Abstract:
A method operates virtual reality spectacles involves displaying a virtual object, arranged in virtual surroundings, by the virtual reality spectacles from a first observation position that is prescribed within the virtual surroundings. A position symbol is displayed at a position within the virtual surroundings that corresponds to a second observation position prescribed within the virtual surroundings. The displayed position symbol is selected as soon as a predetermined selection action has been sensed. The virtual object is displayed from the second observation position as soon as a predetermined confirmation action for the selected position symbol has been sensed.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is based on and hereby claims priority to German Application No. 10 2014 009 302.6 filed on Jun. 26, 2014, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The invention relates to a method for operating virtual reality spectacles and to a system having virtual reality spectacles. 
         [0003]    Virtual reality spectacles are a particular form of what is known as a head mounted display, which is a visual output appliance worn on the head. Said output appliance presents images on a screen close to the eyes or projects them directly onto the retina. In this case, virtual reality spectacles additionally have sensors for sensing the movement of the head. This allows the display of the computed graphics to be matched to the movements of the wearer of the spectacles. The physical proximity means that the displayed image areas from head mounted displays have the effect of being substantially larger than the freestanding screens and, in extreme cases, even cover the entire field of view of the user. Since the display follows all head movements by the wearer as a result of the posture of the head, the user is provided with the feeling of moving directly in an image landscape generated by a computer. 
         [0004]    Virtual reality spectacles of this kind can thus be used to present a virtual reality, virtual reality usually denoting the presentation and simultaneous perception of reality in its physical properties in interactive virtual surroundings that are computer-generated in real time. 
         [0005]    In virtual reality surroundings, a particular challenge is to provide a suitable opportunity for interaction in order to determine or to alter the virtual position of the wearer of such spectacles in relation to an object presented by the virtual reality spectacles. Free movements within the presented virtual reality, in particular, for example brought about by a controller or joystick, can quickly lead to nausea in the wearer of virtual reality spectacles, since during the virtual movement an inconsistency arises between the visual impressions and the lack of movement feedback from the vestibular system in the inner ear. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    It is therefore one possible object to provide a method for operating virtual reality spectacles and a system having virtual reality spectacles that allow improved alteration of the virtual position of a wearer of the spectacles within virtual surroundings displayed by the virtual reality spectacles. 
         [0007]    The inventors propose a method for operating virtual reality spectacles, in which at least one virtual object arranged in virtual surroundings is displayed by the virtual reality spectacles from a first observation position prescribed within the virtual surroundings. Furthermore, at least one position symbol is displayed at a position within the virtual surroundings that corresponds to a second observation position prescribed within the virtual surroundings. The displayed position symbol is selected as soon as a predetermined selection action has been sensed. The virtual object is displayed from the second observation position as soon as a predetermined confirmation action for the selected position symbol has been sensed. 
         [0008]    In other words, the proposal thus provides for a wearer of virtual reality spectacles to be able to move, particularly to be able to skip, from a prescribed observation position to another observation position within the virtual surroundings by selecting an appropriately displayed position symbol and confirming the selection thereof. In this case, one or more possible skip positions can be displayed to him in the form of the displayed position symbol or further position symbols in their physically correct position within the virtual surroundings. In other words, the prescribed observation positions are thus virtual viewpoints at which the wearer of the virtual reality spectacles is situated virtually within the displayed virtual surroundings, the virtual reality spectacles or the display device thereof being actuated such that the wearer of the virtual reality spectacles is provided with the impression that he is currently looking at the virtual object from the correspondingly prescribed observation position. 
         [0009]    The problem mentioned at the outset that can arise with free movements within a virtual reality is remedied by the solution since the wearer of the virtual reality spectacles no longer moves freely within the displayed virtual surroundings according to his visual perception. Instead, the wearer of the virtual reality spectacles can use the method to skip from one virtual observation position to the next and hence alter his virtual viewpoint within the displayed virtual surroundings in fits and starts and hence to alter the perspective on the currently displayed virtual object likewise by leaps and bounds. This prevents any inconsistency from arising between the visual impressions and the actually provided movement feedback from the vestibular system of the wearer of the virtual reality spectacles, which means that it is possible to prevent the occurence of nausea in a wearer of the virtual reality spectacles. 
