Patent Publication Number: US-9904359-B2

Title: Head-mounted display controlled by tapping, method for controlling the same and computer program product for controlling the same

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2014-0123344, filed on Sep. 17, 2014, and all the benefits accruing therefrom under 35 U.S.C. § 119, the contents of which in its entirety are herein incorporated by reference. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field 
     Embodiments relate to a head-mounted display (HMD), a method for controlling the same and a computer program product for controlling the same, and more particularly, to a HMD controlled by a tapping applied thereto without any additional controller and its controlling technique. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     A head-mounted display (HMD) is a portable display worn on the head of a user. A HMD is worn on the head like a goggle or helmet so that an image is focused near the eyes of the user. A user who is wearing the HMD may feel as if he/she is in a virtual reality since the entire visibility is covered by an image. For this reason, the HMD is applied to various fields for military, medical or personal purposes. 
     For example, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 1999-161190 discloses a technique for detecting a motion of a head portion of a user and controlling information displayed on a display device by using the detected result. However, in such conventional HMDs, the motion of a user is used just for changing a viewpoint displayed on the display device, and in order to control an event about the displayed information, a controller such as a touch pad, a game pad or the like is additionally required. 
     SUMMARY 
     An aspect of the present disclosure is directed to providing a head-mounted display (HMD) which is configured to control an image displayed on the HMD without any additional controller by using a tapping applied thereto as an input signal, a method for controlling the same and a computer program product for controlling the same. 
     A HMD according to an embodiment includes: a sensor unit; a display unit configured to display an image; and a control unit for measuring a tapping applied to the head-mounted display from a measurement value obtained by the sensor unit, and controlling the image displayed on the display unit by using the tapping as an input signal. 
     The control unit may detect tapping information applied to the head-mounted display by comparing the measurement value with a preset reference value. Herein, the tapping information may include presence, frequency, and location information of the tapping. In addition, the measurement value and the reference value may be based on at least one of a motion of a user who is wearing the head-mounted display and sound generated at the head-mounted display. 
     The control unit may be configured to change at least one of kind, output part, output form and playback speed of the image displayed on the display unit by using the tapping as the input signal. 
     A method for controlling a head-mounted display according to an embodiment includes: displaying an image on the head-mounted display; measuring a tapping applied to the head-mounted display; and controlling the image displayed on the head-mounted display by using the tapping as an input signal. 
     The measuring of a tapping may include detecting tapping information applied to the head-mounted display by comparing the measurement value, obtained by a sensor unit of the head-mounted display, with a preset reference value. Herein, the tapping information may include presence, frequency, and location information of the tapping. In addition, the measurement value and the reference value may be based on at least one of a motion of a user who is wearing the head-mounted display and sound generated at the head-mounted display. 
     The controlling of the image displayed on the head-mounted display may include changing at least one of kind, output part, output form and playback speed of the image displayed on the display unit by using the tapping as the input signal. 
     A computer program product according to an embodiment is configured to perform the method for controlling the HMD. The computer program product may be implemented or stored in a non-transitory medium. 
     When the HMD and its control method according to the present disclosure are used, since an image displayed on the HMD can be controlled by using a tapping applied to the HMD as an input signal, an event may be processed without any additional controller. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram showing a head-mounted display (HMD) according to an embodiment. 
         FIGS. 2A to 2E  are graphs showing waveforms of exemplary reference signals used in the HMD according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  is a graph showing a waveform of an exemplary reference signal used in the HMD according to an embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising”, or “includes” and/or “including” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, regions, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, regions, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. 
     Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and the present disclosure, and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein. In the drawings, like reference numerals denote like elements. However, in the description, details of well-known features and techniques may be omitted to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the presented embodiments. In addition, the shape, size and regions, and the like, of the drawing may be exaggerated for clarity and may not mean the actual dimension. 
