U.S. patent application number 17/835729 was filed with the patent office on 2022-09-22 for discrete and continuous gestures for enabling hand rays.
The applicant listed for this patent is Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC. Invention is credited to Casey Leon MEEKHOF, Julia SCHWARZ, Nahil Tawfik SHARKASI, Sophie STELLMACH, Sheng Kai TANG.
Application Number | 20220300071 17/835729 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000006388067 |
Filed Date | 2022-09-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20220300071 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
SCHWARZ; Julia ; et
al. |
September 22, 2022 |
DISCRETE AND CONTINUOUS GESTURES FOR ENABLING HAND RAYS
Abstract
Systems and methods are provided for selectively enabling or
disabling control rays in mixed-reality environments. A system
presents a mixed-reality environment to a user with a mixed-reality
display device, displays a control ray as a hologram of a line
extending away from the user control within the mixed-reality
environment, and obtains a control ray activation variable
associated with a user control. The control ray activation variable
includes a velocity or acceleration of the user control. After
displaying the control ray within the mixed-reality environment,
and in response to determining that, the control ray activation
variable exceeds a predetermined threshold, the system selectively
disables display of the control ray within the mixed-reality
environment.
Inventors: |
SCHWARZ; Julia; (Redmond,
WA) ; TANG; Sheng Kai; (Redmond, WA) ;
MEEKHOF; Casey Leon; (Redmond, WA) ; SHARKASI; Nahil
Tawfik; (Woodinville, WA) ; STELLMACH; Sophie;
(Kirkland, WA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC |
Redmond |
WA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000006388067 |
Appl. No.: |
17/835729 |
Filed: |
June 8, 2022 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
16297237 |
Mar 8, 2019 |
11397463 |
|
|
17835729 |
|
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|
62791765 |
Jan 12, 2019 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 3/0304 20130101;
G06T 19/006 20130101; G06F 3/017 20130101; G06F 3/011 20130101 |
International
Class: |
G06F 3/01 20060101
G06F003/01; G06T 19/00 20060101 G06T019/00; G06F 3/03 20060101
G06F003/03 |
Claims
1. A system configured for selectively enabling generation and
display of a control ray in a mixed-reality environment, the system
comprising: one or more processors; and one or more
computer-readable media that store computer-executable instructions
that are executable by the one or more processors to configure the
system to: present a mixed-reality environment to a user with a
nixed-reality display, device; display a control ray as a hologram
of a line extending away from a user control within the
mixed-reality environment; obtain a control ray activation variable
associated with the user control, the control ray activation
variable comprising a velocity or acceleration of the user control;
and after displaying the control ray within the mixed-reality
environment, and in response to determining that the control ray
activation variable exceeds a predetermined threshold, selectively
disable display of the control ray within the mixed-reality
environment.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the control ray is displayed
within the mixed-reality environment in response to detecting a
user gesture input associated with the user control during
presentation of the mixed-reality environment.
3. The system of claim 2, wherein the user gesture input comprises
a voice command.
4. The system of claim 2, wherein the user gesture input comprises
a predefined pose or sequence of predefined poses of the user
control.
5. The system of claim 2, wherein the user gesture input comprises
a movement of the user control that exceeds a motion characteristic
threshold.
6. The system of claim 1, wherein the control ray is displayed
within the mixed-reality environment with an orientation that is
based on an axial alignment of at least a portion of the user
control.
7. The system of claim 1, wherein the user control comprises at
least a part of a body of the user.
8. The system of claim 7, wherein the user control comprises a hand
or finger of the user.
9. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer-executable
instructions are executable by the one or more processors to
further configure the system to, in response to determining that
the control ray activation variable fails to exceed the
predetermined threshold, continue to display the control ray within
the mixed-reality environment.
10. A system for selectively enabling a display of a control ray in
a mixed-reality environment, the system comprising: one or more
processors; and. one or more computer-readable media that store
computer-executable instructions that are executable by the one or
more processors to configure the system to: present a mixed-reality
environment to a user with a mixed-reality display device; display
a control ray as a hologram of a line extending away from a user
control within the mixed-reality environment; obtain a control ray
activation variable associated with the user control, the control
ray activation variable comprising a dot product between an
orientation of the user control and an orientation of a field of
view of the user; and after displaying the control ray within the
mixed-reality environment, and in response to determining that the
control ray activation variable fails to exceed a predetermined
threshold, selectively disable display of the control ray within
the mixed-reality environment.
11. The system of claim 10, wherein the control ray is displayed
within the mixed-reality environment in response to detecting a
user gesture input associated with the user control during
presentation of the mixed-reality environment.
12. The system of claim 11, wherein the user gesture input
comprises a voice command.
13. The system of claim 11, wherein the user gesture input
comprises a predefined pose or sequence of predefined poses of the
user control.
14. The system of claim 11, wherein the user gesture input
comprises a movement of the user control that exceeds a motion
characteristic threshold.
15. The system of claim 10, wherein the control ray is displayed
within the mixed-reality environment with an orientation that is
based on an axial alignment of at least a portion of the user
control.
16. The system of claim 10, wherein the user control comprises at
east a part of a body of the user.
17. The system of claim 16, wherein the user control comprises a
hand or finger of the user.
18. The system of claim 10, wherein the computer-executable
instructions are executable by the one or more processors to
further configure the system to, in response to determining that
the control ray activation variable exceeds the predetermined
threshold, continue to display the control ray within the
mixed-reality environment.
19. A method for selectively enabling a display of a control ray in
a mixed-reality environment, the method comprising: presenting a
mixed-reality environment to a user with a mixed-reality display
device; displaying a control ray as a hologram of a line extending
away from a user control within the mixed-reality environment;
obtaining a control ray activation variable associated with the
user control, the control ray activation variable comprising a dot,
product between an orientation of the user control and an
orientation of a field of view of the user; and after displaying
the control ray within the mixed-reality environment, and in
response to determining that the control ray activation variable
fails to exceed a predetermined threshold, selectively disabling
display of the control ray within the mixed-reality
environment.