         [0010]    In one advantageous refinement, the displayed position symbol is selected as soon as the predetermined selection action that has been sensed is that a selection symbol displayed within the virtual surroundings has been made to at least partially overlap the displayed position symbol. The movement of the selection symbol can be controlled by the wearer of the virtual reality spectacles as appropriate, which allows him to prompt selection of the displayed position symbol in a particularly simple and convenient manner. By way of example, the displayed selection symbol, which is also intended to be understood as a selective symbol, may be a crosshair, a mouse pointer or the like. 
         [0011]    In a further advantageous refinement, the selection symbol is moved on the basis of a sensed head movement by a wearer of the virtual reality spectacles within the virtual surroundings. By way of example, the virtual reality spectacles may have a combination of a three-axis gyrometer and acceleration sensors that can be used to reliably sense the head movement of the wearer of the virtual reality spectacles. Since the selection symbol is moved on the basis of the sensed head movement of the wearer within the virtual surroundings, the selection symbol can be moved in a particularly simple and convenient manner by the wearer of the virtual reality spectacles within the virtual surroundings. 
         [0012]    According to a further advantageous embodiment, the selection symbol is moved on the basis of a sensed eye movement by the wearer of the virtual reality spectacles within the virtual surroundings. For this, the virtual reality spectacles can have a sensing device, for example, that is designed to sense eye movements, particularly the line of vision of the wearer of the virtual reality spectacles. Eye-movement-controlled movement of the selection symbol within the virtual surroundings gives rise to the particular advantage that the selection symbol can be moved particularly quickly and easily. In this case, the selection symbol can also be moved either on the basis of the sensed head movement or on the basis of the sensed eye movement of the wearer of the virtual reality spectacles. This results in a particularly convenient and intuitive control option for the selection symbol for the wearer of the virtual reality spectacles. This is because the wearer of the virtual reality spectacles simply needs to just look at the position symbol in question that is displayed in the virtual surroundings in order to select the position symbol. 
         [0013]    According to a further advantageous embodiment, the position symbol, preferably also the selection symbol, is displayed within the virtual surroundings only when an operating element, particularly a key arranged on a remote control coupled to the virtual reality spectacles, is touched. In other words, a type of movement mode is activated only when the operating element is touched, said movement mode being characterized in that the position symbol, particularly also the selection symbol, is displayed only when a touch is sensed on the operating element. This makes it easy for a wearer of the virtual reality spectacles to see whether or not he is currently able to perform a virtual alteration of position within the displayed virtual surroundings. 
         [0014]    In a further advantageous embodiment, the position symbol is hidden from the virtual surroundings as soon as the touch on the operating element is lifted. Preferably, the selection symbol is likewise hidden from the virtual surroundings as soon as the touch on the operating element is lifted. The wearer of the virtual reality spectacles therefore needs to keep a finger continuously touching said operating element, for example, in order to keep the movement mode activated. This prompts particularly conscious activation and deactivation of the movement mode. Thus, as soon as the wearer of the virtual reality spectacles should have no desire at all to alter his virtual position within the virtual surroundings and hence also his angle of vision with respect to the displayed virtual object, he can simply take his finger from the previously touched operating element, for example. The position symbol and preferably also the selection symbol are then hidden and the wearer of the virtual reality spectacles can look at the displayed virtual object without any interfering influences. 
         [0015]    In a further advantageous refinement, the virtual object is displayed from the second observation position only when the predetermined confirmation action that has been sensed is that an operating element, particularly a key arranged on a remote control coupled to the virtual reality spectacles, has been pressed. Preferably, the operating element is one and the same operating element that is used to confirm the virtual change of position and to prompt the position symbol, particularly also the selection symbol, to be shown. By way of example, the remote control that comprises said key may be in a form such that it can be operated in the manner of a kind of ball point pen. As soon as the wearer of the virtual reality spectacles should desire a virtual change of position, he depresses the virtual key as in the case of a ballpoint pen. Should he desire merely the display of the position symbol, particularly also of the selection symbol, he merely touches the key, as if one were merely to touch the top of a ballpoint pen and not press it. 
