SYSTEM FOR AUGMENTED REALITY
20230194881 · 2023-06-22
Assignee
Inventors
- Franco TECCHIA (Massa, IT)
- Marcello CARROZZINO (Grosseto, IT)
- Sandro BACINELLI (Massa, IT)
- Antonello CHERUBINI (Calci, IT)
Cpc classification
G06F3/011
PHYSICS
G02B2027/0161
PHYSICS
G02B2027/0159
PHYSICS
G02B27/0179
PHYSICS
International classification
Abstract
A system for augmented reality comprises a helmet and a container body within which a video unit is housed that comprises a device for acquiring images of a real scene and a display device for displaying at least the aforementioned images. A support body is, furthermore, provided configured to engage the container body to the helmet. The container body and the support body are provided with respective first and second engagement members configured to selectively and alternatively removably engage the container body to the support body in a first engagement position, in which the device for acquiring images is arranged to acquire images with a first predetermined field of view and the display device is positioned within the field of view of the user, and at least a second engagement position, in which the device for acquiring images is arranged to acquire images with a second predetermined field of view.
Claims
1. A system for augmented reality comprising: a helmet configured to be worn by a user; a container body arranged to house a video unit, said video unit comprising: a device for acquiring images configured to acquire images of a real scene; a display device configured to display at least said images of said real scene acquired by said device for acquiring images; a support body configured to engage said container body to said helmet; a transmission unit configured to transmit said images acquired by said device for acquiring images to a remote location; said system being characterized in that said container body and said support body are provided with respective first and second engagement members configured to selectively and alternatively removably engage said container body to said support body in a first predetermined engagement position, in which said device for acquiring images is arranged to acquire images of said real scene with a first predetermined field of view (FoV1) and said display device is positioned in the field of view of the user, and at least a second predetermined engagement position, in which said device for acquiring images is arranged to acquire images of said real scene with a second predetermined field of view (FoV2), and said display device is positioned externally to the field of view of the user and in that said transmission unit is arranged to transmit said images of said real scene acquired by said device for acquiring images, to said remote location also when said container body is positioned in said second predetermined engagement position.
2. System for augmented reality, according to claim 1, wherein said container body and said support body comprise respective first and second engagement surfaces respectively provided with said respective first and second engagement members, said first and second engagement surfaces being arranged to selectively and alternatively reversibly engage with each other, by said first and second engagement members to position said container body in said first, or in said second, predetermined engagement position with respect to said support body.
3. System for augmented reality, according to claim 2, wherein said first engagement surface and said second engagement surface of said container body form an angle α of predetermined amplitude, said angle α being comprised between −10° and 10°, i.e.: −10°≤α≤10°.
4. System for augmented reality, according to claim 1, wherein said support body comprises: a base portion arranged to be engaged a said helmet; a movable portion hinged a said base portion, said movable portion being configured to rotate about a rotation axis with respect to said base portion, in such a way to allow to adjust the inclination of container body with respect to the base portion and, therefore, with respect the user, when said container body is arranged to engage said support body in said first predetermined engagement position.
5. System for augmented reality, according to claim 2, wherein at least said container body, at said respective first and second engagement surfaces is, furthermore, provided with respective guide portions configured to guide the positioning of said container body with respect to said support body, up to engaging said first, or second, engagement member.
6. System for augmented reality, according to claim 5, wherein said, or each, guide portion comprises a recessed portion provided at least in one between said first and second engagement surfaces of said container body, said, or each, recessed portion being configured to house said first, or said second, engagement surface of said support body.
7. System for augmented reality, according to claim 1, wherein said first and second engagement members are configured to magnetically engage said container body and said support body with each other.
8. System for augmented reality, according to claim 7, wherein at least said second engagement members of said container body and of said support body are of magnetic type and comprise a respective neodymium magnet, in such a way to provide a self-centering of said second engagement members owing to the high magnetic force and, therefore, a correct positioning of said container body with respect to said support body.
