Application of Edge Effects to 3D Virtual Objects

A method comprising:

• loading, into a working memory of a near-eye display (NED) device configured for augmented reality display, data corresponding to a desired display region of a 3D virtual object defined by a plurality of pixels;
• calculating, by the NED device, a depth map of the 3D virtual object, the depth map including a plurality of depth values, each depth value representing a height of the 3D virtual object at a different one of a plurality of horizontal pixel locations of the 3D virtual object;
• selectively discarding, by the NED device, pixels located at edges of the desired display region of the 3D virtual object, based on the depth map;
• applying, by the NED device, an edge texture to a subset of pixels of the 3D virtual object that were not discarded by said selectively discarding, each pixel in the subset being located proximate to at least one edge of the selected display portion of the 3D virtual object;
• and
• displaying, by the NED device to a user, the 3D virtual object with the edge texture applied to the 3D virtual object.

A near-eye display (NED) device configured for augmented reality display, the NED system comprising:

• a display subsystem including a transparent display surface configured for augmented reality display;
• a working memory;
• and
• a plurality of processors collectively configured to perform steps including
• loading, into the working memory, data representing at least a portion of a 3D virtual object, at least a portion of which is to be displayed to a user of the NED subsystem;
• calculating a depth map of the 3D virtual object, the depth map including a plurality of depth values, each depth value representing a height of the object at a different one of a plurality of horizontal pixel locations of the 3D virtual object;
• selectively discarding pixels located at edges of a selected display portion of the 3D virtual object, based on the depth map;
• applying an edge effect to a subset of pixels of the 3D virtual object that were not discarded by said selectively discarding, each pixel in the subset being located proximate to at least one edge of the selected display portion of the 3D virtual object;
• and
• causing the display surface to display the 3D virtual object with the edge effect applied to the 3D virtual object.