1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image presentation system and an image presentation method which use a first display for presenting images to a user and a second display for presenting images to a user (person who instructs) who is different from the user of the first display, as well as a program for causing a computer to execute the method and a storage medium storing the program.
2. Description of the Related Art
VR (Virtual Reality) systems present three-dimensional CG (Computer Graphic) images created by a computer to a user so that the user can feel as if a virtual space were a reality space.
Also, the technique of synthesizing an image of a reality space with three-dimensional CG animation so as to present information which does not exist in a reality space to a user has been recently developed. Such a technique is referred to as an MR (Mixed Reality) system. The MR system, which is intended for the coexistence of a reality space and a virtual space which could be experienced only in isolation from the reality space, receives widespread attention since it can enhance a virtual space.
A typical example of an apparatus which can realize a system intended for the coexistence of a virtual space and a reality space (VR/MR system) is a Head Mounted Display (HMD). In the VR/MR system, a virtual space and a mixed reality space are displayed on the HMD so as to present the virtual space and the mixed reality space to a user who wears the HMD (see Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2002-159019, for example).
Such a VR/MR system presents a virtual space and a mixed reality space to only the HMD wearing user. For this reason, an image displayed on the HMD (subjective image) is distributed to be displayed on a different screen so that the virtual space/mixed reality space presented to the HMD wearing user can be presented to a user who does not wear the HMD.
There may be a case where a subjective image seen by the HMD wearer is displayed on a different screen so as to be presented to the non-HMD wearer, and a case where the non-HMD wearer intends to give an instruction to the HMD wearer. For example, the non-HMD wearer indicates a part on the different screen and instructs the HMD wearer to get closer to the indicated part since the non-HMD wearer intends to see the indicated part in further detail. However, even if the non-HMD wearer indicates a part on the different screen, an image displayed on the HMD does not change, and hence the HMD wearer cannot detect the action of the non-HMD wearer. Also, even if the HMD wearer turns his/her eyes to the different screen and tries to recognize the instruction given by the non-HMD wearer, the view displayed on the different screen changes at the same instant, and hence the HMD wearer cannot recognize the instruction given by the non-HMD wearer even if the HMD wearer sees the different screen.
Also, in the situation where a subjective image seen by the HMD wearer is displayed on the different screen so as to be presented to the non-HMD wearer, there may be a case where the non-HMD wearer is annoyed with sway of the view displayed on the different screen when the HMD wearer's head swings. To avoid this, the HMD wearer has to fix his/her point of view by, for example, stopping his/her head, and this imposes a burden on the HMD wearer.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an image presentation system and an image presentation method which enable a user observing an image on a first display to recognize an instruction sent from a user seeing an image on a second display to the user observing the image on the first display, as well as a program for causing a computer to execute the method and a storage medium storing the program.
To attain the above object, in a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image presentation system comprising a first display that comprises a detecting device that detects a position and orientation of the first display and presents an image to a user, a second display that presents an image to a person who gives an instruction to the user, a drawing device that draws a virtual space image seen from a point of view corresponding to the position and orientation of the first display and displays the virtual space image on the first display and the second display, and an input device that inputs an instruction from the person to the user, wherein, when the instruction from the person to the user is input to the drawing device via the input device, the drawing device draws a virtual space image to be displayed on the first display such that the virtual space image reflects the instruction from the person to the user input via the input device.
To attain the above object, in a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image presentation system comprising a first display that comprises a detecting device that detects a position and orientation of the first display and presents an image to a user, a first drawing device that draws a virtual space image seen from a point of view corresponding to the position and orientation of the first display and displays the virtual space image on the first display, an image pickup device that acquires an image seen from a third party's point of view, a second drawing device that draws a virtual space image seen from a point of view corresponding to a position and orientation of the image pickup device and generates the virtual space image, a second display that presents the virtual space image generated by the second drawing device to a person who gives an instruction to the user, and an input device that inputs an instruction from the person to the user, wherein, when the instruction from the person to the user is input to the first drawing device via the input device, the first drawing device draws a virtual space image to be displayed on the first display such that the virtual space image reflects the instruction from the person to the user input via said input device.