9. System for augmented reality, according to claim 1, wherein said first engagement members of said container body and of said support body comprise, respectively, a magnet and at least a portion made of paramagnetic material, in such a way to allow an axial movement between said container body and said support body before engaging said first engagement members with each other at said first predetermined engagement position.
10. System for augmented reality, according to claim 2, wherein said first and second engagement surfaces are configured in such a way that said first predetermined field of view (FoV1) is substantially equal to said second predetermined field of view (FoV2).
11. System for augmented reality, according to claim 1, wherein a tightening group is, furthermore, provided configured to engage said, or each, container body to said helmet.
12. System for augmented reality, according to claim 11, wherein said tightening group comprises: a tightening cable arranged to be constrained to said, or each, container body at a respective constraining portion; a stretching device configured to move from a rest configuration, in which is not arranged to apply a traction force on said tightening cable, to a stretching configuration, in which said stretching device is arranged to apply a determined traction force on said tightening cable, in such a way to cause said tightening cable to move from a positioning configuration, in which said tightening cable is slack and can be, therefore, positioned around said helmet, and a tightening configuration, in which said tightening cable is subject to said determined traction force per cui is arranged to tighten said, or each, constraining portion to said external surface of said helmet to firmly engage said, or each, container body a said helmet, at a respective predetermined engagement position.
13. System for augmented reality, according to claim 1 wherein is, furthermore, provided a second container body is, furthermore, provided arranged to house a supply unit operatively connected to at least one between said device for acquiring images and said images display device to supply electric power.
14. System for augmented reality, according to claim 12, wherein said stretching device comprises a fixed portion arranged to engage said helmet and a movable portion rotatably connected to said fixed portion, said movable portion being configured to rotate about a rotation axis with respect to said fixed portion in a first direction of rotation to cause said tightening cable to be wound around a winding shaft in such a way to apply said traction force on said tightening cable, and in a second direction of rotation, opposite to the first, to unwind said tightening cable from said winding shaft and to reduce said traction force and wherein a first engagement body is, furthermore, provided having a first engagement portion configured to engage said edge of said helmet, and wherein first supplementary engagement members are provided configured to removably engage said fixed portion of said stretching device and said first engagement body, said first supplementary engagement members being configured in such a way to allow said movable portion to rotate with respect to said fixed portion.
15. (canceled)
16. System for augmented reality, according to claim 14, wherein are furthermore provided: a second engagement body associated to said first container body, said second engagement body being provided with a first constraining portion and a second engagement portion configured to engage said second engagement body a said edge of said helmet at said first predetermined engagement position; second supplementary engagement members configured to removably engage said first container body and said second engagement body.
17. System for augmented reality, according to claim 15, wherein are, furthermore, provided: a third engagement body associated to said second container body, said third engagement body being provided with said second constraining portion and a third engagement portion configured to engage said second container body a said edge of said helmet at said second position; third supplementary engagement members configured to removably engage said second container body and said third engagement body.
18-21. (canceled)
22. System for augmented reality, according to claim 12, wherein at least one among said first, second and third engagement portion comprises at least an end portion configured to resiliently move from a closing configuration, to an opening configuration in which is arranged to form an introduction mouth through which said edge is arranged to be introduced at a shaped engagement portion, and then to go back in said closing configuration, in which is arranged to close, at least partially, said introduction mouth, trapping said edge into said shaped engagement portion and wherein said shaped engagement portion is an undercut.
23. (canceled)
24. System for augmented reality according to claim 1, wherein said first and said second engagement members are configured to move from said first predetermined engagement position to said second predetermined engagement position, or vice versa, passing through an intermediate engagement position, in which said container body is mechanically disengaged from said support body.
25. System for augmented reality according to claim 1, wherein said container body is arranged to house said transmission unit.
