Patent ID: 12223104

The techniques introduced here may be better understood by referring to the following Detailed Description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals indicate identical or functionally similar elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to a partial passthrough system that allows users of a virtual reality device, such as a virtual reality headset, to view video of their environment without needing to remove or deactivate the virtual reality device or activate cumbersome controls. There are a variety of circumstances where users, interacting with a virtual reality environment, may need to see what is happening in at least part of the real world. For example, a user may be about to collide with a real-world object or may want to interact with a real-world object or person. However, existing virtual reality systems either require the user remove their virtual reality device or activate a control through a cumbersome set of menus to see the real world, unnecessarily removing them from the virtual reality experience. Therefore, a system is needed that can easily and/or automatically display a partial video feed of the user's environment, overlaid on a portion of the virtual environment, so the user can interact with real-world people and objects without needing to remove the virtual reality device or go through a series of UI controls or menus.

The partial passthrough system allows the user to view video of the real world when a trigger event occurs to initiate partial video passthrough. Examples of trigger events include when a user makes a particular gesture, when a user's hand exits a designated area, when a user's hand is within a threshold distance of a real-world object, when a user's hand is within a threshold distance of a physical surface, and combinations thereof. The partial video passthrough can provide a video feed of a portion of the user's actual environment overlaid on the virtual environment the user is viewing. Therefore, if the user needs to interact with objects in a vicinity of the user or with other people in the area, the user can cause a trigger event to access the video passthrough to see the user's environment in real time. Additional details on identifying a trigger event are provided below in relation to block502ofFIG.5.

In some cases, a user may designate a ‘task zone’ (e.g., an area on a desk) for interactions in a virtual environment. This task zone can be cleared of real-world objects to prevent the user's actions in the virtual environment from colliding with the real-world objects. This can include putting objects outside the task zone. However, the user may want to occasionally interact with these objects (e.g., take a sip of coffee). In this situation, a trigger event can include the user putting her hands through a virtual barrier defining the task zone or moving her hand within a threshold distance of the desk surface or another real-world object. In response to this trigger event, the partial passthrough system can automatically activate a partial video passthrough, allowing the user to see and interact with part of the real world, while otherwise maintaining the user's experience in the virtual reality environment. Additional details on implementations using a task zone are provided below in relation toFIG.6.

The partial video passthrough can be provided using cameras, on the virtual reality device and/or in the user environment, to capture the video to be overlaid on the virtual environment. In various implementations, the partial passthrough system can also determine the position of the user's hand using input from one or more sensors attached to the user's hand(s) and/or by analyzing the captured video to determine a position of a hand within the environment. The partial passthrough system can then select a part of the captured video and overlay that part on the virtual environment, based on the position of the user's hand. Additional details on capturing a video feed, identifying a portion, aligning that portion with part of the virtual reality environment, and adding the portion as an overlay according to the alignment are provided below in relation to blocks504-508ofFIG.5.

In various implementations, the selected portion of the captured video, and the corresponding overlay area in the virtual reality environment can take various forms. In some implementations, referred to herein as “halo” implementations, the selected portion can be an area around a user's hand that caused the trigger event. Additional details on halo implementations are provided below in relation toFIG.6. In other implementations, referred to herein as “flashlight” implementations, the selected portion can be an area determined by projecting a line out from the user's hand onto a real-world surface. Additional details on flashlight implementations are provided below in relation toFIG.7.

Embodiments of the disclosed technology may include or be implemented in conjunction with an artificial reality system. Artificial reality or extra reality (XR) is a form of reality that has been adjusted in some manner before presentation to a user, which may include, e.g., virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), mixed reality (MR), hybrid reality, or some combination and/or derivatives thereof. Artificial reality content may include completely generated content or generated content combined with captured content (e.g., real-world photographs). The artificial reality content may include video, audio, haptic feedback, or some combination thereof, any of which may be presented in a single channel or in multiple channels (such as stereo video that produces a three-dimensional effect to the viewer). Additionally, in some embodiments, artificial reality may be associated with applications, products, accessories, services, or some combination thereof, that are, e.g., used to create content in an artificial reality and/or used in (e.g., perform activities in) an artificial reality. The artificial reality system that provides the artificial reality content may be implemented on various platforms, including a head-mounted display (HMD) connected to a host computer system, a standalone HMD, a mobile device or computing system, a “cave” environment or other projection system, or any other hardware platform capable of providing artificial reality content to one or more viewers.