20. The method of claim 19, further comprising, in response to
determining that the control ray activation variable exceeds the
predetermined threshold, continue to display the control ray within
the mixed-reality environment.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 16/297,237 filed on Mar. 8, 2019 and entitled
"DISCRETE AND CONTINUOUS GESTURES FOR ENABLING HAND RAYS", which
claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent
Application Ser. No. 62/791,765 filed on Jan. 12, 2019 and entitled
"DISCRETE AND CONTINUOUS GESTURES FOR ENABLING HAND RAYS". Each of
these applications are expressly incorporated herein by reference
in their entirety.
BACKGROUND
[0002] "Augmented reality" typically refers to virtual experiences
where virtual objects are visually placed within the real world,
such that a user experiences virtual content and the real world
simultaneously. In contrast, "virtual reality" typically refers to
immersive virtual experiences where a user's view of the real-world
is completely obscured and only virtual objects are perceived.
Typically, "mixed-reality" refers to either augmented reality or
virtual reality environments. However, for the sake of clarity and
simplicity, the terms mixed-reality, virtual reality, and augmented
reality are used interchangeably herein.
[0003] Mixed-reality systems are typically configured as head
mounted displays that generate and/or render the mixed-reality
content. Continued advances in hardware capabilities and rendering
technologies have greatly increased the realism of virtual objects
and scenes displayed to a user within mixed-reality environments.
For example, virtual objects can be placed within a mixed-reality
environment in such a way as to give the impression that the
virtual object is part of the real world.
[0004] Some mixed-reality systems have been configured to track the
movement of a user's body parts, such as the user's hands, as the
user interacts with virtual objects in the mixed-reality
environment. Furthermore, some mixed-reality systems are configured
to replicate the user's body parts within the mixed-reality, such
that the user is able to view and control virtualized body parts
within the mixed-reality environment. For instance, a user's hand
can be presented as a hologram occlusion that moves within the
mixed-reality environment in direct response to the movements of
their own real-world hand. As the user moves their real-world hand,
the hand occlusion is also moved, such that it is capable of
interacting with other virtual objects within the mixed-reality
environment.
[0005] Many mixed-reality systems allow users to use their body
parts (or tools or other controllers manipulated thereby) to
interact with virtual objects in the mixed-reality environment. For
instance, some mixed-reality systems allow a user to use their
hands (or virtual representations thereof) to grab, push, pull,
pick up, slide, press, rotate, or otherwise interact with virtual
objects or virtual input elements (such as virtual buttons) within
the mixed-reality environment.
[0006] Furthermore, some mixed-reality systems allow for users to
interact with virtual objects or input elements at a distance, such
as where the virtual content lies outside of the reach of the user.
Various methods exist for facilitating such distanced interaction.
One method includes implementing a control ray that extends from
the user's controller (e.g., the user's hand) and may be directed
to content that is remotely located from the user in the
mixed-reality environment. When the control ray impinges on a
distant virtual object or input element, the user may perform
gestures or other commands to interact with the distant virtual
content.
[0007] Control rays, however, can be distracting to users, while
being immersed in the mixed- reality environment, particularly when
users are interacting with near virtual content, operating
applications within the mixed-reality environment, or are
gesticulating while talking. Furthermore, control rays may result
in unintended interaction with virtual content. For example, a user
may intend to interact with a nearby virtual box, but the control
ray may inadvertently trigger interaction with a distant virtual
input element instead of the nearby virtual box. Other instances of
unintended interaction with distant virtual content may occur with
existing control ray configurations, such as, by way of example,
when the user is typing on a nearby keyboard, screwing a nearby cap
on, or picking up a nearby object, and so forth.
[0008] Accordingly, there is an ongoing need in the field of
mixed-reality for providing improved user control ray functionality
for facilitating a manner in which users interact with distant and
proximate virtual content in mixed-reality environments.
[0009] The subject matter claimed herein is not limited to
embodiments that solve any disadvantages or that operate only in
environments such as those described above. Rather, this background
is only provided to illustrate one exemplary technology area where
some embodiments described herein may be practiced.
BRIEF SUMMARY
[0010] Disclosed embodiments include methods and systems for
selectively enabling or disabling control rays in mixed-reality
environments.
[0011] In some instances, a system is configured to present a
mixed-reality environment to a user with a mixed-reality display
device, display a control ray as a hologram of a line extending
away from the user control within the mixed-reality environment,
and obtain a control ray activation variable associated with a user
control. The control ray activation variable includes a velocity or
acceleration of the user control. The system is further configured
to, after displaying the control ray within the mixed-reality
environment, and in response to determining that the control ray
activation variable exceeds a predetermined threshold, selectively
disable display of the control ray within the mixed-reality
environment. mixed-reality display device presents a mixed-reality
environment to a user which includes one or more holograms.
[0012] In some instances, a system is configured to present a
mixed-reality environment to a user with a mixed-reality display
device, display a control ray as a hologram of a line extending
away from the user control within the mixed-reality environment,
and obtain a control ray activation variable associated with a user
control. The control ray activation variable includes a dot product
between an orientation of the user control and an orientation of a
field of view of the user. The system is further configured to,
after displaying the control ray within the mixed-reality
environment, and in response to determining that the control ray
activation variable fails to exceed a predetermined threshold,
selectively disable display of the control ray within the
mixed-reality environment.
[0013] This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of
concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in
the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify
key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter,
nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of
the claimed subject matter.