To attain the above object, in a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image presentation system comprising a first display that presents an image to a user, a detecting device that detects a position and orientation of the first display, a second display that presents an image to a person who gives an instruction to the user, a drawing device that draws a virtual space image based on the position and orientation of the first display detected by the detecting device and displays the virtual space image on the first display and the second display, and an input device that inputs an instruction indicative of a position of the virtual space image displayed on the second display, wherein, when the instruction indicative of the position of the virtual space image displayed on the second display is input via the input device, the drawing device draws a virtual space image to be displayed on the first display such that the virtual space image reflects the instruction input via the input device.
To attain the above object, in a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image presentation system comprising a first display that presents an image to a user, a detecting device that detects a position and orientation of the first display, a second display that presents an image to a person who gives an instruction to the user, an image pickup device that acquires an image seen from a third party's point of view, a first drawing device that draws a virtual space image based on the position and orientation of the first display detected by the detecting device and displays the virtual space image on the first display, a second drawing device that draws a virtual space image based on a position and orientation of the image pickup device and displays the virtual space image on the second display, and an input device that inputs an instruction indicative of a position of the virtual space image displayed on the second display, wherein, when the instruction indicative of the position of the virtual space image displayed on the second display is input the input device, the first drawing device draws a virtual space image to be displayed on the first display such that the virtual space image reflects the instruction input via the input device.
To attain the above object, in a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image presentation method using a first display that comprises a detecting device that detects a position and orientation of the first display and presents an image to a user, and a second display that presents an image to a person who gives an instruction to the user, comprising a drawing step of drawing a virtual space image seen from a point of view corresponding to the position and orientation of the first display and displaying the virtual space image on the first display and the second display, and an input step of inputting the instruction from the person to the user, wherein, in the drawing step, when the instruction from the person to the user is input in the input step, a virtual space image to be displayed on the first display is drawn such that the virtual space image reflects the instruction from the person to the user input in the input step.
To attain the above object, in a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image presentation method using a first display that comprises a detecting device that detects a position and orientation of the first display and presents an image to a user, a second display that presents an image to a person who gives an instruction to the user, and an image pickup device that acquires an image seen from a third party's point of view, comprising a first drawing device of drawing a virtual space image seen from a point of view corresponding to the position and orientation of the first display and displaying the virtual space image on the first display, a second drawing step of drawing a virtual space image seen from a point of view corresponding to a position and orientation of the image pickup device and displaying the virtual space image on the second display, and an input step of inputting an instruction from the person to the user, wherein, in the first drawing step, when the instruction from the person to the user is input in the input step, a virtual space image to be displayed on the first display is drawn such that the virtual space image reflects the instruction from the person to the user input in the input step.
To attain the above object, in a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image presentation method comprising a detecting step of detecting a position and orientation of a first display that presents an image to a user, a drawing step of drawing a virtual space image based on the position and orientation of the first display detected in the detecting step, a displaying step of displaying the virtual space image on the first display and a second display that presents an image to a person who gives an instruction to the user, and an input step of inputting an instruction indicative of a position of the virtual space image displayed on the second display, wherein, in the drawing step, when the instruction indicative of the position of the virtual space image displayed on the second display is input in the input step, a virtual space image to be displayed on the first display is drawn such that the virtual space image reflects the instruction input in the input step.
To attain the above object, in an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a program for causing a computer to execute an image presentation method for controlling an image presentation system using a first display that comprises a detecting device that detects a position and orientation of the first display and presents an image to a user, and a second display that presents an image to a person who gives an instruction to the user, comprising a drawing module for drawing a virtual space image seen from a point of view corresponding to the position and orientation of the first display and displaying the virtual space image on the first display and the second display, and at least one input module for inputting an instruction from the person to the user, wherein, when the instruction from the person to the user is input by the input module, the drawing module draws a virtual space image to be displayed on the first display such that the virtual space image reflects the instruction from the person to the user input via the input module.
