TWI707250B - Redirected virtual reality space system and method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

A redirected virtual reality space system includes a walking platform, a positioning sensing element, and a control element. The walking platform is provided with a plurality of turntable assemblies for providing a user to move on the plurality of the turntable assemblies. The positioning sensing element generates a positioning signal according to the position of the user on the walking platform and the direction that the user faces. The control element is configured to receive the positioning signal and generates a redirection signal. The walking platform causes the turntable assembly which loads the user to perform a desired rotation direction, angle and speed according to the direction signal, thereby guiding the user to move toward the adjacent turntable assembly. The invention also discloses a method of implementing the system.

Description

Redirecting virtual reality space system and method

A redirection system and method, especially a redirection virtual reality space system and method applied in the field of virtual reality.

In the era of rapid technological development, video games that used to be presented on TV or computer screens cannot satisfy today's users. In order to let users get a more real game experience, virtual reality games are born. Various manufacturers are making improvements in the direction of making users wearing virtual reality devices feel as if they are on the scene without being restricted by real space.

There is a column element array type omnidirectional treadmill on the market, which includes a walking platform and an array type omnidirectional driving element. This treadmill can be used in the field of virtual reality to provide users with unlimited free walking space. The omnidirectional driving element of the treadmill adopts a column element array structure. The column element array structure has small operating inertia and has no restriction on turning radius. Therefore, the treadmill can accurately and quickly track the user's movement. The treadmill uses several walking platforms with different heights and different inclination angles to be joined to each other to simulate the walking movement and the movement of up and down steps in various complex terrain. However, the user must hang his body to match the treadmill when using it. This way of use will give the user the feeling of being carried and moved, rather than moving by themselves.

Another example is the redirection walking technology published by the State University of New York, Stony Brook, NVIDIA and Adobe at the GTC 2018 conference. The principle is to use the saccade suppression of human vision. Natural characteristics. Saccadic inhibition is that human vision hides a small amount of rotation due to transient blindness. When the user walks forward and looks around the scene, the scene will slowly rotate a few more degrees from the system to the target position. The user only rotates a few more degrees each time he looks around, allowing the user to unknowingly change the walking direction of the physical world, thereby creating an illusion of walking in a virtual space in a straight line. However, this technology has some problems. For example, this technology deceives the brain by relying on relative visual errors, allowing the user to take a small step in the physical space, but takes a big step in the virtual world, thus allowing the user The experience is not realistic enough; this technology requires a large enough physical space for the user to use; when the user walks and looks around the scene, the rotation of the scene may make the user dizzy. From the above problems, it can be seen that this is a necessary issue to be improved.

In view of this, the present invention discloses a system and method for redirecting virtual reality space. The reorientation virtual reality space system includes a walking platform, a positioning sensor element and a control element. The walking platform is provided with a plurality of turntable components for providing users to move on the plurality of turntable components. The positioning sensing element is used to sense the position of the user on the walking platform and the direction the user faces to generate a positioning signal. The control element is connected with the walking platform and the positioning sensing element. The control element is used for receiving the positioning signal and generating a redirection signal according to the positioning signal. The redirection signal includes the corresponding rotation direction, angle and speed of each turntable component. The walking platform rotates the turntable assembly carrying the user according to the redirection signal, and then guides the user to move toward the adjacent turntable assembly.

The method of reorienting the virtual reality space includes the following steps: providing a walking platform for carrying users, the walking platform is provided with a plurality of turntable components for the user to move on the plurality of turntable components; detecting the user’s facing direction and location The location of the walking platform to generate location information According to the positioning signal, a redirection signal is generated, the redirection signal includes the rotation direction, angle and speed required by each turntable assembly; and each turntable assembly is rotated according to the redirection signal so that the user moves toward the adjacent turntable assembly.