“Virtual reality” or “VR,” as used herein, refers to an immersive experience where a user's visual input is controlled by a computing system. “Augmented reality” or “AR” refers to systems where a user views images of the real world after they have passed through a computing system. For example, a tablet with a camera on the back can capture images of the real world and then display the images on the screen on the opposite side of the tablet from the camera. The tablet can process and adjust or “augment” the images as they pass through the system, such as by adding virtual objects. “Mixed reality” or “MR” refers to systems where light entering a user's eye is partially generated by a computing system and partially composes light reflected off objects in the real world. For example, a MR headset could be shaped as a pair of glasses with a pass-through display, which allows light from the real world to pass through a waveguide that simultaneously emits light from a projector in the MR headset, allowing the MR headset to present virtual objects intermixed with the real objects the user can see. “Artificial reality,” “extra reality,” or “XR,” as used herein, refers to any of VR, AR, MR, or any combination or hybrid thereof.

There are existing XR systems that provide virtual spaces. However, current XR systems do not have a mechanism for providing video passthrough overlaid on a portion of a virtual environment. Instead, a user must either use a series of menus or options to access a full video passthrough of the virtual environment (e.g., displaying only video to the user), deactivate the virtual reality device, or remove the virtual reality device. This may cause the user to lose progress on work completed or provide distractions to the user's work, causing unproductivity. The user also may also risk colliding with objects within the real-world environment (“the user's environment”) while they work within the virtual environment. For example, while a user is working within the virtual environment, the user may accidentally collide with a water bottle or coffee cup and cause a spill, which could damage computing equipment, including the virtual reality computing system. In another example, the user may need to urgently speak with a person entering the room, and the user may not have the time to go through menus to access full video passthrough, deactivate the virtual reality device, or remove the virtual reality device.

Aspects of the invention provide improvements in the functioning of existing virtual reality computing systems. Cameras and/or sensors are used to identify an area within a user's environment indicated by the hand of the user. Then, a video stream of the indicated area is provided to the user via a virtual reality device as an overlay over a virtual environment the user is viewing, allowing the user to see both the virtual environment and the indicated area in the real world simultaneously. Showing the video stream as an overlay allows the user to accomplish tasks both in the virtual environment and outside the virtual environment (e.g., interact with objects or other people in the user's environment) without needing to deactivate and/or remove the virtual reality device.

One embodiment of the disclosed technology utilizes cameras and/or sensors to detect a position of the hand of the user within a dedicated workspace within the user environment. When the user's hand passes out of the dedicated workspace, the cameras and/or sensors detect a location of the user's hand within the user environment. Video of the area around the user's hand is then provided as an overlay for a virtual environment being viewed by the user in the virtual reality device, allowing the user to view and interact with objects outside of the dedicated work space within the user's environment.

A second embodiment of the disclosed technology utilizes cameras and/or sensors to detect the hand of the user. A user hand gesture is then detected, for example using image recognition technology or some other technology. When the hand gesture is detected, the cameras and/or sensors detect an area in the user environment the gesture is pointing to. Video for that area is provided as an overlay for the virtual environment via the virtual reality device.

Several implementations are discussed below in more detail in reference to the figures.FIG.1is a block diagram illustrating an overview of devices on which some implementations of the disclosed technology can operate. The devices can comprise hardware components of a computing system100that provide a partial passthrough video feed to a virtual reality device. In various implementations, computing system100can include a single computing device103or multiple computing devices (e.g., computing device101, computing device102, and computing device103) that communicate over wired or wireless channels to distribute processing and share input data. In some implementations, computing system100can include a stand-alone headset capable of providing a computer created or augmented experience for a user without the need for external processing or sensors. In other implementations, computing system100can include multiple computing devices such as a headset and a core processing component (such as a console, mobile device, or server system) where some processing operations are performed on the headset and others are offloaded to the core processing component. Example headsets are described below in relation toFIGS.2A and2B. In some implementations, position and environment data can be gathered only by sensors incorporated in the headset device, while in other implementations one or more of the non-headset computing devices can include sensor components that can track environment or position data.