     The embodiments described in the specification may be implemented as hardware entirely, hardware partially and software partially, or software entirely. In the specification, the term “unit”, “module”, “device”, “system” or the like indicates a computer-related entity like hardware, a combination of hardware and software, or software. For example, the term “unit”, “module”, “device”, “system” or the like used in the specification may be a process, a processor, an object, an executable file, a thread of execution, a program, and/or a computer, without being limited thereto. For example, both a computer and an application executed on the computer may correspond to the term “unit”, “module”, “device”, “system” or the like in the specification. 
     The embodiments have been described with reference to the flowchart shown in the figure. For brief explanation, the method has been illustrated and described as a series of blocks, but the present disclosure is not limited to the order of the blocks. In other words, some blocks may be executed simultaneously with other blocks or in a different order from those illustrated and described in this specification, and various diverges, flow paths, block sequences may also be implemented if they give the equivalent or similar results. In addition, in order to implement the method described in the specification, it is also possible not to demand all blocks. Further, the method for predicting a surgery stage may be implemented in the form of a computer program for executing a series of processes, and the computer program may also be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium. 
     Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram showing a head-mounted display (HMD) according to an embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the HMD includes a sensor unit  10 , a display unit  20 , and a control unit  30 . In one embodiment, the HMD may further include a communication unit  40  and/or a storage unit  50 . The HMD of this embodiment is configured to be worn on the head of a user, and may include one or more fixture units (not shown) as necessary. For example, depending on embodiments, the HMD may be implemented as a goggle or a helmet, without being limited thereto. 
     The HMD according to embodiments may be configured to be entirely hardware, entirely software, or partially hardware and partially software. For example, in this specification, each “unit” of the HMD may generally designate hardware and software for operating the hardware. In addition, the hardware may be a data processing unit including a central processing unit CPU or another processor. Moreover, the software may designate a process in execution, an object, an executable file, a thread of execution, a program or the like. 
     In addition, the units of the HMD according to embodiments are not necessarily intended to indicate physically distinguished components. In  FIG. 1 , the sensor unit  10 , the display unit  20  and the control unit  30  are depicted as blocks distinguished from each other, but depending on embodiments, all or a part of the sensor unit  10 , the display unit  20  and the control unit  30  may be integrated into a single element. For example, a smartphone equipped with a processing unit such as a microprocessor, an acceleration sensor and a touch screen may correspond to at least one of the sensor unit  10 , the display unit  20  and the control unit  30 , and this smartphone may be coupled to another member (not shown) mounted to the head of a user to configure a HMD of the present disclosure. In other words, the HMD disclosed in the specification may be a smartphone which may be mounted to the head of a user by using other elements. 
     The sensor unit  10  is used for obtaining a measurement value which is to be a basis for detecting a tapping applied to the HMD by the user. For example, the sensor unit  10  may include at least one sensor capable of measuring a motion of a user who is wearing the HMD, such as an accelerometer, a magnetometer and/or a gyroscope. In this case, the measurement value obtained by the sensor is compared with a reference value of a motion corresponding to the tapping to measure a tapping applied to the HMD. Alternatively, the sensor unit  10  may include at least one sensor capable of measuring sound, such as a microphone, and in this case, a tapping may be measured by using sound generated when the HMD is tapped. A detailed process for measuring a tapping will be described later in detail. 
     If the sensor unit  10  includes one or more sensors configured to measure a motion of a user, the measurement value of the sensor unit  10  may be used not only for detecting a tapping but also for changing a viewpoint corresponding to a displayed image according to a viewpoint of the user. By doing so, while outputting a part of a wide viewing angle image, a displayed portion of the image is moved according to the motion of the head of the user who is wearing the HMD so that the user may feel reality. This display pattern is substantially identical to that of an existing HMD. For example, if the user turns his head to the right, the entire image displayed on the display unit  20  is moved to the left so that the user may feel as if he turns his head to see a right side in a virtual space. However, this is just an example, and in another embodiment, the sensor unit  10  may also be provided just to measure a tapping applied to the HMD and a motion of the user may be measured by another device separate from the sensor unit  10 . 
