IP Library Granted Patent US 10,482,575
Granted Patent B2
US 10,482,575 · App. 15/719,458 · Granted Nov 19, 2019

Super-resolution apparatus and method for virtual and mixed reality

Inventors: Zhengmin Li (Hillsboro, OR); Atsuo Kuwahara (Hillsboro, OR); Deepak Vembar (Portland, OR)
Assignee: INTEL CORPORATION
G06T3/4053G06T7/70G06T7/97G06T19/006G06N20/00G06T2207/10028G06T2207/20076G06T2207/20081G06T2207/30244
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,482,575
App. No.
15/719,458
Granted
Nov 19, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

An apparatus and method for efficiently improving virtual/real interactions in augmented reality. For example, one embodiment of a method comprises: capturing a raw image including depth data; identifying one or more regions of interest based on a detected spatial proximity of one or more virtual objects and one or more real objects; generating a super-resolution map of the one or more regions of interest using machine-learning techniques or results thereof; detecting interactions between the virtual objects and the real objects using the super-resolution map; and performing one or more graphics processing or general purpose processing operations based on the detected interactions.

Claims (48)

1. A method comprising:

capturing a raw image including depth data;

identifying one or more regions of interest based on a detected spatial proximity of one or more virtual objects and one or more real objects, wherein the spatial proximity detection includes measuring a first distance between a virtual object and a user and a second distance between a real object and the user, and determining the difference between the first and second distances;

generating a super-resolution map of the one or more regions of interest using machine-learning techniques or results thereof;

detecting interactions between the virtual objects and the real objects using the super-resolution map; and

performing one or more graphics processing or general-purpose processing operations based on the detected interactions.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the machine-learning techniques comprise:

performing comparisons between a plurality of high-resolution images and a corresponding plurality of super-resolution images generated from down-sampled versions of the high-resolution images; and

evaluating results of the comparisons.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the machine-learning techniques are implemented with a generative adversarial network (GAN) with depth field statistics.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein at least one of the results of the machine-learning techniques comprise a trained model usable to generate the super-resolution map.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the machine-learning techniques incorporate a characteristic of a depth map as a loss function for the trained model.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein identifying the one or more regions of interest further comprises:

if the first and second distances are within a specified threshold value, then using the virtual object and real object to define a first region of interest.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein generating the super-resolution map comprises upscaling the one or more regions of interest to increase resolution by a specified amount.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising one of the graphics processing operations comprises generating graphical indication of at least one of the detected interactions.

9. An apparatus comprising:

a camera to capture a raw image including depth data;

region detection circuitry to identify one or more regions of interest based on a detected spatial proximity of one or more virtual objects and one or more real objects, wherein the spatial proximity detection includes measuring a first distance between a virtual object and a user and a second distance between a real object and the user, and determining the difference between the first and second distances;

depth super-resolution circuitry to generate a super-resolution map of the one or more regions of interest using machine-learning techniques or results thereof;

interaction detection circuitry to detect interactions between the virtual objects and the real objects using the super-resolution map; and

wherein one or more graphics processing or general-purpose processing operations are to be performed based on the detected interactions.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the machine-learning techniques comprise:

performing comparisons between a plurality of high-resolution images and a corresponding plurality of super-resolution images generated from down-sampled versions of the high-resolution images; and

evaluating results of the comparisons.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the machine-learning techniques are implemented with a generative adversarial network (GAN) with depth field statistics.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein at least one of the results of the machine-learning techniques comprise a trained model usable to generate the super-resolution map.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the machine-learning techniques incorporate a characteristic of a depth map as a loss function for the trained model.

14. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein identifying the one or more regions of interest further comprises:

if the first and second distances are within a specified threshold value, then using the virtual object and real object to define a first region of interest.

15. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein generating the super-resolution map comprises upscaling the one or more regions of interest to increase resolution by a specified amount.

16. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising one of the graphics processing operations comprises generating graphical indication of at least one of the detected interactions.

17. A non-transitory machine-readable medium having program code stored therein which, when executed by a machine, causes the machine to perform the operations of:

capturing a raw image including depth data;

identifying one or more regions of interest based on a detected spatial proximity of one or more virtual objects and one or more real objects, wherein the spatial proximity detection includes measuring a first distance between a virtual object and a user and a second distance between a real object and the user, and determining the difference between the first and second distances;

generating a super-resolution map of the one or more regions of interest using machine-learning techniques or results thereof;

detecting interactions between the virtual objects and the real objects using the super-resolution map; and

performing one or more graphics processing or general-purpose processing operations based on the detected interactions.

18. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 1 wherein the machine-learning techniques comprise:

performing comparisons between a plurality of high-resolution images and a corresponding plurality of super-resolution images generated from down-sampled versions of the high-resolution images; and

evaluating results of the comparisons.

19. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 18 wherein the machine-learning techniques are implemented with a generative adversarial network (GAN) with depth field statistics.

20. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 19 wherein at least one of the results of the machine-learning techniques comprise a trained model usable to generate the super-resolution map.

21. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 20 wherein the machine-learning techniques incorporate a characteristic of a depth map as a loss function for the trained model.

22. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 17 wherein identifying the one or more regions of interest further comprises:

if the first and second distances are within a specified threshold value, then using the virtual object and real object to define a first region of interest.

23. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 17 wherein generating the super-resolution map comprises upscaling the one or more regions of interest to increase resolution by a specified amount.

24. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 17 further comprising one of the graphics processing operations comprises generating graphical indication of at least one of the detected interactions.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 30, 2019
From: LI, ZHENGMIN; KUWAHARA, ATSUO; VEMBAR, DEEPAK
To: INTEL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 049894/0730 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20190096035A1 · Mar 28, 2019