Computing system100can include one or more processor(s)110(e.g., central processing units (CPUs), graphical processing units (GPUs), holographic processing units (HPUs), etc.) Processors110can be a single processing unit or multiple processing units in a device or distributed across multiple devices (e.g., distributed across two or more of computing devices101-103).

Computing system100can include one or more input devices120that provide input to the processors110, notifying them of actions. The actions can be mediated by a hardware controller that interprets the signals received from the input device and communicates the information to the processors110using a communication protocol. Each input device120can include, for example, a mouse, a keyboard, a touchscreen, a touchpad, a wearable input device (e.g., a haptics glove, a bracelet, a ring, an earring, a necklace, a watch, etc.), a camera (or other light-based input device, e.g., an infrared sensor), a microphone, or other user input devices.

Processors110can be coupled to other hardware devices, for example, with the use of an internal or external bus, such as a PCI bus, SCSI bus, or wireless connection. The processors110can communicate with a hardware controller for devices, such as for a display130. Display130can be used to display text and graphics. In some implementations, display130includes the input device as part of the display, such as when the input device is a touchscreen or is equipped with an eye direction monitoring system. In some implementations, the display is separate from the input device. Examples of display devices are: an LCD display screen, an LED display screen, a projected, holographic, or augmented reality display (such as a heads-up display device or a head-mounted device), and so on. Other I/O devices140can also be coupled to the processor, such as a network chip or card, video chip or card, audio chip or card, USB, firewire or other external device, camera, printer, speakers, CD-ROM drive, DVD drive, disk drive, etc.

Computing system100can include a communication device capable of communicating wirelessly or wire-based with other local computing devices or a network node. The communication device can communicate with another device or a server through a network using, for example, TCP/IP protocols. Computing system100can utilize the communication device to distribute operations across multiple network devices.

The processors110can have access to a memory150, which can be contained on one of the computing devices of computing system100or can be distributed across of the multiple computing devices of computing system100or other external devices. A memory includes one or more hardware devices for volatile or non-volatile storage, and can include both read-only and writable memory. For example, a memory can include one or more of random access memory (RAM), various caches, CPU registers, read-only memory (ROM), and writable non-volatile memory, such as flash memory, hard drives, floppy disks, CDs, DVDs, magnetic storage devices, tape drives, and so forth. A memory is not a propagating signal divorced from underlying hardware; a memory is thus non-transitory. Memory150can include program memory160that stores programs and software, such as an operating system162, partial passthrough system164, and other application programs166. Memory150can also include data memory170that can include virtual reality environment data, configuration data, settings, user options or preferences, etc., which can be provided to the program memory160or any element of the computing system100.

Some implementations can be operational with numerous other computing system environments or configurations. Examples of computing systems, environments, and/or configurations that may be suitable for use with the technology include, but are not limited to, XR headsets, personal computers, server computers, handheld or laptop devices, cellular telephones, wearable electronics, gaming consoles, tablet devices, multiprocessor systems, microprocessor-based systems, set-top boxes, programmable consumer electronics, network PCs, minicomputers, mainframe computers, distributed computing environments that include any of the above systems or devices, or the like.

FIG.2Ais a wire diagram of a virtual reality head-mounted display (HMD)200, in accordance with some embodiments. The HMD200includes a front rigid body205and a band210. The front rigid body205includes one or more electronic display elements of an electronic display245, an inertial motion unit (IMU)215, one or more position sensors220, locators225, and one or more compute units230. The position sensors220, the IMU215, and compute units230may be internal to the HMD200and may not be visible to the user. In various implementations, the IMU215, position sensors220, and locators225can track movement and location of the HMD200in the real world and in a virtual environment in three degrees of freedom (3DoF) or six degrees of freedom (6DoF). For example, the locators225can emit infrared light beams which create light points on real objects around the HMD200. As another example, the IMU215can include e.g., one or more accelerometers, gyroscopes, magnetometers, other non-camera-based position, force, or orientation sensors, or combinations thereof. One or more cameras (not shown) integrated with the HMD200can detect the light points. Compute units230in the HMD200can use the detected light points to extrapolate position and movement of the HMD200as well as to identify the shape and position of the real objects surrounding the HMD200.

