Patent ID: 6411266
Filing Date: 2002-06-25
Classification: G06F,H04N

Abstract:
Apparatus for providing a virtual reality environment with images of virtual objects provided in response to sensed actions of a viewer wherein the images of virtual objects lag after the sensed actions of the viewer, comprising:a head mounted camera (10) for mounting on a head (12) of the viewer acting as a cameraman for gathering images of real objects from a moving perspective of the viewer, said camera responsive to reflected light from the real objects in an object space, for providing a real object image signal (14) indicative of the real objects; an image store (22), responsive to a selection signal (20), for providing a prestored virtual object image signal (24) indicative of moving virtual objects; a computer and image processor (16) having positions and geometric features of said real objects prestored in a computer spatial model of the object space, responsive to a plurality of monitor signals for providing the selection signal (20) and responsive to the real object image signal (14) and the virtual object image signal (24), for providing an integrated image signal (26) indicative of both said real objects and said virtual objects; one or more monitors (18), responsive to one or more corresponding actions of the viewer acting as a cameraman in the object space, for providing the plurality of monitor signals; and a head mounted display (28) for mounting on the head of the viewer, responsive to the integrated image signal (26), for providing integrated images of the object space with real and virtual objects for viewing by the viewer with the images of the real objects in registration with the real objects from the moving point of view of the viewer and for viewing by the viewer with the images of the virtual objects integrated therewith, wherein the moving virtual objects move with respect to the real objects positioned in the spatial model for interacting with the viewer and whereby the lag of the images of virtual objects after the sensed actions of the viewer is reduced.