Tracking stylus in a virtual reality system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021333875-A1
Application number	US-201816606480-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 20, 2018
Priority date	Apr 20, 2018
Publication date	Oct 28, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

An apparatus is disclosed to monitor movement of a held object in a virtual reality system. The apparatus comprises a primary tracking system with a first sensor to monitor movement of the user's hand, and a secondary tracking system with a second sensor to monitor a position of the held object. The position is measured in relation to the hand movement.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An apparatus comprising:
a primary tracking system comprising a first sensor to monitor first movement of a user's hand, wherein the first sensor is attached to the user's hand; and a secondary tracking system to monitor second movement of an object held in the user's hand, the secondary tracking system comprising at least one additional sensor, the secondary tracking system to detect a position of the object;
wherein the position is measured in relation to the first movement.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the secondary tracking system further detects an orientation of the object.

3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the secondary tracking system further comprises a second sensor to detect the object movement in a two-dimensional plane.

4 . The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the secondary tracking system further comprises a third sensor to detect the object movement in a direction orthogonal to the two-dimensional plane.

5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , the secondary tracking system further comprising:
a pivot disposed coaxial with a knuckle of an index finger of the user's hand; and a rotational encoder to measure rotation of the pivot;
wherein rotation of the pivot indicates up and down movement of the index finger.

6 . The apparatus of claim 5 , the secondary tracking system further comprising:
a second pivot disposed orthogonal to the pivot; and a second rotational encoder to measure rotation of the second pivot;
wherein rotation of the second pivot indicates side-to-side movement of the index finger.

7 . The apparatus of claim 1 , the secondary tracking system further comprising:
a joystick sensor disposed at one end of the object, wherein the joystick sensor is coupled to the first sensor; and a z-position sensor disposed along a shaft of the object.

8 . An apparatus comprising:
a primary tracking system comprising a first sensor to monitor first movement of an object in a user's hand; and a secondary tracking system comprising a second sensor to detect a position and orientation of the object within a working volume adjacent to the second sensor;
wherein the position and orientation are measured in relation to the first movement.

9 . The apparatus of claim 8 , the secondary tracking system further comprising:
a structure partially encircling a top portion of the object, wherein the structure is equidistant from the top portion; and a plurality of cameras affixed to the structure such that the top portion of the object is in view of each of the plurality of cameras.

10 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein a plurality of fiducials is disposed around the top portion of the object;
wherein the plurality of cameras tracks rotational movement of the object by observing movement of one or more of the plurality of fiducials.

11 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the structure is affixed to the first sensor.

12 . A method to track movement of a tip of a stylus in a human hand, the method comprising:
monitoring a first movement of the human hand by coupling a first sensor over a palm of the human hand; monitoring a first stylus movement using a second sensor; and monitoring a second stylus movement using a third sensor, wherein the second stylus movement is orthogonal to the first stylus movement;
wherein the first and second stylus movements are measured relative to the first movement of the human hand.

13 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising a controller to receive:
the first movement of the human hand from the first sensor; the first stylus movement from the second sensor; and the second stylus movement from the third sensor;
wherein the controller processes the first movement, then derives the first and second stylus movements based on the first movement.

14 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising coupling the first sensor to the second sensor.

15 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
a tip sensor disposed on the tip of the stylus, the tip sensor to detect contact with a surface or motion of the tip over a surface.

Assignees

• Hewlett Packard Development Co

Inventors

• Horii Hiroshi
• Robinson Ian N

Classifications

• G06F3/014 Primary

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

• G06F3/03546

  using a rotatable ball at the tip as position detecting member · CPC title

• G06F3/0304

  Detection arrangements using opto-electronic means (constructional details of pointing devices not related to the detection arrangement using opto-electronic means G06F3/033; optical digitisers G06F3/042) · CPC title

• G06T7/74

  involving reference images or patches · CPC title