[0014] Additional features and advantages will be set forth in the
description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the
description, or may be learned by the practice of the teachings
herein. Features and advantages of the invention may be realized
and obtained by means of the instruments and combinations
particularly pointed out in the appended claims. Features of the
present invention will become more fully apparent from the
following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the
practice of the invention as set forth hereinafter.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] In order to describe the manner in which the above-recited
and other advantages and features can be obtained, a more
particular description of the subject matter briefly described
above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments which
are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these
drawings depict only typical embodiments and are not therefore to
be considered to be limiting in scope, embodiments will be
described and explained with additional specificity and detail
through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:
[0016] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary depiction of control rays
(embodied as hand rays) for a mixed-reality environment;
[0017] FIG. 2 illustrates a user hand in different poses/gestures
and in which one of the poses/gestures corresponds to a control ray
extending away from a user's hand;
[0018] FIG. 3 illustrates a user hand in different poses/gestures
and in which one of the poses/gestures corresponds to a control ray
extending away from a user's hand;
[0019] FIG. 4 illustrates a user hand in different poses/gestures
and in which one of the poses/gestures corresponds to a control ray
extending away from a user's hand;
[0020] FIGS. 5A-5E illustrates a user hand in different
poses/gestures and in which two of the poses/gestures corresponds
to a control ray extending away from a user's hand;
[0021] FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment in which a user hand has a
control ray extending away from it to interact with an object in a
mixed-reality environment;
[0022] FIG. 7 shows an exemplary flow diagram associated with
methods for selectively enabling generation and display of control
rays in a mixed-reality environment; and
[0023] FIG. 8 illustrates an exemplary computer system that may
include or be used to perform at least a portion of the embodiments
disclosed herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0024] At least some embodiments described herein relate to
mixed-reality systems configured to selectively enable control rays
in mixed-reality environments.
[0025] In some instances, the control rays are embodied as ray
holograms extending away from a user controller, such as a user's
finger, hand, or another body part, or a virtual representation
thereof, within mixed-reality environments.
[0026] Control rays extending away from a controller can facilitate
the user controller to interact with virtual content that would
ordinarily be outside of the controller's reach. Control rays may
also serve other purposes such as enabling users to point at
objects and to direct other users who can see the control rays to
view the directional orientation of a user's focus (which may be
indicated by the directional orientation of the control ray), for
instance.
[0027] Although control rays provide several benefits within
mixed-reality environments, they can create some undesirable
consequences. For instance, a control ray can be distracting when
users are interacting with near virtual content, operating
applications within the mixed-reality environment, or are
gesticulating while talking. In particular, the control ray
extending from a user's hand in such a situation may be randomly
projected throughout a mixed reality environment without intent.
This can be particularly problematic when the control ray has
enabled functionality, in that a user may unintentionally interact
with and execute commands corresponding to random objects in the
mixed-reality environment. By way of example, a user may intend to
interact with a nearby virtual button, but the control ray may
inadvertently facilitate interaction with a distant virtual box
instead of the nearby virtual button. In another example, a user
may inadvertently cause interaction with distant virtual content
while performing other actions intended for interaction with nearby
virtual content, such as typing on a nearby keyboard, screwing a
nearby cap on, or picking up a nearby object.
[0028] The foregoing problems can be particularly pronounced for
embodiments in which the control rays are continuously rendered at
all times. It can also be problematic for systems that continuously
run control ray processes but only render the control rays when the
rays impinge on an interactable virtual object in the mixed-reality
environment, in that additional/unnecessary computation processing
is expended and unintended ray interactions can still occur.
[0029] The disclosed embodiments may be utilized to address some or
all of the aforementioned challenges with the use of user control
rays in mixed-reality environments. In some embodiments, a
mixed-reality system detects a user gesture input associated with a
user control and, in response, generates and/or displays a
corresponding control ray. In some embodiments, a mixed-reality
system obtains a control ray activation variable associated with a
user control and, in response to determining that the control ray
activation variable exceeds a predetermined threshold, selectively
enables display of a control ray. In yet other embodiments, a
mixed-reality system terminates the display of a control ray upon
detecting a triggering user gesture, user pose, or control ray
activation variable value.
[0030] Those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments
disclosed herein may provide significant benefits over conventional
systems and methods for implementing and/or enabling control rays
in mixed-reality environments. For example, some disclosed
embodiments afford users more control (by gestures, poses, etc.)
over when control rays become enabled/displayed/activated, thus
avoiding problems associated with control rays being enabled at all
times (e.g., distraction, unintended virtual object interaction).
In another example, because some disclosed embodiments allow for
selective enabling and/or disabling of control rays in
mixed-reality environments, processes associated with targeting for
control rays and rendering control rays need not be run at all
times, even in the background, thus saving on processing resources.
Additionally, the embodiments disclosed herein may allow for a more
intuitive and desirable user experience with respect to hand ray
activation/enablement.
[0031] Having just described some of the various high-level
features and benefits of the disclosed embodiments, attention will
now be directed to FIGS. 1 through 7. These figures illustrate
various functionalities, examples, supporting illustrations, and
methods related to selectively enabling control rays in
mixed-reality environments. Subsequently, attention will be
directed to FIG. 8, which presents an example computer system that
may be used to facilitate the disclosed principles.
[0032] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary depiction of control rays
extending from a user control for a mixed-reality environment. As
shown, the user controls in this embodiment are a user's hands 110,
and control rays embodied as hand rays 111 extends away from the
user's hands 110. Among other purposes, the control rays 111 may
impinge on virtual objects and/or virtual input devices in the
mixed-reality environment to enable users to interact with such
virtual content. The directional orientation of the control rays,
extending away from the user's hands, may be based on an axial
alignment with particular fingers, an axial alignment with the
user's forearms, or other based on other alignments. In some
instances, for example, the control rays may emanate from one or
more particular portion(s) of the user's hands (e.g., finger, palm,
other), and may extend to and terminate at a point of focus
associated with a user's gaze (as detected by a gaze detector),
irrespective of the orientations of the user's hands.
[0033] Aside from the specific implementation illustrated in FIG.
1, it will be appreciated alternative configurations are also
possible. For example, the control rays need not extend from both
of a user's hands 110, but may extend from only one hand in order
to enable the other hand to perform nearby or other actions without
a potentially distracting rendering of a control ray. In addition,
those skilled in the art will recognize that the user control is
not limited to the user's hand 110, but may be embodied as any
object within the control of a user, such as a user-held control
wand (e.g., a control ray may extend from a tip of the control
wand), or an object worn by the user, such as a bracelet or ring,
or another device, from which the control ray(s) may emanate when
triggered in accordance with the principals of this disclosure.