The electronic display245can be integrated with the front rigid body205and can provide image light to a user as dictated by the compute units230. In various embodiments, the electronic display245can be a single electronic display or multiple electronic displays (e.g., a display for each user eye). Examples of the electronic display245include: a liquid crystal display (LCD), an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display, an active-matrix organic light-emitting diode display (AMOLED), a display including one or more quantum dot light-emitting diode (QOLED) sub-pixels, a projector unit (e.g., microLED, LASER, etc.), some other display, or some combination thereof.

In some implementations, the HMD200can be coupled to a core processing component such as a personal computer (PC) (not shown) and/or one or more external sensors (not shown). The external sensors can monitor the HMD200(e.g., via light emitted from the HMD200) which the PC can use, in combination with output from the IMU215and position sensors220, to determine the location and movement of the HMD200.

FIG.2Bis a wire diagram of a mixed reality HMD system250which includes a mixed reality HMD252and a core processing component254. The mixed reality HMD252and the core processing component254can communicate via a wireless connection (e.g., a 60 GHz link) as indicated by link256. In other implementations, the mixed reality system250includes a headset only, without an external compute device or includes other wired or wireless connections between the mixed reality HMD252and the core processing component254. The mixed reality HMD252includes a pass-through display258and a frame260. The frame260can house various electronic components (not shown) such as light projectors (e.g., LASERs, LEDs, etc.), cameras, eye-tracking sensors, MEMS components, networking components, etc.

The projectors can be coupled to the pass-through display258, e.g., via optical elements, to display media to a user. The optical elements can include one or more waveguide assemblies, reflectors, lenses, mirrors, collimators, gratings, etc., for directing light from the projectors to a user's eye. Image data can be transmitted from the core processing component254via link256to HMD252. Controllers in the HMD252can convert the image data into light pulses from the projectors, which can be transmitted via the optical elements as output light to the user's eye. The output light can mix with light that passes through the display258, allowing the output light to present virtual objects that appear as if they exist in the real world.

Similarly to the HMD200, the HMD system250can also include motion and position tracking units, cameras, light sources, etc., which allow the HMD system250to, e.g., track itself in 3DoF or 6DoF, track portions of the user (e.g., hands, feet, head, or other body parts), map virtual objects to appear as stationary as the HMD252moves, and have virtual objects react to gestures and other real-world objects.

FIG.2Cillustrates controllers270, which, in some implementations, a user can hold in one or both hands to interact with an artificial reality environment presented by the HMD200and/or HMD250. The controllers270can be in communication with the HMDs, either directly or via an external device (e.g., core processing component254). The controllers can have their own IMU units, position sensors, and/or can emit further light points. The HMD200or250, external sensors, or sensors in the controllers can track these controller light points to determine the controller positions and/or orientations (e.g., to track the controllers in 3DoF or 6DoF). The compute units230in the HMD200or the core processing component254can use this tracking, in combination with IMU and position output, to monitor hand positions and motions of the user. The controllers can also include various buttons (e.g., buttons272A-F) and/or joysticks (e.g., joysticks274A-B), which a user can actuate to provide input and interact with objects.

In various implementations, the HMD200or250can also include additional subsystems, such as an eye tracking unit, an audio system, various network components, etc. To monitor indications of user interactions and intentions. For example, in some implementations, instead of or in addition to controllers, one or more cameras included in the HMD200or250, or from external cameras, can monitor the positions and poses of the user's hands to determine gestures and other hand and body motions.

FIG.3is a block diagram illustrating an overview of an environment300in which some implementations of the disclosed technology can operate. Environment300can include one or more client computing devices305A-D, examples of which can include computing system100. In some implementations, some of the client computing devices (e.g., client computing device305B) can be the HMD200or the HMD system250. Client computing devices305can operate in a networked environment using logical connections through network330to one or more remote computers, such as a server computing device.

In some implementations, server310can be an edge server which receives client requests and coordinates fulfillment of those requests through other servers, such as servers320A-C. Server computing devices310and320can comprise computing systems, such as computing system100. Though each server computing device310and320is displayed logically as a single server, server computing devices can each be a distributed computing environment encompassing multiple computing devices located at the same or at geographically disparate physical locations.

