Reconfigurable headset that transitions between virtual reality, augmented reality, and actual reality

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11537198-B1
Application number	US-202117521455-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Nov 8, 2021
Priority date	Nov 8, 2021
Publication date	Dec 27, 2022
Grant date	Dec 27, 2022

Abstract

A method for switching a configuration of an enhanced reality headset is provided. The method includes identifying a scenario to switch a configuration of an enhanced reality headset between a virtual reality configuration, an augmented reality configuration, and a direct reality configuration, wherein the virtual reality configuration and the augmented reality configuration include a computer generated image, and the direct reality configuration and the augmented reality configuration include a real-time image of an environment of a user of the enhanced reality headset. The method includes providing a notification to a user of the enhanced reality headset including an intent to switch the configuration of the enhanced reality headset, and switching the configuration of the enhanced reality headset according to the scenario.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:
identifying a scenario to switch a configuration of an enhanced reality headset between a virtual reality configuration, an augmented reality configuration, and a direct reality configuration, wherein the virtual reality configuration and the augmented reality configuration include a computer generated image, and the direct reality configuration and the augmented reality configuration include a real-time image of an environment of a user of the enhanced reality headset;
providing a notification to the user of the enhanced reality headset, the notification including an intent to switch the configuration of the enhanced reality headset;
switching the configuration of the enhanced reality headset according to the scenario; and
providing an avatar of the user to a remote device communicatively coupled with the enhanced reality headset when the configuration has been switched to a virtual reality configuration.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein identifying the scenario to switch the configuration comprises capturing an image of an environment of the user of the enhanced reality headset and identifying a potential hazard to the user from the image of the environment.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein identifying the scenario to switch the configuration comprises capturing an audio of an environment of the user of the enhanced reality headset and identifying an alert to the user from the audio of the environment.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein identifying the scenario to switch the configuration comprises determining that a period of time has lapsed without an alert or a potential hazard to the user has been identified, and selecting an intent to switch from an augmented reality configuration to a virtual reality configuration.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the enhanced reality headset comprises multiple inertial motion sensors, and identifying a scenario to switch a configuration of an enhanced reality headset comprises identifying a signal pattern from the inertial motion sensors, the signal pattern being indicative of a potential hazard to the user.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein providing the intent to switch comprises providing a through-video image in a portion of a display in the enhanced reality headset, for the user.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving, from the user, a validation of the intent to switch the configuration of the enhanced reality headset.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the enhanced reality headset is configured to provide a through-video image in a portion of a display for the user, and a button for the user to select between the virtual reality configuration, the augmented reality configuration and the direct reality configuration, the method further comprising switching the enhanced reality headset per a user selection of the button.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising providing, to a remote device communicatively coupled with the enhanced reality headset, an indication that the configuration of the enhanced reality headset has been switched.

10. A system, comprising:
one or more processors; and
a memory storing instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the system to execute operations, comprising:
identify a scenario to switch a configuration of an enhanced reality headset between a virtual reality configuration, an augmented reality configuration, and a direct reality configuration, wherein the virtual reality configuration and the augmented reality configuration include a computer generated image, and the direct reality configuration and the augmented reality configuration include a real-time image of an environment of a user of the enhanced reality headset;
provide a notification to the user of the enhanced reality headset, the notification including an intent to switch the configuration of the enhanced reality headset;
switch the configuration of the enhanced reality headset according to the scenario, wherein to identify the scenario to switch the configuration the one or more processors execute instructions to capture an image of an environment of the user of the enhanced reality headset and identifying a potential hazard to the user from the image of the environment; and
provide an avatar of the user to a remote device communicatively coupled with the enhanced reality headset when the configuration has been switched to a virtual reality configuration.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein to identify the scenario to switch the configuration the one or more processors execute instructions to capture an audio of an environment of the user of the enhanced reality headset and identifying an alert to the user from the audio of the environment.

12. The system of claim 10 , wherein to identify the scenario to switch the configuration the one or more processors execute instructions to determine that a period of time has lapsed without an alert or a potential hazard to the user has been identified, and to select an intent to switch from an augmented reality configuration to a virtual reality configuration.

13. The system of claim 10 , wherein the enhanced reality headset comprises multiple inertial motion sensors, and to identify a scenario to switch a configuration of an enhanced reality headset the one or more processors execute instructions to identify a signal pattern from the inertial motion sensors, the signal pattern being indicative of a potential hazard to the user.

14. The system of claim 10 , wherein to provide the intent to switch the one or more processors execute instructions to provide a through-video image in a portion of a display in the enhanced reality headset, for the user.

15. A non-transitory, computer-readable medium storing instructions which, when executed by a processor cause a computer to execute a method, the method comprising:
capturing an image of an environment of a user of an enhanced reality headset and identifying a potential hazard to the user from the image of the environment;
capturing an audio of an environment of the user of the enhanced reality headset and identifying an alert to the user from the audio of the environment;
identifying a scenario to switch a configuration of an enhanced reality headset between a virtual reality configuration, an augmented reality configuration, and a direct reality configuration;
providing a notification to a user of the enhanced reality headset, the notification including an intent to switch the configuration of the enhanced reality headset;
switching the configuration of the enhanced reality headset according to the scenario; and
providing an avatar of the user to a remote device communicatively coupled with the enhanced reality headset when the configuration has been switched to a virtual reality configuration.

16. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 15 wherein, in the method, identifying the scenario to switch the configuration comprises determining that a period of time has lapsed without an alert or a potential hazard to the user has been identified, and selecting an intent to switch from an augmented reality configuration to a virtual reality configuration.

17. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 15 wherein, in the method, the enhanced reality headset comprises multiple inertial motion sensors, and identifying a scenario to switch a c

Assignees

• Meta Platforms Tech Llc

Inventors

• Cross Rachel
• Madruga Tiffany
• Fu Allison
• Fitzgerald Meaghan

Classifications

• G06F3/011 Primary

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

• G06V20/20

  in augmented reality scenes · CPC title

• G06V40/28

  Recognition of hand or arm movements, e.g. recognition of deaf sign language (static hand signs G06V40/113) · CPC title

• G06V40/19

  Sensors therefor · CPC title

• G02B27/286

  for controlling or changing the state of polarisation, e.g. transforming one polarisation state into another (G02B5/3083 takes precedence; light guide coupling means utilising polarising elements G02B6/34) · CPC title