[0034] The following embodiments are discussed in the context of a
mixed-reality environment which may be presented by a mixed-reality
system (e.g., computer system 800 illustrated in FIG. 8) where the
mixed-reality environment includes one or more holograms presented
to a user at a mixed-reality display device and where the user may
interact with the one or more holograms.
[0035] In some instances, a user-operated control (e.g., a user's
hand) for interacting with the holograms/virtual objects in the
mixed-reality environment may be tracked by the mixed-reality
system (see FIG. 8 and the relevant discussion of sensors 820 and
830) such that the mixed- reality system detects movement, pose,
and other characteristics of the user control(s). In response to
detecting certain movement, poses, and/or other variables/values
based on such movement and/or poses of the user control, the
mixed-reality system may execute certain commands and/or input to
shape the user experience, such as the disclosed selective
activation and use of control rays within the mixed-reality
environment.
[0036] Attention is now directed to FIG. 2, which illustrates an
embodiment in which a mixed-reality system selectively
enables/triggers the display of a control ray in a mixed-reality
environment based on a gesture or pose of a user control (e.g., a
user hand). FIG. 2 includes two poses/gestures of a user's hand
210. In the pose 201, the user control (implemented here as user's
hand 210) is in an open position, without a control ray extending
from any part thereof. In the pose 203, the user's hand 210 is in a
position wherein only the index finger 213 is extended forward
(with the rest of the fingers closed to the palm of the hand 210),
with a control ray 211 extending from the tip of the extended index
finger 213. The bidirectional arrow between the pose 201 and the
pose 203 of FIG. 2 is intended to suggest a transitional
relationship between the two poses, in particular, such that the
user may change their hand positioning from the pose depicted in
pose 201 to the pose depicted pose 203 and vice versa to
selectively trigger the activation/display of the control ray 211
(shown in 203) or deactivation/omission of the control ray 211
(shown in 201).
[0037] Even more particularly, it will be appreciated that the
disclosed embodiment facilitate control over control rays that are
rendered in mixed-reality environments, by enabling mixed- reality
systems to selectively enable generation and display of control
rays in response to detecting certain user gestures/gesture input
associated with user controls (e.g., user hands, fingers and other
objects).
[0038] With specific reference to FIG. 2, the mixed-reality system
is configured to selectively enable a control ray 211 (which is
visible through a display device of the mixed-reality system to a
user) only upon detecting that a user control (here, the user's
hand 210) is in a predefined pose, as detected by one or more
sensor associated with the mixed-reality system. In FIG. 2, the
predefined pose in this embodiment is one that includes a user's
index finger 213 extended away from the user's hand 210 while the
other fingers on the user's hand 210 are in a closed position. Upon
making such a detection, the mixed-reality system of FIG. 2
triggers operations for selectively rendering a control ray 211
extending away from the tip of the user's index finger 213 (either
the user's actual finger or a hologram representation of the user's
finger) as a control ray hologram in the mixed-reality
environment.
[0039] Thus, in pose 201 of FIG. 2, the mixed-reality system
detects that the user's hand 210 is in a pose that does not trigger
the enablement of a control ray 211 (i.e., several of the user's
fingers are extended forward), and therefore the system renders no
control ray when the user's hand 210 is in such a pose. In pose 203
of FIG. 2, in contrast, upon detecting that the user has positioned
their hand 210 with only the index finger 213 extending forward,
the mixed-reality system renders a control ray 211 extending away
from the tip of the user's index finger 213. After rendering the
control ray 211, if the system subsequently detects that the user
opens their hand 210 again to correspond to the position shown in
pose 201 of FIG. 2 (or another position wherein the index finger is
not the only finger extended forward), the system will terminate
the operation/display of the control ray 211.
[0040] Accordingly, in FIG. 2, the control ray 211 is only
temporarily/selectively enabled and/or displayed when the user
control (e.g., hand 210) is in a desired predefined pose, which may
help to ameliorate problems associated with control rays being
enabled at non-optimal times and/or control ray processing (e.g.,
location/orientation tracking) applying unnecessary computational
burdens when running in the background (even when the control ray
is not displayed).
[0041] Although, in the current embodiment of FIG. 2, only one
control ray triggering pose/gesture is shown (i.e., the pointing
index finger pose/gesture), and although only one control ray
display configuration is shown (i.e., the control ray extending
away from the index finger), those skilled in the art will
appreciate that these depictions are non-limiting. For example,
other poses/gestures may also trigger the activation/display of a
control ray such as when two or more fingers are extended, when the
palm faces forward, when the hand is in a fist, when only the pinky
is extended, and/or when a controller (finger, hand, worn object,
held object) is rotated about an axis a predefined rotation amount,
and/or when the controller is moved in a certain pattern, and/or
when the controller is moved with a certain velocity, and/or when
the controller assumes the position of any predefined pose/gesture
that is associated with a triggering function for generating and/or
rendering the control ray(s), etc. Furthermore, the control ray
need not be rendered extending away from an extended finger, but
may be rendered from another location, such as from the middle of a
user's field of view, or another centralized location corresponding
to the triggering pose (e.g., from another part of the user's hand
or another object, as described above).
[0042] In some instances, different gestures associated with a same
controller and different gestures associated with different
controllers are mapped to different types of control rays that each
have different functionality and/or rendering properties. For
instance, a first type of control ray associated with a first
gesture and a first controller may render the first type of control
ray with a first set of display properties (e.g., a particular
color, thickness, transparency, taper, animation, or other display
attribute) and/or functionality (e.g., selection functionality,
pointing only functionality, modification to selected object
functionality, and so forth) within the mixed-reality environment,
while a second gesture applied with the first controller may render
a second type of control ray having a second set of display
properties and/or functionality that is different than the first
set of display properties and/or functionality. Likewise,
additionality control ray types having different display
properties/functionality within the mixed-reality environment may
also be associated with different gestures applied with the same
controller.
[0043] Similarly, a same gesture applied to different controllers
(e.g., different fingers, hands, and/or other objects) may trigger
different types of control rays having different display
properties/functionality within the mixed-reality environment.
