IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,608,840
Granted Patent B2
US 12,608,840 · App. 18/666,992 · Granted Apr 21, 2026

Orientation based on vanishing points

Inventors: Jai Prakash (Santa Clara, CA); Lina M. Paz-Perez (Santa Clara, CA)
Assignee: APPLE INC.
G06T7/73G01C21/16G06T7/13G06T13/00
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,608,840
App. No.
18/666,992
Granted
Apr 21, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

In one implementation, a method of determining a downward direction is performed by a device including one or more processors, non-transitory memory, and an image sensor. The method includes capturing, using the image sensor, an image of a physical environment. The method includes detecting a plurality of lines within the image of the physical environment. The method includes determining one or more vanishing directions based on the plurality of lines. The method includes defining a downward direction based on the one or more vanishing directions.

Claims (50)

1 . A method comprising:

at a device including one or more processors, non-transitory memory, and an image sensor:

capturing, using the image sensor, a first image of a physical environment;

detecting a first plurality of lines within the first image of the physical environment;

determining one or more vanishing directions based on the first plurality of lines;

defining a downward direction based on the one or more vanishing directions;

capturing, using the image sensor, a second image of the physical environment;

detecting a second plurality of lines within the second image;

determining an updated one or more vanishing directions based on the second plurality of lines; and

updating the downward direction based on the updated one or more vanishing directions.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the one or more vanishing directions includes determining a first vanishing point and determining a first vanishing direction based on the first vanishing point.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein determining the first vanishing point is based on a random sample consensus (RANSAC) algorithm defining a first subset of the first plurality of lines.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein determining the one or more vanishing directions includes determining a second vanishing direction based on a second vanishing point determined based on a RANSAC algorithm excluding the first subset of the first plurality of lines.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein determining the one or more vanishing directions includes determining a second vanishing direction based on a voting algorithm.

6 . The method of claim 4 , wherein determining the one or more vanishing directions includes determining a third direction based on a cross-product of the first vanishing direction and the second vanishing direction.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the one or more vanishing directions includes determining a first vanishing direction, a second vanishing direction, and a third direction based on a three-line RANSAC algorithm.

8 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising selecting the third direction as the downward direction.

9 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising selecting the first vanishing direction, the second vanishing direction, or the third direction as the downward direction based on a vector from an inertial measurement unit.

10 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising displaying virtual content based on the downward direction.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein displaying the virtual content based on the downward direction includes displaying a virtual object aligned with the downward direction.

12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein displaying the virtual content based on the downward direction includes displaying a virtual object moving along the downward direction.

13 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising updating display of virtual content based on the updated downward direction.

14 . A device comprising:

an image sensor;

non-transitory memory; and

one or more processors to:

capture, using the image sensor, a first image of a physical environment;

detect a first plurality of lines within the first image of the physical environment;

determine one or more vanishing directions based on the first plurality of lines;

define a downward direction based on the one or more vanishing directions;

capture, using the image sensor, a second image of the physical environment;

detect a second plurality of lines within the second image;

determine an updated one or more vanishing directions based on the second plurality of lines; and

update the downward direction based on the updated one or more vanishing directions.

15 . The device of claim 14 , wherein the one or more processors are to determine the one or more vanishing directions by:

determining a first vanishing direction based on a first vanishing point;

determining a second vanishing direction based on a second vanishing point; and

determining a third direction based on a cross-product of the first vanishing direction and the second vanishing direction.

16 . The device of claim 14 , wherein the one or more processors are further to display virtual content based on the downward direction.

17 . The device of claim 16 , wherein the one or more processors are to display the virtual content based on the downward direction by displaying a virtual object aligned with the downward direction.

18 . The device of claim 16 , wherein the one or more processors are to display the virtual content based on the downward direction by displaying a virtual object moving along the downward direction.

19 . A non-transitory memory storing one or more programs, which, when executed by one or more processors of a device including an image sensor, cause the device to:

capture, using the image sensor, a first image of a physical environment;

detect a first plurality of lines within the first image of the physical environment;

determine one or more vanishing directions based on the first plurality of lines;

define a downward direction based on the one or more vanishing directions;

capture, using the image sensor, a second image of the physical environment;

detect a second plurality of lines within the second image;

determine an updated one or more vanishing directions based on the second plurality of lines; and

update the downward direction based on the updated one or more vanishing directions.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 11, 2026
From: PRAKASH, JAI; PAZ-PEREZ, LINA M.
To: APPLE INC.
Reel/Frame 074034/0893 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 20, 2024
From: PRAKASH, JAI; PAZ-PEREZ, LINA M.
To: APPLE INC.
Reel/Frame 067469/0918 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63467395 · May 18, 2023
Related Publication 20240386599A1 · Nov 21, 2024
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