Client computing devices305and server computing devices310and320can each act as a server or client to other server/client device(s). Server310can connect to a database315. Servers320A-C can each connect to a corresponding database325A-C. As discussed above, each server310or320can correspond to a group of servers, and each of these servers can share a database or can have their own database. Though databases315and325are displayed logically as single units, databases315and325can each be a distributed computing environment encompassing multiple computing devices, can be located within their corresponding server, or can be located at the same or at geographically disparate physical locations.

Network330can be a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), a mesh network, a hybrid network, or other wired or wireless networks. Network330may be the Internet or some other public or private network. Client computing devices305can be connected to network330through a network interface, such as by wired or wireless communication. While the connections between server310and servers320are shown as separate connections, these connections can be any kind of local, wide area, wired, or wireless network, including network330or a separate public or private network.

FIG.4is a block diagram illustrating components400which, in some implementations, can be used in a system employing the disclosed technology. Components400can be included in one device of computing system100or can be distributed across multiple of the devices of computing system100. The components400include hardware410, mediator420, and specialized components430. As discussed above, a system implementing the disclosed technology can use various hardware including processing units412, working memory414, input and output devices416(e.g., cameras, displays, IMU units, network connections, etc.), and storage memory418. In various implementations, storage memory418can be one or more of: local devices, interfaces to remote storage devices, or combinations thereof. For example, storage memory418can be one or more hard drives or flash drives accessible through a system bus or can be a cloud storage provider (such as in storage315or325) or other network storage accessible via one or more communications networks. In various implementations, components400can be implemented in a client computing device such as client computing devices305or on a server computing device, such as server computing device310or320.

Mediator420can include components which mediate resources between hardware410and specialized components430. For example, mediator420can include an operating system, services, drivers, a basic input output system (BIOS), controller circuits, or other hardware or software systems.

Specialized components430can include software or hardware configured to perform operations for providing partial video passthrough in a virtual reality environment. Specialized components430can include a sensor and camera module434, a virtual environment module436, an image recognition module438, a partial passthrough module440, and components and APIs which can be used for providing user interfaces, transferring data, and controlling the specialized components, such as interfaces432. In some implementations, components400can be in a computing system that is distributed across multiple computing devices or can be an interface to a server-based application executing one or more of specialized components430. Although depicted as separate components, specialized components430may be logical or other nonphysical differentiations of functions and/or may be submodules or code-blocks of one or more applications.

Sensor and camera module434can receive data from one or more sensors, such as radar sensors, LIDAR sensors, ultrasonic sensors, other forms of range finding sensors, depth sensors, and other types of sensors, and/or one or more cameras. This data is then provided to one or more other modules of the specialized components430. In some implementations, the sensor and camera module434can execute one or more functions to perform formatting on any raw received data from the one or more sensors and/or cameras into a format that other specialized components430can use for performing each component's respective functionality. Additional details on capturing data from sensors and/or cameras are provided below in relation to block502ofFIG.5.

Virtual environment module436can provide a virtual environment to a user (e.g., a user of a virtual reality device, such as HMD200). In various implementations, the virtual environment illustrates virtual objects. For example, the virtual environment can include product or logo designs, blueprints, social interaction platforms, games, work applications, or any other type of content. The virtual environment module may also allow for manipulation of the virtual objects. For example, in various implementations, the user may zoom in or out of the virtual environment, may transition between multiple different views of the same virtual environment or different virtual environments, may select and manipulate (e.g., position, size, modify, etc.) virtual objects in the virtual environment, and perform other operations to manipulate the virtual environment. In some implementations, the virtual environment module436provides access to the virtual environment to the partial passthrough module440and receives, from the partial passthrough module440, video data to overlay on the virtual environment in a location defined by the partial passthrough module440.

Image recognition module438can receive video data from the sensor and camera module434and can analyze the video data using one or more image recognition algorithms and/or machine learning models to detect the user's hand and/or other objects within the user's real-world environment. The image recognition module438can provide any recognized objects and the locations of recognized objects in the user's real-world environment to the partial passthrough module440. Additional details on recognizing objects from sensor and video data are provided below in relation to blocks502-504ofFIG.5.