     The display unit  20  is located near the eye(s) of the user to display an image. The display unit  20  may include a liquid crystal display device (LCD) or another suitable image display element. In addition, the display unit  20  may further include at least one optical element such as a convex lens so that the image displayed by the image display element is focused at or near the eye of the user. As used herein, the image displayed on the display unit  20  should be interpreted as including a single image such as a photograph or a series of successive images such as a video. For example, contents such as a moving picture containing video and/or audio may also be included in the image disclosed in this specification. 
     In an embodiment, the HMD may further include the communication unit  40 , and the image displayed on the display unit  20  may be received from a remote server (not shown) through a network by the communication unit  40 . For example, the communication unit  40  may receive an image in a streaming manner. In addition, the HMD may transmit data to a remote server through the communication unit  40 . In another embodiment, the image displayed on the display unit  20  may be stored in the storage unit  50  in advance. The storage unit  50  may store an image to be displayed on the display unit  20  or other additional data. 
     The control unit  30  is communicatively connected to the sensor unit  10  and the display unit  20  to detect a tapping applied to the HMD from the measurement value obtained by the sensor unit  10 . In addition, if a tapping is detected, the control unit  30  controls an image displayed on the display unit  20  by using the tapping as an input signal. The control unit  30  may process various events associated with the image by using the tapping as an input signal. Herein, the event may indicate a change of kind, output part, output form, playback speed or the like of the image. For example, the event may include selection of an image to be displayed; initiation or interception of playback of an image; in case the image is a time-lapse moving picture, switching of a display pattern such as fast forward, rewind, increase or decrease of a playback speed, increase or decrease of an output volume, and switching to a full screen mode; and an operation of a user interface such as selection of a menu, button or icon displayed on the image, without being limited thereto. If the image is a part of virtual reality (VR) or augmented reality (AR) application, an interaction with the application may be performed by tapping the HMD. 
     If a tapping is not applied to the HMD, the control unit  30  may control an image displayed on the display unit  20  so that a viewpoint corresponding to the image may change according to a motion of the user, similar to the conventional HMD. For example, if the user turns his head to the right, the control unit  30  moves the entire image displayed on the display unit  20  to the left. However, when a tapping applied to the HMD is detected from the measurement value obtained by the sensor unit  10 , the control unit  30  controls the image displayed on the display unit  10  by using the tapping as an input signal. Therefore, the user who is wearing the HMD of this embodiment may interact with the image just by tapping his head without any additional controller. 
     In an embodiment, the control unit  30  includes a tapping detection unit  31  and a reference value storage unit  32 . The tapping detection unit  31  is configured to detect a tapping applied to the HMD by comparing the measurement value obtained from the sensor unit  10  with a preset reference value stored in the reference value storage unit  32 . The tapping detection unit  31  is configured to detect a tapping applied to the HMD. In order to detect a tapping applied to the HMD, the tapping detection unit  31  may be configured to detect a tapping applied to a specific contact area (not shown) separately provided or may be configured to detect a tapping applied to any portion of the HMD. In addition, in an embodiment, the tapping detection unit  31  may be further configured to distinguish a portion of the HMD to which a tapping is applied. The measurement value of the sensor unit  10  and the reference value stored in the reference value storage unit  32  may have suitable formats depending on the kind of sensor provided in the sensor unit  10  to detect a tapping. 
     In an embodiment, the measurement value and the reference value may be respectively a signal based on a motion of a user who is wearing the HMD, and the signal based on a motion may use at least one of speed, acceleration, angular velocity and/or orientation. When the sensor unit  10  is composed of at least one sensor capable of measuring vibration, if the user taps a surface of any portion of the HMD, a signal intensity or a pattern of the vibration measured by the sensor unit  10  abruptly changes due to the vibration caused by the tapping. Therefore, the tapping detection unit  31  may distinguish a common motion of the head of the user from a tapping applied to the HMD, and if a tapping is detected instead of a common motion, the image may be controlled by using the tapping information as an input signal. 