26. A system for augmented reality comprising: a helmet configured to be worn by a user said helmet being provided with an external surface and an internal surface linked by an edge; a container body arranged to house at least a video device selected from the group comprising: a device for acquiring images configured to acquire images of a real scene; a display device configured to display images of a real scene; said system being characterized in that a tightening group is, furthermore, provided configured to engage said, or each, container body to said helmet, said tightening group comprising: a tightening cable arranged to be constrained to said, or each, container body at a respective constraining portion; a stretching device configured to move from a rest configuration, in which is not arranged to apply a traction force on said tightening cable, to a stretching configuration, in which said stretching device is arranged to apply a determined traction force on said tightening cable, in such a way to cause a movement from a positioning configuration, in which said tightening cable is slack and is, therefore, possible to position the same around said helmet, and a tightening configuration, in which said tightening cable is subject to said determined traction force per cui is arranged to tighten said, or each, constraining portion to said external surface of said helmet to firmly engage said, or each, container body to said helmet, at a respective engagement position.
27-37. (canceled)
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0061] The invention will now be shown with the following description of its exemplary embodiments, exemplifying but not limitative, with reference to the attached drawings in which:
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[0070] the
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0081] As diagrammatically shown in
[0082] In particular, the first and the second engagement members 31a, 32a, 31b, 32b can be configured to move from the first predetermined engagement position to the second predetermined engagement position, or vice versa, passing through an intermediate engagement position in which the container body 15 is mechanically disengaged from the support body 40.
[0083] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, diagrammatically shown in
[0084] In particular, the transmission unit 80, for example comprising a WIFI card, can be, furthermore, configured to receive a series of supplementary images 302, for example virtual images, or annotations, which can be displayed on the display device 12 together with, or alternatively to, the aforementioned images 301 of the real scene 300. In particular, the aforementioned supplementary images 302 can be generated by the expert worker, for example by a PC, a tablet, or another electronic device, and sent, for example via internet to the transmission unit 80. The supplementary images 302 can be, therefore, processed, for example, to be decoded, by a local processing unit that is not shown for reasons of simplicity, provided on board of the helmet 50, in order to be, then, displayed on display device 12.
[0085] In particular, if on the display device 12 are displayed at the same time both the images 301 and the supplementary images 302, for example superimposed on one another, complex images 303 are obtained. In a possible alternative embodiment of the invention, the remote location 250 can be configured to generate the aforementioned supplementary images 302, or directly the complex images 303 comprising the aforementioned images 302 and the aforementioned images 301, for example superimposed on one another, and to send them to the transmission unit 80.
[0086] In particular, the aforementioned supplementary images 302, can comprise contents as for example written instructions, or annotations, can be displayed on the aforementioned display device 12 to guide the user 200 who is wearing the helmet 50, during some works, both in mechanical field, for example to assembly together the parts of a machine, and in electric field, for example during an ordinary, or extraordinary maintenance intervention, on an electronic control unit, but also in surgical field to carry out an operation, etc.
[0087] According to an alternative embodiment, the aforementioned supplementary images 302 can be generate from a local processing unit, not shown for reasons of simplicity, for example, housed within the container body 15.
[0088] In an embodiment of the invention, diagrammatically shown in
[0089] In particular, the second container body 25 can be engaged to helmet 50 by a supplementary support body 40′ provided with an engagement portion configured to engage the helmet 50 and with the engagement members for engaging the supplementary support body 50′, not shown in the figure for reasons of simplicity.
[0090] The system 1, according to the invention, can advantageously comprise, furthermore, an audio unit 60, preferably engaged to the aforementioned helmet 50, for example in a lateral position 51 and comprising, in particular an audio transmission device 61, as for example a microphone, and an audio receiving device 62.