Partial passthrough module440can receive access to the virtual environment from the virtual environment module436, the location of any recognized objects in the user's real-world environment from the image recognition module438, and the sensor and/or camera data from the sensor and camera module434. Using these inputs, the partial passthrough module440can determine what video data should be displayed as the partial passthrough video feed. The video data to be displayed as the partial passthrough video feed is determined based on a recognized object (a hand, a person, or another object) and a desired size of a passthrough area (determined as described below with regards to block504ofFIG.5). Once the hand passthrough video feed is determined, the partial passthrough module440determines a location within the virtual environment that corresponds to the location of the hand passthrough video feed in the user's real-world environment. The partial passthrough module440then passes the hand passthrough video feed to the virtual environment module436, which displays the hand passthrough video feed over the virtual environment at the location in the virtual environment corresponding to the location of the identified object in the user's real-world environment. Additional details on providing a partial video passthrough are provided below in relation to blocks504-508ofFIG.5.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the components illustrated inFIGS.1-4described above, and in each of the flow diagrams discussed below, may be altered in a variety of ways. For example, the order of the logic may be rearranged, substeps may be performed in parallel, illustrated logic may be omitted, other logic may be included, etc. In some implementations, one or more of the components described above can execute one or more of the processes described below.

FIG.5is a flow diagram illustrating a process500used in some implementations for providing partial video passthrough for a virtual reality device. In some implementations, process500can be initiated upon startup of a virtual reality device and run as a background process while the user operates the virtual reality device. In other implementations, the process500is initiated based on a particular context. For example, the process500may start only when the user is sitting at a desk or other workstation or when the user actuates an input mechanism. In some implementations, the input mechanism may be a physical input mechanism, such as a button or switch on the HMD200. In other implementations, the input mechanism may be a software input mechanism, such as the selection of an element of a graphical user interface or the selection of an option from a series of menus.

At block502, the process500detects a hand passthrough trigger event. In some implementations of the technology, the hand passthrough trigger event is detected based on input from one or more cameras and/or sensors (such as depth sensors, infrared sensors, LIDAR sensors, and other forms of sensors). The hand passthrough trigger event may be, in some implementations of the technology, a detection of a hand of the user leaving a dedicated workspace, such as a defined area on a desktop, a defined three-dimensional space in front of the user, or another workspace. For example, a workspace may be defined as a volume with particular dimensions on a desktop of the user, such as three feet in length, two feet in width, and one foot in height. While the user's hands are within the workspace, a virtual reality system displays a virtual environment. When one of the user's hands leaves this defined workspace, as detected by a camera and/or one or more sensors, the process500detects this as a hand passthrough trigger event. In other implementations, if the hand leaves the workspace and is within a threshold distance of the desk surface (e.g., 3 inches, 6 inches, 1 foot, etc.), a hand passthrough trigger event is detected, but if the user's hand leaves the workspace above the threshold distance from the workspace surface, no hand passthrough event trigger is detected.

In other implementations of the technology, the hand passthrough trigger event is a hand gesture made by the user. For example, the user may make a gesture such as pointing a fist outward from their body, pointing an open palm outward from their body, closing the hand and pointing it outward from their body as if holding a flashlight, pointing an index finger in a direction and pointing a thumb upwards (a “hand gun” gesture), making a pinching motion with two or more fingers and/or the thumb, pointing with only one finger or the thumb at a location, or another hand gesture. When cameras detect this hand gesture using image recognition technology, a hand passthrough trigger event is detected.

In yet other implementations of the technology, the process500can detect a hand passthrough trigger based on a prediction that a collision will occur between the user's hand (or other body part) and an object within the user's environment. For example, one or more of the cameras and/or sensors may identify that a user's hand is about to collide with a water bottle on a desktop. The one or more cameras and/or sensors may use a kinematic model to track hand velocity and trajectory in order to determine if a hand is about collide with the object. If the potential collision is detected, process500can detect the hand passthrough trigger event.

