IP Library Granted Patent US 10,198,874
Granted Patent B2
US 10,198,874 · App. 15/594,186 · Granted Feb 5, 2019

Methods and apparatus to align components in virtual reality environments

Inventors: David Dearman (Mountain View, CA); Chun Yat Frank Li (Mountain View, CA); Erica Morse (San Francisco, CA)
Assignee: Google LLC
G06T19/20G02B27/017G06F3/011G06F3/012G06F3/02G06F3/0383G02B2027/014G02B2027/0187G06F3/013G06F3/0346G06T2219/2004
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,198,874
App. No.
15/594,186
Granted
Feb 5, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

Systems, devices, methods, computer program products, and electronic apparatuses for aligning components in virtual reality environments are provided. An example method includes detecting a first input from a handheld controller of a virtual reality system, responsive to detecting the first input, instructing a user to orient a handheld controller in a designated direction, detecting a second input from the handheld controller; and responsive to detecting the second input, storing alignment data representative of an alignment of the handheld controller.

Claims (43)

1. A method comprising:

detecting a first input from a handheld controller of a virtual reality system;

responsive to detecting the first input:

communicatively coupling the handheld controller to a head-mounted display of the virtual reality system; and

instructing a user to orient a handheld controller in a designated direction;

detecting a second input from the handheld controller; and

responsive to detecting the second input:

determining a controller orientation of the handheld controller;

determining a display orientation of the head-mounted display; and

storing alignment data representative of an alignment of the handheld controller, the alignment data including data representative of an offset between the determined controller orientation and the determined display orientation.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein communicatively coupling comprises establishing a connection via a short-range wireless signal.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising aligning at least a portion of a virtual reality scene displayed by the head-mounted display based on the alignment data.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein storing alignment data representative of the alignment of the handheld controller comprises storing at least one of a forward/back position, an up/down position, a left/right position, a pitch, a roll, and a yaw.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein detecting the first input comprises detecting an actuation of an input device of the handheld controller.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein detecting the actuation of the input device comprises detecting a press of a button of the handheld controller.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein detecting the second input comprises detecting a release of an input device of the handheld controller.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein detecting the release of an input device comprised detecting the release of a button.

9. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory storage medium, the computer program product including code that, when executed by processing circuitry of a virtual reality system configured to produce a virtual reality environment, causes the processing circuitry to perform a method, the method comprising:

detecting a first input from a handheld controller of the virtual reality system;

responsive to detecting the first input:

communicatively coupling the handheld controller to a head-mounted display of the virtual reality system; and

instructing a user to orient a handheld controller in a designated direction;

detecting a second input from the handheld controller; and

responsive to detecting the second input:

determining a controller orientation of the handheld controller;

determining a display orientation of the head-mounted display; and

storing alignment data representative of an alignment of the handheld controller, the alignment data including data representative of an offset between the determined controller orientation and the determined display orientation.

10. The computer program product of claim 9 , wherein communicatively coupling comprises establishing a connection via a short-range wireless signal.

11. The computer program product of claim 9 , further comprising aligning at least a portion of a virtual reality scene displayed by the head-mounted display based on the alignment data.

12. The computer program product of claim 9 , wherein instructing a user to orient a handheld controller in a designated direction comprises displaying instructions within a virtual reality scene displayed by the head-mounted display.

13. An electronic apparatus configured to produce a virtual reality environment, the electronic apparatus comprising:

a memory; and

controlling circuitry coupled to the memory, the controlling circuitry being configured to:

detect a first input from a handheld controller of the virtual reality system;

responsive to detecting the first input:

communicatively couple the handheld controller to a head-mounted display of the virtual reality system via a wireless signal; and

instruct a user to orient a handheld controller in a designated direction;

detect a second input from the handheld controller; and

responsive to detecting the second input:

determine a controller orientation of the handheld controller;

determine a display orientation of a head-mounted display; and

store alignment data representative of an alignment of the handheld controller, the alignment data including data representative of an offset between the determined controller orientation and the determined display orientation.

14. The electronic apparatus of claim 13 , the controlling circuitry being further configured to coordinate movement of the handheld controller and the head-mounted display in a virtual reality scene based on the stored alignment data.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Oct 20, 2017
From: GOOGLE INC.
To: GOOGLE LLC
Reel/Frame 044567/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 13, 2017
From: DEARMAN, DAVID; LI, CHUN YAT FRANK; MORSE, ERICA
To: GOOGLE INC.
Reel/Frame 042991/0851 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62335829 · May 31, 2016
Related Publication 20170330387A1 · Nov 16, 2017
Cited By (2)
US 12,326,967 US 12,326,971