Light Projection for Guiding a User within a Physical User Area During Virtual Reality Operations

1 . A method for guiding a user wearing a head-mounted display device with one or more optical sensors, the method comprising:

detecting, with an optical sensor of the one or more optical sensors, light defining a predefined area from one or more light projectors; and

in conjunction with detecting the light projected from one or more light projectors, providing a signal to the user.

2 . The method of claim 1 , including:

projecting the light defining the predefined area using the one or more light projectors.

3 . The method of claim 2 , including:

projecting a first light from a first light projector of the one or more light projectors defining a first boundary of the predefined area; and

projecting a second light from a second light projector, distinct from the first light projector, of the one or more light projectors defining a second boundary, distinct from the first boundary, of the predefined area.

4 . The method of claim 3 , including:

detecting with the one or more optical sensors the first light defining the first boundary of the predefined area;

in response to detecting the first light defining the first boundary of the predefined area, providing a first signal to the user;

detecting with the one or more optical sensors, the second light defining the second boundary of the predefined area; and

in response to detecting the second light defining the second boundary of the predefined area, providing to the user a second signal that is distinct from the first signal.

5 . The method of claim 3 , including:

projecting a third light from a third light projector, distinct from the first light projector and the second light projector, of the one or more light projectors defining a third boundary, distinct from the first boundary and the second boundary, of the predefined area.

6 . The method of claim 2 , including:

projecting a first light from a first light projector of the one or more light projectors defining a first boundary of the predefined area;

projecting a third light from a third light projector, distinct from the first light projector, of the one or more light projectors defining a third boundary, distinct from the first boundary, of the predefined area;

detecting with a first optical sensor of the one or more optical sensors the first light defining the first boundary of the predefined area;

in response to detecting the first light defining the first boundary of the predefined area, providing a first signal to the user; and

detecting with a second optical sensor of the one or more optical sensors, distinct from the first optical sensor, the third light defining the third boundary of the predefined area; and

in response to detecting the third light defining the third boundary of the predefined area, providing a third signal to the user.

7 . The method of claim 1 , including:

determining that the head-mounted display device has reached a boundary of the predefined area.

8 . The method of claim 7 , including:

determining that the head-mounted display device has reached the boundary of the predefined area based on an intensity of the light from the one or more light projectors.

9 . The method of claim 7 , including:

determining that the head-mounted display device has reached the boundary of the predefined area based on one or more wavelengths of the light from the one or more light projectors.

10 . A head-mounted display device, comprising:

an optical sensor configured to detect light, projected from one or more light projectors, defining a predefined area; and

one or more output generators configured to, in conjunction with detecting the light projected from the one or more light projectors, provide a signal to a user.

11 . The head-mounted display device of claim 10 , wherein:

the one or more output generators include one or more of: an audio output generator, a tactile output generator, and a display device.

12 . The head-mounted display device of claim 10 , wherein:

the optical sensor comprises one or more of a camera and a photodiode.

13 . The head-mounted display device of claim 10 , further comprising:

one or more processors configured to determine that the head-mounted display device has reached the boundary of the predefined area.

14 . The head-mounted display device of claim 13 , wherein:

the one or more processors are configured to determine that the head-mounted display device has reached the boundary of the predefined area based on an intensity of the light from the one or more light projectors.

15 . The head-mounted display device of claim 13 , wherein:

the one or more processors are configured to determine that the head-mounted display device has reached the boundary of the predefined area based on one or more wavelengths of the light from the one or more light projectors.

16 . The head-mounted display device of claim 10 , further comprising:

a communication device configured to:

transmit information identifying an intensity of the light from the one or more light projectors, detected by the optical sensor; and

receive information indicating whether the head-mounted display has reached the boundary of the predefined area.

17 . A system, comprising:

one or more light projectors projecting light defining a predefined area; and

the head-mounted display device of claim 10 .

18 . The system of claim 17 , wherein:

the one or more light projectors comprise one or more of a laser and a light emitting diode.

19 . The system of claim 17 , wherein:

the one or more light projectors include a first light projector configured to project a first light defining a first boundary of the predefined area; and

the one or more light projectors include a second light projector configured to project a second light defining a second boundary of the predefined area.

20 . The system of claim 17 , wherein:

the one or more light projectors include a light projector configured to project light having a shape corresponding to the predefined area.