclosure. For instance, health and fitness data may be used to provide insights into a user's general wellness, or may be used as positive feedback to individuals using technology to pursue wellness goals.
The present disclosure contemplates that the entities responsible for the collection, analysis, disclosure, transfer, storage, or other use of such personal information data will comply with well-established privacy policies and/or privacy practices. In particular, such entities should implement and consistently use privacy policies and practices that are generally recognized as meeting or exceeding industry or governmental requirements for maintaining personal information data private and secure. Such policies should be easily accessible by users, and should be updated as the collection and/or use of data changes. Personal information from users should be collected for legitimate and reasonable uses of the entity and not shared or sold outside of those legitimate uses. Further, such collection/sharing should occur after receiving the informed consent of the users. Additionally, such entities should consider taking any needed steps for safeguarding and securing access to such personal information data and ensuring that others with access to the personal information data adhere to their privacy policies and procedures. Further, such entities can subject themselves to evaluation by third parties to certify their adherence to widely accepted privacy policies and practices. In addition, policies and practices should be adapted for the particular types of personal information data being collected and/or accessed and adapted to applicable laws and standards, including jurisdiction-specific considerations. For instance, in the US, collection of or access to certain health data may be governed by federal and/or state laws, such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA); whereas health data in other countries may be subject to other regulations and policies and should be handled accordingly. Hence different privacy practices should be maintained for different personal data types in each country.
Despite the foregoing, the present disclosure also contemplates embodiments in which users selectively block the use of, or access to, personal information data. That is, the present disclosure contemplates that hardware and/or software elements can be provided to prevent or block access to such personal information data. For example, in the case of XR experiences, the present technology can be configured to allow users to select to “opt in” or “opt out” of participation in the collection of personal information data during registration for services or anytime thereafter. In another example, users can select not to provide data for customization of services. In yet another example, users can select to limit the length of time data is maintained or entirely prohibit the development of a customized service. In addition to providing “opt in” and “opt out” options, the present disclosure contemplates providing notifications relating to the access or use of personal information. For instance, a user may be notified upon downloading an app that their personal information data will be accessed and then reminded again just before personal information data is accessed by the app.
Moreover, it is the intent of the present disclosure that personal information data should be managed and handled in a way to minimize risks of unintentional or unauthorized access or use. Risk can be minimized by limiting the collection of data and deleting data once it is no longer needed. In addition, and when applicable, including in certain health related applications, data de-identification can be used to protect a user's privacy. De-identification may be facilitated, when appropriate, by removing specific identifiers (e.g., date of birth, etc.), controlling the amount or specificity of data stored (e.g., collecting location data a city level rather than at an address level), controlling how data is stored (e.g., aggregating data across users), and/or other methods.
Therefore, although the present disclosure broadly covers use of personal information data to implement one or more various disclosed embodiments, the present disclosure also contemplates that the various embodiments can also be implemented without the need for accessing such personal information data. That is, the various embodiments of the present technology are not rendered inoperable due to the lack of all or a portion of such personal information data. For example, an XR experience can generated by inferring preferences based on non-personal information data or a bare minimum amount of personal information, such as the content being requested by the device associated with a user, other non-personal information available to the service, or publicly available information.
This application claims priority to U.S. Application Ser. No. 63/469,789, filed May 30, 2023 and U.S. Application Ser. No. 63/390,243, filed Jul. 18, 2022, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63469789 | May 2023 | US | |
| 63390243 | Jul 2022 | US |
