Method and system for generating a holographic image having simulated physical properties

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018164982-A1
Application number	US-201615373873-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 9, 2016
Priority date	Dec 9, 2016
Publication date	Jun 14, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method, system and program for producing an interactive three-dimensional holographic image, including the steps of generating, by one or more processors of a computer system, a virtual object and assigning physical properties to the virtual object using metadata. Signals are received from a virtual tool to determine a position of the virtual tool. Interactive force between the virtual tool and the virtual object are calculated based on the signals from the virtual tool and the position of the virtual tool. A modified virtual object is generated based on the interactive forces and the physical properties, and the modified virtual object is displayed as a holographic image. The system may also determine a force feedback according to the position of the virtual tool in relation to the virtual object, send the force feedback to a user through a haptic interface device; and update the force feedback according to movement of the virtual tool in real space.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method of producing an interactive three-dimensional holographic image, said method comprising the steps of:
generating, by one or more processors of a computer system, a virtual object; assigning by a processor physical properties to said virtual object using metadata; receiving signals from a virtual tool; determining a position of said virtual tool; calculating an interactive force between said virtual tool and said virtual object based on said signals from said virtual tool and said position of said virtual tool; generating a modified virtual object based on said interactive force and said physical properties; displaying said modified virtual object as a holographic image.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said method further comprises:
providing additional modification to said virtual object based on additional interactive force between said virtual tool and said virtual object.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein said method further comprises generating a modified hologram image of said modified virtual object utilizing said additional modification.

4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
determining a force feedback according to the position of the virtual tool in relation to the virtual object; sending the force feedback to a user through a haptic interface device; and updating the force feedback according to movement of the virtual tool in real space.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein said haptic interface device provides a touch sensation related to an interacting of said user with said virtual object.

6 . The method of claim 4 , wherein said haptic interface device provides an electro-mechanical linkage which can exert a controllable force on a user's hand.

7 . The method of claim 4 , wherein said haptic interface device generates haptic aspects of a virtual environment and determines forces to be applied to the user through said haptic interface.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said step of calculating said interactive force comprises calculating at least one of an amount of force, type of force, duration of force, and direction of force.

9 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
determining a position of said virtual tool based on signals received from sensors mounted to a user.

10 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
determining a position of said virtual tool based on signals received from sensors positioned remote from a user, said sensors detecting a position of said virtual tool.

11 . A computer program product comprising:
a computer-readable storage device; and a computer-readable program code stored in the computer-readable storage device, the computer readable program code containing instructions executable by a processor of a computer system to implement a method of generating a hologram image, the method comprising:
generating a virtual object;
assigning physical properties to said virtual object using metadata;
receiving signals from a virtual tool;
determining a position of said virtual tool;
calculating an interactive force between said virtual tool and said virtual object;
generating a modified virtual object based on said interactive force;
displaying said modified virtual object as a holographic image.

12 . The computer program product of claim 11 , wherein said method further comprises the step of providing additional modification to said virtual object based on addition interactive force between said virtual tool and said virtual object.

13 . The computer program product of claim 11 , further comprising:
determining a force feedback according to the position of the virtual tool in relation to the virtual object; sending the force feedback to the user through a haptic interface device; and updating the force feedback according to movement of the virtual tool in real space.

14 . The computer program product of claim 13 , wherein said haptic interface device provides a touch sensation related to an interacting of said user with said virtual object.

15 . The computer program product of claim 13 , wherein said haptic interface device provides an electro-mechanical linkage which can exert a controllable force on a user's hand.

16 . The computer program product of claim 13 , wherein said haptic interface device generates haptic aspects of a virtual environment and determines the forces to be applied to a user through a haptic interface.

17 . The computer program product of claim 11 , wherein said step of calculating said interactive force comprises calculating at least one of an amount of force, type of force, duration of force, and direction of force.

18 . A computer system for creating a virtual object in a virtual environment, the system comprising:
a central processing unit (CPU); a memory coupled to said CPU; and a computer readable storage device coupled to the CPU, the storage device containing instructions executable by the CPU via the memory to implement a method of creating a virtual object, the method comprising the steps of: generating a virtual object in a virtual environment; assigning physical properties to the virtual object via computer input; determining a position of a virtual tool in the virtual environment corresponding to a location of a user in real space; calculating forces acting on said virtual object based on said physical properties and said position of said virtual tool; modifying the virtual object according to a movement of the virtual tool; and generating a hologram representation of said virtual object based on said forces acting on said virtual object.

19 . The computer system of claim 18 , wherein said virtual environment comprises a haptic virtual environment including sensors for determining said position of said virtual tool.

20 . The computer system of claim 18 , wherein said virtual tool comprises at least one sensor mounted to a user.

Assignees

• IBM

Inventors

• Rakshit Sarbajit K
• Shetty Shilpa S

Classifications

• G03H2001/0061

  in haptic applications when the observer interacts with the holobject · CPC title

• G06F3/0421

  by interrupting or reflecting a light beam, e.g. optical touch-screen · CPC title

• G03H2210/30

  3D object · CPC title

• G03H2226/05

  Means for tracking the observer · CPC title

• G03H2226/02

  Computing or processing means, e.g. digital signal processor [DSP] · CPC title