     In another embodiment, the measurement value and the reference value may be respectively a signal based on sound generated at the HMD. When the sensor unit  10  is composed of at least one sensor capable of measuring sound, if the user taps a surface of the HMD, an intensity of signal measured by the sensor unit  10  increases. At this time, the tapping detection unit  31  may figure out that the HMD is tapped by means of the increased intensity of the signal measured by the sensor unit  10 , and the image may be controlled by using the tapping information as an input signal. 
     The process of detecting tapping information will be described in more detail. First, the tapping detection unit  31  may compare the measurement value of the sensor unit  10  with reference tapping signals, stored as a database in the reference value storage unit  32  in advance, by means of template matching to calculate similarity. The similarity may be calculated by using a normalized cross correlation algorithm. As a result, the similarity is calculated as in Equation 1 below. 
     
       
         
           
             
               
                 
                   
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     In Equation 1, S(x) represents a measurement signal of the sensor unit  10 , and T(x) represents a pre-stored reference tapping signal. δ S  and δ T  respectively represents standard deviations of measurement signals and reference signals, and S average  and T average  respectively represent averages of measurement signals and reference signals. If the similarity calculated through Equation 1 is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value for signals measured during a specific time period, the tapping detection unit  31  may determine that the HMD is tapped. 
     If reference signals are more specifically classified, the tapping detection unit  31  may not only detect presence and frequency of the tapping but also obtain tapping information including information about a tapped location. In other words, reference signals for upper, lower, right and lower directions of the HMD or reference signals at every location classified in another way may be stored in advance, and the measurement value of the sensor unit  10  may be compared with the reference signal of each location to determine that a location corresponding to a reference signal with highest similarity is tapped. 
     However, the above tapping information calculating process is just an example, and in a HMD of another embodiment, a tapping applied to the HMD may be detected in a different manner. 
       FIGS. 2A to 2E  are graphs showing waveforms of exemplary reference signals used in the HMD according to an embodiment, in which waveforms of reference signals using an accelerometer are depicted. 
     As shown in a dotted rectangle in each graph of  FIGS. 2A to 2E , a reference signal representing a tapping has a peak, where the measurement value abruptly increases, in a specific region due to a tapping. For example, in the peak, an acceleration measurement value may be about 8.5 m/s 2 , without being limited thereto. By comparing the measurement value of the sensor unit  10  with such a reference signal, it may be determined that a tapping occurs when the similarity is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value (for example, 70%). 
       FIG. 3  is a graph showing a waveform of an exemplary reference signal used in the HMD according to an embodiment, in which a waveform of a reference signal using sound is depicted. 
     Similar to the acceleration measurement value described above with reference to  FIGS. 2A to 2E , a reference signal using sound also has a peak, where the measurement value abruptly increases, in a specific region due to a tapping. For example, in the reference signal, a sound measurement value may be about −5 dB at the peak and also have a lowest value of about −75 dB, without being limited thereto. By comparing the measurement value of the sensor unit  10  with such a reference signal, it may be determined that a tapping occurs when the similarity is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value (for example, 70%). 
     However, the waveforms of reference signals described above with reference to  FIGS. 2 and 3  are just examples, and kind, waveform, signal intensity or the like of a reference signal for determining whether a measurement value of a sensor is a tapping or not may be suitably determined according to sensitivity of the used sensor or an application used. 
     Operations of the HMD described above and a method for controlling the same may be at least partially implemented using a computer program and recorded in a non-transitory, computer-readable recording medium. The computer-readable recording medium includes any kind of recording device where computer-readable data is stored. The computer-readable recording medium may be, for example, ROM, RAM, CD-ROM, a floppy disk, a floppy disk, an optical data storage or the like, and may also be implemented in a carrier wave form (for example, transmission through Internet). In addition, the computer-readable recording medium may be distributed to computer systems connected through a network so that computer-readable codes are stored and executed in a distribution way. Moreover, functional programs, codes and code segments for implementing the above embodiments may be easily understood by those skilled in the art. 
     While the exemplary embodiments have been shown and described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications in form and details may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure as defined by the appended claims. Therefore, the true protection scope of the present disclosure should be defined by the appended claims.