Compared with the prior art, the reorienting virtual reality space system and method of the present invention has the following advantages: 1. The present invention uses different rotation directions, angles and speeds required for the rotation of the turntable components to allow the user to know Unconsciously be restricted to a specific physical space without too much physical space; 2. The user can move in a normal and autonomous manner, and the user's body does not need to be controlled by the system; 3. The present invention does not It is necessary to fine-tune the rotation of the virtual reality screen by saccade suppression technology, thereby avoiding the user's dizziness; 4. The present invention does not need to deceive the user's brain by relative visual errors, thereby increasing the user's immersion Feelings.

1‧‧‧Redirecting Virtual Reality Space System

10‧‧‧Walking Platform

100‧‧‧(a-g) turntable assembly

12‧‧‧Position sensor

14‧‧‧Control components

2‧‧‧Virtual reality wearable device

S1‧‧‧Positioning signal

S2‧‧‧Want to go signal

S3‧‧‧Redirection signal

S4‧‧‧Pause signal

S5‧‧‧Safety signal

S10-S16‧‧‧Step

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a specific embodiment of the system for redirecting virtual reality space according to the present invention.

Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the use of a specific embodiment of the redirecting virtual reality space system of the present invention

Fig. 3 is a flowchart of a specific embodiment of a method for redirecting a virtual reality space according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the use of a specific embodiment of the method for redirecting the virtual reality space of the present invention.

Fig. 5 is a flowchart of a specific embodiment of a method for redirecting a virtual reality space according to the present invention.

Fig. 6 is a flowchart of a specific embodiment of a method for redirecting a virtual reality space according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of another specific embodiment of the method for redirecting a virtual reality space according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of the use of a specific embodiment of the method for redirecting virtual reality space according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of the use of another specific embodiment of the method for redirecting the virtual reality space of the present invention.

Please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a specific embodiment of the redirecting virtual reality space system 1 of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the use of a specific embodiment of the redirecting virtual reality space system 1 of the present invention. In a specific embodiment, the redirected virtual reality space system 1 of the present invention includes a walking platform 10, a positioning sensor element 12 and a control element 14. As shown in FIG. 2, the walking platform 10 is provided with a plurality of turntable assemblies 100 for allowing the user to move on the plurality of turntable assemblies 100. Each of the turntable assemblies 100 will continuously or intermittently rotate clockwise or counterclockwise. The positioning sensing element 12 is used to sense the position of the user on the walking platform 10 and the direction the user is facing to generate a positioning signal S1 to control the element 14. The control element is connected with the walking platform 10 and the positioning sensor element 12. The control element 14 is used to receive the positioning signal S1, and according to the positioning signal S1, generate a redirection signal S3 including the corresponding rotation direction, angle and speed required by each turntable assembly 100. The walking platform 10 rotates the turntable assembly 100 carrying the user according to the redirection signal S3 to guide the user to move toward the adjacent turntable assembly 100.

Please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 again. In a specific embodiment, the present invention is used with the virtual reality wearable device 2 worn by the user. This virtual reality wearable device 2 is connected to 14 control elements. The control element 14 is used to receive the positioning signal S1 and the desired travel signal S2 generated by the virtual reality wearable device 2 having the user's desired travel path, and generate and include various turntables according to the positioning signal S1 and the desired travel signal S2 A redirection signal S3 corresponding to the rotation direction, angle, and speed of the component 100. The desired path is the contextual screen displayed to the user by the virtual reality wearable device 2. To further explain, when the situation screen shows that there is a road ahead, and there is no road on the left and right sides, the desired path is straight; when the situation screen shows that there is a road on the left and there is no road ahead and the right, the desired path is the left Row.

Please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 again, in a preferred embodiment, when the positioning signal S1 shows that when the user is on the plurality of turntable assemblies 100 or the gap between the plurality of turntable assemblies 100 at the same time, the control element 14 generates a pause signal S4. When the walking platform 10 receives the pause signal S4, the walking platform 10 stops the corresponding turntable assembly 100 from operating. The suspension of the action is to prevent the user from being unable to move or stand smoothly due to stepping on the turntable assembly 100 or the gap between the turntable assemblies 100 with different actions.