         [0016]    Preferably, pressing the operating element is distinguished from touching the operating element in that pressing executes greater travel of the operating element and/or exerts greater pressure on the operating element than touching. By way of example, the operating element can comprise both capacitive sensors and pressure sensors. Alternatively or in addition, it also possible for the operating element to have one or more corresponding displacement sensors that can be used to sense the key travel effected at the operating element. It is thus possible for the distinction between pure touching and pressing of the operating element to be drawn reliably. 
         [0017]    In a further advantageous embodiment, the respective virtual angle of vision from which the virtual object is displayed from the respective observation positions is altered on the basis of a sensed swiveled position of the head of the wearer of the virtual reality spectacles. By swiveling his head up or down or left or right, the user can thus alter his respective virtual angle of vision with respect to the currently displayed virtual object. This results in particularly simple control of the virtual reality spectacles, which alters the angle of vision with respect to the currently displayed virtual object subsequent to the swivel movement of the head of the wearer as appropriate. 
         [0018]    Preferably, the virtual object displayed is a motor vehicle, with the position symbol being arranged and displayed outside or inside the motor vehicle. The wearer of the virtual reality spectacles can therefore skip from one virtual observation position to the next and look at the virtual motor vehicle from a wide variety of different perspectives. In so doing, he can also skip to a virtual observation position inside the motor vehicle in order to be able to display the interior from the driver&#39;s seat or else from other seat positions inside the motor vehicle, for example. This means that, at sales sites or showrooms for motor vehicles, for example, it is no longer necessary to keep a diverse array of different motor vehicle variants with a wide variety of special equipment, since a potential customer can particularly easily use the virtual reality spectacles to display vehicle variants with a wide variety of equipment inside and outside and for a wide variety of angles of vision. 
         [0019]    The system proposed by the inventors comprises virtual reality spectacles that are designed to display at least one virtual object arranged in virtual surroundings from a first observation position. Furthermore, the virtual reality spectacles are designed to display at least one position symbol within the virtual surroundings at a position within the virtual surroundings that corresponds to a second observation position within the virtual surroundings. In addition, the system has a control device that is designed to select the displayed position symbol as soon as a predetermined selection action has been sensed. Additionally, the control device is designed to actuate the virtual reality spectacles such that the virtual object is displayed from the second observation position as soon as a predetermined confirmation action for the selected symbol has been sensed. Advantageous refinements of the method can be regarded as advantageous refinements of the system, the system carries out the method. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0020]    These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the preferred embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which: 
           [0021]      FIG. 1  shows a schematic illustration of a system for displaying virtual surroundings, wherein the system comprises virtual reality spectacles worn by a user, a control device for controlling the virtual reality spectacles and a remote control for controlling the image contents displayed by the virtual reality spectacles; 
           [0022]      FIG. 2  shows a schematic illustration of virtual surroundings within which a virtual motor vehicle is displayed to the wearer of the virtual reality spectacles from a first virtual observation position; 
           [0023]      FIG. 3  shows a schematic illustration in which the virtual observation position of the wearer of the virtual reality spectacles with respect to the virtual motor vehicle, as shown in  FIG. 2 , is displayed; 
           [0024]      FIG. 4  again shows the virtual motor vehicle within the virtual surroundings, wherein additionally a selection symbol in a form like an arrow head and a position symbol represented as a circle in a solid line are shown; 
           [0025]      FIG. 5  shows substantially the same illustration as  FIG. 4 , wherein the selection symbol has been made to overlap the circular position symbol; 
           [0026]      FIG. 6  shows a further illustration of the virtual surroundings, wherein the virtual motor vehicle is now displayed from a second virtual observation position. 
       
    
    
       [0027]    In the figures, elements that are the same or that have the same function are provided with the same reference symbols. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0028]    Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. 
         [0029]    A system—denoted as a whole by  10 —for displaying virtual surroundings is shown in  FIG. 1 . The system  10  comprises virtual reality spectacles  12  that are designed to display virtual surroundings and also one or more virtual objects within the virtual surroundings. By way of example, the virtual reality spectacles  12  may have two individual displays that are arranged in front of respective eyes of a wearer  14  of the virtual reality spectacles  12 , so that the two displays can be used to bring about a three-dimensional effect for the wearer  14  when the virtual surroundings are displayed. 
