Patent ID: 12242064

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Disclosed herein are embodiments of head-mounted display units that are configured for operating in low-light conditions, such as at night and/or when a user might otherwise use scotopic or mesopic vision to view the environment. More particularly, the head-mounted display units include one or more sensors configured to observe the environment and/or to detect objects in low-light conditions, which may include one or more of an infrared sensor, a depth sensor, and/or an ultrasound sensor. The head-mounted display unit provides content according to the sensors, which may include providing graphical content (e.g., displaying one or more of stored images, renderings of objects, graphical indicators).

Referring toFIGS.1and2, a display system100includes a head-mounted display unit102. The display system100may be configured to provide a computer generated reality, as discussed below. The display system100generally includes a head support110, one or more displays120, and one or more sensors130coupled the head support110, which cooperatively form the head-mounted display unit102. The head support110may, for example, include a chassis112and a head-engagement mechanism114coupled to the chassis112. The one or more displays120and the one or more sensors130are coupled to the chassis112, while the head-engagement mechanism114engages the head H of the user for supporting the displays120for displaying graphical content to eyes of the user. The one or more displays120may each be configured as a display panel (e.g., a liquid crystal display panel (LCD), light-emitting diode display panel (LED), organic light-emitting diode display panel (e.g., OLED)), or as a projector (e.g., that projects light onto a reflector back to the eyes of the user), and may further be considered to include any associated optical components (e.g., lenses or reflectors). The sensors130are configured to sense the environment and are discussed below with reference toFIG.4.

The display system100further includes a controller140and other electronics150. The controller140and the other electronics150may be coupled to the head-mounted display unit102(e.g., to the chassis), be provided separate from and operatively connectable to the head-mounted display unit102(e.g., wired or wirelessly to transfer signals and/or power therebetween), or be partially coupled to the head-mounted display unit102(e.g., with various components of the controller140and/or the electronics150being coupled to the head-mounted display unit102and other components thereof being operatively connectable thereto). The controller140controls various operations of the display system100, for example, sensing various conditions with the sensors130and providing content with the display120according thereto. An example hardware configuration for the controller140is discussed below with reference toFIG.3. The other electronics150may include, for example, power electronics (e.g., a battery), communications devices (e.g., modems and/or radios for communicating wirelessly with other devices), and/or other output devices (e.g., speakers for aural output, haptic devices for tactile output).

Referring toFIG.3, the controller140is a computing device configured to implement the systems and methods described herein. The controller140generally includes a processor342, a memory344, a storage346, a communications interface348, and a bus349allowing communication therebetween. The processor342may be any suitable processor, such as a central processing unit (CPU) configured to execute instructions. The memory344is a short-term volatile memory (e.g., random access memory module). The storage346is a long-term, non-volatile memory that stores software programming containing the instructions executed by the processor342(e.g., a hard disk or solid-state drive). The communications interface348sends and receives signals from and to the controller140, such as from and to other electronic components of the display system100(e.g., the displays120, the sensors130, and/or the other electronics150). While the controller140is illustrated as a singular device, various of the components thereof may be provided in any suitable manner, and the controller140may include fewer and/or more components. For example, the controller140may be considered to include processing devices or other electronic hardware particularly associated with each of the sensors.

Referring toFIG.4, the sensors130include one or more infrared sensors432, one or more depth sensors434, and/or one or more ultrasonic sensors436, which face outward from the head-mounted display unit102to observe the environment E. The sensors130also include one or more visible light cameras438that face outward from the head-mounted display unit102to observe the environment, as well as one or more movement sensors440that detects the position, orientation, and/or movement of the head-mounted display unit102.

The infrared sensor432detects infrared light in the environment. The infrared sensor432may be any suitable type of infrared sensor for detecting electromagnetic radiation in the infrared frequency ranges. In one example, the infrared sensor432is an infrared camera, which captures images (e.g., video) in the infrared frequency ranges using an image sensor, such as a charge-coupled device (CCD) or complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) sensor, and other suitable hardware components (e.g., an image processor). Images captured by the infrared sensor432may be referred to as IR images. The infrared sensor432may be a passive sensor that observes infrared radiation emitted or reflected by objects in the environment. Alternatively, the infrared sensor432may include an infrared illuminator, which emits electromagnetic radiation in the infrared frequency range to thereby illuminate the environment and objects therein.

Information about the environment obtained and/or derived from (e.g., after processing) the infrared sensor432may be referred to as infrared sensor data552. As discussed in further detail below, the infrared sensor data552may be processed, stored, and/or used to determine graphical content in different manners.