In some implementations of the technology, process500can detect a hand passthrough trigger based on the user's hand being within a threshold distance (e.g., 2 inches, 6 inches, 8 inches, etc.) of a real-world object. For example, one or more of the cameras and/or sensors may identify that a user's hand has moved to within 6 inches of a coffee mug, causing process500to detect the trigger event.

In further implementations of the technology, the hand passthrough trigger event may be a user activating a control, such as a button or switch on the virtual reality device or an associated controller, or may be detected in response to a voice command from a user being detected by one or more microphones.

At block504, the process500identifies a hand passthrough video feed. In some implementations of the technology, the process500identifies a passthrough area surrounding a hand of the user to allow for partial video passthrough. For example, the passthrough area surrounding the user's hand may be a “halo” or other circular or oval shape that surrounds the hand, or an area defined by an offset from outer contours of a user's hand, and allows the user to view objects within the immediate vicinity of the hand. In other implementations the passthrough area may be a “flashlight,” or a projected circle or oval that allows the user to view objects within the user environment based on where the user is pointing their hand. In further implementations, the process500may only identify particular objects to overlay into the virtual environment, such as an object the user's hand may potentially collide with or that is in the vicinity of the user's hand in the user's environment.

The process500identifies a hand passthrough video feed by identifying, using image recognition technology, a controlling hand and/or triggering object(s). Once the hand or objects are identified, the process500determines a size of the passthrough area. The size of the passthrough area may be fixed or may be variable. If the size is fixed, the size may be preset “out of the box,” or before the user operates the virtual reality system for the first time or may be set as a user option. If the size is variable, an environmental context may be used to set the size. For example, the size of the passthrough area may be determined based on a distance between the hand and one or more objects that would be shown in the passthrough area, and may grow or shrink in size as the user's hand approaches the object(s). For example, the radius of a flashlight passthrough circle projected on a real-world surface may be proportional to a distance between the user's hand and that surface. The size of the passthrough area may also be controllable using one or more hand gestures. For example, a user may use two hands to make a stretching or widening gesture to increase the size of the area or the radius of a flashlight passthrough circle or the size of the halo area around the user's hand may be proportional to a distance between the user's hands.

If the hand passthrough video feed is a flashlight passthrough video feed, the process500projects a ray from the user's hand in a direction, such as straight out, curved, down, or straight down. A contact point is identified with a real-world object, such as a coffee cup or a person, and the hand passthrough video feed is taken from the area around the contact point. If the hand passthrough video feed is triggered as a user's hand is approaching contact with an object, the hand passthrough video feed can be taken from video of the object and, optionally, an area within a threshold distance around the object.

At block506, the process500aligns the hand passthrough video feed of the passthrough area with the virtual environment. Process500can accomplish this by matching coordinates associated with the hand passthrough video feed to coordinates in the virtual environment. In some implementations, this includes matching the hand passthrough video feed to a determined location of the user's hand in the virtual environment. The process500can determine the location of the user's hand in the user environment using data from a combination of one or more cameras and one or more sensors. Next, the process500can determine a location within the virtual environment corresponding to the position of the hand or object in the user environment. In other implementations, the process500can match a location of objects in the user's environment that will be passed through for overlay on the virtual environment with a corresponding location in the virtual environment. Based on the matching of the location of the user's hand or an object in the user environment to a location within the virtual environment, the process500can accurately align the hand passthrough video feed in the virtual environment. By aligning the hand passthrough video feed with the virtual environment, the hand passthrough video feed allows the user to have a depth-accurate view of the user environment to aid in interacting with objects. The process500continues to track the location of the hand and/or objects and constantly provide the hand passthrough video feed in different portions of the virtual environment.

At block508, the process500overlays the hand passthrough video feed (determined at block504) on the virtual environment based on the alignment performed in block506. The hand passthrough video feed is provided within the passthrough area so the user may interact with objects and/or other people. The portion of the virtual environment that would normally be displayed at the location of the passthrough area is replaced by the hand passthrough video feed. The hand passthrough video feed can be presented unmodified or as partially opaque, allowing the user to “see through” to the virtual environment while being able to view part of the real world. In some implementations, the edge(s) of the hand passthrough video feed could “fade,” or gradually transition using a video effect, into the virtual environment.

