Autostereoscopic Virtual Reality Platform

Abstract

A virtual reality display system 10 comprises a first display, a second display and a third display, the first display having a three-dimensional display volume 18 and including a plurality of projectors 12, 14, 16 for projecting a three-dimensional image 102, 104, 106, 108 into the display volume 18, the second display including at least one substantially translucent display screen 20, 22, 24, 26, 28 and means for displaying an image on the display screen, and the third display being a holographic display.

Claims

1. A virtual reality display system comprising a first display, a second display and a third display, the first display having a three-dimensional display volume and including a plurality of projectors for projecting a three-dimensional image into the display volume, and the second display including at least one substantially translucent display screen and means for displaying an image on the display screen.

2. A virtual reality display system as claimed in claim 1, in which the third display is a holographic display.

3. A virtual reality display system as claimed in claim 1, in which the third display is a two-dimensional display.

4. A virtual reality display system as claimed in claim 1, in which the screen of the second display defines part of a boundary of the display volume of the first display.

5. A virtual reality display system as claimed in claim 1, in which the screen of the second display is disposed between the display volume of the first display and the third display.

6. A virtual reality display system as claimed in claim 5, in which the display volume of the first display is substantially surrounded by screen(s) of the second display.

7. A virtual reality display system as claimed in claim 6, in which the display volume of the first display and the screen(s) of the second display are substantially surrounded by the third display.

8. A virtual reality platform, including the virtual reality display system of claim 1, and a movable surface within the display volume of the first display.

9. A virtual reality platform as claimed in claim 8, in which speed and direction sensors are provided for measuring the speed and direction of movement on the movable surface.

10. A virtual reality platform as claimed in claim 8, in which haptic feedback apparatus are provided for applying tactile stimulus to a person within the display volume of the first display.

11. A virtual reality platform as claimed in claim 10, in which the haptic feedback apparatus includes pressure transducers, and means of attaching the pressure transducers to the body of a person.

12. A virtual reality platform as claimed in claim 11, in which at least one pressure transducer is mounted in a helmet.

13. A virtual reality platform as claimed in claim 11, in which at least one pressure transducer is mounted in a glove.

14. A virtual reality platform as claimed in claim 11, in which at least one pressure transducer is mounted in a suit.

15. A virtual reality platform as claimed in claim 11, in which at least one pressure transducer is mounted in armour.

16. A virtual reality platform as claimed in claim 9, in which a control system is provided, the control system reading inputs from the speed and direction sensors, and the control system adjusting the images on each of the first, second and third displays in response to the inputs from the sensors so as to create an illusion of movement within a virtual world.

17. A virtual reality platform as claimed in claim 16, in which the control system is further provided with input from a motion tracking camera.

18. A virtual reality platform as claimed in claim 16, in which the control system is adapted to activate haptic feedback apparatus in response to a detected position of a user.

19. A virtual reality platform as claimed in claim 18, in which the haptic feedback apparatus are activated when any part of the user's body is coincident with a three-dimensional image projected into the display volume of the first display.

20-21. (canceled)

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show more clearly how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made by way of example only to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0021] FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a virtual reality display system according to the invention; and

[0022] FIG. 2 shows a schematic perspective view of a prior art immersive display system.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0023] Referring to FIG. 1, a three-dimensional virtual reality platform is indicated generally at 10. The purpose of the virtual reality platform 10 is to provide a viewer 100 with a convincing illusion of movement and interaction within a virtual world.