[0044] Additionally, a same gesture applied to a same controller in
a first mixed-reality environment and/or a first mixed-reality
environment context may trigger the generation/rendering of a first
type of control ray while the same gesture applied to the same
controller in a second mixed-reality environment and/or a second
mixed-reality environment context (even if in the first
mixed-reality environment) may trigger the generation/rendering of
a second type of control ray.
[0045] Different types of control rays can also be associated with
different types of users based on stored/modified settings, such
that a first user causing a first gesture with a first controller
type (e.g., their hand) may be associated with and trigger a first
type of control ray that is different than a second type of control
ray that is associated with and triggered by a second user applying
the same first gesture with the same first controller type (e.g.,
their hand).
[0046] It will be appreciated that any combinations of the
foregoing embodiments may also be used to associate/map different
types of control rays (having different display properties and/or
functionalities) to different types of users, controllers,
environments, contexts, and/or gestures (wherein the term gestures
may be a single pose or any combination and sequenced pattern of a
plurality of poses).
[0047] The foregoing associations/mappings for the different types
of control rays and mixed- reality environments and contexts may be
maintained in a table or other structure stored in the
mixed-reality system and/or that may be accessed from one or more
remote systems by the mixed- reality system in real-time, while the
system and/or remote system(s) monitor/detect the pose/gestures
associated with the controller(s) while the user interacts within
the mixed-reality environments used to selectively render the
control rays.
[0048] Turning to FIGS. 3-5E, it should be noted that a detected
pose is not the only mechanism contemplated for selectively
enabling or disabling a control ray in a mixed-reality environment.
For example, it is within the scope of this disclosure that a
control ray be selectively enabled or disabled based on other
gestures, sequences of poses or gestures, or variables obtained
from information detected about the user control. In this regard,
it will be noted that the enabling is one or more of generating the
control ray hologram, determining positioning information for
rendering the control ray hologram in a mixed-reality environment,
rendering the control ray hologram in the mixed-reality environment
and/or enabling functions or functionality associated with the
control ray when the control ray is displayed within and/or
interacts with one or more elements in the mixed-reality
environment.
[0049] FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment in which a mixed-reality
system enables a control ray based on a sequence of gestures or
poses of a user control. In particular, the mixed-reality system
underlying the elements of FIG. 3 shown is configured to
selectively enable a control ray 311 in response to detecting that
a user's hand 310 switches from an open pose (pose 301 FIG. 3) to a
closed pose (pose 303 of FIG. 3) and then back to an open pose
(pose 305 of FIG. 3). As shown in pose 305 of FIG. 3, after the
user's hand 310 has performed this gesture or sequence of
predefined poses, the mixed-reality system renders a control ray
311 extending away from the palm of the user's hand 310 (as
discussed above, this rendering configuration is non-limiting).
[0050] It will be recognized that other gestures or sequences of
poses to selectively enable a control ray are possible. For
example, a user may move their hand in an open pose from a position
close to the user's body to a position fully extended from the
user's body to trigger a control ray. In another example, a user
may perform a sequence of predefined hand rotations or finger
movements to selectively enable a control ray.
[0051] Furthermore, those skilled in the art will be appreciate
that other constraints (e.g., time, motion characteristics) may be
placed on a triggering gesture or sequence of poses to help ensure
that a control ray is only selectively enabled when the user
desires the enablement thereof (or that the control ray does not
become enabled at an inconvenient or distracting time). For
example, returning to the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, a
mixed-reality system may be configured to only selectively enable a
control ray 311 if the pose sequence depicted (open-closed-open) is
performed within a predefined time interval. Continuing with
another example mentioned above, if a user moves their hand in an
open pose from a position close to the user's body to a position
fully extended from the user's body, but the user's motion does not
meet a motion characteristic threshold (e.g., a threshold velocity
or acceleration requirement predefined by the system), a control
ray will not be enabled because the user moved too slowly.
[0052] Related to the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, FIG. 4
illustrates an embodiment in which a mixed-reality system
selectively disables a control ray 411 based on a sequence of
gestures or poses of a user control (hand 410). In particular, when
the sequence defined previously in FIG. 3 (open-closed-open) is
performed when a control ray is already activated (see pose 401 of
FIG. 4), the system selectively disables the control ray 411 and
ceases to render the control ray (see pose 405 of FIG. 4).
[0053] It will be recognized by those skilled in the art that
alternative gestures or sequences of poses may be utilized to
selectively disable a control ray, such as a user shaking or waving
their hand 410 to remove the ray or holding a certain pose or
orientation for a predetermined time (or those mentioned above in
connection with selectively enabling a control ray). Furthermore,
those skilled in the art will appreciate that additional
constraints such as those mentioned in connection with the
selective enabling of a control ray (such as time, motion
characteristics, etc.) may be implemented for the selective
disabling of a control ray.
[0054] Additionally, it should be noted that a mixed-reality system
may selectively enable or disable a control ray based on other
input received from a user, such as by voice activation, eye
movement, menu input selection, or other means. Those skilled in
the art will recognize that input not particularly associated with
the user control (e.g., voice control, eye movement) may be
utilized to disable a control ray in a variety of scenarios, even
where the triggering of a control ray is predicated on detecting a
user control performing and/or maintaining a particular pose.
[0055] Attention is now directed to FIGS. 5A-5E illustrate an
embodiment in which a mixed- reality system selectively enables or
disables a control ray based on a control ray activation
variable.
[0056] After a control ray 511 has been selectively enabled and is
being rendered in the mixed- reality environment (see FIG. 5A), it
is often beneficial for a mixed-reality system to selectively
disable control rays 511 without first receiving explicit user
input for disabling the control rays (e.g., when the user points
the control ray in a direction where a user could not or would not
cognizably interact with virtual content). FIGS. 5A-5E depict an
embodiment in which the mixed-reality system obtains a control ray
activation variable associated with a user control (the user's hand
510, as depicted in FIGS. 5A-5E) and selectively enables or
disables the display and/or processing of a control ray based 511
on whether the control ray activation variable exceeds a
predetermined threshold.
