METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR GENERATING A VIRTUAL USER INTERFACE RELATED TO A PHYSICAL ENTITY
A waveguide apparatus includes a planar waveguide and at least one optical diffraction element (DOE) that provides a plurality of optical paths between an exterior and interior of the planar waveguide. A phase profile of the DOE may combine a linear diffraction grating with a circular lens, to shape a wave front and produce beams with desired focus. Waveguide apparati may be assembled to create multiple focal planes. The DOE may have a low diffraction efficiency, and planar waveguides may be transparent when viewed normally, allowing passage of light from an ambient environment (e.g., real world) useful in AR systems. Light may be returned for temporally sequentially passes through the planar waveguide. The DOE(s) may be fixed or may have dynamically adjustable characteristics. An optical coupler system may couple images to the waveguide apparatus from a projector, for instance a biaxially scanning cantilevered optical fiber tip.
1 . A method for generating a virtual user interface, comprising:
identifying a virtual user interface to be displayed to a user based on user input;
obtaining a set of map points associated with the virtual user interface based on the user input;
tethering the virtual user interface to the set of map points; and
displaying the virtual user interface to the user, such that the virtual user interface, when viewed by the user, appears to be stationary at the set of map points.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the user input comprises a user gesture.
3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein set of map points correspond to a location of the user's hand during formation of the user gesture.
4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising retrieving the set of map points from a networked memory.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the set of map points corresponds to a location of a physical entity at the user's location
6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the virtual user interface, when viewed by the user, appears to move in relation to a movement of the physical entity.
7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the virtual user interface, when viewed by the user, appears to move concomitantly with the physical entity.
8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the physical entity is a table, and wherein the virtual user interface, when viewed by the user, appears to cover a portion of a surface of the table.
9 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the physical entity is a wall, and wherein the virtual user interface, when viewed by the user, appears to cover a portion of a surface of the wall.
10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the user input comprises a gesture including a throwing input indicating the wall.
11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the user input comprises a gesture signifying an end to instructions for generating the virtual user interface.
12 . The method of claim 1 implemented as a system having means for implementing the method steps.
13 . The method of claim 1 implemented as a computer program product comprising a computer-usable storage medium having executable code to execute the method steps.