The depth sensor434detects the environment and, in particular, detects the depth (e.g., distance) therefrom to objects of the environment. The depth sensor434generally includes an illuminator434aand a detector434b. The illuminator434aemits electromagnetic radiation (e.g., infrared light) from the head-mounted display unit102into the environment. The detector434bobserves the electromagnetic radiation reflected off objects in the environment. In two specific examples, the depth sensor434is a depth camera that uses structured light or time of flight. In the case of the depth sensor434being a structured light sensor, the illuminator434aprojects a pattern of electromagnetic radiation in the infrared frequency ranges (e.g., a grid or array of infrared dots, such as tens of thousands of dots), while the detector434bis a camera that captures images of the pattern of the infrared light as reflected by objects in the environment, which may be referred to as structured light images. The structured light images are then analyzed (e.g., by the controller140) to determine the depth (e.g., distances) from the depth sensor434to the objects of the environment (or points thereon), for example, by analyzing deformation of the light pattern as reflected off the objects. The detector434bmay be a camera that includes an image sensor, such as a charge-coupled device (CCD) or complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) sensor, and other suitable hardware components (e.g., an image processor). In the case of the depth sensor434being a time-of-flight camera, the illuminator434aprojects electromagnetic radiation, while the detector434bis a suitable camera according to which the time of flight is measured of the electromagnetic radiation emitted from the illuminator434aas reflected off the object to determine distances thereto. The depth sensor434may operate in different frequency ranges of the electromagnetic radiation spectrum than the infrared sensor432, so as to not detect or otherwise be sensitive to electromagnetic radiation of the other (e.g., using appropriate filters, camera image sensors, and/or illuminators and the projector434ain suitable frequency ranges). In other examples, the depth sensor434may be a radar detection and ranging sensor (RADAR) or a light detection and ranging sensor (LIDAR). It should be noted that one or multiple types of depth sensors434may be utilized, for example, incorporating one or more of a structured light sensor, a time-of-flight camera, a RADAR sensor, and/or a LIDAR sensor. In one preferred embodiment, the depth sensors434include only the structured light sensor.

Information about the environment obtained and/or derived from (e.g., after processing) the depth sensor434may be referred to as depth sensor data554. As discussed in further detail below, the depth sensor data554may be processed, stored, and/or used to determine graphical content in different manners.

The ultrasonic sensor436detects the environment using ultrasonic sound waves. The ultrasonic sensor436may, for example, include an ultrasonic transmitter that transmits ultrasonic sound waves and an ultrasonic receiver that detects those ultrasonic sound waves reflected by physical objects in the environment, or may alternatively use an include an ultrasonic transceiver that performs the function of both the ultrasonic transmitter and the ultrasonic receiver. The ultrasonic sound waves are then processed, such as by the controller140or another suitable processor, to identify and/or locate features of an environment. Advantageously, the ultrasonic sensor436may detect objects that are otherwise not observable with the infrared sensors432and/or the depth sensor434, such as a sheet of glass (e.g., of a window or door).

Information about the environment obtained and/or derived from (e.g., after processing) the ultrasonic sensor436may be referred to as ultrasonic sensor data556. As discussed in further detail below, the ultrasonic sensor data556may be processed, stored, and/or used to determine graphical content in different manners.

The one or more visible light cameras438detects visible light in the environment. The visible light cameras438includes an image sensor, such as a charge-coupled device (CCD) or complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) sensor, and other suitable hardware components (e.g., an image processor) and optical components (e.g., lenses).

Information about the environment obtained and/or derived from (e.g., after processing) the visible light camera438may be referred to as visible light sensor data558. The visible light sensor data558may include images (e.g., video), which may be referred as visible light images. As discussed in further detail below, the visible light sensor data558may be processed, stored, and/or used to determine graphical content in different manners.

One or multiple (e.g., two) of each of the infrared sensors432, the depth sensors434, the ultrasonic sensor436, and/or the visible light camera438may be coupled to the head-mounted display unit102, for example, to sense the environment E stereoscopically from the head-mounted display unit102. The one or more infrared sensors432, the depth sensors434, the ultrasonic sensor436, and/or the visible light camera438may provide the same or different fields of view as each other, which are generally represented inFIG.1by the dashed arrows emanating from the sensors130. In the systems and processes discussed below, the various types of sensors are referred to singularly, though it should be understood that the systems and processes may be applied to multiple such sensors (e.g., to determine and provide graphical content stereoscopically).

The one or more movement sensors440detects the position, orientation, and/or movement of the head-mounted display unit102. The one or more movement sensors440may, for example, include a global positioning system sensor (e.g., GPS), one or more accelerometers, one or more gyroscopes, and/or an inertial measurement unit (IMU), which function to determine the position, orientation, and/or movement of the head-mounted display unit102.

Information obtained and/or derived from (e.g., after processing) the movement sensor440may be referred to as movement sensor data560. As discussed in further detail below, the movement sensor data560may be processed, stored, and/or used to determine graphical content in different manners.

Referring toFIG.5, the display system100outputs graphical content to the user, which enhances the user's ability to see in low light conditions. Low light conditions may be defined, for example, according to ambient light conditions (e.g., luminance less than 10{circumflex over ( )}−3.5 cd/m{circumflex over ( )}2) and/or the type of vision that the human would otherwise use to directly observe the environment (e.g., when scotopic vision is predominantly or substantially only used by the human). The graphical content may, for example, include images that enhance contrast between objects of the environment, renderings of detected objects or other indicators, and/or captured images. Renderings are computer-generated graphical reproductions of the detected objects, which are generated according to sensor information. Renderings may be accurate reproductions that accurately depicted the detected object (e.g., with corresponding textures, colors, sizes, etc.), may be characterized reproductions that may alter various features of the detected object (e.g., changing to a “cartoon” form with uniform and/or different colors, different textures, contrasting outlines), or may be a highlighting rendering (e.g., overlaying an object). As an illustrative and non-limiting example of a characterized reproduction, a wood table may have an accurate reproduction that depicts the varied color and graining of the wood and shading to emphasize different surfaces, or a characterized reproduction that depicts a uniform color and black outlines between surfaces. A highlighting rendering, for example, might include highlighting the table in green by providing a colored translucent outline over other graphical content of the table. Renderings may be of the environment (e.g., objects or structures that define an environment, such as walls of a room) or objects within the environment.

