Method and apparatus for a three dimensional interface

An apparatus, comprising:

• a processor adapted to:
• generate a three dimensional interface;
• generate a virtual object in the interface;
• generate an interaction zone individually associated with the virtual object, wherein the interaction zone include a space surrounding the virtual object that is distinct from a space occupied by the virtual object,
• sensing, by a sensor, a location of a stimulus relative to the virtual object;
• a display in communication with the processor, the display being adapted to output the three dimensional interface and the virtual object;
• and
• the sensor in communication with the processor, the sensor being adapted to detect the stimulus, wherein the processor is adapted to:
• determining an uncertainty level of the sensor in determining the location of the stimulus;
• in response to the uncertainty level exceeding a threshold level, increasing a size of the interaction zone in relation to the virtual object, wherein the increased size of the interaction zone increases a precision level of the sensor in sensing a response associated with the stimulus relative to the virtual object;
• in response to the uncertainty level not exceeding the threshold level, decreasing the size of the interaction zone in relation to the virtual object, wherein the decreased size of the interaction zone decreases the precision level of the sensor in sensing the response associated with the stimulus relative to the virtual object;
• and
• in response to sensing the stimulus, executing an instruction associated with the response.

A method, comprising:

• generating, by a processor, a stereo three dimensional interface;
• generating a three dimensional virtual object disposed in free space in the stereo three dimensional interface;
• defining a three dimensional geometric interaction zone enclosing substantially all of the virtual object, wherein the three dimensional geometric interaction zone is structurally individually associated with the virtual object and distinct from the virtual object;
• generating the interaction zone;
• sensing, by a sensor, a location of a stimulus relative to the three dimensional virtual object;
• determining an uncertainty level of the sensor in determining the location of the stimulus;
• in response to the uncertainty level exceeding a threshold level, increasing a size of the three dimensional geometric interaction zone in relation to the three dimensional virtual object, wherein the increased size of the three dimensional geometric interaction zone increases a precision level of the sensor in sensing a response associated with the stimulus relative to the three dimensional virtual object;
• in response to the uncertainty level not exceeding the threshold level, decreasing the size of the three dimensional geometric interaction zone in relation to the three dimensional virtual object, wherein the decreased size of the three dimensional geometric interaction zone decreases the precision level of the sensor in sensing the response associated with the stimulus relative to the three dimensional virtual object;
• and
• in response to sensing the stimulus, executing an instruction associated with the response.

A head mounted display, comprising:

• a housing adapted to be worn on a head of a user;
• a processor engaged with the housing, the processor being adapted to:
• generate a stereo three dimensional interface;
• generate a virtual object in the stereo three dimensional interface;
• generate a three dimensional interaction zone enclosing substantially all of the virtual object wherein the three dimensional interaction zone is individually associated with the virtual object, structurally distinct from the virtual object such that the three dimensional interaction zone and a boundary of the virtual object are not equivalent, and functionally distinct from the virtual object such that interacting with the three dimensional interaction zone is not equivalent to interacting with the surface of the virtual object;
• a first display and a second display in communication with the processor, the first display and the second display being adapted to output the stereo three dimensional interface and the virtual object, the first display and the second display being engaged with the housing such that the first display and the second display are disposed proximate and substantially aligned with the user's eyes when the user wears the housing;
• and
• a first image sensor and a second image sensor in communication with the processor, the first image sensor and second image sensor being engaged with the housing such that a field of view of the first image sensor and second image sensor includes a region in front of the user when the housing is worn by the user, wherein the first image sensor and the second image sensor are adapted to:
• generate a stereo three dimensional image;
• and,
• detect a stimulus of the three dimensional interaction zone, the stimulus comprising contact between the three dimensional interaction zone and an end-effector, wherein the processor is adapted to:
• determining an uncertainty level of the sensor in determining a location of the stimulus;
• in response to the uncertainty level exceeding a threshold level, increasing a size of the three dimensional interaction zone in relation to the virtual object, wherein the increased size of the three dimensional interaction zone increases a precision level of the sensor in sensing a response associated with the stimulus relative to the virtual object;
• in response to the uncertainty level not exceeding the threshold level, decreasing the size of the three dimensional interaction zone in relation to the virtual object, wherein the decreased size of the three dimensional interaction zone decreases the precision level of the sensor in sensing the response associated with the stimulus relative to the virtual object;
• and
• in response to sensing the stimulus, executing an instruction associated with the response.

An apparatus, comprising:

• means for generating a three dimensional interface;
• means for generating a virtual object in the three dimensional interface;
• means for generating an interaction zone associated with the virtual object wherein the interaction zone is individually associated with the virtual object, structurally distinct from the virtual object such that the interaction zone and a boundary of the virtual object are not equivalent, and functionally distinct from the virtual object such that interacting with the interaction zone is not equivalent to interacting with a surface of the virtual object;
• means for sensing a location of a stimulus relative to the virtual object;
• means for determining an uncertainty level of the sensing means in determining the location of the stimulus;
• in response to the uncertainty level exceeding a threshold level, means for increasing a size of the interaction zone in relation to the virtual object, wherein the increased size of the interaction zone increases a precision level of the sensing means in sensing a response associated with the stimulus relative to the virtual object;
• in response to the uncertainty level not exceeding the threshold level, means for decreasing the size of the interaction zone in relation to the virtual object, wherein the decreased size of the interaction zone decreases a precision level of the sensing means in sensing the response associated with the stimulus relative to the virtual object;
• and
• in response to sensing the stimulus, means for executing an instruction associated with the response.