Object shadowing in head worn computing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10140079-B2
Application number	US-201815878758-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 24, 2018
Priority date	Feb 14, 2014
Publication date	Nov 27, 2018
Grant date	Nov 27, 2018

Abstract

Aspects of the present disclosure relate to shadowing objects displayed in head worn computing. A method includes capturing an image of an environment in proximity to a person, analyzing the image to determine a position of each of a plurality of light sources collectively producing a naturally formed shadow in the environment, wherein the naturally formed shadow comprises multiple shadows cast from an individual object in the environment, each of the multiple shadows formed from light traveling from a position of one of the plurality of light sources to the individual object, and displaying a computer-generated object in association with a computer generated shadow, wherein the computer-generated shadow appears as though produced by light striking the computer generated object from the position of a dominant one of the plurality of light sources.

First claim

We claim:

1. A method, comprising:
capturing an image of an environment in proximity to a person;
analyzing the image to determine a position of each of a plurality of light sources collectively producing a naturally formed shadow in the environment, wherein the naturally formed shadow comprises a plurality of shadows cast from an individual object in the environment, each of the plurality of shadows formed from light traveling from the position of one of the plurality of light sources to the individual object; and
displaying a computer-generated object in association with a computer-generated shadow, wherein the computer-generated shadow appears as though produced by light striking the computer-generated object from the position of a dominant one of the plurality of light sources.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein capturing the image of the environment comprises imaging the environment with a camera in a device in a possession of the person.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein analyzing the image is performed by a processor remote from the device in the possession of the person.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein analyzing the image is performed by a processor in the device in the possession of the person.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein displaying the computer-generated object comprises displaying the computer-generated object on a computer display that provides a view of the individual object augmented by the computer-generated object.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the computer display is a see-through computer display and the person has an ability to see the individual object through the see-through computer display.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the see-through computer display is mounted in a head-worn device.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein capturing the image of the environment comprises capturing a plurality of images of the environment from different perspectives in the environment and analyzing the image comprises analyzing the plurality of images.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the computer-generated shadow appears as though produced by light striking the computer-generated object from a plurality of positions including the position of the dominant one of the plurality of light sources.

10. An augmented reality computer system, comprising:
a camera adapted to capture an image of an environment in proximity to a person;
a processor adapted to analyze the image to determine a position of each of a plurality of light sources collectively producing a naturally formed shadow in the environment, wherein the naturally formed shadow comprises a plurality of shadows cast from an individual object in the environment, each of the plurality of shadows formed from light traveling from the position of one of the plurality of light sources to the individual object; and
a computer display adapted to display a computer-generated object in association with a computer-generated shadow, wherein the computer-generated shadow appears as though produced by light striking the computer-generated object from the position of a dominant one of the plurality of light sources.

11. The augmented reality computer system of claim 10 , wherein the camera and the computer display are both mounted in a first device.

12. The augmented reality computer system of claim 11 , wherein the processor is remote from the first device.

13. The augmented reality computer system of claim 11 , wherein the processor is in the first device.

14. The augmented reality computer system of claim 10 , wherein the computer display provides the person with a view of the individual object augmented by the computer-generated object.

15. The augmented reality computer system of claim 14 , wherein the computer display is a see-through computer display.

16. The augmented reality computer system of claim 15 , wherein the see-through computer display is mounted in a head-worn device.

17. The augmented reality computer system of claim 10 , wherein the image of the environment comprises a plurality of images of the environment from different perspectives in the environment and the processor is configured to analyze the plurality of images.

18. The augmented reality computer system of claim 10 , the computer-generated shadow appears as though produced by light striking the computer-generated object from a plurality of positions including the position of the dominant one of the plurality of light sources.

Assignees

• Osterhout Group Inc

Inventors

• Lohse Robert Michael
• Nortrup Edward H

Classifications

• G06F3/14 Primary

  Digital output to display device {; Cooperation and interconnection of the display device with other functional units} · CPC title

• G09G2340/14

  Solving problems related to the presentation of information to be displayed · CPC title

• G02B27/0172

  characterised by optical features · CPC title

• G06F3/017

  Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures (interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883) · CPC title

• G02B27/017

  Head mounted · CPC title