         [0030]    In addition, the virtual reality spectacles  12  may have a combination of a three-axis gyrometer and acceleration sensors that can be used to sense particularly swivel movements of the head of the wearer  14  about respective spatial axes x 1 , y 2  and z 1 . This allows a respective virtual angle of vision of the wearer  14 , from which one or more virtual objects are displayed within the virtual surroundings, to be altered from respective observation positions within the virtual surroundings on the basis of a sensed swiveled position of the head of the wearer  14  of the virtual reality spectacles  12 . 
         [0031]    The system  10  additionally comprises a control device  16  that is coupled to the virtual reality spectacles  12  for the purpose of information interchange. By way of example, the control device  16  may be a computer having a piece of software installed thereon as appropriate, so that the control device  16  can control the display of the virtual surroundings by the virtual reality spectacles  12 . 
         [0032]    Furthermore, the system  10  also has a remote control  18  that is coupled both to the virtual reality spectacles  12  and to the control device  16 , preferably via a radio link, for the purpose of information interchange. The remote control  18  can be used by the wearer  14 , for example by operating a key  20  on the remote control  18 , to control the virtual reality spectacles  12  in order to alter displayed virtual contents as appropriate. 
         [0033]      FIG. 2  shows virtual surroundings  22 , with a virtual motor vehicle  24  being displayed within the virtual surroundings  22  by the virtual reality spectacles  12 . Corresponding coordinate axes within the virtual surroundings  22  are denoted by x 2  and z 2  and also by y 2 . The letter A denotes a first observation position, that is to say a type of virtual viewpoint, within the virtual surroundings  22 , from which the wearer  14  is currently looking at the motor vehicle  24 . 
         [0034]    The circle  26  shown in a dashed line is a position symbol that is arranged at the first virtual observation position. Preferably, the position symbol  26  is not displayed within the virtual surroundings  22  at all in the view shown here. In the present case, the position symbol  26  is shown only to improve understanding of the explanations below. 
         [0035]      FIG. 3  shows a schematic illustration of the virtual observation position A of the wearer  14  together with the position symbol  26  in a side view. According to the illustration shown in  FIG. 2 , the wearer  14  of the virtual reality spectacles  12  is thus virtually standing next to the motor vehicle  24  and is looking at the motor vehicle  24  from the side. By swiveling his head, the wearer  14  can alter a respective virtual angle of vision from which the motor vehicle  24  is displayed from the observation position  26 . In this case, the virtual viewpoint of the wearer  14  remains unchanged; the wearer  14  can alter a respective angle of vision with respect to the motor vehicle  24  only by swiveling his head left and right or up and down. 
         [0036]    If the wearer  14  of the virtual reality spectacles  12  wishes to alter his observation position A in order to view the motor vehicle  24  from a different virtual position, for example from the front or from behind, he merely needs to touch the key  20  on the remote control  18 . This activates a type of movement or skip mode. 
         [0037]    As  FIG. 4  shows, a position symbol  28  and a selection symbol  30  are then displayed within the virtual surroundings  22 . The position symbol  28 , displayed here in the form of a circular mark on the virtual ground of the virtual surroundings  22 , is displayed at a position within the virtual surroundings  22  that corresponds to a second observation position B prescribed within the virtual surroundings  22 , that is to say a further virtual viewpoint. In this case, the arrowhead-like selection symbol  30  is moved within the virtual surroundings  22  on the basis of a sensed head movement by the wearer  14  of the virtual reality spectacles  12 . Alternatively or in addition, provision may also be made for the selection symbol  30  to be moved within the virtual surroundings  22  on the basis of a sensed eye movement by the wearer  14 . 
         [0038]    Should the wearer  14  of the virtual reality spectacles  12  now wish to be able to look at the motor vehicle  24  from the further observation position B, he merely needs to make the selection symbol  30  overlap the position symbol  28  in part or in full by an appropriate head and/or eye movement. 