[0091] More in particular, as diagrammatically shown in
[0092] In a preferred embodiment, the container body 15 and the support body 40 comprise respective first and second engagement surfaces 16, 17, and 46, 47, respectively, provided with the aforementioned respective first and second engagement members 31a, 32a, and 31b, 32b. More in detail, the first and the second engagement surfaces 16, 17, 46, and 47 are arranged to selectively and alternatively removably engage, by the aforementioned first and second engagement members 31a, 32a, and 31b, 32b, to move the container body 15 in the first, or the second predetermined engagement position, with respect to the aforementioned support body 40.
[0093] In an embodiment of the invention, diagrammatically shown for example in
[0094] More in detail, the support body 40 comprises an engagement portion 43 configured to engage the base portion 41 of the support body 40 to the helmet 50, in particular at the front edge 58. For example, the engagement portion 43 can provide one or more shaped portions, for example curved, such as one, or more clip portions, able to deform in a controlled way in order to engage the edge of the aforementioned front edge 58.
[0095] Preferably, the first and the second engagement members 31a, 32a, 31b, 32b are configured to provide a magnetic engagement between the container body 15 and the support body 40.
[0096] In particular, at least the second engagement members 31b and 32b of magnetic type of the container body 15 and the support body 40 provide a respective neodymium magnet. This particular solution allows to provide a self-centering of the two magnets 32a, and 32b with respect to each other and, therefore, a correct positioning of the container body 15 with respect to the support body 40 in the second position, owing to the high magnetic force that this kind of material is able to exert.
[0097] In a possible embodiment of the invention, diagrammatically shown in
[0098] In a preferred embodiment, the aforementioned first and second engagement surfaces 16, 17, 46 and 47 and/or the first and the second engagement members 31a, 32a, 31b, 32b, can be configured in such a way that the field of view FoV1 of the device for acquiring images 11 in the first predetermined engagement position, is, advantageously, substantially equal to the field of view Fov2 of the device for acquiring images 11 in the second predetermined engagement position (see
[0099] In this way, expert worker point of view at the remote location does not change according to the changing of the predetermined engagement position between the container body 15 and the support body 40.
[0100] As diagrammatically shown for example in the
[0101] More in detail, the aforementioned first engagement surface 16 and the aforementioned second engagement surface 17 of the container body 15 can be slightly inclined one with respect to the other, in such a way to form an angle α comprised between −10° and 10°, i.e. −10°≤α≤10°, advantageously comprised between −5° and 5°, i.e. −5°≤α≤5°, preferably comprised between 0° and 5°, i.e. 0°≤α≤5°. Analogously, the aforementioned first engagement surface 46 and the aforementioned second engagement surface 47 of the support body 40 can form an angle β, of predetermined amplitude. In particular, the aforementioned angle β, can be comprised between −20° and 20°, i.e.: −20°≤β≤20°, advantageously the angle β, can be comprised between −10° and 10°, i.e.: −10°≤β≤10°, preferably comprised between −5° and 5° i.e.: −5°≤β≤5°.
[0102] Generally, the geometry of the container body 15 and the support body 40 are such to keep the field of view FoV of the device for acquiring images 11 substantially unchanged between the first and the second predetermined engagement position. In this way, in the second predetermined engagement position the user 200 can directly look at the real scene 300 to work more precisely on the mechanical, or electrical, parts or of any other type, while the expert worker positioned at the remote location can have the same field of view of the real scene 300 avoiding to lose the reference points.
[0103] In particular, as shown in detail in the embodiment diagrammatically shown in the
[0104] The system 1 can, furthermore, provide a detection group, not shown in figure, comprising one, or more sensors, in particular at least a position sensor and/or an accelerometer, in case, in addition to a GPS unit, for determining the position and the spatial orientation of the user 200 with respect to the real scene 300 acquired by the device for acquiring images 11.
