Sony patents AR tool that measures real-world distances using virtual objects
Sony has been granted a patent for a system that uses a camera and position data to measure distances in the real world. It works by capturing images from different angles to estimate positions, then displaying virtual objects on a screen to show length, width, or depth.
In the filing’s own words
There is provided an information processing apparatus to measure a distance in a real space with a simpler operation. The information processing apparatus includes: an acquisition section that acquires an image captured by a predetermined imaging section, and position information based on at least any of a position and a direction of the imaging section; an estimation section that estimates a first position and a second position in a real space, on a basis of a first image and a second image which are the image captured at each of a first viewpoint and a second viewpoint, and first position information and second position information which are the position information about each of the first viewpoint and the second viewpoint; and a measurement section that measures a distance between the first position and the second position on a basis of the estimation result.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. An information processing system comprising: a first information processing apparatus; and a second information processing apparatus comprising circuitry configured to: control a display to display a first virtual object extending from the first information processing apparatus; determine, based on a first control information, a selection of a first measurement mode or a selection of a second measurement mode; determine, in the first measurement mode, a plurality of reference points based on a second control information; determine, in the first measurement mode, a distance between at least two reference points of the plurality of reference points or an area of a region enclosed by at least three reference points of the plurality of reference points; control, in the second measurement mode, the display to display a second virtual object based on a third control information; and control, in the second measurement mode, the display to display a third virtual object indicating at least one of length, width, or depth of the second virtual object.
Facts
- Company
- Sony (SONY CORPORATION)
- Official title
- Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and recording medium
- Patent number
- US12736326B2
- Application number
- 18926336
- Filed
- Oct 25, 2024
- Granted
- Sep 15, 2026
- Inventors
- 1
- Claims
- 23
Classified under
G01B 11/02 Physics & computingG01B 11/002 Physics & computingG02B 27/0172 Physics & computingG06F 3/013 Physics & computingG06F 3/0304 Physics & computingG06F 3/0346 Physics & computingMore from Sony in AR, VR & displays
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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.