IP Library Granted Patent US 8,912,980
Granted Patent B2
US 8,912,980 · App. 13/798,519 · Granted Dec 16, 2014

Image processing device, image processing method, and image processing system

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,912,980
App. No.
13/798,519
Granted
Dec 16, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

An image acquisition unit acquires an image captured by a first imaging device provided in a HMD for presenting an image observed when a three-dimensional image in a virtual three-dimensional space is projected onto a real-world setting, the first imaging device being configured to visualize an area including a field of view of a user wearing the HMD. A marker detection unit detects a marker included in the image captured by the first imaging device and acquired by the image acquisition unit. The image acquisition unit acquires an image captured by a second imaging device having an angle of view that at least partially overlaps an angle of view of the first imaging device. If the marker is not captured in the image captured by the first imaging device, the marker detection unit detects the marker in an image captured by the second imaging device.

Claims (30)

1. An image processing device comprising:

an image acquisition unit configured to acquire an image captured by a first imaging device provided in an optical head-mounted display (HMD) for presenting an augmented real-world image observed when a three-dimensional image in a virtual three-dimensional space is projected onto a real-world setting, the first imaging device being configured to visualize an area including a field of view of a user wearing the HMD; and

a marker detection unit configured to detect a marker included in the image captured by the first imaging device and acquired by the image acquisition unit,

wherein the image acquisition unit also acquires an image captured by a second imaging device having an angle of view that at least partially overlaps an angle of view of the first imaging device, and

wherein, if the marker is not captured in the image captured by the first imaging device, the marker detection unit detects the marker in an image captured by the second imaging device.

2. The image processing device according to claim 1 , further comprising:

an image generation unit configured to generate an augmented reality (AR) image for presentation on the HMD, linking the generated image to the marker.

3. The image processing device according to claim 2 ,

wherein, the marker is captured both in the image captured by the first imaging device and in the image captured by the second imaging device, the marker detection unit detects a tilt of the marker by referring to the image captured by the second imaging device, and

wherein the image generation generates the AR image in accordance with the tilt of the marker.

4. The image processing device according to claim 2 ,

wherein the second imaging device is an imaging device provided in another optical HMD that is different from said HMD and that is worn by a user different from the user wearing the HMD provided with the first imaging device.

5. The image processing device according to claim 4 ,

wherein the image generation unit uses, as a marker, a subject captured by at least one of the first imaging device and the second imaging device to generate the AR image presented both on the HMD provided with the first imaging device and on the other HMD provided with the second imaging device.

6. An image processing method comprising:

acquiring, using a processor, an image captured by a first imaging device provided in an optical head-mounted display (HMD) for presenting an augmented real-world image observed when a three-dimensional image in a virtual three-dimensional space is projected onto a real-world setting, the first imaging device being configured to visualize an area including a field of view of a user wearing the HMD;

acquiring, using a processor, an image captured by a second imaging device having an angle of view that at least partially overlaps an angle of view of the first imaging device; and

detecting, using a processor, a marker included in at least one of the image captured by the first imaging device and the image captured by the second imaging device.

7. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium encoded with an image processing computer program, the program comprising:

a first acquisition module configured to acquire an image captured by a first imaging device provided in an optical head-mounted display (HMD) for presenting an augmented real-world image observed when a three-dimensional image in a virtual three-dimensional space is projected onto a real-world setting, the first imaging device being configured to visualize an area including a field of view of a user wearing the HMD;

a second acquisition module configured to acquire an image captured by a second imaging device having an angle of view that at least partially overlaps an angle of view of the first imaging device; and

a detection module configured to detect a marker included in at least one of the image captured by the first imaging device and the image captured by the second imaging device.

8. An image processing system comprising:

an optical head-mounted display (HMD) for presenting an augmented real-world image observed when a three-dimensional image in a virtual three-dimensional space is projected onto a real-world setting;

a first imaging device provided in the HMD and configured to image a subject in an area including a field of view of a user wearing the HMD;

a second imaging device having an angle of view that at least partially overlaps an angle of view of the first imaging device; and

an image generation unit configured to use, as a marker, a subject captured by at least one of the first imaging device and the second imaging device to generate an augmented-reality image for presentation on the HMD.

9. The image processing system according to claim 8 , further comprising:

a monitor configured to display an image generated by the image generation unit,

wherein the second imaging device is installed to directly face the user when the user wearing the HMD directly faces the monitor.

Assignments (5)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 6, 2017
From: SONY CORPORATION
To: SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT INC.
Reel/Frame 043761/0975 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded May 24, 2017
From: SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT INC.
To: SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT INC.
Reel/Frame 042487/0659 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 16, 2014
From: SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT INC.
To: SONY CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 033961/0515 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE APPLICATION NUMBER INCORRECTLY LISTED AS 13798516. THE APPLICATION NUMBER SHOULD READ 13798519. PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 029981 FRAME 0099. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Recorded Apr 25, 2013
From: NISHIMAKI, YOICHI; OHASHI, YOSHINORI
To: SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT INC.
Reel/Frame 030316/0636 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 13, 2013
From: NISHIMAKI, YOICHI; OHASHI, YOSHINORI
To: SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT INC.
Reel/Frame 029981/0099 →