Tracking constellation assembly for use in a virtual reality system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017192495-A1
Application number	US-201614991875-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 8, 2016
Priority date	Dec 30, 2015
Publication date	Jul 6, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

Technology is provided for a tracking constellation assembly for use in a virtual reality system. The tracking constellation assembly includes a translucent panel having an outward facing surface, and an inward facing surface and a mounting surface each opposite the outward facing surface. The translucent panel is substantially opaque to visible light and translucent to infrared light. The assembly includes a flexible circuit board including first and second opposed surfaces. A spacer interconnects the first surface of the flexible circuit board and the mounting surface of the translucent panel. Infrared light emitting diodes are connected to the flexible circuit board and positioned to direct light through the translucent panel.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A tracking constellation assembly for use in a virtual reality system, comprising:
a translucent panel having an outward facing surface, and an inward facing surface and a mounting surface each opposite the outward facing surface; a circuit board including first and second opposed surfaces, wherein the first surface is connected to the mounting surface of the translucent panel; and at least one light emitting diode connected to the circuit board and positioned to direct light through the translucent panel and project a substantially round point of light from the outward facing surface.

2 . The tracking constellation assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a spacer interconnecting the first surface of the circuit board and the mounting surface.

3 . The tracking constellation assembly of claim 1 , wherein the light emitting diode is connected to the first surface of the circuit board.

4 . The tracking constellation assembly of claim 1 , wherein the circuit board includes an aperture formed therethrough and wherein the light emitting diode is connected to the second surface of the circuit board and positioned to direct light through the aperture.

5 . The tracking constellation assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the inward facing surface has a first surface finish and at least a portion of the outward facing surface has a second surface finish rougher than the first surface finish.

6 . The tracking constellation assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a fabric layer disposed on at least a portion of the outward facing surface.

7 . The tracking constellation assembly of claim 1 , wherein the translucent panel is substantially opaque to visible light and translucent to infrared light.

8 . The tracking constellation assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one light emitting diode is an infrared light emitting diode.

9 . The tracking constellation assembly of claim 1 , wherein the circuit board comprises a flexible circuit board.

10 . A tracking constellation assembly for use in a virtual reality system, comprising:
a translucent panel having an outward facing surface, and an inward facing surface and a mounting surface each opposite the outward facing surface, wherein the translucent panel is substantially opaque to visible light and translucent to infrared light; a flexible circuit board including first and second opposed surfaces; a spacer interconnecting the first surface of the flexible circuit board and the mounting surface of the translucent panel; and at least one infrared light emitting diode connected to the flexible circuit board and positioned to direct light through the translucent panel.

11 . The tracking constellation assembly of claim 10 , wherein the flexible circuit board includes an aperture formed therethrough and wherein the infrared light emitting diode is connected to the second surface of the circuit board and positioned to direct light through the aperture.

12 . The tracking constellation assembly of claim 10 , wherein the translucent panel includes a counterbore formed in the translucent panel and wherein the at least one infrared light emitting diode is positioned in the counterbore.

13 . The tracking constellation assembly of claim 12 , wherein the infrared light emitting diode is connected to the first surface of the circuit board.

14 . The tracking constellation assembly of claim 12 , wherein at least a portion of the inward facing surface has a first surface finish and at least a portion of the outward facing surface has a second surface finish rougher than the first surface finish.

15 . The tracking constellation assembly of claim 14 , wherein inward facing surface comprises a bottom surface of the counterbore.

16 . A virtual reality system, comprising:
a head mounted display; one or more handheld controllers; and a tracking camera; wherein at least one of the head mounted display and the one or more controllers includes a tracking constellation assembly including:
a translucent panel having an outward facing surface, and an inward facing surface and a mounting surface each opposite the outward facing surface;
a circuit board including first and second opposed surfaces, wherein the first surface is connected to the mounting surface of the translucent panel; and
at least one light emitting diode connected to the circuit board and positioned to direct light through the translucent panel.

17 . The virtual reality system of claim 16 , further comprising a spacer interconnecting the first surface of the circuit board and the mounting surface.

18 . The virtual reality system of claim 16 , wherein the light emitting diode is connected to the first surface of the circuit board.

19 . The virtual reality system of claim 16 , wherein the circuit board includes an aperture formed therethrough and wherein the light emitting diode is connected to the second surface of the circuit board and positioned to direct light through the aperture.

20 . The virtual reality system of claim 16 , wherein at least a portion of the inward facing surface has a first surface finish and at least a portion of the outward facing surface has a second surface finish rougher than the first surface finish.

21 . The virtual reality system of claim 16 , wherein the translucent panel is substantially opaque to visible light and translucent to infrared light, and wherein the at least one light emitting diode is an infrared light emitting diode.

22 . The virtual reality system of claim 16 , wherein the mounting surface and the inward facing surface are coplanar.

23 . The virtual reality system of claim 16 , wherein the translucent panel is substantially transparent to infrared light and wherein the at least one light emitting diode is an infrared light emitting diode.

Assignees

• Oculus Vr Llc

Inventors

• Drinkwater Jared I
• Miller Robin Michael
• Allin Boyd Drew

Classifications

• G06F3/014

  Hand-worn input/output arrangements, e.g. data gloves · CPC title

• G06F3/005

  Input arrangements through a video camera · CPC title

• G06F3/012

  Head tracking input arrangements · CPC title

• G02B27/0176

  characterised by mechanical features · CPC title

• G06K9/00355

  Physics · mapped topic