IP Library Granted Patent US 9,977,494
Granted Patent B2
US 9,977,494 · App. 14/991,875 · Granted May 22, 2018

Tracking constellation assembly for use in a virtual reality system

Inventors: Jared I. Drinkwater (Auburn, WA); Robin Michael Miller (Redmond, WA); Boyd Drew Allin (Seattle, WA)
Assignee: Oculus VR, LLC
G06F3/011G02B27/0176G06F3/012G06F3/014G06F3/0308G06K9/00355
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,977,494
App. No.
14/991,875
Granted
May 22, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

Technology is provided for a tracking constellation assembly for use in a virtual reality system. The tracking constellation assembly includes a translucent panel having an outward facing surface, and an inward facing surface and a mounting surface each opposite the outward facing surface. The translucent panel is substantially opaque to visible light and translucent to infrared light. The assembly includes a flexible circuit board including first and second opposed surfaces. A spacer interconnects the first surface of the flexible circuit board and the mounting surface of the translucent panel. Infrared light emitting diodes are connected to the flexible circuit board and positioned to direct light through the translucent panel.

Claims (20)

1. A tracking constellation assembly for use in a virtual reality system, comprising: a translucent panel having an outward facing surface, and an inward facing surface and a mounting surface each opposite the outward facing surface; a circuit board including first and second opposed surfaces, wherein the first surface is connected to the mounting surface of the translucent panel; and at least one light emitting diode connected to the circuit board and positioned to direct light through the translucent panel and project a substantially round point of light from the outward facing surface; wherein at least a portion of the inward facing surface has a first surface finish and at least a portion of the outward facing surface has a second surface finish having roughness different than the first surface finish.

2. The tracking constellation assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a spacer interconnecting the first surface of the circuit board and the mounting surface.

3. The tracking constellation assembly of claim 1 , wherein the light emitting diode is connected to the first surface of the circuit board.

4. The tracking constellation assembly of claim 1 , wherein the circuit board includes an aperture formed therethrough and wherein the light emitting diode is connected to the second surface of the circuit board and positioned to direct light through the aperture.

5. The tracking constellation assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a fabric layer disposed on at least a portion of the outward facing surface.

6. The tracking constellation assembly of claim 1 , wherein the translucent panel is substantially opaque to visible light and translucent to infrared light.

7. The tracking constellation assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one light emitting diode is an infrared light emitting diode.

8. The tracking constellation assembly of claim 1 , wherein the circuit board comprises a flexible circuit board.

9. A tracking constellation assembly for use in a virtual reality system, comprising: a translucent panel having an outward facing surface, and an inward facing surface and a mounting surface each opposite the outward facing surface, wherein the translucent panel is substantially opaque to visible light and translucent to infrared light; a flexible circuit board including first and second opposed surfaces; a spacer interconnecting the first surface of the flexible circuit board and the mounting surface of the translucent panel; and at least one infrared light emitting diode connected to the flexible circuit board and positioned to direct light through the translucent panel; wherein at least a portion of the inward facing surface has a first surface finish and at least a portion of the outward facing surface has a second surface finish having a roughness different than the first surface finish.

10. The tracking constellation assembly of claim 9 , wherein the flexible circuit board includes an aperture formed therethrough and wherein the infrared light emitting diode is connected to the second surface of the circuit board and positioned to direct light through the aperture.

11. The tracking constellation assembly of claim 9 , wherein the translucent panel includes a counterbore formed in the translucent panel and wherein the at least one infrared light emitting diode is positioned in the counterbore.

12. The tracking constellation assembly of claim 11 , wherein the inward facing surface comprises a bottom surface of the counterbore.

13. The tracking constellation assembly of claim 11 , wherein the infrared light emitting diode is connected to the first surface of the circuit board.

14. A virtual reality system, comprising: a head mounted display; one or more handheld controllers; and a tracking camera; wherein at least one of the head mounted display and the one or more controllers includes a tracking constellation assembly including: a translucent panel having an outward facing surface, and an inward facing surface and a mounting surface each opposite the outward facing surface; a circuit board including first and second opposed surfaces, wherein the first surface is connected to the mounting surface of the translucent panel; and at least one light emitting diode connected to the circuit board and positioned to direct light through the translucent panel; wherein at least a portion of the inward facing surface has a first surface finish and at least a portion of the outward facing surface has a second surface finish having a roughness different than the first surface finish.

15. The virtual reality system of claim 14 , further comprising a spacer interconnecting the first surface of the circuit board and the mounting surface.

16. The virtual reality system of claim 14 , wherein the light emitting diode is connected to the first surface of the circuit board.

17. The virtual reality system of claim 14 , wherein the circuit board includes an aperture formed therethrough and wherein the light emitting diode is connected to the second surface of the circuit board and positioned to direct light through the aperture.

18. The virtual reality system of claim 14 , wherein the translucent panel is substantially opaque to visible light and translucent to infrared light, and wherein the at least one light emitting diode is an infrared light emitting diode.

19. The virtual reality system of claim 14 , wherein the mounting surface and the inward facing surface are coplanar.

20. The virtual reality system of claim 14 , wherein the translucent panel is substantially transparent to infrared light and wherein the at least one light emitting diode is an infrared light emitting diode.

Assignments (3)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded May 26, 2022
From: FACEBOOK TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
To: META PLATFORMS TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 060199/0876 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Sep 20, 2018
From: OCULUS VR, LLC
To: FACEBOOK TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 047112/0836 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 21, 2016
From: DRINKWATER, JARED I.; MILLER, ROBIN MICHAEL; ALLIN, BOYD DREW
To: OCULUS VR, LLC
Reel/Frame 038978/0552 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62273422 · Dec 30, 2015
Related Publication 20170192495A1 · Jul 6, 2017