         [0039]    As soon as the selection symbol  30  has been made to overlap the position symbol  28 , as shown in  FIG. 5 , the controller  16  registers that the position symbol  28  has been selected. In other words, it registers that the wearer  14  might wish to alter his virtual observation position, since he has moved the selection symbol  30  over the position symbol  28 . Preferably, appropriate visual feedback can be displayed as soon as the position symbol  28  has been selected. By way of example, the color of the position symbol  28  and/or of the selection symbol  30  can also be altered, so that the wearer  14  is provided with visual feedback about the selection of the position symbol  28  in a simple manner. 
         [0040]    Should the wearer  14  of the virtual reality spectacles  12  now actually wish to change his virtual observation position from the observation position A to the observation position B, he merely needs to press the key  20  on the remote control  18 . By way of example, the key  20  may have an appropriate key travel with a stop, the change of position from the virtual observation position  26  to the virtual observation position  28  being confirmed only when the key has been depressed by the wearer  14  as far as its stop, for example. 
         [0041]      FIG. 6  shows the motor vehicle  24  from the observation position B that has been virtually adopted at present after a virtual change of position from the observation position A to the observation position B has been made. The wearer  14  of the virtual reality spectacles  12  thus does not move continuously around the motor vehicle  24  in order to get from the observation position A to the observation position B. Instead, the wearer  14  skips virtually from the observation position A to the observation position B shown in  FIG. 6  as soon as he has confirmed the change of position by pressing the key  20  on the remote control  18  after he has made the selection symbol  30  overlap the position symbol  28 . 
         [0042]    The position symbol  28  is subsequently shown only in a dashed line, and preferably, following the change of position, it is no longer displayed at all and is depicted in this case only to improve understanding. Should the wearer  14  still keep his thumb on the key  20 , that is to say still touch it, for example, after the sudden change of position, the selection symbol  30  and the position symbol  26  continue to be displayed. As soon as the wearer  14  releases the key  20  on the remote control  18 , that is to say no longer touches it at all, the position symbol  26  and the selection symbol  30  are hidden. 
         [0043]    In the present case, the wearer  14  can look at the motor vehicle  24  diagonally from the side at the rear from the observation position B, and in this case too, the angle of vision with respect to the motor vehicle  24  is altered on the basis of sensed swivel movements of the head of the wearer  14 , the observation position remaining firmly at the observation position B. 
         [0044]    Should the wearer  14  again desire a change of position, he can again activate the movement or skip mode by touching the key  20  on the remote control  18 , which again shows the selection symbol  30  and the position symbol  26 . As soon as the wearer  14  has made the selection symbol  30  overlap the position symbol  26  by an appropriate head or eye movement, said position symbol is selected. As soon as the wearer  14  then presses the key  20 , a virtual change of position is again carried out from the observation position B to the observation position A, as a result of which the wearer  14  of the virtual reality spectacles  12  again looks at the motor vehicle  24  purely from the side, as shown in  FIGS. 2 ,  4  and  5 . 
         [0045]    Apart from at the observation positions A and B, it is also possible for further position symbols, not shown here, to be shown within the virtual surroundings  22 , so that the wearer  14  of the virtual reality spectacles  12  can change his virtual observation position within the virtual surroundings  22  in a similar manner to the procedure already described. Such position symbols can be displayed firstly in a distributed arrangement around the motor vehicle  24  and also in a distributed arrangement inside the motor vehicle  24 . The wearer  14  of the virtual reality spectacles  12  can therefore not only virtually skip from one observation position to the next, which is situated outside the motor vehicle  24 , but can also relocate his virtual observation position into the motor vehicle  24 , for example into the driver&#39;s seat of the motor vehicle  24 . 
         [0046]    The wearer  14  of the virtual reality spectacles  12  therefore does not move around the displayed motor vehicle  24  continuously; instead, he skips from one virtual observation position to the next within the virtual surroundings  22  in order to change his angle of vision or his perspective with respect to the displayed motor vehicle  24 . 
         [0047]    The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to preferred embodiments thereof and examples, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention covered by the claims which may include the phrase “at least one of A, B and C” as an alternative expression that means one or more of A, B and C may be used, contrary to the holding in  Superguide  v.  DIRECTV,  69 USPQ2d 1865 (Fed. Cir. 2004).