Please refer to FIGS. 1 and 2 again. In a specific embodiment, when the positioning signal S1 indicates that the distance between the user and the periphery of the walking platform 10 is less than a limited distance, the control element 14 generates a safety signal S5. When the walking platform 10 receives the safety signal S5, the walking platform 10 will increase the rotation speed of the turntable assembly 100 carrying the user. Increasing the rotation speed of the turntable assembly 100 is to guide the user to keep moving on the walking platform 10 so as to maintain the stable operation of the present invention.

In a specific embodiment of the present invention, the limited distance is based on the optimal operating distance that can maintain the operation of the present invention when the user uses the present invention without affecting the user's experience. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the limited distance is 1 meter.

Please refer to FIG. 2 again. In a preferred embodiment, seven turntable assemblies 100 are arranged on the walking platform 10 and are arranged in a single plane in the densest manner.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the diameter of the disk surface of the turntable assembly 100 is 1.5 meters.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the positioning sensor element 12 is arranged on the virtual reality wearable device 2. The positioning sensing element 12 uses the virtual reality wearable device 2 worn by the user to confirm the position of the user on the walking platform 10 and the direction the user faces.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the positioning sensing element 12 is arranged on the virtual reality wearable device 2 and the walking platform 10. Positioning sensor element 12 uses virtual reality to wear The wearable device 2 confirms the location of the user on the walking platform 10 and the direction the user is facing, and cooperates with the walking platform 10 to sense the actual location of the user, thereby obtaining a more accurate positioning signal S1 for the user.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the positioning sensing element 12 is arranged on the virtual reality wearable device 2 worn by the user, and arranged outside the walking platform 10 in a manner facing the walking platform 10 Use with detection machines. In a specific embodiment, the virtual reality wearable device 2 actively provides a signal for the detection machine to perform detection. In another specific embodiment, the detection machine actively sends a signal for the virtual reality wearable device 2 to sense, and the virtual reality wearable device 2 returns the current location. In the above specific embodiment, the detection machine of the positioning sensor element 12 has at least one detector for the horizontal direction and at least one detector for the vertical direction. When the user moves on the walking platform 10, the positioning sensor element 12 receives or transmits signals in the horizontal and vertical directions. By comprehensively calculating the results of the two directions, the current position and direction of the user on the walking platform 10 can be known, and then the positioning signal S1 can be obtained. The positioning sensing element 12 of the above specific embodiment is, for example, HTC Lighthouse, Oculus Constellation, and so on.

Please refer to FIG. 3, which is a flowchart of a specific embodiment of a method for redirecting a virtual reality space according to the present invention. In a specific embodiment, the method for reorienting the virtual reality space of the present invention includes the following steps: S10: providing a walking platform 10 for carrying users, and the walking platform 10 is provided with a plurality of turntable assemblies 100 for the user to move on the plurality of turntables The component 100 moves up; S12: detects the user’s facing direction and the position on the walking platform 10 to generate a positioning signal S1; S14: generates a redirection signal S3 according to the positioning signal S1, and the redirection signal S3 includes each turntable group Rotation direction, angle and speed required for the piece 100; and S16: Rotate each turntable assembly 100 according to the redirection signal S3 so that the user moves toward the adjacent turntable assembly 100; when the user continues to use the present invention, the present invention will The above steps are executed continuously or intermittently, and the operation will continue from step S16 back to step S12. In another specific embodiment, the redirection signal S3 is generated based on the positioning signal S1 and the desire signal S2 generated by the virtual reality wearable device 2 having the user's desired path.