To attain the above object, in a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a program for causing a computer to execute an image presentation method, comprising a detecting module for detecting a position and orientation of a first display that presents an image to a user, a drawing module for drawing a virtual space image based on the position and orientation of the first display detected by the detecting module, a displaying module for displaying the virtual space image on the first display and a second display that presents an image to a person who gives an instruction to the user, and an input module for inputting an instruction indicative of a position of the virtual space image displayed on the second display, wherein, when the instruction indicative of the position of the virtual space image displayed on the second display is input by the input module, the drawing module draws a virtual space image to be displayed on the first display such that the virtual space image reflects the instruction input by the input module.
To attain the above object, in a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute an image presentation method for controlling an image presentation system using a first display that comprises a detecting device that detects a position and orientation of the first display and presents an image to a user, and a second display that presents an image to a person who gives an instruction to the user, comprising a drawing module for drawing a virtual space image seen from a point of view corresponding to the position and orientation of the first display and displaying the virtual space image on the first display and the second display, and at least one input module for inputting an instruction from the person to the user, wherein, when the instruction from the person to the user is input by the input module, the drawing module draws a virtual space image to be displayed on the first display such that the virtual space image reflects the instruction from the person to the user input via the input module.
According to the present invention, a user observing an image on the first display can recognize an instruction sent from a user seeing an image on the second display (user who instructs) to the user observing the image on the first display.
The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings showing preferred embodiments thereof.
As shown in
The HMD 101 is comprised of an image pickup section, a pair of display sections, and a sensor section, which are not illustrated. The image pickup section picks up an image seen from the viewpoint of a person who wears the HMD 101 (HMD wearer). The picked-up image is sent to the image synthesizing device 103. The pair of display sections are arranged in front of the right and left eyes, respectively, of the HMD wearer and display the image sent from the image synthesizing device 103. On the right and left display sections, the same image picked up by one image pickup section may be displayed, or images with different parallaxes picked up by two image pickup sections may be displayed. In the case where images with different parallaxes are displayed on the right and left display sections, two three-dimensional CG drawing devices and two image synthesizing devices have to be provided in the image presentation system for the right and left eyes.
The sensor section detects the position and orientation of the HMD 101 and sends position-and-orientation information indicative of the detected position and orientation to the three-dimensional CG drawing devices 102. The sensor section is not limited in its sensing configuration so long as it is capable of detecting the position and orientation of the HMD 101. For example, the sensor section may be implemented by a magnetic sensor. Alternatively, the HMD 101 may be externally equipped with an optical sensor so that the position and orientation of the HMD 101 can be detected based on an output from the optical sensor. Still alternatively, the image synthesizing device 103 may calculate the position and orientation of the HMD 101 based on an image sent from the HMD 101 to detect the position and orientation of the HMD 101.
The three-dimensional CG drawing device 102 stores information on a virtual world therein. The three-dimensional CG drawing device 102 draws a CG image of the virtual world which can be seen from the position of the HMD 101 based on the position-and-orientation information sent from the HMD 101 and sends the drawn CG image to the image synthesizing device 103. The three-dimensional CG drawing device 102 is implemented by a computer, for example.
The image synthesizing device 103 generates a synthesized image by synthesizing the image sent from the HMD 101 and the CG image sent from the three-dimensional CG drawing device 102. The synthesized image thus generated is sent to the HMD 101 and the display 104. In the case where images with different parallaxes are sent to the HMD 101, one of those images for the right eye and the left eye is displayed on the display 104. The image synthesizing device 103 is implemented by, for example, a computer equipped with an image capture card. This computer which implements the image synthesizing device 103 may also serve as a computer which implements the three-dimensional CG drawing device 102.