[0024] The virtual reality platform comprises substantially three separate display systems. The first display system includes projection blocks 60, 62 which are positioned around the periphery of a display volume 18 (indicated by broken lines in the Figure). Each projection block includes a plurality of movable projectors, and each projector can be pivoted and focused to control the position of each individual image component. In this embodiment, the display volume 18 is filled with a cloud of particles and the projectors project image components into the display volume. However, it is envisaged that other types of display volume may be possible, including display volumes which do not include a cloud of particles. Each image component is two-dimensional, but the image components from the multiple projectors combine to form an image of a three-dimensional object having at least one outer surface, each image component forming an area of the outer surface. The first display system, including the structure of the projection blocks 60, 62 is described in detail in the Applicant's granted Patent GB 2497612, the disclosure in which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0025] In the example in the Figure, virtual persons 102, 104, 106, 108 are images projected into the display volume 18 of the first display system. The virtual persons 102, 104, 106, 108 can be moved around within the display system by adjusting the projectors in the projection blocks 60, 62, as described in GB 2497612.

[0026] The second display system in this embodiment comprises three translucent screens 22, 24, 28. In this example embodiment all three of the screens are flat, but it will be understood that curved screens may also be suitable. The translucent screens display mid-ground images. In the Figure, an image of some hills is displayed in front of the viewer 100. The translucent screens may include the means for displaying the image, for example they may be LCD screens. Alternatively, an image may be projected onto the translucent screens. In this embodiment, the image is projected with projectors 12, 14, 16. Projector 12 projects an image onto screen 22, projector 14 projects onto screen 24, and projector 16 projects onto screen 28. The images are back projected in this embodiment, which is preferred because it means that the projectors are not required to be within the display volume, and can be located out-of-sight of the user 100. However, in some embodiments the images may be projected from the front of the screens.

[0027] FIG. 2 shows a prior art system which makes use of translucent screens surrounding a user, but does not include the three-dimensional display volume. It can be seen that a plurality of projectors 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46 project two-dimensional images onto the translucent screens, so that the viewer 100 is effectively surrounded by display screens.

[0028] In some embodiments, more translucent display screens may be provided, and/or translucent display screens may overlap each other. Also, translucent screens may be placed within the display volume, as well as outside the display volume or on the periphery of the display volume. Overlapping screens allow images at different depths in the virtual world to be projected, enhancing the virtual reality experience.

[0029] The third display system in this embodiment includes three holographic displays 20, 26, 30. Each holographic display includes a substantially flat screen, each disposed partly behind a translucent display screen of the second display system. Although the holographic display screens 20, 26, 30 are in reality flat, three dimensional images are displayed on the screen which have the appearance of being located some distance behind the screen. In this embodiment, globe 48 is displayed on holographic display screen 26, person 110 is displayed on holographic display screen 20, and another person 112 is displayed on holographic display screen 30. A user can look through the translucent display screens to see three-dimensional background objects. Using the holographic displays as a background helps to create the illusion of a large virtual world, within a relatively small physical space. Nevertheless, two-dimensional displays may be provided as an alternative in some embodiments.

[0030] The viewer 100 is provided with a treadmill 50. The viewer can walk or run on the treadmill and the speed at which he is moving will be detected by sensors. The sensors feed into a virtual world control system, which may be software running on a general purpose computer, and the control system may then control the images displayed on the various display screens to create the illusion that the user is walking or running within a virtual world. In this embodiment the user is only able to run in a single direction, but may be able to, for example, choose whether to turn left or right at a fork by means of a control pad or other input means. In other embodiments, the movable surface may allow movement in substantially all directions, allowing the viewer to explore the virtual world in all directions.

[0031] One example of an application for the virtual reality display system is as part of a running machine. A user may run on a treadmill within the display volume, whilst experiencing the illusion that he or she is running on an outdoor trail. Furthermore, the difficulty of the run may be adjusted by applying a multiplier to the real distance run when controlling the virtual display. For example, with a multiplier of 10, 10 m run on the treadmill would cause the runner to move 100 m within the virtual world. On a more difficult setting, say with a multiplier of 0.5, the runner would have to run 100 m on the treadmill to move 50 m in the real world.

[0032] The display system which includes different types of display, spatially separated by depth, provides an immersive virtual reality experience, creating the illusion of a large virtual world, but within a relatively small physical space.

[0033] The embodiments described above are provided by way of example only, and various changes and modifications will be apparent to persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.