The infrared sensor432, the depth sensor434, the ultrasonic sensor436, and the visible light camera438sense the environment E from the head-mounted display unit102, while the movement sensor440senses the position, orientation, and/or movement of the head-mounted display unit102on the head of the user. The sensor data, including the infrared sensor data552, the depth sensor data554, the ultrasonic sensor data556, the visible light sensor data558, and/or the movement sensor data560, is sent from the respective sensors to the controller140with one or more sensor signals550.

The controller140receives the sensor signals550, processes the sensor data received thereby, determines the graphical content according to the sensor data, and in turn sends one or more signals to the display120, which may be referred to as a display signal570. The display120receives the display signal570and outputs the graphical content. As referenced above, the controller140may include one or more local or distributed processing devices, which process the sensor data and/or determine the graphical content, such as processors that may be associated with the different sensors130. The processing and/or determining may, however, be performed by different processors and/or different controllers.

Referring toFIG.6, a process600provides graphical content with a display system that includes a head-mounted display unit, such as the display system100and the head-mounted display unit102. The process600generally includes sensing610the environment in low light with sensors to generate sensor data, processing620the sensor data, determining630graphical content, and outputting640the graphical content. The process600may also include another operation615of sensing movement of the head-mounted display unit.

The sensing610of the environment to generate the sensor data is performed with sensors, such as the sensors130, which face outward from the head-mounted display unit, such as the head-mounted display unit102. The sensors include, for example, one or more of the infrared sensor432, the depth sensor434, the ultrasonic sensor436, and/or the visible light camera438. The sensor data, such as the infrared sensor data552, the depth sensor data554, the ultrasonic sensor data556, the visible light sensor data558, and/or the movement sensor data560, is sent to a processor, such as the processor342of the controller140, via one or more signals, such as the sensor signal550. Different combinations of sensor data may be obtained and/or sent. For example, the visible light camera448and/or the movement sensors450may omitted and/or not operated.

The processing620of the sensor data is performed with a processor, for example, with the processor342of the controller140and/or other processing devices particularly associated with one or more of the sensors (e.g., an image processor associated with a camera). Processing the sensor data may be performed in various manners as discussed in further detail below with respect to the systems and processes inFIGS.7-12.

The determining630of the graphical content is performed, for example, with a processor, such as the processor342of the controller140and/or other processing devices particularly associated with the display120. Determining the graphical content may be performed in various manners as discussed in further detail below with respect to the systems and processes inFIGS.7-12. The processing620and the determining630may be performed as a singular operation, for example, when simply converting infrared light into visible light. The graphical content is sent, for example, via the display signal570.

The outputting640(e.g., display) of the graphical content is performed by one or more displays, such as the display120, according to the display signal570received from the controller140. The outputting640is performed substantially concurrent with the sensing610, such that the graphical content is displayed concurrent (e.g., in real-time) with the environment sensed by the head-mounted display. Concurrent or substantially concurrent should be understood to account for latency of the display system100associated with sensing, processing, determining, and/or transmitting operations.

The sensing610, the processing620, the determining630, and the outputting640are repeated, so as to provide the user with the graphical content as a stream of images (e.g., a video stream).

Referring toFIGS.7and8, the display system100processes the sensor data from each of the sensors independent of each other and may further determine graphical content components independent of each other. For example, the display system100may display graphical content that includes an infrared graphical component772based on the infrared sensor data552from the infrared sensor432, a depth graphical component774based on the depth sensor data554from the depth sensor434, an ultrasonic graphical component776based on the ultrasonic sensor data556from the ultrasonic sensor436, and/or a visible light graphical component778based on the visible light sensor data558from the visible light camera438. The infrared graphical component772, the depth graphical component774, the ultrasonic graphical component776, and/or the visible light graphical component778may be displayed simultaneously and concurrent with detection of the associated information, for example, being overlaid each other with suitable transparency for viewing of each of the components. The graphical content is displayed substantially concurrent with the sensing thereof, such that the user may observe the environment in real time via the graphical content. Aural content may also be provided (e.g., output by speakers of the other electronics350), for example, based on the ultrasonic graphical component776based on the ultrasonic sensor data556from the ultrasonic sensor436to indicate distance to an object.

The infrared sensor data552, such as the IR images captured with the infrared sensor432, may be processed in various manners for determining the graphical content. In one example, the infrared sensor data552is processed to convert the infrared images from infrared light to visible light that forms the infrared graphical component772. Instead or additionally, the infrared sensor data552is processed to enhance contrast of the infrared images. Instead or additionally, the infrared sensor data552is processed to detect objects of the environment using, for example, suitable computer vision or other object detection programming or algorithms. Detecting may include locating, characterizing, and/or identifying objects, or other object recognition functions related to the environment. Locating generally refers to determining a position of objects or features thereof in a real coordinate system and/or relative to the head-mounted display unit102. Characterizing generally refers to determining characteristics of the physical object, such as size, shape, and/or color. Identifying generally refers to identifying a type of object (e.g., a door, wall, chair) or uniquely identifying a particular object (e.g., a door in a certain room of a certain house).

The infrared graphical component772of the graphical content may, for example, include the IR image converted to visible light and/or with enhanced. Instead or additionally, the infrared graphical component772may include other graphics, such as renderings generated according to the infrared sensor data552.