To present the synthesized image sent from the image synthesizing device 103 to a person who does not wear the HMD 101 (non-HMD wearer), the display 104 displays the synthesized image. The display 104 is implemented by a liquid crystal display, for example.
The input device 105 inputs an input operation carried out by the non-HMD wearer so as to give an instruction to the HMD wearer and sends input information corresponding to the input operation to the three-dimensional CG drawing device 102. The input device 105 is implemented by, for example, a touch panel attached to the screen of the display 104.
Referring next to
First, in the image presentation system according to the present embodiment, the three-dimensional CG drawing device 102 acquires information on the position and orientation of the HMD 101 in a step S1. Next, in a step S2, the three-dimensional CG drawing device 102 receives input information corresponding to an input operation by the non-HMD wearer 101 via the input device 105. In the present embodiment, the input device 105 is implemented by a touch panel attached to the screen of the display 104, and hence the input operation involves touching a desired position on the screen of the display 104 by the hand of the non-HMD wearer. In this case, the three-dimensional CG drawing device 102 acquires the coordinate values of the position on the screen touched by the hand of the non-HMD wearer.
Next, in a step S3, the three-dimensional CG drawing device 102 draws a CG image of a virtual world, which is seen from the position of the HMD 101, on the screen of the HMD 101 based on information on the virtual world stored in the three-dimensional CG drawing device 102 as well as the information on the position and orientation of the HMD 101 acquired from the HMD 101. Also, based on the coordinate values acquired from the input device 105, the three-dimensional CG drawing device 102 finds a three-dimensional position in the virtual world corresponding to the position represented by the coordinate values. On this occasion, examples of methods to find a three-dimensional position in the virtual world corresponding to a position represented by given coordinate values include a method in which a virtual ray of light extending from a point of view toward the position represented by the given coordinate values is set and a point at which this ray of light intersects for the first time an object existing in a virtual world is obtained as a three-dimensional position corresponding to the given coordinate values. The CG image is drawn at the position obtained in the above mentioned manner, and the drawn CG image is sent to the image synthesizing device 103.
Next, in a step S4, the image synthesizing device 103 acquires an image picked up by the image pickup section of the HMD 101 from the HMD 101 and synthesizes the acquired image and the CG image sent from the three-dimensional CG drawing device 102. The resultant synthesized image is sent to the HMD 101 and the display 104.
Next, in a step S5, the HMD 101 and the display 104 display the synthesized image. Consequently, the HMD wearer can recognize the position indicated by the non-HMD wearer. In the case where the right and left display sections of the HMD 101 display images with different parallaxes, the HMD wearer can stereoscopically recognize the position of a pointer object 601 (see
Referring next to
A description will now be given of a case where the HMD wearer 301 who wears the HMD 101 observes the virtual automobile 302 as shown in
For example, when the non-HMD wearer seeing the screen 401 of the display 104 intends to check a desired part of the automobile 302, the non-HMD wearer directly touches a part to be checked of the automobile 302 displayed on the display 401 with his/her hand 501 as shown in
The image synthesizing device 103 synthesizes the image picked up by the image pickup section of the HMD 101 and the CG image sent from the three-dimensional CG drawing device 102 (step S4 in
An image appearing in
As described above, according to the present embodiment, the non-HMD wearer can see an image which is being observed by the HMD wearer 301 and also send an instruction to the HMD wearer 301 who is observing the image. The HMD wearer 301 can recognize the instruction given by the non-HMD wearer with reference to the image he/she is observing without the need to move his/her point of view.
Although in the present embodiment, one display 104 and one input device 105 are provided in the image presentation system, a plurality of displays and a plurality of input devices may be provided in the image presentation system. In the case where a plurality of displays and a plurality of input devices are provided in the image presentation system, the HMD wearer 301 can view an image obtained by synthesizing positions indicated using the respective input devices. It should be noted that each display may display only a position input from the corresponding input device or may display positions obtained by synthesizing positions input from the other input devices as well as the corresponding input device. Further, each display may selectively display either the input position or the obtained positions.
