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Peripheral Tracking System And Method
ASSIGNEE: Sony Interactive Entertainment Europe Limited
US PAT. APPL. NO. 18/069448
Invention Overview:
In the rapidly evolving world of virtual and augmented reality, Sony Interactive Entertainment Europe Limited is pushing the boundaries with its latest published patent application- a sophisticated peripheral tracking system. This innovative technology, developed by a team of inventors based in London, is designed to enhance user interaction within virtual and augmented reality environments, making the experience more immersive and intuitive. The system is engineered to track the location of one or more peripherals operated by a user. These peripherals could be anything from handheld devices to wristbands or armbands, and they are tracked based on images captured by a camera associated with a head-mounted display (HMD) worn by the user.
However, what sets this system apart is its ability to handle situations where the peripherals are not visible in the images captured by the camera. This is a common issue in virtual and augmented reality applications, where a user’s peripheral device might be occluded or out of the camera’s field of view, leading to a loss of tracking information. To address this, Sony’s system includes a generation unit that creates an array of ‘home points’ behind the user when it determines that one or more peripherals are not visible in the images. These home points are locations defined based on constraints upon the user’s motion.
The system also includes an estimation unit that estimates the respective locations of non-visible peripherals based on the output of one or more inertial measurement units associated with each peripheral. A selection unit then selects a home point for each of the non-visible peripherals. The tracking unit generates a location for each non-visible peripheral such that the location converges towards the selected home point. This innovative approach ensures that even when a peripheral is out of sight, it’s never out of mind for the system. The user can continue to interact with the virtual or augmented reality environment seamlessly, without any loss of functionality or immersion.
Sony’s new peripheral tracking system is a testament to the company’s commitment to advancing the field of virtual and augmented reality. By addressing the common issue of peripheral tracking failure, Sony is paving the way for more intuitive and immersive user experiences in virtual and augmented reality applications. Whether for enhancing productivity or for entertainment, this invention is set to make a significant impact on how we interact with virtual and augmented reality environments. In the ever-evolving landscape of technology, it’s innovations like these that continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible, bringing us one step closer to a future where virtual and augmented reality are part of our everyday lives.
Source: USPTO
PATENT ABSTRACT & ART:
A system configured to track the location of one or more peripherals operated by a user, the system comprising a tracking unit configured to determine a location of the one or more peripherals in dependence upon images captured by a camera associated with an HMD worn by the user, a generation unit configured to generate, in response to a determination by the tracking unit that one or more of the peripherals is not visible in the images, an array of home points behind the user, the home points being locations defined in dependence upon constraints upon the user’s motion, an estimation unit configured to estimate the respective locations of non-visible peripherals in dependence upon the output of one or more inertial measurement units associated with each peripheral, and a selection unit configured to select a home point, from amongst the array of home points, for each of the non-visible peripherals, wherein the tracking unit is configured to generate a location for each non-visible peripheral such that the location converges towards the selected home point.
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