Head mounted display

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9630098-B2
Application number	US-201414296379-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 4, 2014
Priority date	Jun 9, 2013
Publication date	Apr 25, 2017
Grant date	Apr 25, 2017

Abstract

A head mounted display is provided. The head mounted display includes a head attachment portion and a viewing module coupled to the head attachment portion. The viewing module includes an inner portion having a view port into a screen configuring for rendering image content, and an exterior housing. Further included are a plurality illuminating elements integrated with the exterior housing of the viewing module. The plurality of illumination elements defined for image tracking of the head mounted display. Illumination logic is provided for controlling the plurality of illumination elements to be active or inactive during use of the head mounted display.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A head mounted display for viewing an interactive environment, comprising,
a head attachment portion;
a viewing module coupled to the head attachment portion, the viewing module including an inner side having a view port into a screen configured for rendering image content, and an exterior housing;
a communications module for exchanging data with a computer system;
an image processing module configured for processing the image data for rendering the image content on the screen;
a plurality of illuminating elements integrated with the exterior housing of the viewing module, the plurality of illumination elements defined for image tracking of the head mounted display by a camera, wherein the plurality of illuminating elements is arranged in a pattern to enable identification of location and orientation of the head mounted display, the location and orientation obtained from analysis of images captured by the camera being used as input for updating a current view of the interactive environment when rendered on the screen; and
an illumination logic configured for controlling the plurality of illumination elements to be active or inactive.

2. The head mounted display of claim 1 , wherein the data exchanged by the communications module includes input data, image data, audio data, and inertial data.

3. The head mounted display of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of illuminating elements are defined as light emitting diodes (LEDs) or infrared (IR) emitters.

4. The head mounted display of claim 3 , wherein the LEDs are defined to illuminate one or more colors, the illumination logic configured to control illumination of the one or more colors.

5. The head mounted display of claim 1 , wherein the exterior housing has a partially curved shape, and the plurality of illuminating elements is arranged in the pattern about the partially curved shape.

6. The head mounted display of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of illumination elements includes two or more shapes or sizes.

7. The head mounted display of claim 1 , further comprising illumination elements connected to the head attachment portion.

8. A head mounted display for viewing an interactive environment, comprising,
a head attachment portion for placement on a head of a user;
a viewing module coupled to the head attachment portion and configured for placement in front of eyes of a user, the viewing module including,
an inner side having a view port into a screen configured for rendering image content;
an exterior housing that surrounds the inner side, the exterior housing having a front facing portion, a first side portion, and a second side portion;
a communications module for exchanging data with a computer system, the data including input data, image data, audio data, and inertial data;
an image processing module configured for processing the image data for rendering the image content on the screen;
a plurality of illuminating elements integrated with the exterior housing of the viewing module, the plurality of illuminating elements defined for image tracking of the head mounted display by a camera, wherein the plurality of illuminating elements is arranged in a pattern on the front facing portion and the first and second side portions to enable identification of location and orientation of the head mounted display, the location and orientation obtained from analysis of images captured by the camera being used as input for updating a current view of the interactive environment when rendered on the screen; and
an illumination logic configured for controlling particular ones of the plurality of illuminating elements to be active and inactive.

9. The head mounted display of claim 8 , wherein a first of the plurality of illuminating elements is disposed on a left side of the front facing portion and a second of the plurality of illuminating elements is disposed on a right side of the front facing portion.

10. The head mounted display of claim 9 , wherein the first of the plurality of illuminating elements has a two-part shape that is disposed partially in the front facing portion and the first side portion, and the second of the plurality of illuminating elements has a two-part shape that is disposed partially in the front facing portion and the second side portion.

11. The head mounted display of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of illuminating elements are defined as light emitting diodes (LEDs) or infrared (IR) emitters.

12. The head mounted display of claim 11 , wherein the LEDs are defined to illuminate one or more colors, the illumination of the one or more colors being controlled by illumination logic.

13. The head mounted display of claim 8 , wherein the communications module is one of a wired connection or wireless connection with the computer.

14. The head mounted display of claim 8 , wherein the inertial data is generated by the head mounted display in response to detected movement when worn by the user.

15. The head mounted display of claim 8 , wherein the input data is generated by the head mounted display in response to user input when worn by the user.

16. The head mounted display of claim 8 , wherein the audio data and the image data is associated with the interactive environment to be rendered at the head mounted display.

17. The head mounted display of claim 8 , wherein the interactive environment includes game data, video data, internet navigation data, combinations of game data and internet data, social media data, or combinations thereof.

18. The head mounted display of claim 8 , wherein the exterior housing has a partially curved shape, and the plurality of illuminating elements are arranged in the pattern about the partially curved shape.

19. The head mounted display of claim 8 , wherein the exterior housing has multiple surface regions, and the plurality of illuminating elements are arranged in the pattern about the multiple surface regions.

20. The head mounted display of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of illuminating elements include two or more shapes or sizes.

21. The head mounted display of claim 8 , wherein additional ones of the plurality of illuminating elements are connected to the head attachment portion.

22. A head mounted display for viewing an interactive environment, comprising,
a head attachment portion;
a viewing module coupled to the head attachment portion, the viewing module including an inner portion having a view port into a screen configured for rendering image content, and an exterior housing;
a plurality of illuminating elements integrated with the exterior housing of the viewing module, the plurality of illuminating elements defined for image tracking of the head mounted display by a camera, wherein the plurality of illuminating elements is arranged in a pattern on the exterior housing having a partially curved shape to enable identification of location and orientation of the head mounted display, wherein a first of the plurality of illuminating elements has a two-part shape that is disposed partially in a front facing portion of the exterior housing and partially on a left side portion of the exterior housing, and a second of the plurality of illuminating elements has a two-part shape that is disposed partially in the front facing portion of the exterior housing and partially on a right side portion of the exterior housing, the location and orientation obtained from analysis of images captured of some or all of the plurality of illuminating elements by the came

Assignees

• Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc

Inventors

• Mikhailov Anton
• Mao Xiaodong

Classifications

• A63F13/42

  by mapping the input signals into game commands, e.g. mapping the displacement of a stylus on a touch screen to the steering angle of a virtual vehicle · CPC title

• G06F3/012

  Head tracking input arrangements · CPC title

• G02B2027/0187

  slaved to motion of at least a part of the body of the user, e.g. head, eye · CPC title

• A63F13/213 Primary

  comprising photodetecting means, e.g. cameras, photodiodes or infrared cells (A63F13/219 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G06F3/013

  Eye tracking input arrangements (G06F3/015 takes precedence) · CPC title