Next, a description will be given of a second embodiment of the present invention with reference to
The second embodiment differs from the above described first embodiment in that an image being observed by the HMD wearer is captured as a still image at a desired time point, and the captured still image is displayed on a screen which is being seen by the non-HMD wearer.
As shown in
The capture determination signal and the capture cancellation signal are sent to the three-dimensional CG drawing device 102 and the two-dimensional CG drawing device 803 via the input device 105.
The two-dimensional CG drawing device 803 is intended to draw a two-dimensional CG image in accordance with an input from the input device 105. Also, the two-dimensional CG drawing device 803 acquires a synthesized image from the image synthesizing device 103 and sends the synthesized image to the display 104. The two-dimensional CG drawing device 803 is implemented by a computer, for example.
Referring next to
As shown in
Also, if the capture determination button 801 has been depressed, the two-dimensional CG drawing device 803 goes to a step S31, and on the other hand, if the capture cancellation button 802 has been depressed, the two-dimensional CG drawing device 803 goes to a step S32.
If neither of the capture determination button 801 and the capture cancellation button 802 has been depressed, this means that an operation mode is a live mode, and therefore the three-dimensional CG drawing device 102 executes the steps S1, S2, and S3. Next, the image synthesizing device 103 executes the step S4 and then goes to the step S5. In the step S5, the image synthesizing device 103 sends the synthesized image generated in the step S4 to the HMD 101 and the two-dimensional CG drawing device 803. Upon receiving the synthesized image sent from the image synthesizing device 103, the two-dimensional CG drawing device 803 determines the operation mode in a step S33. If the operation mode is the live mode, the process proceeds to a step S37 wherein the two-dimensional CG drawing device 803 directly sends the synthesized image sent from the image synthesizing device 103 to the display 104, and the synthesized image is displayed on the display 104. Thus, when the operation mode is the live mode, the same processing as in the first embodiment described above is carried out.
If the capture determination button 801 has been depressed, the process proceeds to the step S11 and the step S31. In the step S11, the three-dimensional CG drawing device 102 records the position and orientation of the HMD 101 based on the information on the position and orientation of the HMD 101 at the time point when the capture determination button 801 was depressed and switch the operation mode to a capture mode. In the step S31, the two-dimensional CG drawing device 803 records the synthesized image sent from the image synthesizing device 103 as a still image at the time point when the capture determination button 801 was depressed. Also, the two-dimensional CG drawing device 803 switches the operation mode to the capture mode.
Next, in the step S1, the three-dimensional CG drawing device 102 acquires information on the position and orientation of the HMD 101. In the next step S2, the three-dimensional CG drawing device 102 acquires the coordinate values of the position on the screen of the display 104 which was touched by the hand of the non-HMD wearer via the input device 105. The three-dimensional CG drawing device 102 then determines the operation mode in the step S13. Since it is determined here that the operation mode is the capture mode, the three-dimensional CG drawing device 102 draws three-dimensional CG images in the step S14. On this occasion, the three-dimensional CG drawing device 102 draws a CG image of the virtual world, and a CG image indicative of the position and orientation of the HMD 101 recorded in the step S11. A pointer object, a lead line, an annotation character object, and so forth are drawn based on the position and orientation of the HMD 101 recorded in the step S11 and the coordinate values acquired in the step S2. The drawn CG images are sent to the image synthesizing device 103.
Next, in the step S4, the image synthesizing device 103 acquires an image picked up by the image pickup section of the HMD 101 from the HMD 101 and synthesizes this acquired image and the CG images sent from the three-dimensional CG drawing device 102. The resultant synthesized image is sent to the HMD 101 and the two-dimensional CG drawing device 803 in the step S5. As a result, the synthesized image is displayed on the HMD 101.