[0057] In some embodiments, the control ray activation variable is
based on a relationship between multiple values obtained by sensors
820, 830. For example, the control ray activation variable may be
based on a degree of directional similarity between an orientation
of the user control (e.g., the direction in which a control ray 511
would point if enabled) and a user's gaze location (illustratively
depicted by user gaze location vector 521). In some embodiments,
the control ray activation variable is a dot product between an
orientation of the user control and a user gaze vector 521, to
assess the directional similarity between the two. A system may
define a threshold control ray activation variable value (e.g., a
dot product value) such that when the control ray activation
variable exceeds the threshold, the control ray is enabled, but
when the control ray activation variable fails to exceed the
threshold, the control ray 511 is disabled. In such an
implementation, if a control ray 511 would point in a direction
where it would not be useful to a user, or where it would be
potentially distracting (such as out of a user's field of view or
gaze location), the mixed-reality system ceases to render and/or
process the control ray 511.
[0058] In some embodiments, the control ray activation variable is
determined based on information derived from the pose, motion
characteristics, or other attributes of the user control. In an
illustrative embodiment, a control ray activation variable and
applicable threshold are based on a spatial or an angular
relationship between individual members (e.g., the user's fingers)
of the user control 510, such that where the individual members
would impede the control ray 511, the mixed-reality system
selectively disables the control ray 511. In another illustrative
embodiment, a control ray activation variable and applicable
threshold are based on the velocity or acceleration of the user
control 510, such that when the user quickly shakes or waves the
user control 510, the mixed-reality system selectively disables the
control ray 511 to avoid a distracting rendering of the control
ray.
[0059] An illustration of the exemplary embodiments described in
the preceding two paragraphs is provided in FIGS. 5A-5E. FIG. 5A
illustrates a control ray 511 that has been activated and is
extending away from the palm of the user's hand 510. FIGS. 5B, 5C,
and 5D illustrate situations where a first control ray activation
variable and first threshold are based on a dot product between the
orientation of the user's hand 510 (e.g., where the control ray
would point if enabled) and the user's gaze vector 521, and a
second control ray activation variable and second threshold are
based on the pose of the user's hand (e.g., the control ray
activation variable is based on the openness of the user's hand).
It will be appreciated that any number of control ray activation
variables associated with the selective enabling or disabling of a
control ray, according to the present disclosure.
[0060] In FIGS. 5B and 5C, the orientation of the user's hand 510
points outside of the user's field of view and gaze direction.
Consequently, the dot product between the orientation of the user's
hand 510 and the user's gaze vector 521 is small, and the first
control ray activation variable fails to exceed the first
threshold. Therefore, the mixed-reality system selectively disables
the control ray 511, even though the second control ray activation
variable may meet the second threshold (i.e., the user's hand 510
is not in a closed position).
[0061] In FIG. 5D, the user's hand 510 is in a closed position, and
thus the second control ray activation variable fails to exceed the
second threshold corresponding to the openness of the user's hand
510. Consequently, the mixed-reality system selectively disables
the control ray 511, even though the first control ray activation
variable may meet the first threshold (i.e., the orientation of the
user's hand points in the user's gaze location).
[0062] In FIG. 5E, the user has again positioned their hand 510
such that the orientation of the user's hand 510 points to a
location within the user's field of view and gaze location and the
user's hand 510 is in an open position. Accordingly, the first
control ray activation variable meets the first threshold and the
second control ray activation variable meets the second threshold.
Thus, the mixed-reality system selectively enables the control ray
511 in FIG. 5E. Put differently, in some embodiments, the control
ray 511 is selectively enabled when all control ray activation
variables meet their respective thresholds, and the control ray 511
is selectively disabled when any control ray activation variable
fails to meet/exceed its applicable threshold.
[0063] In some instances, different gestures may also be
used/detected to modify functionality associated with a control
ray, even after the control ray has been selectively activated.
This modification may include changing a display attribute of the
control ray (e.g., color, size, line type, animation, etc.), as
well as enabled functionality associated with the control ray
(e.g., edit mode, select mode, move mode, etc.).
[0064] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the aspects of
the foregoing disclosure may be implemented independently or in
combination. In particular, control ray activation variables and
thresholds may be used in conjunction with triggering poses and/or
gestures to selectively enable or disable control rays in a
mixed-reality environment. By way of example, after a mixed-
reality system detects a predefined pose/gesture of a user control
for selectively generating a control ray, the mixed-reality system
may detect that a control ray activation variable fails to exceed
an applicable threshold and therefore refrain from
generating/rendering the control ray in the mixed-reality
environment.
[0065] Attention is now directed to FIG. 6, which illustrates an
embodiment in which a mixed-reality system enables additional user
control functionality based on whether a control ray 611 is enabled
or disabled. As illustrated, a user control ray 611 has been
selectively enabled, with the control ray 611 extending away from
the user's index finger 613 based on the pose of the user's hand
with an index finger 613 extended. In scene 601 of FIG. 6, the user
directs the control ray 611 to a box 651 in the mixed-reality
environment. In scene 603, the user has triggered an interaction
(function) with the box (by moving their index finger 613 toward
their thumb 615) and is manipulating the position of the box 651
wherein the box 651 follows the motion of the user's hand 610 after
the user has triggered the interaction (e.g., the user can pick up
the box 651 from a distance by moving their hand while in the
interactive position).
[0066] Without the control ray 611 activated, in some embodiments,
if the user performed the gesture of moving their index finger 613
toward their thumb 615, the user would have failed to trigger an
interaction with the box 651 (e.g., the user would be too far away
to trigger such an interaction). In other embodiments, even if the
user was positioned closer to the box 651, a different gesture
would be required of the user to manipulate the position of the box
651 in the same manner (e.g., the user would be required to grab
the box 651 with an open hand in order to pick it up).
[0067] In other embodiments, different gestures will trigger the
generation of different types of control rays that may be used for
pointing, but not for interacting with (e.g., moving) the
object.
[0068] Accordingly, FIG. 6 illustrates that a mixed-reality system,
in some embodiments, selectively enables additional user control
functionality for user interaction within the mixed- reality
environment based on whether the control ray 611 (of a type that is
associated with that functionality) is enabled or disabled. Those
skilled in the art will appreciate that other functionality may be
enabled by the state of the control ray (whether enabled or
disabled), such as specialized distance commands that are
unavailable for nearby objects.