[0105] As diagrammatically shown in the figures from 10 to 20, the system 1, according to the invention, can comprise, furthermore, a tightening group 70 configured to engage the, or each, container body 15, and/or 25, to helmet 50, in particular at an edge 55. More in particular, the edge 55 can have a thickness greater than the other parts of helmet 50, and have, for example, a curvilinear section. In particular, the tightening group 70 can provide a tightening cable 5 arranged to engage the, or each, container body 15 at a respective constraining portion 35. The tightening group 70 can, furthermore, comprise a stretching device 100 configured to apply a determined traction force to the tightening cable 5. More precisely, the stretching device 100 can be arranged to move, preferably gradually, from a rest configuration, in which is not arranged to apply a traction force to the tightening cable 5, or to apply a low traction force, to a stretching configuration, in which the stretching device 100 is arranged to apply a determined traction force to the tightening cable 5. In this way, the stretching device 100 is arranged to cause the tightening cable 5 to move, preferably gradually, between a positioning configuration, in which the tightening cable 5 is slack and is, therefore, possible to position the same around the helmet 50 (see
[0106] Advantageously, the stretching device 100, according to the present invention, can comprise a blocking member arranged to avoid that, when the tightening device 100 is positioned in the aforementioned stretching configuration, can accidentally go back to the rest configuration, reducing, even to zero, the aforementioned traction force on the tightening cable 5. Therefore, the stretching device 100 is configured in such a way to be blocked by itself in the stretching configuration.
[0107] In particular, the stretching device 100 which can be used by the system 1, according to the present invention, can be structurally similar to the stretching devices described in US2008/0066346, US2015/0230560, or US2015/0076272 used in the field of shoes with different purposes with respect to the present invention.
[0108] In the case that is diagrammatically shown as an example in the figures from 10 to 14, the system 1 provides a first and a second container body 15 and 25. More in detail, the first container body 15 can be arranged to house both the device for acquiring images 11 arranged to acquire the images 301 of the real scene 300, and the display device 12 arranged to display the aforementioned images 301. The second container body 25 can be arranged to house the supply unit 150 configured to supply electric power to the device for acquiring images 11 and to the display device 12. In particular, the first container body 15 is provided with a first engagement portion 35, and the second container body 25 is provided with a second engagement portion 45. More precisely, the first container body 15 is tightened to the helmet 50 at a first engagement position 51, preferably the front portion of the helmet 50, while the second container body 25 is tightened to the helmet 50 at a second engagement position 52, preferably the rear position of the helmet 50.
[0109] As diagrammatically shown in
[0110] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the stretching device 100 can comprise a fixed portion 101 engaged to the helmet 50, and a movable portion 102 rotatably connected to the fixed portion. More in detail, as diagrammatically shown in the
[0111] As diagrammatically shown in
[0112] In the example that is diagrammatically shown in
[0113] As shown in
[0114] In the embodiment shown as an example in the
[0115] As diagrammatically shown in the
[0116] In this way, it is possible to avoid that portions of the tightening cable and/or the connection cable 6 can be free to dangle along the respective trajectory around the helmet 50. More precisely, the hook member 90 can be provided with a respective engagement portion 93 arranged to engage the edge 55 of helmet 50, for example having the characteristics described above with reference to
[0117] According to an embodiment of the invention, the second container body 25 in addition to the supply unit 150, can be arranged to house a sound card, and/or a video card, not shown for simplicity reasons, respectively connected to the audio unit 60 and to the, or each, video device 11, or 12.
[0118] The system 1 can, furthermore, provide a detection group, not shown in figure, comprising one, or more sensors, in particular at least a position sensor and/or a accelerometer, in addition to a possible GPS unit, for determining the position and the spatial orientation of the user 200 with respect to the real scene 300 acquired by the device for acquiring images 11.
[0119] The foregoing description exemplary embodiments of the invention will so fully reveal the invention according to the conceptual point of view, so that others, by applying current knowledge, will be able to modify and/or adapt for various applications such embodiment without further research and without parting from the invention, and, accordingly, it is therefore to be understood that such adaptations and modifications will have to be considered as equivalent to the specific embodiments. The means and the materials to realize the different functions described herein could have a different nature without, for this reason, departing from the field of the invention. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology that is employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.