IP Library Granted Patent US 11,269,459
Granted Patent B2
US 11,269,459 · App. 17/332,269 · Granted Mar 8, 2022

Methods and apparatuses for applying free space inputs for surface constrained controls

Inventors: Shashwat Kandadai (Cupertino, CA); Nathan Abercrombie (Oakland, CA); Yu-Hsiang Chen (Cupertino, CA); Sleiman Itani (East Palo Alto, CA)
Assignee: Atheer, Inc.
G06F3/0425G06F3/017G06F3/0346G06F3/0416G06F3/0488G06F3/04883G06F3/04815G06T19/00
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,269,459
App. No.
17/332,269
Granted
Mar 8, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method, system, apparatus, and/or device for sensing an input in an augmented reality construct. The method, system, apparatus, and/or device may include a mixed-reality device, comprises memory and one or more processors communicatively coupled to a sensor, a touch device, and a display device that is at least partially transparent and configured to display a virtual object. The store instructions executable by the one or more processors to generate virtual object data for displaying a virtual object by the display device; output the virtual object data to the display device; receive, from the sensor, interaction data corresponding to a free-space interaction by a hand of a user with the virtual object; generate touch input data based on the interaction data; and output the touch input data to the touch device.

Claims (52)

1. A method, comprising:

receiving, by a first processing device of a head-worn device, a first set of data indicative of a free-space input by a hand of a user wearing the head-worn device, wherein the head-worn device is an augmented-reality device or a virtual-reality device; and

in response to the free-space input satisfying a free-space input standard, wherein the free-space input standard comprises a first standard for a motion of the hand in three-dimensional space:

generating a second set of data indicative of a virtual surface-constrained input, wherein:

the virtual surface-constrained input conforms with the virtual surface-constrained input standard; and

the virtual surface-constrained input standard comprises a second standard for a motion of the hand with a physical surface; and

sending, to a second processing device, the virtual surface-constrained input, wherein the second processing device is configured to execute software configured to receive a virtual surface-constrained input in conformance with the virtual surface-constrained input standard.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the free-space input is data indicative of a gesture of the hand or a posture of the hand.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the free-space input is data indicative of the hand interacting with a virtual object.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining, by the first processing device, whether the interaction by the hand with the virtual object corresponds to a touch input recognizable by a touch device.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising storing, by a memory device, one or more instructions executable by the first processing device.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the virtual surface-constrained input comprises a touch surface input from a touch device.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the virtual surface-constrained input comprises a touch down motion of an end-effector of the hand on a screen of a touch device.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the virtual surface-constrained input comprises a swipe motion on a screen of a touch device.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the virtual surface-constrained input comprises a peripheral device input, wherein the peripheral device input comprises:

a keystroke on a keyboard coupled to a touch device; or

a mouse click on a mouse coupled to the touch device.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining a virtual boundary for a virtual object, wherein an interaction by the hand with the virtual object comprises a gesture or a posture of the hand at or within the virtual boundary.

11. A device comprising:

an augmented-reality or virtual-reality display configured to be worn on a head of a user;

a sensor configured to detect a free-space input by a hand of the user; and

a first processing device coupled to the sensor and the augmented-reality or virtual-reality display, wherein the first processing device is configured to:

receive a first set of data indicative of a free-space input by a hand of a user wearing the augmented-reality or virtual-reality display, wherein the augmented-reality or virtual-reality display; and

in response to the free-space input satisfying a free-space input standard, wherein the free-space input standard comprises a first standard for a motion of the hand in three-dimensional space, in response to the free-space input satisfying the free-space input standard:

generate a second set of data indicative of a virtual surface-constrained input, wherein the virtual surface-constrained input conforms with the virtual surface-constrained input standard; and

send, to a second processing device, the virtual surface-constrained input, wherein the second processing device is configured to execute software configured to receive a virtual surface-constrained input in conformance with the virtual surface-constrained input standard.

12. The device of claim 11 , wherein the free-space input is data indicative of a gesture of the hand or a posture of the hand.

13. The device of claim 11 , wherein the free-space input is data indicative of the hand interacting with a virtual object.

14. The device of claim 11 , wherein the first processing device is configured to determine whether an interaction by the hand with a virtual object corresponds to a touch input recognizable by a touch device.

15. The device of claim 11 , wherein the virtual surface-constrained input comprises data is indicative of:

a first touch device instruction associated with a first bounce acceleration of a first interaction by a finger of the hand; or

a second touch device instruction associated with a second bounce acceleration of a second interaction by the finger of the hand, wherein:

the second bounce acceleration is different from the first bounce acceleration;

the second touch device instruction is different from the first touch device instruction; and

the first bounce acceleration or the second bounce acceleration is based on a rapid reversal of a motion of the finger.

16. A system comprising:

a head-worn device comprising:

an augmented-reality or virtual-reality display configured to be worn on a head of a user;

a sensor configured to detect a free-space input by a hand of the user;

a first processing device of the head-worn device coupled to the sensor, wherein the first processing device is configured to:

define a free-space input standard;

define a virtual surface-constrained input standard;

receive a first set of data indicative of the free-space input; and

in response to the free-space input satisfying the free-space input standard: and

generate a second set of data indicative of a virtual surface-constrained input, wherein the virtual surface-constrained input conforms with the virtual surface-constrained input standard; and

a second processing device configured to receive the virtual surface-constrained input, wherein the second processing device is configured to execute software configured to receive a virtual surface-constrained input in conformance with the virtual surface-constrained input standard.

17. The system of claim 14 , wherein the first processing device is further configured to generate virtual object data for displaying a virtual object by a mixed-reality device.

18. The system of claim 14 , wherein the first processing device is further configured to generate a free-space input instruction associated with a touch input of a touch device.

19. The system of claim 14 , wherein the first processing device is configured to determine whether an interaction by the hand with a virtual object corresponds to a touch input recognizable by a touch device.

20. The system of claim 17 , wherein the interaction with the virtual object comprises:

a first motion of the hand along a plane formed by a rectangular and planar boundary based on virtual object data; or

a second motion of the hand along a surface of a three-dimensional volume.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 7, 2022
From: ATHEER, INC.
To: WEST TEXAS TECHNOLOGY PARTNERS, LLC
Reel/Frame 058962/0067 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 10, 2022
From: KANDADAI, SHASHWAT; ABERCROMBIE, NATHAN; CHEN, YU-HSIANG; ITANI, SLEIMAN
To: ATHEER, INC.
Reel/Frame 058605/0612 →
Continuity (6)
Continuation 16811326 · Mar 6, 2020
Continuation 16155678 · Oct 9, 2018
Continuation 15495864 · Apr 24, 2017
Continuation 15184935 · Jun 16, 2016
Continuation 14713971 · May 15, 2015
Related Publication 20210357073A1 · Nov 18, 2021