The depth sensor data554, such as the structured light images captured with the depth sensor434, may be processed in various manners for determining the graphical content and, in particular, to determine distances from the depth sensor434on the head-mounted display unit102to locations (e.g., points) on objects of the environment. Such distances may be represented by a depth map, which is a mathematical and/or visual representation of such distances. The depth map, or other information derived from the depth sensor434, may be further processed (e.g., analyzed) to detect (e.g., locate, characterize, and/or identify) objects in the environment. The depth map, or other depth information, may also be processed to determine the relative position, orientation, and/or movement of the head-mounted display unit102relative to the environment and/or the relative position, orientation, and/or movement of objects of the environment.

The depth graphical component774of the graphical content may, for example, include the structured light images. Instead or additionally, the depth graphical component774includes renderings determined (e.g., generated) according to the depth sensor data554, such as a rendering of the depth map itself, renderings of the environment, renderings of objects therein, and/or renderings to highlight detected objects.

The ultrasonic sensor data556detected with the ultrasonic sensor436is processed to determine the graphical or other content output by the head-mounted display unit102. In particular, the ultrasonic sensor data556is processed to detect (e.g., locate, characterize, and/or identify) objects of the environment, such as by determining a distance from the head-mounted display unit102(e.g., the ultrasonic sensor436thereof) from the objects of the environment and/or relative movement therebetween.

The ultrasonic graphical component776of the graphical content may, for example, include a graphical representation of a distance to the detected object or a graphical representation of the detected object (e.g., a glass panel or wall). The ultrasonic graphical component776of the graphical content may instead include another graphical indicator, such as numerical or color indicator that indicates distance to the object. Instead or additionally, an aural ultrasonic indicator may be provided, such as a verbal indicator or sound indicator for indicating type and/or distance to the object.

The visible light sensor data558(e.g., the visible light images) detected with the visible light camera438may be processed in various manners for determining the graphical content. In one example, the visible images may be processed in a suitable manner for display to the user. Instead or additionally, the visible images may be processed to enhance contrast. Instead or additionally, the visible light sensor data is processed to detect (e.g., locate, characterize, and/or identify) physical objects of the environment, which may include physical features of an environment and/or physical objects of the environment, such as with object-recognition programming (e.g., computer vision software).

The visible light graphical component778of the graphical content may, for example, include visible light images and/or renderings determined according to the visible light information, such as renderings of the environment and/or renderings of objects therein. The visible light graphical component778may also be omitted in low light conditions.

Upon determining the graphical content, the controller140causes the display120to output the graphical content. For example, as described above, the controller140sends the display signal570to the display120. The display signal570may include each component of the graphical content, such as the infrared graphical component772, the depth graphical component774, the ultrasonic graphical component776, and/or the visible light graphical component778, which may form a combined or parallel streams of data sent to the display120. As noted above, various of the graphical components may be omitted, for example, the visible light graphical component778may be omitted in low light conditions.

Referring toFIG.8, a process800is provided for processing the sensor data and determining the graphical content according thereto, which may be performed as part of the method600as the processing620the sensor data and the determining630the graphical content according thereto. Thus, the process800be preceded and succeeded by the sensing610of the environment and the outputting640of the graphical content. The process800generally includes processing operations822,824,826, and/or828for processing the infrared sensor data552, the depth sensor data554, the ultrasonic sensor data556, and the visible light sensor data558, respectively. The process800also generally includes graphical content determining operations832,834,836, and838for determining the infrared graphical component572, the depth graphical component574, the ultrasonic graphical component576, and the visible light graphical component578, respectively. The process800may, for example, be performed in low light conditions.

The processing822of the infrared sensor data552is performed with a processor, such as the processor342of the controller140. As described above with respect toFIG.7, the infrared sensor data552may be processed to convert the infrared sensor data552to visible light, enhance contrast, and/or to detect (e.g., locate, characterize, and/or identify) objects of the environment.

The determining832of the infrared graphical component772is performed with a processor, such as the processor342of the controller140, according to the processing822of the infrared sensor data552. As described above, the infrared graphical component772may include visible light images converted from the infrared images, images with enhanced contrast, and/or renderings of or associated with detected objects. The infrared graphical component772is subsequently sent to the display120for output thereby, such as being sent via the display signal570.

The processing824of the depth sensor data554is performed with a processor, such as the processor342of the controller140. As described above with respect toFIG.7, the depth sensor data554may be processed, for example, to generate a depth map, to detect (e.g., locate, characterize, and/or identify) objects in the environment, and/or to determine the relative position, orientation, and/or movement of the head-mounted display unit102relative to the environment and/or the relative position, orientation, and/or movement of objects of the environment.

The determining834of the depth graphical component774is performed with a processor, such as the processor342of the controller140, according to the processing of the depth sensor data554. As described above the depth graphical component774may include structured light images, a rendering of the depth map, and/or renderings of or associated with detected objects. The depth graphical component874is subsequently sent to the display120for output thereby, such as being sent via the display signal570.

The processing826of the ultrasonic sensor data556is performed with a processor, such as the processor342of the controller140. As described above with respect toFIG.7, the ultrasonic sensor data556may be processed, for example, to detect (e.g., locate, characterize, and/or identify) objects of the environment.