FIG.6is a conceptual diagram illustrating an example600of halo partial video passthrough being overlaid on a virtual environment610in some implementations employing the disclosed technology. In the example600, a hand615of the user passes through a virtual wall620of the virtual environment610below a defined threshold height625. When the hand615passes through the virtual wall620of the virtual environment below the defined threshold height625, a hand passthrough event trigger is detected as described at block502. Then, the process500determines what will be included in the hand passthrough video feed, such as the size of the halo of the passthrough605, as described at block504. In example600, the size of the halo is defined as an area offset from both A) the contours of the hand615and B) an object630that the hand615is within a threshold distance of. The process500aligns the hand passthrough video feed within the virtual environment by receiving data from one or more cameras and/or sensors as described with regards to block506of Figure. The process500then displays object630, such as a coffee cup, in the user's real-world environment overlaid on the virtual environment610in the halo of the partial passthrough605.

FIG.7is a conceptual diagram illustrating an example700of a flashlight partial video passthrough705being overlaid on a virtual environment715in some implementations employing the disclosed technology. In example700, one or more sensors and/or cameras detect a hand gesture of a hand710of the user. The hand gesture of the hand710of the user is detected as a hand passthrough event. When the hand gesture is detected, the process500determines a location (illustrated by the flashlight partial passthrough705) in the user's real-world environment that the hand gesture is pointing to. For example, as discussed with regards to block504ofFIG.5, the process500can identify a contact point of a “ray” extended out from the user's hand710and provide a video feed of the location of the contact point and an area around the contact point as the hand passthrough video feed. In example700, there is a real-world person in the area the user is pointing at. The process500aligns the hand passthrough video feed with a corresponding location in the virtual environment. As discussed with regards to block506ofFIG.5, the process500aligns the hand passthrough video feed by identifying a location of the contact point within the user's environment and then determining a location within the virtual environment corresponding to the location of the contact point. For example, the location of the contact point in the user's environment can correspond to a point on a virtual wall in the virtual environment715. The process500then overlays the hand passthrough video feed on the corresponding location of the contact point in the virtual environment715, displaying the portion of the user's environment they are pointing to within the flashlight partial passthrough705.

Reference in this specification to “implementations” (e.g., “some implementations,” “various implementations,” “one implementation,” “an implementation,” etc.) means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the implementation is included in at least one implementation of the disclosure. The appearances of these phrases in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same implementation, nor are separate or alternative implementations mutually exclusive of other implementations. Moreover, various features are described which may be exhibited by some implementations and not by others. Similarly, various requirements are described which may be requirements for some implementations but not for other implementations.

As used herein, being above a threshold means that a value for an item under comparison is above a specified other value, that an item under comparison is among a certain specified number of items with the largest value, or that an item under comparison has a value within a specified top percentage value. As used herein, being below a threshold means that a value for an item under comparison is below a specified other value, that an item under comparison is among a certain specified number of items with the smallest value, or that an item under comparison has a value within a specified bottom percentage value. As used herein, being within a threshold means that a value for an item under comparison is between two specified other values, that an item under comparison is among a middle-specified number of items, or that an item under comparison has a value within a middle-specified percentage range. Relative terms, such as high or unimportant, when not otherwise defined, can be understood as assigning a value and determining how that value compares to an established threshold. For example, the phrase “selecting a fast connection” can be understood to mean selecting a connection that has a value assigned corresponding to its connection speed that is above a threshold.

As used herein, the word “or” refers to any possible permutation of a set of items. For example, the phrase “A, B, or C” refers to at least one of A, B, C, or any combination thereof, such as any of: A; B; C; A and B; A and C; B and C; A, B, and C; or multiple of any item such as A and A; B, B, and C; A, A, B, C, and C; etc.

Although the subject matter has been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Specific embodiments and implementations have been described herein for purposes of illustration, but various modifications can be made without deviating from the scope of the embodiments and implementations. The specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims that follow. Accordingly, the embodiments and implementations are not limited except as by the appended claims.

Any patents, patent applications, and other references noted above are incorporated herein by reference. Aspects can be modified, if necessary, to employ the systems, functions, and concepts of the various references described above to provide yet further implementations. If statements or subject matter in a document incorporated by reference conflicts with statements or subject matter of this application, then this application shall control.