[0069] The following discussion now refers to a number of methods
and method acts that may be performed. Although the method acts may
be discussed in a certain order or illustrated in a flow chart as
occurring in a particular order, no particular ordering is required
unless specifically stated, or required because an act is dependent
on another act being completed prior to the act being
performed.
[0070] FIG. 7 shows an exemplary flow diagram depicting a method
700 for selectively enabling generation and display of control rays
in a mixed-reality environment. Method 700 includes acts for
presenting a mixed-reality environment (702), (1) detecting a user
gesture input associated with a user control or (2) obtaining a
control ray activation variable associated with a user control
(704), determining an environmental context (706), determining a
user activity context (708), selectively enabling display of a
control ray (710), selectively enabling additional user control
functionality for user interaction (712), and turning off a display
of the control ray (714).
[0071] Act 702 of method 700 includes presenting a mixed-reality
environment. In some embodiments, this includes presenting one or
more holograms which a user in the mixed-reality environment may
interact with.
[0072] Act 704 of method 700 includes (1) detecting a user gesture
input associated with a user control or (2) obtaining a control ray
activation variable associated with a user control. As to (1), in
some embodiments the user gesture includes a predefined pose,
sequence of poses or gestures, or other movement that meets
predefined conditions (e.g., conditions of timing, velocity, etc.),
or even voice or other commands (e.g., eye movement). As to (2),
the control ray activation variable may be based on a function
including values obtained by sensors 820, 830 of the mixed- reality
system, such as a dot product between an orientation of a user
control and a user gaze vector, or spatial or angular relationships
between individual control members of a user control. In either (1)
or (2), the user control includes, in some instances, at least a
part of the user's body, such as a hand or finger of the user.
[0073] Act 706 of method 700 includes determining an environmental
context, which may include determining a mixed-reality environment
type. In some embodiments, a mixed-reality environment includes
certain environmental contexts in which it is not beneficial or
desirable for users to be able to enable control rays (e.g., in a
scenario where several users share a visual and a ray would be
distracting) and other environmental contexts in which it is
beneficial and desirable for users to be able to enable control
rays. Thus, in some embodiments, some environmental contexts within
a mixed-reality environment allow for control rays to be enabled,
whereas others do not. The mixed-reality system, in some
implementations, determines the environmental context before
deciding whether to selectively enable a control ray.
[0074] Act 708 of method 700 includes determining a user activity
context. Similar to the aforementioned environmental contexts, a
mixed-reality environment may include certain user activities and
the identification of a type of user, wherein it may not be
beneficial or desirable for certain users (or all users) to be
capable of enabling all types or certain types of control rays
(e.g., when a user is playing a mini-game or executing fine-tuned
controls on nearby objects). Thus, in some embodiments, some user
activity contexts within a mixed-reality environment allow for
control rays to be enabled, whereas others do not. The
mixed-reality system, in some embodiments determines the user
activity context before deciding whether to selectively enable a
control ray.
[0075] Act 710 of method 700 includes selectively enabling display
of a control ray. The mixed-reality system may selectively enable a
control ray depending on a variety of factors, whether singly or in
combination, such as whether the system detected a user gesture,
whether a detected control ray activation variable exceeds an
applicable predetermined threshold, whether a determined
environmental context allows for control rays to be selectively
enabled, or whether a determined user activity context allows for
control rays to be selectively enabled. If the predefined
condition(s) is/are met, the mixed-reality system enables a control
ray and displays it extending away from the user control within the
mixed-reality environment as a hologram.
[0076] This act, act 710, may include referencing a mapping of
control ray types with contexts, users, gestures/poses, control ray
functionalities, etc., to determine which one or more control ray
is appropriate and matches the particular context, user, gesture,
and/or functionality to be applied in an instance.
[0077] Act 712 of method 700 includes selectively enabling
additional user control functionality for user interaction. As
mentioned in connection with FIG. 6, in some instances, the
mixed-reality system selectively enables additional user control
functionality for interacting with one or more holograms in the
mixed-reality environment (such as specialized distance commands
that are unavailable for nearby objects) based on whether the
control ray is enabled or disabled and based on the type of control
ray.
[0078] Finally, act 714 of method 700 includes turning off a
display of the control ray. In some embodiments, the mixed-reality
system turns off, disables, terminates, or ceases to or refrains
from displaying the control ray in response to detecting one or
more corresponding triggering events, such as a user pose, sequence
of poses, gesture, environmental context, user activity context, a
control ray activation variable failing to exceed a threshold, or
other user input such as voice commands or eye movement, and/or any
other factor(s) described herein.
[0079] The disclosed embodiments may, in some instances, provide
various advantages over conventional systems and methods for
utilizing control rays in mixed-reality environments. Some of these
advantages include providing users with the ability to selectively
enable or disable control rays with input commands, and providing
users with a system that will selectively disable control rays in
response to triggering events (such as when control ray activation
variables fail to meet certain thresholds) and/or in contexts
(e.g., user activity, environmental) that indicate that a control
ray would reduce the quality of the user experience.
[0080] Having just described the various features and
functionalities of some of the disclosed embodiments, attention is
now directed to FIG. 8, which illustrates an example computer
system 800 that may be used to facilitate the operations described
herein.
[0081] The computer system 800 may take various different forms.
For example, in FIG. 8, the computer system 800 is embodied as a
head-mounted display (HMD). Although the computer system 800 may be
embodied as a HMD, the computer system 800 may also be a
distributed system that includes one or more connected computing
components/devices that are in communication with the HMD.
Accordingly, the computer system 800 may be embodied in any form
and is not limited strictly to the depiction illustrated in FIG. 8.
By way of example, the computer system 800 may include a projector,
desktop computer, a laptop, a tablet, a mobile phone, server, data
center and/or any other computer system.
[0082] In its most basic configuration, the computer system 800
includes various different components. For example, FIG. 8 shows
that computer system 800 includes at least one hardware processing
unit 805 (aka a "processor"), input/output (I/O) interfaces 810,
graphics rendering engines 815, one or more sensors 820, and
storage 825. More detail on the hardware processing unit 805 will
be presented momentarily.