The determining836of ultrasonic graphical component776is performed with a processor, such as the processor342of the controller140, according to the processing of the ultrasonic sensor data556. As described above the ultrasonic graphical content may include a graphical representation of a detected object (e.g., a wall or glass panel) and/or an alphanumeric and/or color indicator of a distance from the head-mounted display unit102(e.g., the ultrasonic sensor436) and the object. The ultrasonic graphical component776is subsequently sent to the display120for output thereby, such as being sent via the display signal570.

The processing828of the visible light sensor data558is performed with a processor, such as the processor342of the controller140. As described above with respect toFIG.7, the visible light sensor data558may be processed, for example, to enhance contrast and/or locate and/or characterize objects of the environment.

The determining838of the visible light graphical component778is performed with a processor, such as the processor342of the controller140, according to the processing of the visible light sensor data558. As described above, the visible light graphical component778may include visible light images, images with enhanced contrast, and/or renderings of objects of the environment. The visible light graphical component778is subsequently sent to the display120for output thereby, such as being sent via the display signal570.

In determining each component of the graphical content, layering and/or transparency may also be determined. For example, the ultrasonic graphical component776may be highly transparent and overlaid the other graphical components.

Referring toFIGS.9and10, the display system100processes the sensor data from two or more of the sensors cooperatively with each other and may further determine graphical content components cooperatively with each other. For example, the display system100may display graphical content that includes a combined graphical component971, which may be based on a combination of the infrared sensor data552, the depth sensor data554, and/or the visible light sensor data558. The display system100may simultaneously display the ultrasonic graphical component776, which is based on the ultrasonic sensor data556, and the combined graphical component971, for example, with the ultrasonic graphical component776being overlaid therewith.

The infrared sensor data552, the depth sensor data554, and/or the visible light sensor data558may be cooperatively processed in any suitable manner. For example, the infrared sensor data552, the depth sensor data554, and the visible light sensor data558may first be independently processed, such as to detect (e.g., locate, characterize, and/or identify) objects of the environment (e.g., using computer vision or other suitable object detection programming) and/or generate a depth map in the case of the depth sensor data554. The location, characterization, and/or identity of the objects of the environment, as determined independently, may subsequently be cooperatively processed, such as according to a suitable sensor fusion algorithm, to provide more accurate and/or more complete data than might be obtainable from the sensors individually. In another example, the infrared images, the depth map, and the visible light images may be processed in a cooperative manner (e.g., sensor fusion algorithms) and subsequently assessed to detect (e.g., locate, identify, and/or characterize) objects of the environment. In one specific example, the infrared sensor data552and the depth sensor data554are cooperatively processed without the visible light sensor data558.

Based on the cooperative processing of the infrared sensor data552, the depth sensor data554, and/or the visible light sensor data558, the combined graphical component971is determined. For example, the combined graphical component971may include renderings of the objects of the environment. The combined graphical component971is subsequently sent to the display120for output thereby, such as being sent via the display signal570.

The ultrasonic sensor data556may be processed and the ultrasonic graphical component776determined in the manners described previously.

Referring toFIG.10, a process1000is provided for processing the sensor data and determining the graphical content according thereto, which may be performed as part of the process600as the processing620of the sensor data and the determining630of the graphical content according thereto. Thus, the process1000may be preceded and succeeded by the sensing610of the environment and the outputting640of the graphical content. The process1000generally includes combined processing1021of the sensor data and determining1031the combined graphical content according thereto. The process1000may, optionally, also include the processing826the ultrasonic sensor data556and the determining836of the ultrasonic graphical component776according thereto, as were described previously. The process1000may, additionally, though not shown, include the independent processing822,824,828and determining832,834,838associated with one or more of the infrared sensor data552, the depth sensor data554, and/or the visible light sensor data558. The process1000may, for example, be performed in low light conditions.

The combined processing1021of two or more of the infrared sensor data552, the depth sensor data554, and/or the visible light sensor data558is performed with a processor, such as the processor342of the controller140. As described above with respect toFIG.9, the combined processing1021includes processing two or more of the infrared sensor data552, the depth sensor data554, and/or the visible light sensor data558in a cooperative manner, such as with a sensor fusion algorithm.

The determining1031of the combined graphical component971is performed with a processor, such as the processor342of the controller140, according to the combined graphical data. As described above with the respect toFIG.9, the combined graphical component971may include renderings of the objects of the environment.

The ultrasonic sensor data556may be processed and the ultrasonic graphical component776determined in the manners described previously.

Referring toFIGS.11and12, the display system100senses the environment E and stores the sensor data and later determines the graphical content according the sensor data stored previously. The display system100may store the visible light sensor data558captured in high light conditions in the environment (the high light being ambient light having luminance above 10 cd/m{circumflex over ( )}2) and later, in low light conditions, determine graphical content according to the stored visible light sensor data558, for example, displaying the visible light images, portions thereof, and/or renderings derived therefrom. For example, visible light images may be captured and stored when a user had previously moved through an environment.

At one or more earlier times (e.g., a first time) in high light conditions, the display system100senses the environment with the sensors130, including the visible light camera438and one or more of the infrared sensor432, the depth sensor434, the ultrasonic sensor436, and/or the movement sensor440. The visible light sensor data558is stored in association with the infrared sensor data552, the depth sensor data554, the ultrasonic sensor data556, and/or the movement sensor data560captured concurrently therewith.