With the above steps, please refer to FIG. 4, which is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the method for redirecting a virtual reality space according to the present invention. The icons in Figure 4 respectively represent: the solid circle is the position the user wants to move to, the hollow circle is the user's original position, the solid arrow is the path the user wants to walk, and the dashed arrow is the position of the turntable assembly 100 The direction of rotation. In this embodiment, the user recognizes that the path he walks is a straight line in the virtual reality. However, the user actually moves on three different turntable assemblies 100. For clear explanation, the turntable assembly 100 is numbered a, b, and c. The path actually traveled by the user moves from the a turntable assembly 100 to the b turntable assembly 100. Then, the b-turntable assembly 100 is rotated so that the user faces the c-turntable assembly 100. Finally, the user moves from the b turntable assembly 100 to the c turntable assembly 100. It should be noted that in this embodiment, the user in the schematic diagram can walk continuously, without standing behind the b-turntable assembly 100 and waiting for the b-turntable assembly 100 to rotate until the user faces the c-turntable assembly 100. Keep walking around. That is, the rotation of the turntable assembly 100 does not affect the movement of the user.

Please refer to FIG. 3 again. In a specific embodiment of the present invention, after step S12, the following steps are further included: S13: detecting whether the distance between the user's position and the disc circumference of each turntable assembly 100 is less than a limited distance When detecting that the position of the user is less than a limited distance between the periphery of each turntable assembly 100, a positioning signal S1 is generated. If it is detected that the distance between the position of the user and the periphery of each turntable 100 is not less than the limited distance, the facing direction of the user and the position on the walking platform 10 are detected again. However, regardless of whether the position of the user is less than a limited distance from the periphery of each turntable 100, the turntable 100 can continue to operate. This step S13 determines whether to provide the positioning signal S1 again by limiting the distance. Through step S13, each turntable assembly 100 near the user's location can have enough reaction time, thereby improving the smoothness of the user's movement on the walking platform 10.

Please refer to FIG. 5. FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a specific embodiment of a method for redirecting a virtual reality space according to the present invention. In step S14, the following sub-steps are further included: S140: receiving positioning signal S1; S141: according to continuous time Inside, different positioning signals S1 are received to determine whether the user has stopped acting; when it is determined that the user has stopped, a pause signal S4 is generated, and steps S142 S142 are executed: the walking platform 10 pauses the actuation according to the pause signal S4 and carries the user’s Turntable assembly 100, and return to step S140; when it is determined that the user has not stopped the action, perform steps S143 S143: generate the redirection signal S3; in the above steps, the judgment of whether the user has stopped the action is based on the continuous time, if When receiving different positioning signals S1 and showing the same position of the user, it is reasonable to infer that the user is currently stopped.

Please refer to FIG. 6 again, which is a flowchart of a specific embodiment of a method for redirecting a virtual reality space according to the present invention. In a specific embodiment, step S14 further includes the following sub-steps: S140: receiving the positioning signal S1; S144: determining whether the user is stepping on the plurality of turntable assemblies 100 according to the location of the user in the positioning signal S1 Or on the gap between the plurality of turntable assemblies 100; when it is determined that the user steps on the plurality of turntable assemblies 100 or the gap between the plurality of turntable assemblies 100, a pause signal S4 is generated, and steps S142 S142: walking The platform 10 suspends the actuation of the turntable assembly 100 carrying the user according to the pause signal S4, and returns to step S140; when it is determined that the user has not stepped on the plurality of turntable assemblies 100 or the gap between the plurality of turntable assemblies 100, Steps S143 to S143 are executed: generating a redirection signal S3; through the above steps, the user can move or stand on the walking platform 10 smoothly.

Please refer to FIG. 7, which is a flowchart of a specific embodiment of a method for redirecting a virtual reality space according to the present invention. In a specific embodiment, step S14 further includes the following sub-steps: S140: receiving the positioning signal S1; S145: judging whether the user and the periphery of the walking platform 10 are less than a limited distance according to the location of the user in the positioning signal S1; When it is determined that the distance between the user and the periphery of the walking platform 10 is less than the limited distance, a safety signal S5 is issued, and steps S146 and S146 are received: the safety signal S5 is received, and the rotation of the turntable assembly 100 corresponding to the standing position of the user is increased. Turn speed and return to step S140; when it is determined that the distance between the user and the periphery of the walking platform 10 is not less than the limited distance, the safety signal S5 is issued, then steps S143 and S143 are generated: a redirection signal S3 is generated; Keep moving on the walking platform 10 continuously.