[0083] The storage 825 may be physical system memory, which may be
volatile, non-volatile, or some combination of the two. The term
"memory" may also be used herein to refer to non- volatile mass
storage such as physical storage media. If the computer system 800
is distributed, the processing, memory, and/or storage capability
may be distributed as well. As used herein, the term "executable
module," "executable component," or even "component" can refer to
software objects, routines, or methods that may be executed on the
computer system 800. The different components, modules, engines,
and services described herein may be implemented as objects or
processors that execute on the computer system 800 (e.g. as
separate threads).
[0084] The disclosed embodiments may comprise or utilize a
special-purpose or general- purpose computer including computer
hardware, such as, for example, one or more processors (such the
hardware processing unit 805) and system memory (such as storage
825), as discussed in greater detail below. Embodiments also
include physical and other computer-readable media for carrying or
storing computer-executable instructions and/or data structures.
Such computer-readable media can be any available media that can be
accessed by a general-purpose or special-purpose computer system.
Computer-readable media that store computer-executable instructions
in the form of data are physical computer storage media.
Computer-readable media that carry computer-executable instructions
are transmission media. Thus, by way of example and not limitation,
the current embodiments can comprise at least two distinctly
different kinds of computer-readable media: computer storage media
and transmission media.
[0085] Computer storage media are hardware storage devices, such as
RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM, solid state drives (SSDs) that are based
on RAM, Flash memory, phase-change memory (PCM), or other types of
memory, or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or
other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium that can be
used to store desired program code means in the form of
computer-executable instructions, data, or data structures and that
can be accessed by a general-purpose or special-purpose
computer.
[0086] The computer system 800 may also be connected (via a wired
or wireless connection) to external sensors 830 (e.g., one or more
remote cameras, accelerometers, gyroscopes, acoustic sensors,
magnetometers, etc.). It will be appreciated that the external
sensors include sensor systems (e.g., a sensor system including a
light emitter and camera), rather than solely individual sensor
apparatuses. Further, the computer system 800 may also be connected
through one or more wired or wireless networks 835 to remote
systems(s) 840 that are configured to perform any of the processing
described with regard to computer system 800.
[0087] During use, a user of the computer system 800 is able to
perceive information (e.g., a mixed-reality environment) through a
display screen that is included among the I/O interface(s) 810 and
that is visible to the user. The I/O interface(s) 810 and sensors
820/830 also include gesture detection devices, eye trackers,
and/or other movement detecting components (e.g., cameras,
gyroscopes, accelerometers, magnetometers, acoustic sensors, global
positioning systems ("GPS"), etc.) that are able to detect
positioning and movement of one or more real-world objects, such as
a user's hand, a stylus, and/or any other object(s) that the user
may interact with while being immersed in the scene.
[0088] The graphics rendering engine 815 is configured, with the
hardware processing unit 805, to render one or more virtual objects
within the scene. As a result, the virtual objects accurately move
in response to a movement of the user and/or in response to user
input as the user interacts within the virtual scene.
[0089] A "network," like the network 835 shown in FIG. 8, is
defined as one or more data links and/or data switches that enable
the transport of electronic data between computer systems, modules,
and/or other electronic devices. When information is transferred,
or provided, over a network (either hardwired, wireless, or a
combination of hardwired and wireless) to a computer, the computer
properly views the connection as a transmission medium. The
computer system 800 will include one or more communication channels
that are used to communicate with the network 835. Transmissions
media include a network that can be used to carry data or desired
program code means in the form of computer-executable instructions
or in the form of data structures. Further, these
computer-executable instructions can be accessed by a
general-purpose or special-purpose computer. Combinations of the
above should also be included within the scope of computer-readable
media.
[0090] Upon reaching various computer system components, program
code means in the form of computer-executable instructions or data
structures can be transferred automatically from transmission media
to computer storage media (or vice versa). For example,
computer-executable instructions or data structures received over a
network or data link can be buffered in RAM within a network
interface module (e.g., a network interface card or "NIC") and then
eventually transferred to computer system RAM and/or to less
volatile computer storage media at a computer system. Thus, it
should be understood that computer storage media can be included in
computer system components that also (or even primarily) utilize
transmission media.
[0091] Computer-executable (or computer-interpretable) instructions
comprise, for example, instructions that cause a general-purpose
computer, special-purpose computer, or special-purpose processing
device to perform a certain function or group of functions. The
computer-executable instructions may be, for example, binaries,
intermediate format instructions such as assembly language, or even
source code. 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 described
features or acts described above. Rather, the described features
and acts are disclosed as example forms of implementing the
claims.
[0092] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the
embodiments may be practiced in network computing environments with
many types of computer system configurations, including personal
computers, desktop computers, laptop computers, message processors,
hand-held devices, multi-processor systems, microprocessor-based or
programmable consumer electronics, network PCs, minicomputers,
mainframe computers, mobile telephones, PDAs, pagers, routers,
switches, and the like. The embodiments may also be practiced in
distributed system environments where local and remote computer
systems that are linked (either by hardwired data links, wireless
data links, or by a combination of hardwired and wireless data
links) through a network each perform tasks (e.g. cloud computing,
cloud services and the like). In a distributed system environment,
program modules may be located in both local and remote memory
storage devices.
[0093] Additionally or alternatively, the functionality described
herein can be performed, at least in part, by one or more hardware
logic components (e.g., the hardware processing unit 805). For
example, and without limitation, illustrative types of hardware
logic components that can be used include Field-Programmable Gate
Arrays (FPGAs), Program-Specific or Application-Specific Integrated
Circuits (ASICs), Program-Specific Standard Products (ASSPs),
System-On-A-Chip Systems (SOCs), Complex Programmable Logic Devices
(CPLDs), Central Processing Units (CPUs), and other types of
programmable hardware.
[0094] The present invention may be embodied in other specific
forms without departing from its spirit or characteristics. The
described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as
illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is,
therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the
foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning
and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within
their scope.
* * * * *