The visible light sensor data558may stored in a generally unprocessed format (e.g., as raw images) and/or after processing, such as being formatted for later display and/or object recognition of the environment and/or objects therein (e.g., to locate, characterize, and/or identify such objects or features thereof).

The other sensor data, including one or more of the infrared sensor data552, the depth sensor data554, the ultrasonic sensor data556, and/or the movement sensor data560may be processed and stored in association the visible light sensor data558detected concurrently therewith. The infrared sensor data552, the depth sensor data554, the ultrasonic sensor data556, and/or the movement sensor data560may be processed and stored individually and/or in a combined manner (e.g., as described previously in the processes800and1000, such as using sensor fusion). In one particular example, the infrared sensor data552, the depth sensor data554, the ultrasonic sensor data556, and/or the movement sensor data560are processed to determine location information (e.g., position and/or orientation) of the head-mounted display unit102that is associated with the visible light sensor data558and/or the other sensor data (e.g., the infrared sensor data552, the depth sensor data554, the ultrasonic sensor data556, and/or the movement sensor data560). In other examples, the location, characteristics, and/or identity of the objects and/or features of the environment are stored, which may be referred to as object information.

At one or more subsequent times (e.g., a current time) in low light conditions, the display system100senses the environment with the one or more of the infrared sensor432, the depth sensor434, and/or the ultrasonic sensor436, and/or the movement sensor440senses the position, orientation, and/or movement of the head-mounted display unit102. The sensor data (e.g., the infrared sensor data552, the depth sensor data554, the ultrasonic sensor data556, and/or the movement sensor data560) is processed and compared to the sensor data from the earlier times, for example, being processed in the same or similar manner as at the earlier times (e.g., individually and/or cooperatively) for suitable comparison thereto. Based on the comparison, the visible light sensor data558may be recalled and the graphical content determined, at least in part, according thereto. In one specific example, current location information is compared to stored location information to recall the visible light sensor data558associated with the stored location information that matches or otherwise favorably compares to the current location. In other examples, the object information from the current time may be compared to the object information from previous times to recall the visible light sensor data558.

Referring toFIG.12, a process1200provides graphical content with display system that includes a head-mounted display unit, such as the display system100and the head-mounted display unit102. The process1200generally includes sensing1210the environment with sensors at earlier times, processing1220the sensor data from the earlier times, storing1230the earlier sensor data, sensing1240the environment with the sensors at a current time, processing1250the sensor data from the current time, comparing1260the current sensor data to the earlier sensor data, recalling1270the earlier visible light sensor data, determining1280the graphical content according to the earlier visible light sensor data, and outputting1290the graphical content at the current time. Portions of the process1200may be performed in high light conditions (e.g., the sensing1210), while other portions of the process1200are performed in low light conditions (e.g., the sensing1240to the outputting1290) and repeated to provide continual content to the user.

The sensing1210at the earlier times is performed with the sensors130and may be performed as described previously for the sensing610of the process600. The sensing1210is performed at earlier times and in high light conditions.

The processing1220is performed with a processor, such as the processor342of the controller140, and may include parallel operations for processing the visible light sensor data558and the other sensor data (i.e., non-visible light sensor data including the infrared sensor data552, the depth sensor data554, the ultrasonic sensor data556, and/or the movement sensor data560). The processing1220of the visible light sensor data558may performed as described previously, for example, with the processing828of the visible light sensor data558in the process800. The processing1220of the non-visible light sensor data may be performed independently for the different types of sensor data (e.g., with the processing822,824, and/or826in the process800) and/or performed cooperatively (e.g., with the processing1021in the process1000).

The storing1230is performed with a storage, such as the storage346of the controller140or other suitable storage. The storing1230includes storing the visible light sensor data558(before and/or after processing), such as the visible light images, in and/or for association with the non-visible light sensor data (before and/or after processing). The visible light sensor data558that is stored may be referred to as stored visible light sensor data. The non-visible light sensor data that is stored may be referred to as stored non-visible light sensor data, which may include location and/or object information. The stored visible light sensor data and the stored non-visible light sensor data is stored in and/or for association with each other, such that the stored visible light sensor data may be recalled by identifying the stored non-visible light sensor data associated therewith. For example, the visible light sensor data558may be stored in a common location (e.g., database) in association with the non-visible light sensor data and/or in in different location (e.g., different databases) with common metadata (e.g., time stamp) suitable for association and recall.

The sensing1240for the current time is performed with sensors, such as the infrared sensor432, the depth sensor434, the ultrasonic sensor436, and/or the movement sensor440. The sensing1240may also include sensing with the visible light camera438.

The processing1250of the sensor data therefrom (e.g., the infrared sensor data552, the depth sensor data554, the ultrasonic sensor data556, the visible light camera438, and/or the movement sensor data560) is performed with a processor, such as the processor342of the controller140. The processing1250may be performed in the same or similar manner as with the processing1220described previously, such that the current non-visible sensor data may be compared to the stored non-visible sensor data.

The comparing1260of the current non-visible sensor data with the stored non-visible sensor data is performed with a processor, such as the processor342of the controller140.

The recalling1270of the stored visible light sensor data558is performed with a processor, such as the processor342of the controller140, and a storage, such as the storage346of the controller140. For example, upon matching or favorable comparison (e.g., nearest) of the current non-visible light sensor data to the stored non-visible light sensor data, the visible light sensor data558associated with the stored non-visible light sensor data is recalled (e.g., retrieved from the storage).

