Sony patents VR display tweaks to make virtual hands see-through
Sony has been granted a patent for a system that adjusts how virtual objects and the user's own hands look in a virtual environment. The technology changes the transparency of these elements based on where the user is looking and how close their hand is to an object, helping to reduce visual clutter.
In the filing’s own words
In order to accomplish the above-mentioned objective, a display control apparatus according to an embodiment of the present technology includes a control unit. The control unit controls, on the basis of a viewpoint of a user, a position of an operating part of the user, and a position of a virtual object, a display format of at least a portion of the operating part. Accordingly, it is possible to provide high-quality viewing experience. Moreover, when approaching the virtual object which is the operation target and operating the virtual object, the transparency of the operating part is controlled, such that the operation target can be carefully checked. Accordingly, operation time and operation mistakes can be reduced. Moreover, the display format is controlled on the basis of the distance between the operating part and the operation target, such that a distance to the operation target can be accurately grasped.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. A display control apparatus, comprising circuitry configured to control, based on a viewpoint of a user, a position of an operating part of the user, and a position of a first virtual object, a display format of at least one portion of the operating part, and control a display format of at least one portion of a second virtual object other than the first virtual object, the second virtual object being positioned in between the viewpoint of the user and the position of the operating part of the user, wherein the circuitry controls the display format of the at least one portion of the operating part based on a degree to which the first virtual object is hidden by the operating part when viewed from the viewpoint of the user, and wherein the circuitry controls the display format of the at least one portion of the second virtual object by controlling transparency of each portion of the second virtual object positioned within a predetermined distance from a line connecting the viewpoint of the user with the position of the operating part of the user.
Facts
- Company
- Sony (Sony Group Corporation)
- Official title
- Display control apparatus, display control method, and program
- Patent number
- US12737040B2
- Application number
- 18701411
- Filed
- Oct 26, 2022
- Granted
- Sep 15, 2026
- Inventors
- 4
- Claims
- 14
Classified under
G06F 3/013 Physics & computingG06F 3/012 Physics & computingG06F 2203/048 Physics & computingG06F 2203/04801 Physics & computingG06F 2203/04802 Physics & computingG06F 2203/04804 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.