Input device for VR/AR applications

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11221730-B2
Application number	US-202017021708-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 15, 2020
Priority date	Jul 11, 2017
Publication date	Jan 11, 2022
Grant date	Jan 11, 2022

Abstract

In some embodiments, an input device for interfacing within an VR/AR environment can include a processor, one or more motion tracking sensors to track a motion of the input device in three-dimensional (3D) space, where a cursor in the VR/AR environment moves based on the tracked motion of the input device in 3D space and is limited to tracked motion having three degrees of freedom (DOF). The input device can further include a button that, when activated, selects an application window in the VR/AR environment when the cursor is placed over the application window, where the application window moves in the VR/AR environment based on the tracked motion of the input device in 3D space while the application window is selected. The input device can include a user interface that, when activated, accesses and controls content on the selected application window.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system comprising:
one or more processors;
one or more machine-readable, non-transitory storage mediums that include instructions configured to cause the one or more processors to perform operations including:
receiving input data from an input device corresponding to a movement of a virtual object located within a VR/AR environment;
determining a virtual distance of a virtual object in the VR/AR environment from a user perspective;
moving the virtual object within the VR/AR environment based on the input data and according to a first movement sensitivity setting while the virtual distance is below a second threshold value; and
moving the virtual object within the VR/AR environment based on the input data and according to a second movement sensitivity setting while the virtual distance is at or above the second threshold value.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the first movement sensitivity and the second movement sensitivity are defined by a dots-per-inch (DPI) setting.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the first movement sensitivity has a first DPI setting, wherein the second movement sensitivity has a second DPI setting, and wherein the first DPI setting is lower than the second DPI setting.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the instructions are further configured to cause the one or more processors to perform operations including:
receiving characterization data for the virtual object, the characterization data defining a virtual mass of the virtual object;
moving the virtual object within the VR/AR environment based on a linear momentum curve in response to the virtual mass of the virtual object being below a threshold value; and
moving the virtual object within the VR/AR environment based on a progressive momentum curve in response to the virtual mass of the virtual object being at or above the threshold value.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the instructions are further configured to cause the one or more processors to perform operations including:
generating a haptic feedback on the input device while the virtual object is moved, wherein an intensity of the haptic feedback corresponds to the virtual mass of the virtual object.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the haptic feedback increases and decreases based on the linear momentum curve while the virtual mass of the virtual object is below the threshold value; and
wherein the haptic feedback increases and decreases based on the progressive momentum curve while the virtual mass of the virtual object at or above the threshold value.

7. A non-transitory computer-program product tangibly embodied in a machine-readable non-transitory storage medium that includes instructions configured to cause one or more processors to perform operations including:
receiving input data from an input device corresponding to a movement of a virtual object located within a VR/AR environment;
determining a virtual distance of a virtual object in the VR/AR environment from a user perspective;
moving the virtual object within the VR/AR environment based on the input data and according to a first movement sensitivity setting while the virtual distance is below a second threshold value; and
moving the virtual object within the VR/AR environment based on the input data and according to a second movement sensitivity setting while the virtual distance is at or above the second threshold value.

8. The non-transitory computer-program product of claim 7 wherein the first movement sensitivity and the second movement sensitivity are defined by a dots-per-inch (DPI) setting.

9. The non-transitory computer-program product of claim 7 wherein the first movement sensitivity has a first DPI setting, wherein the second movement sensitivity has a second DPI setting, and wherein the first DPI setting is lower than the second DPI setting.

10. The non-transitory computer-program product of claim 7 wherein the instructions are further configured to cause the one or more processors to perform operations including:
receiving characterization data for the virtual object, the characterization data defining a virtual mass of the virtual object;
moving the virtual object within the VR/AR environment based on a linear momentum curve in response to the virtual mass of the virtual object being below a threshold value; and
moving the virtual object within the VR/AR environment based on a progressive momentum curve in response to the virtual mass of the virtual object being at or above the threshold value.

11. The non-transitory computer-program product of claim 10 wherein the instructions are further configured to cause the one or more processors to perform operations including:
generating a haptic feedback on the input device while the virtual object is moved, wherein an intensity of the haptic feedback corresponds to the virtual mass of the virtual object.

12. The non-transitory computer-program product of claim 11 wherein the haptic feedback increases and decreases based on the linear momentum curve while the virtual mass of the virtual object is below the threshold value; and
wherein the haptic feedback increases and decreases based on the progressive momentum curve while the virtual mass of the virtual object at or above the threshold value.

13. A computer-implemented method of controlling a virtual object in an VR/AR environment, the method comprising:
receiving input data from an input device corresponding to a movement of a virtual object located within the VR/AR environment;
determining a virtual distance of a virtual object in the VR/AR environment from a user perspective;
moving the virtual object within the VR/AR environment based on the input data and according to a first movement sensitivity setting while the virtual distance is below a second threshold value; and
moving the virtual object within the VR/AR environment based on the input data and according to a second movement sensitivity setting while the virtual distance is at or above the second threshold value.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 13 wherein the first movement sensitivity and the second movement sensitivity are defined by a dots-per-inch (DPI) setting.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 13 wherein the first movement sensitivity has a first DPI setting, wherein the second movement sensitivity has a second DPI setting, and wherein the first DPI setting is lower than the second DPI setting.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 13 wherein the input device is configured to track a movement of the input device in free space with at least three degrees-of-freedom.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 13 further comprising:
receiving characterization data for the virtual object, the characterization data defining a virtual mass of the virtual object;
moving the virtual object within the VR/AR environment based on a linear momentum curve in response to the virtual mass of the virtual object being below a threshold value; and
moving the virtual object within the VR/AR environment based on a progressive momentum curve in response to the virtual mass of the virtual object being at or above the threshold value.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 17 further comprising:
generating a haptic feedback on the input device while the virtual object is moved, wherein an intensity of the haptic feedback corresponds to the virtual mass of the virtual object.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 18 wherein the haptic feedback increases and decreases b

Assignees

• Logitech Europe Sa

Inventors

• Murphy Padraig
• Connellan Andreas
• Riviere Olivier
• Corcoran Fergal
• O'Bradaigh Pierce
• Findlater Jan
• Waldron Philip
• Mcglynn Gavin
• O'Keeffe Denis
• Ahern Jerry
• Twohig Marcel

Classifications

• G06F3/04883

  for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text · CPC title

• G02B2027/014

  comprising information/image processing systems · CPC title

• G06T19/006

  Mixed reality (object pose determination, tracking or camera calibration for mixed reality G06T7/00) · CPC title

• G06F3/0346

  with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a three-dimensional [3D] space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors · CPC title

• G06F3/011

  Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality (blind teaching G09B21/00) · CPC title