The determining1280of the graphical content is performed with a processor, such as the processor342of the controller140. The graphical content includes at least one of the visible light graphical component778and/or a combined component1279, each of which are determined according to the stored visible light sensor data558that was recalled in the recalling1270. For example, the graphical content may include visible light images, visible light images with enhanced contrast or portions thereof, or renderings otherwise derived from the stored visible light sensor data558. The graphical content may include other individual or combined components, as described previously.

The process1200may, optionally, also include the processing826the ultrasonic sensor data556and the determining836of the ultrasonic graphical component776according thereto, as were described previously.

The outputting1290of the graphical content is performed with the displays120, for example, according to display signals570received from processor (e.g., the controller140) and including the graphical content.

A physical environment refers to a physical world that people can sense and/or interact with without aid of electronic systems. Physical environments, such as a physical park, include physical articles, such as physical trees, physical buildings, and physical people. People can directly sense and/or interact with the physical environment, such as through sight, touch, hearing, taste, and smell.

In contrast, a computer-generated reality (CGR) environment refers to a wholly or partially simulated environment that people sense and/or interact with via an electronic system. In CGR, a subset of a person's physical motions, or representations thereof, are tracked, and, in response, one or more characteristics of one or more virtual objects simulated in the CGR environment are adjusted in a manner that comports with at least one law of physics. For example, a CGR system may detect a person's head turning and, in response, adjust graphical content and an acoustic field presented to the person in a manner similar to how such views and sounds would change in a physical environment. In some situations (e.g., for accessibility reasons), adjustments to characteristic(s) of virtual object(s) in a CGR environment may be made in response to representations of physical motions (e.g., vocal commands).

A person may sense and/or interact with a CGR object using any one of their senses, including sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell. For example, a person may sense and/or interact with audio objects that create 3D or spatial audio environment that provides the perception of point audio sources in 3D space. In another example, audio objects may enable audio transparency, which selectively incorporates ambient sounds from the physical environment with or without computer-generated audio. In some CGR environments, a person may sense and/or interact only with audio objects.

Examples of CGR include virtual reality and mixed reality.

A virtual reality (VR) environment refers to a simulated environment that is designed to be based entirely on computer-generated sensory inputs for one or more senses. A VR environment comprises a plurality of virtual objects with which a person may sense and/or interact. For example, computer-generated imagery of trees, buildings, and avatars representing people are examples of virtual objects. A person may sense and/or interact with virtual objects in the VR environment through a simulation of the person's presence within the computer-generated environment, and/or through a simulation of a subset of the person's physical movements within the computer-generated environment.

In contrast to a VR environment, which is designed to be based entirely on computer-generated sensory inputs, a mixed reality (MR) environment refers to a simulated environment that is designed to incorporate sensory inputs from the physical environment, or a representation thereof, in addition to including computer-generated sensory inputs (e.g., virtual objects). On a virtuality continuum, a mixed reality environment is anywhere between, but not including, a wholly physical environment at one end and virtual reality environment at the other end.

In some MR environments, computer-generated sensory inputs may respond to changes in sensory inputs from the physical environment. Also, some electronic systems for presenting an MR environment may track location and/or orientation with respect to the physical environment to enable virtual objects to interact with real objects (that is, physical articles from the physical environment or representations thereof). For example, a system may account for movements so that a virtual tree appears stationery with respect to the physical ground.

Examples of mixed realities include augmented reality and augmented virtuality.

An augmented reality (AR) environment refers to a simulated environment in which one or more virtual objects are superimposed over a physical environment, or a representation thereof. For example, an electronic system for presenting an AR environment may have a transparent or translucent display through which a person may directly view the physical environment. The system may be configured to present virtual objects on the transparent or translucent display, so that a person, using the system, perceives the virtual objects superimposed over the physical environment. Alternatively, a system may have an opaque display and one or more imaging sensors that capture images or video of the physical environment, which are representations of the physical environment. The system composites the images or video with virtual objects, and presents the composition on the opaque display. A person, using the system, indirectly views the physical environment by way of the images or video of the physical environment, and perceives the virtual objects superimposed over the physical environment. As used herein, a video of the physical environment shown on an opaque display is called “pass-through video,” meaning a system uses one or more image sensor(s) to capture images of the physical environment, and uses those images in presenting the AR environment on the opaque display. Further alternatively, a system may have a projection system that projects virtual objects into the physical environment, for example, as a hologram or on a physical surface, so that a person, using the system, perceives the virtual objects superimposed over the physical environment.

An augmented reality environment also refers to a simulated environment in which a representation of a physical environment is transformed by computer-generated sensory information. For example, in providing pass-through video, a system may transform one or more sensor images to impose a select perspective (e.g., viewpoint) different than the perspective captured by the imaging sensors. As another example, a representation of a physical environment may be transformed by graphically modifying (e.g., enlarging) portions thereof, such that the modified portion may be representative but not photorealistic versions of the originally captured images. As a further example, a representation of a physical environment may be transformed by graphically eliminating or obfuscating portions thereof.

An augmented virtuality (AV) environment refers to a simulated environment in which a virtual or computer generated environment incorporates one or more sensory inputs from the physical environment. The sensory inputs may be representations of one or more characteristics of the physical environment. For example, an AV park may have virtual trees and virtual buildings, but people with faces photorealistically reproduced from images taken of physical people. As another example, a virtual object may adopt a shape or color of a physical article imaged by one or more imaging sensors. As a further example, a virtual object may adopt shadows consistent with the position of the sun in the physical environment.