In the above specific embodiment, the redirection signal S3 is generated according to the priority order of the following situations: 1. Whether the user and the periphery of the walking platform 10 are less than a limited distance; 2. Whether the rotation angle required by the turntable 100 exceeds the sensing angle 3. Whether the user moves to the center of the disk surface of each turntable assembly 100; wherein, the perception angle is the angle at which the user starts to perceive the turntable assembly 100 to rotate. In a specific embodiment of the present invention, the perception angle is 30 degrees. In another specific embodiment of the present invention, the redirection signal S3 is calculated by the control unit 14 based on the positioning signal S1 and the desired signal S2.

In a preferred embodiment, although the user’s perception angle is limited, when the disk surface of the turntable assembly 100 is large, the time and distance the user moves on the turntable assembly 100 will increase, so that the turntable assembly 100 can With a limited rotation speed, it can rotate at a larger angle without being noticed by the user. In addition, when the user moves faster, the user's sensitivity to the movement of the turntable assembly 100 will decrease. Therefore, the rotation speed and angle of the turntable assembly 100 can be increased without being noticed by the user.

Please refer to FIG. 8. FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a specific embodiment of a method for redirecting a virtual reality space according to the present invention. The icons in Figure 8 respectively represent: the solid circle is the position the user wants to move to, the hollow circle is the user's original position, the solid arrow is the path the user wants to walk, and the dashed arrow is the position of the turntable assembly 100 The direction of rotation. In order to explain more clearly, we will turn The disk assembly 100 is numbered d, e, f, and g. In this embodiment, the user recognizes that the path he walks is a straight line in the virtual reality. The path actually traveled by the user moves from the d-turntable assembly 100 to the e-turntable assembly 100. However, if the user wants to move forward, he must rotate the e-disk assembly 100 so that the user can move to the f-disk assembly 100 or the g-disk assembly 100. However, as shown in FIG. 7, if the user wants to move the f-turntable assembly 100, the e-turntable assembly 100 must be rotated 180 degrees. To allow the user to move to the g-turntable assembly 100, the e-turntable assembly 100 must be rotated by 45 degrees. In both cases, the present invention will choose to allow the user to move the g-disk assembly 100 with a smaller required rotation angle. This choice is to prevent the user from experiencing too much rotation.

However, the rotation of 45 degrees will exceed the perception angle of 30 degrees. Please refer to FIG. 9, which is a schematic diagram of a specific embodiment of the method for reorienting the virtual reality space of the present invention. The icons in FIG. 9 respectively represent: the solid circle is the position the user wants to move to, the hollow circle is the user's original position, the solid arrow is the path the user wants to walk, and the dashed arrow is the position of the turntable assembly 100 The direction of rotation. In order to explain more clearly, the turntable assembly 100 is numbered d, e, f, and g. In order to prevent the user from feeling that the rotating assembly 100 is rotating, the angle of rotation is corrected from 45 degrees to 30 degrees. This means that the user is allowed to move from the center of the disk surface of the g turntable assembly 100 to the edge of the disk surface. Although the turntable assembly 100 aims to allow the user to move to the center of the disk surface when rotating, in order to take into account the user's experience, the rotation angle needs to be recalculated and corrected to not exceed the perceived angle.

In a preferred embodiment, the rotation speed of the turntable assembly 100 will be inversely proportional to the position of the user and the distance between the center of the disk surface of the rotating assembly 100 carrying the user. Because when the rotation angle is the same, the distance of the rotation at the center of the disk surface will be smaller than that at the periphery of the disk surface. Therefore, if the user is located around the disc surface, the turntable assembly 100 must be lowered The rotation speed is to avoid the user feeling that the turntable assembly 100 is rotating. For the foregoing reasons, when the control element 14 calculates the redirection signal S3 according to the positioning signal S1, it also estimates the time when the user moves on each turntable assembly 100, and judges the rotation speed of the turntable assembly 100 accordingly. In another specific embodiment, the aforementioned redirection signal S3 is calculated by the control unit 14 according to the positioning signal S1 and the desired signal S2.