Also, upon receiving the synthesized image, the two-dimensional CG drawing device 803 determines the operation mode in the step S33. Since it is determined here that the operation mode is the capture mode, the process proceeds to a step S34 wherein the two-dimensional CG drawing device 803 acquires the coordinate values obtained by the non-HMD wearer's input operation via the input device 105.
Next, in a step S35, the two-dimensional CG drawing device 803 then draws two-dimensional CG images which represent a pointer object, a lead line, and an annotation character object based on the acquired coordinate values. Next, in a step S36, the two-dimensional CG drawing device 803 synthesizes the still image recorded in the step S31 and the two-dimensional CG image drawn in the step S35 and sends the resultant synthesized image to the display 104. As a result, the synthesized image created by synthesizing the captured still image and the two-dimensional CG images is displayed on the display 104.
If the capture cancellation button 802 has been depressed, the process proceeds to the step S12 wherein the three-dimensional CG drawing device 102 clears the recorded position and orientation of the HMD 101 and switches the operation mode to the live mode. The two-dimensional CG drawing device 803 switches the operation mode to the live mode in the step S32.
Thereafter, as described above, the three-dimensional CG drawing device 102 executes the steps S1, S2, and S3, and the image synthesizing device 103 executes the steps S4 and S5. The two-dimensional CG drawing device 803 executes the step S37.
Referring next to
In this example, as shown in
Specifically, if the capture determination button 801 is depressed when the HMD wearer 301 standing at the point P1 is observing the virtual automobile 302, a still image in
When the HMD wearer 301 moves from the point P1 to the point P2, a screen 604 in
Also, a CG image P1 indicative of the position and orientation of the HMD 101 at the time point when the capture determination button 801 was depressed is drawn on the screen 604 in
As described above, according to the present embodiment, since the non-HMD wearer seeing the display 104 can give an instruction to the HMD wearer 301 while seeing a still image, the non-HMD wearer is never annoyed with sway of the screen caused by swinging of the HMD 101 that follows the movement of the HMD wearer 301. Also, the HMD wearer 301 can freely move without concern for sway of the HMD 101 and receives an instruction from the non-HMD wearer seeing the display 104 while the HMD wearer 301 moves.
Next, a description will be given of a third embodiment of the present invention with reference to
In the present embodiment, as compared with the second embodiment described above, the three-dimensional CG drawing device 102 is additionally provided with a function of recording the positions and orientations of the HMD 101 at different times points, the two-dimensional CG drawing device 803 is additionally provided with a function of displaying split screen views, and the system is additionally provided with a function of freely designating an annotation character object.
In the following description, it is assumed that as shown in
In this case, as shown in
Referring next to
In the fourth embodiment, as distinct from the first embodiment described above, the objective viewpoint camera 1501 is provided in addition to the HMD 101, so that the non-HMD wearer can give instructions regarding an image picked up by the objective viewpoint camera 1501 as well as a subjective image seen by the HMD wearer 301. Also, the image presentation system is additionally provided with a function of displaying not only the pointer object 601, the lead line 602, and the annotation character object 603 but also other instruction objects such as a line segment extending to the pointer object 601 and a region object indicative of a designated region.
In the fourth embodiment, as shown in FIG. 15, as compared with the arrangement in
Referring next to a flow chart of
The flow chart of
First, in the image presentation system according to the present embodiment, the three-dimensional CG drawing device 102 acquires information on the positions and orientations of the HMD 101 and the pointing device 1506 in a step S41. Similarly, the three-dimensional CG drawing device 1502 acquires information on the positions and orientations of the objective viewpoint camera 1501 and the pointing device 1506.