There are many different types of electronic systems that enable a person to sense and/or interact with various CGR environments. Examples include head mounted systems, projection-based systems, heads-up displays (HUDs), vehicle windshields having integrated display capability, windows having integrated display capability, displays formed as lenses designed to be placed on a person's eyes (e.g., similar to contact lenses), headphones/earphones, speaker arrays, input systems (e.g., wearable or handheld controllers with or without haptic feedback), smartphones, tablets, and desktop/laptop computers. A head mounted system may have one or more speaker(s) and an integrated opaque display. Alternatively, a head mounted system may be configured to accept an external opaque display (e.g., a smartphone). The head mounted system may incorporate one or more imaging sensors to capture images or video of the physical environment, and/or one or more microphones to capture audio of the physical environment. Rather than an opaque display, a head mounted system may have a transparent or translucent display. The transparent or translucent display may have a medium through which light representative of images is directed to a person's eyes. The display may utilize digital light projection, OLEDs, LEDs, uLEDs, liquid crystal on silicon, laser scanning light source, or any combination of these technologies. The medium may be an optical waveguide, a hologram medium, an optical combiner, an optical reflector, or any combination thereof. In one embodiment, the transparent or translucent display may be configured to become opaque selectively. Projection-based systems may employ retinal projection technology that projects graphical images onto a person's retina. Projection systems also may be configured to project virtual objects into the physical environment, for example, as a hologram or on a physical surface.

As described above, one aspect of the present technology is the gathering and use of data available from various sources to provide graphical content to users based on the current physical environment. The present disclosure contemplates that in some instances, this gathered data may include personal information data that uniquely identifies or can be used to contact or locate a specific person. Such personal information data can include demographic data, location-based data, telephone numbers, email addresses, twitter ID's, home addresses, data or records relating to a user's health or level of fitness (e.g., vital signs measurements, medication information, exercise information), date of birth, or any other identifying or personal information.

The present disclosure recognizes that the use of such personal information data, in the present technology, can be used to the benefit of users. For example, the personal information data can be used to deliver graphical content to a user, which relates to current and past movement of the user. Further, other uses for personal information data that benefit the user are also contemplated by the present disclosure. For instance, health and fitness data may be used to provide insights into a user's general wellness, or may be used as positive feedback to individuals using technology to pursue wellness goals.

The present disclosure contemplates that the entities responsible for the collection, analysis, disclosure, transfer, storage, or other use of such personal information data will comply with well-established privacy policies and/or privacy practices. In particular, such entities should implement and consistently use privacy policies and practices that are generally recognized as meeting or exceeding industry or governmental requirements for maintaining personal information data private and secure. Such policies should be easily accessible by users, and should be updated as the collection and/or use of data changes. Personal information from users should be collected for legitimate and reasonable uses of the entity and not shared or sold outside of those legitimate uses. Further, such collection/sharing should occur after receiving the informed consent of the users. Additionally, such entities should consider taking any needed steps for safeguarding and securing access to such personal information data and ensuring that others with access to the personal information data adhere to their privacy policies and procedures. Further, such entities can subject themselves to evaluation by third parties to certify their adherence to widely accepted privacy policies and practices. In addition, policies and practices should be adapted for the particular types of personal information data being collected and/or accessed and adapted to applicable laws and standards, including jurisdiction-specific considerations. For instance, in the US, collection of or access to certain health data may be governed by federal and/or state laws, such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA); whereas health data in other countries may be subject to other regulations and policies and should be handled accordingly. Hence different privacy practices should be maintained for different personal data types in each country.

Despite the foregoing, the present disclosure also contemplates embodiments in which users selectively block the use of, or access to, personal information data. That is, the present disclosure contemplates that hardware and/or software elements can be provided to prevent or block access to such personal information data. For example, providing graphical content, the present technology can be configured to allow users to select to “opt in” or “opt out” of participation in the collection of personal information data during registration for services or anytime thereafter. In another example, users can select not to store sensor data. In addition to providing “opt in” and “opt out” options, the present disclosure contemplates providing notifications relating to the access or use of personal information. For instance, a user may be notified upon downloading an app that their personal information data will be accessed and then reminded again just before personal information data is accessed by the app.

Moreover, it is the intent of the present disclosure that personal information data should be managed and handled in a way to minimize risks of unintentional or unauthorized access or use. Risk can be minimized by limiting the collection of data and deleting data once it is no longer needed. In addition, and when applicable, including in certain health related applications, data de-identification can be used to protect a user's privacy. De-identification may be facilitated, when appropriate, by removing specific identifiers (e.g., date of birth, etc.), controlling the amount or specificity of data stored (e.g., collecting location data a city level rather than at an address level), controlling how data is stored (e.g., aggregating data across users), and/or other methods.

Therefore, although the present disclosure broadly covers use of personal information data to implement one or more various disclosed embodiments, the present disclosure also contemplates that the various embodiments can also be implemented without the need for accessing such personal information data. That is, the various embodiments of the present technology are not rendered inoperable due to the lack of all or a portion of such personal information data. For example, graphical content may be based on non-personal information data or a bare minimum amount of personal information, such as using current sensor data to provide the graphical content.