US 5,495,576 AGranted

Panoramic image based virtual reality/telepresence audio-visual system and method

OwnerKurtis J. Ritcheyinventor

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Abstract

An improved panoramic image based virtual reality/telepresence audio-visual system and method includes panoramic three-dimensional input devices, a computer processor, and a panoramic audio-visual output device. In one embodiment of the system the input devices comprise a sensor assembly including a plurality of positionable radar, camera, and acoustical sensors for recording signatures of all sides of three-dimensional subjects simultaneously. The computer processor integrates the sensor signals, processes signals as a virtual model, updates the model based on participant interaction, and selects and distributes portions of the processed virtual model for presentation on display units and audio speakers. The processor includes participant interactive input devices for instantaneous interaction with the virtual model. The panoramic audio-visual output device includes a head-mounted display or a closed structure having contiguous individual display units mounted in all viewable directions surrounding the participant. Conventional, stereoscopic, autostereoscopic, and holographic display systems are provided to view the panoramic three-dimensional image based model. Computer graphics, artificial intelligence, telecommunications, and vehicle control embodiments of the system are provided.

Claims26

Dependent claims

A display system for virtual interaction with recorded images and comprising:

(a) input means including:
(1) a plurality of positionable sensor means of mutually angular relation to enable substantially continuous coverage by said sensor means of a three-dimensional subject;
and
(2) sensor recorder means communicating with said sensor means and operative to store and generate sensor signals representing said subject;
(b) signal processing means communicating with said sensor means and said recorder means, receiving said sensor signals from said recorder means, and operable to texture map virtual images represented by said sensor signals onto a three-dimensional form;
(c) a panoramic audio-visual display assembly means communicating with said signal processing means and enabling display to a viewer of the texture mapped virtual images;
(d) viewer control means communicating with said signal processing means, including at least one interactive input device, and enabling interactive manipulation of said texture mapped virtual images by a viewer thereof operating said interactive input device;
and
(e) said signal processing means further including:
(1) a host computer for manipulation of a computer generated world model;
and
(2) manipulation software associated with said host computer for assigning action to subjects in said computer generated world model based upon actions by another subject in said computer generated world model.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/002,582Filed 11 Jan 1993
Granted: 27 Feb 1996
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification29 codes

G06T 17/00
Three-dimensional [3d] modelling for computer graphics
H04N 13/194
Processing, recording or transmission of stereoscopic or multi-view image signals: transmission of image signals
H04N 13/243
Using stereoscopic image cameras: using three or more two-dimensional [2D] image sensors
H04N 13/279
From three-dimensional [3D] object models, e.g. computer-generated stereoscopic image signals: the virtual viewpoint locations being selected by…