IP Library Granted Patent US 11,443,495
Granted Patent B2
US 11,443,495 · App. 16/237,285 · Granted Sep 13, 2022

Alignment- and orientation-based task assistance in an AR environment

Inventors: Hsuan-Ting Wu (Mountain View, CA); Robert R. Price (Palo Alto, CA)
Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated
G06T19/20G06F30/20G06Q10/06316G06T19/006
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,443,495
App. No.
16/237,285
Granted
Sep 13, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

Embodiments described herein provide a system for facilitating dynamic assistance to a user in an augmented reality (AR) environment of an AR device. During operation, the system detects a first element of an object using an object detector, wherein the object is associated with a task and the first element is associated with a step of the task. The system then determines an orientation and an alignment of the first element in the physical world of the user, and an overlay for the first element. The overlay can distinctly highlight one or more regions of the first element and indicate how the first element fits in the object. The system then applies the overlay to the one or more regions of the first element at the determined orientation in the AR environment.

Claims (41)

1. A method for facilitating dynamic assistance to a user in an augmented reality (AR environment of and AR device, comprising:

detecting, by the AR device, a first element of an object using an object detector, wherein the object is associated with a task;

determining that the first element is need for a step of the task;

projecting a hologram of the first element prior to locating the first element in an operating range of the AR device;

determining an orientation and an alignment of the first element in a physical world of the user;

determining an overlay for the first element, wherein the overlay distinctly highlights one or more regions of the first element, and wherein the overlay indicates how the first element fits in the object based on the one or more regions; and

highlighting the one or more regions in the AR environment by placing the overlay on the one or more regions of the first element at the determined orientation in the AR environment.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining one or more elements of the object that are attachable to the first element; and

projecting a second hologram depicting the first element attached to the one or more elements in the AR environment.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

enhancing a resolution of an image of the first element in the AR environment, wherein the enhancing including increasing, within the AR environment, prominence of a symmetry-breaking feature of the first element.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining a first region of the one or more regions of the first element, wherein the first region is attachable to a second region of a second element of the object; and

setting a same mark in the overlay for the first and second regions; and wherein placing the overlay comprises placing the same mark on the first and second regions.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

obtaining a three-dimensional model of the first element;

identifying the one or more regions in the three-dimensional model; and

placing the overlay based on the identified one or more regions in the three-dimensional model.

6. An apparatus providing dynamic assistance to a user in an augmented reality (AR) environment, comprising:

a processor;

a storage device coupled to the processor and storing instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to perform a method, the method comprising:

detecting, by the AR device, a first element of an object using an object detector, wherein the object is associated with a task;

determining that the first element is needed for a step of the task;

projecting a hologram of the first element prior to locating the first element in an operating range of the apparatus;

determining an orientation and an alignment of the first element in physical world of the user;

determining an overlay for the first element, wherein the overlay distinctly highlights one or more regions of the first element, and wherein the overlay indicates how the first element fits in the object based on the one or more regions; and

highlighting the one or more regions in the AR environment by placing the overlay on the one or more regions of the first element at the determined orientation in the AR environment.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the method further comprises:

determining one or more elements of the object that are attachable to the first element; and

projecting a second hologram depicting the first element attached to the one or more elements in the AR environment.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the method further comprises:

enhancing a resolution of an image of the first element in the AR environment, wherein the enhancing includes increasing, within the AR environment, prominence of a symmetry-breaking feature of the first element.

9. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the method further comprises:

determining a first region of the one or more regions of the first element, wherein the first region is attachable to a second region of a second element of the object; and

setting a same mark in the overlay for the first and second regions; and

wherein placing the overlay comprises placing the same mark on the first and second regions.

10. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the method further comprises:

obtaining a three-dimensional model of the first element;

identifying the one or more regions in the three-dimensional model; and

placing the overlay based on the identified one or more regions in the three-dimensional model.

Assignments (10)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 14, 2025
From: XEROX CORPORATION
To: GENESEE VALLEY INNOVATIONS, LLC
Reel/Frame 073562/0677 →
SECOND LIEN NOTES PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 2, 2025
From: XEROX CORPORATION
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 071785/0550 →
FIRST LIEN NOTES PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 11, 2025
From: XEROX CORPORATION
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 070824/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 13, 2024
From: XEROX CORPORATION
To: CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 066741/0001 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS RECORDED AT RF 064760/0389 Recorded Feb 13, 2024
From: CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: XEROX CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 068261/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 20, 2023
From: XEROX CORPORATION
To: JEFFERIES FINANCE LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 065628/0019 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE REMOVAL OF US PATENTS 9356603, 10026651, 10626048 AND INCLUSION OF US PATENT 7167871 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 064038 FRAME 0001. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Jun 28, 2023
From: PALO ALTO RESEARCH CENTER INCORPORATED
To: XEROX CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 064161/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 22, 2023
From: XEROX CORPORATION
To: CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 064760/0389 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 20, 2023
From: PALO ALTO RESEARCH CENTER INCORPORATED
To: XEROX CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 064038/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 30, 2019
From: WU, HSUAN-TING; PRICE, ROBERT R.
To: PALO ALTO RESEARCH CENTER INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 048192/0468 →