Compared with the prior art, the redirecting virtual reality space system 1 and method of the present invention uses different rotation directions, angles, and speeds required for the rotation of the turntable assembly 100, so that the user is unconsciously restricted to In a specific physical space. Therefore, users can enjoy the virtual reality without much physical space. In addition, the user can move in a normal and autonomous manner, and does not need to control the user's body by traction as in the conventional technology. With the present invention, the user can have a more immersive experience when experiencing virtual reality.

Based on the detailed description of the above specific embodiments, it is hoped that the characteristics and spirit of the present invention can be described more clearly, rather than limiting the scope of the present invention by the specific embodiments disclosed above. On the contrary, its purpose is to cover various changes and equivalent arrangements within the scope of the patent application for the present invention.

1‧‧‧Redirecting Virtual Reality Space System

10‧‧‧Walking Platform

100‧‧‧Turntable assembly

12‧‧‧Position sensor

14‧‧‧Control components

2‧‧‧Virtual reality wearable device

S1‧‧‧Positioning signal

S2‧‧‧Want to go signal

S3‧‧‧Redirection signal

S4‧‧‧Pause signal

S5‧‧‧Safety signal

Claims (8)

A reorienting virtual reality space system, comprising: a walking platform provided with a plurality of turntable components for providing a user to move on the plurality of turntable components; a positioning sensor component for sensing the use A positioning signal is generated after the user is located at the position of the walking platform and the direction the user is facing; and a control element is connected with the walking platform and the positioning sensing element to receive the positioning signal and perform the positioning according to the positioning signal. The signal generates a redirection signal including the rotation direction, angle and speed required by each turntable assembly; wherein the walking platform rotates the turntable assembly carrying the user according to the redirection signal to guide the user toward The adjacent turntable assembly moves. For example, the reorientation virtual reality space system of item 1 of the scope of patent application, wherein the user wears a virtual reality wearable device, and the virtual reality wearable device is connected with the control element to provide the user with a A desired signal of the desired path, the control element generates the redirection signal according to the positioning signal and the desired signal. For example, the reorientation virtual reality space system of the first item of the scope of patent application, wherein when the positioning signal shows that the user is located on a plurality of the turntable components or a gap between the plurality of the turntable components, the control element generates a pause Signal, the walking platform receives the pause signal and stops the corresponding turntable components. A method for reorienting a virtual reality space, comprising the following steps: providing a walking platform that carries a user, and the walking platform is provided with a plurality of turntable components for the user to move on the plurality of turntable components; Detect the facing direction of the user and the position on the walking platform to generate a positioning signal; generate a redirection signal according to the positioning signal, the redirection signal including the rotation direction, angle and speed required by each turntable component; And rotating each of the turntable components according to the redirection signal to make the user move toward the adjacent turntable components. According to the method of reorienting the virtual reality space described in item 4 of the scope of patent application, the reorientation signal is generated based on the positioning signal and a virtual reality wearable device worn by the user. The desired path is generated by a desired signal. For example, the method for redirecting the virtual reality space described in item 4 of the scope of patent application, wherein, generating the redirection signal according to the positioning signal further includes the following sub-steps: according to different received positioning signals within a continuous period of time, It is determined whether the user stops working; when the user stops working, a pause signal is generated; and the turntable assembly carrying the user is suspended according to the pause signal. For example, the method of reorienting the virtual reality space described in item 4 of the scope of patent application, wherein, generating the reorientation signal according to the positioning signal further includes the following sub-steps: determining the location of the user based on the positioning signal Whether the user steps on a plurality of the turntable components or the gaps between the plurality of turntable components; judging that the user steps on the plurality of the turntable components or the gaps between the plurality of turntable components, then a A pause signal; and according to the pause signal, the turntable assembly carrying the user is suspended from actuation. For example, the method for reorienting the virtual reality space described in item 6 or 7 of the scope of patent application, wherein after the turntable assembly carrying the user is suspended according to the pause signal, it further includes the following steps: re-receiving the positioning signal .

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