Next, in a step S42, the three-dimensional CG drawing devices 102 and 1502 receive input information corresponding to an input operation by the non-HMD wearer via the input device 105. In the present embodiment, the input device 105 is implemented by a touch panel attached to the screen of the display 104, and hence this input operation involves touching a desired position on the screen of the display 104 by the hand of the non-HMD wearer (
Next, in a step S43, the three-dimensional CG drawing device 102 draws a CG image of the virtual world seen from the position of the HMD 101 based on information on the virtual world which is stored in the. three-dimensional CG drawing device 102 and the information on the position and orientation of the HMD 101 acquired from the HMD 101 and sends the CG image to the image synthesizing device 103. Similarly, the three-dimensional CG drawing device 1502 draws a CG image of the virtual world seen from the position of the objective viewpoint camera 1501 based on information on the virtual world which is stored in the three-dimensional CG drawing device 1502 and the information on the position and orientation of the objective viewpoint camera 1501 acquired from the objective viewpoint camera 1501 and sends the CG image to the image synthesizing device 1503. The drawn CG image includes a pointer object at a calculated position in the virtual world, the lead line 602 starting from the position of the pointer object, and the annotation character object 603 at the end of the lead line 602. The three-dimensional CG drawing devices 102 and 1502 obtain three-dimensional position and shape in the virtual world which correspond to the position indicated by those coordinate values on the display which are acquired from the input device 105. On this occasion, an example of the method to obtain the position and shape represented by given coordinate values will now be described. First, a three-dimensional position in the virtual world is obtained from coordinate values acquired from the input device 105. At this time, a virtual ray of light extending from a point of view toward the position and shape represented by the given coordinate values is set, and a point in which the virtual ray of light intersects an object existing in the virtual world for the first time is regarded as a three-dimensional position. Such three-dimensional positions are recorded, and a locus connecting the three-dimensional positions is recorded as a three-dimensional shape. With respect to the shape thus obtained, texture mapping is performed on a concerned area of the virtual model of the automobile 302. It should be noted that instruction objects should not necessarily be displayed by performing texture mapping on the virtual automobile 302, but may be displayed by generating a new three-dimensional object in accordance with shape. The pattern, color, etc. of texture used on this occasion may be freely changed in accordance with purposes. The CG images generated by texture mapping are sent to the respective image synthesizing devices 103 and 1503. The three-dimensional CG drawing devices 102 and 1502 draw respective line segment images each starting from the position of the pointing device 1506 acquired in the step S41 and ending at a part of the coordinate values acquired from the input device 105 and send the resultant CG images to the respective image synthesizing devices 103 and 1503. Part of coordinate values may be, for example, an input starting point, an input end point, or the center of gravity of an input area and may be changed in accordance with purposes.
Next, in a step S44, the image synthesizing device 103 acquires an image picked up by the image pickup section of the HMD 101 from the HMD 101 and synthesizes this acquired image and the CG image sent from the three-dimensional CG drawing device 102. The resultant synthesized image is sent to the display 104. Similarly, the image synthesizing device 1503 acquires an image picked up by the image pickup section of the objective viewpoint camera 1501 from the objective viewpoint camera 1501 and synthesizes this acquired image and the CG image sent from the three-dimensional CG drawing device 1502. The resultant synthesized image is sent to the display 1504.
Next, in a step S45, the displays 104 and 1504 display the respective synthesized images. As a result, the HMD wearer can recognize the position indicated by the non-HMD wearer, and both the HMD wearer and the non-HMD wearer can recognize the instruction information (i.e. the lead line 602, the annotation character object 603, a locus object 1901, and a line segment object 2001 extending to the pointer object).
Although in the above description, an input operation is carried out using the input device 105, an input operation may be carried out using the input device 1505. In this case as well, input information is sent to both of the three-dimensional CG devices 102 and 1502. The subsequent processing is the same as the above described processing.
Although in the fourth embodiment described above, the input device 105 is implemented by the touch panel attached to the screen of the display 104, the present invention is not limited to this, but the input device 105 may be implemented by a mouse, a laser pointer, or the like. For example, if the input device 105 is a laser pointer, a device that detects light may be provided on a surface of the display 104, so that the position (coordinate values) on the display 104 onto which laser light is projected can be input. Alternatively, a plurality of laser pointers that emit light of different colors may be used to enable simultaneous pointing by a plurality of persons. For example, a device provided on the display 104, for detecting light may recognize differences in colors of laser light, and line segment objects 2001 extending to pointer objects may be drawn in colors similar to the colors of the laser light.
Although in the fourth embodiment described above, in step S43, the pointer object, the lead line 602 starting from the position of the pointer object, the annotation character object 603 at the end of the lead line 602, the CG images generated by texture mapping, and the line segment object 2001 (hereinafter the pointer object, the lead line 602, and the annotation character object 603 will be collectively referred to as the instruction objects) are all displayed as instruction objects on the displays 104 and 1504, the present invention is not limited to this, but only necessary ones of the instruction objects may be selectively displayed on the displays 104 and 1504.
In a seventh embodiment, the line segment object 2001 is extended from the focal position of the objective viewpoint camera 1501.
Although in the fourth embodiment described above, the line segment object 2001 starts from the position of the pointing device 1506 (see FIG. 21), the present invention is not limited to this, but the line segment object 2001 may start from the focal position of the image pickup section 301 of the HMD 101 (see
To discriminate between a plurality of objective displays, instruction objects may be displayed in different colors. In an eighth embodiment, a plurality of instruction objects are displayed in different colors on one objective display.
In the case where there are a plurality of persons who instruct, a plurality of input devices, a plurality of displays, or a plurality of HMDs or objective cameras, instruction objects may be generated in different colors for the respective persons who instruct, the respective displays, the respective input devices, or the respective HMDs/objective cameras in the step S43, and the instruction objects in different colors generated in the step S43 may be displayed on the displays in the step S45 so that who has given instructions or who has been given instructions can be made clear.
Although in the above described embodiments, a virtual automobile is observed so as to evaluate the design of the automobile, the present invention may be put to other purposes such as entertainment equipment such as games and amusement equipment, simulation equipment for architectural use, medical use, etc. and business-oriented applications such as an assistant in maintenance.
In the above described embodiments, a pointer object 601 and the like displayed in accordance with the indication of a non-HMD wearer 302 can be hidden by using any of the following processes. Namely, there are processes of hiding the pointer object 601 when a predetermined time has elapsed from when the non-HMD wearer indicated the pointer object 601; when the non-HMD wearer again indicates a position near the pointer object 601; when the non-HMD wearer indicates a new different position from the position of the pointer object 601; when the non-HMD wearer operates a cancel key displayed on the screen; and when the HMD wearer 302 carries out a confirmation operation for example to move his/her head up and down.
It is to be understood that the object of the present invention may also be accomplished by supplying a system or an apparatus with a storage medium in which a program code of software, which realizes the functions of any of the above described embodiments is stored, and causing a computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus to read out and execute the program code stored in the storage medium.
In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of any of the above described embodiments, and hence the program code and the storage medium in which the program code is stored constitute the present invention.
Examples of the storage medium for supplying the program code include a floppy (registered trademark) disk, a hard disk, a magnetic-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a CD-RW, a DVD-ROM, a DVD-RAM, a DVD-RW, a DVD+RW, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, and a ROM. Alternatively, the program code may be downloaded via a network.
Further, it is to be understood that the functions of any of the above described embodiments may be accomplished not only by executing a program code read out by a computer, but also by causing an OS (operating system) or the like which operates on the computer to perform a part or all of the actual operations based on instructions of the program code.
Further, it is to be understood that the functions of any of the above described embodiments may be accomplished by writing a program code read out from the storage medium into a memory provided on an expansion board inserted into a computer or in an expansion unit connected to the computer and then causing a CPU or the like provided in the expansion board or the expansion unit to perform a part or all of the actual operations based on instructions of the program code.
This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Applications No. 2005-193825 filed Jul. 1, 2005 and No. 2006-162577 filed Jun. 12, 2006, which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2005-193825 | Jul 2005 | JP | national |
2006-162577 | Jun 2006 | JP | national |
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