Apple Patent | Devices, methods, and graphical user interfaces for gaze navigation
Patent: Devices, methods, and graphical user interfaces for gaze navigation
Patent PDF: 20250103133
Publication Number: 20250103133
Publication Date: 2025-03-27
Assignee: Apple Inc
Abstract
Techniques and user interfaces for interacting with virtual objects using gaze in an extended reality environment.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/540,025, entitled “DEVICES, METHODS, AND GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACES FOR GAZE NAVIGATION,” filed on Sep. 22, 2023, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present disclosure relates generally to computer systems that are in communication with one or more display generation components and one or more input devices that provide computer-generated experiences, including, but not limited to, electronic devices that provide virtual reality and mixed reality experiences via a display.
BACKGROUND
The development of computer systems for augmented reality has increased significantly in recent years. Example augmented reality environments include at least some virtual elements that replace or augment the physical world. Input devices, such as cameras, controllers, joysticks, touch-sensitive surfaces, and touch-screen displays for computer systems and other electronic computing devices are used to interact with virtual/augmented reality environments. Example virtual elements include virtual objects, such as digital images, video, text, icons, and control elements such as buttons and other graphics.
SUMMARY
Some methods and interfaces for interacting with environments that include at least some virtual elements (e.g., applications, augmented reality environments, mixed reality environments, and virtual reality environments) are cumbersome, inefficient, and limited. For example, systems that provide insufficient feedback for performing actions associated with virtual objects, systems that require a series of inputs to achieve a desired outcome in an augmented reality environment, and systems in which manipulation of virtual objects are complex, tedious, and error-prone, create a significant cognitive burden on a user, and detract from the experience with the virtual/augmented reality environment. In addition, these methods take longer than necessary, thereby wasting energy of the computer system. This latter consideration is particularly important in battery-operated devices.
Accordingly, there is a need for computer systems with improved methods and interfaces for interacting with virtual objects of an environment more efficient and intuitive for a user. Such methods and interfaces optionally complement or replace conventional methods for interacting with virtual objects. Such methods and interfaces reduce the number, extent, and/or nature of the inputs from a user by helping the user to understand the connection between provided inputs and device responses to the inputs, thereby creating a more efficient human-machine interface.
The above deficiencies and other problems associated with user interfaces for computer systems are reduced or eliminated by the disclosed systems. In some embodiments, the computer system is a desktop computer with an associated display. In some embodiments, the computer system is portable device (e.g., a notebook computer, tablet computer, or handheld device). In some embodiments, the computer system is a personal electronic device (e.g., a wearable electronic device, such as a watch, or a head-mounted device). In some embodiments, the computer system has a touchpad. In some embodiments, the computer system has one or more cameras. In some embodiments, the computer system has a touch-sensitive display (also known as a “touch screen” or “touch-screen display”). In some embodiments, the computer system has one or more eye-tracking components. In some embodiments, the computer system has one or more hand-tracking components. In some embodiments, the computer system has one or more output devices in addition to the display generation component, the output devices including one or more tactile output generators and/or one or more audio output devices. In some embodiments, the computer system has a graphical user interface (GUI), one or more processors, memory and one or more modules, programs or sets of instructions stored in the memory for performing multiple functions. In some embodiments, the user interacts with the GUI through a stylus and/or finger contacts and gestures on the touch-sensitive surface, movement of the user's eyes and hand in space relative to the GUI (and/or computer system) or the user's body as captured by cameras and other movement sensors, and/or voice inputs as captured by one or more audio input devices. In some embodiments, the functions performed through the interactions optionally include image editing, drawing, presenting, word processing, spreadsheet making, game playing, telephoning, video conferencing, e-mailing, instant messaging, workout support, digital photographing, digital videoing, web browsing, digital music playing, note taking, and/or digital video playing. Executable instructions for performing these functions are, optionally, included in a transitory and/or non-transitory computer readable storage medium or other computer program product configured for execution by one or more processors.
There is a need for electronic devices with improved methods and interfaces for interacting with virtual objects. Such methods and interfaces may complement or replace conventional methods for interacting with virtual objects. Such methods and interfaces provide a more seamless user experience, reduce the number, extent, and/or the nature of the inputs from a user, and produce a more efficient human-machine interface. For battery-operated computing devices, such methods and interfaces conserve power and increase the time between battery charges.
In accordance with some embodiments, a method is described. The method comprises: at a computer system that is in communication with one or more display generation components and one or more input devices: displaying, via the one or more display generation components, a user interface, the user interface including: a first gaze target; and a second gaze target, different from the first gaze target; while displaying the user interface, detecting, via the one or more input devices, a gaze of a user of the computer system directed to a respective gaze target; and in response to detecting the gaze of the user of the computer system directed to the respective gaze target, displaying, via the one or more display generation components, respective content corresponding to the respective gaze target, including: in accordance with a determination that the respective gaze target is the first gaze target, displaying first content corresponding to the first gaze target; and in accordance with a determination that the respective gaze target is the second gaze target, displaying second content corresponding to the second gaze target, wherein the second content is different from the first content.
In accordance with some embodiments, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium is described. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium stores one or more programs configured to be executed by one or more processors of a computer system that is in communication with one or more display generation components and one or more input devices. The one or more programs include instructions for: displaying, via the one or more display generation components, a user interface, the user interface including: a first gaze target; and a second gaze target, different from the first gaze target; while displaying the user interface, detecting, via the one or more input devices, a gaze of a user of the computer system directed to a respective gaze target; and in response to detecting the gaze of the user of the computer system directed to the respective gaze target, displaying, via the one or more display generation components, respective content corresponding to the respective gaze target, including: in accordance with a determination that the respective gaze target is the first gaze target, displaying first content corresponding to the first gaze target; and in accordance with a determination that the respective gaze target is the second gaze target, displaying second content corresponding to the second gaze target, wherein the second content is different from the first content.
In accordance with some embodiments, a transitory computer-readable storage medium is described. The transitory computer-readable storage medium stores one or more programs configured to be executed by one or more processors of a computer system that is in communication with one or more display generation components and one or more input devices. The one or more programs include instructions for: displaying, via the one or more display generation components, a user interface, the user interface including: a first gaze target; and a second gaze target, different from the first gaze target; while displaying the user interface, detecting, via the one or more input devices, a gaze of a user of the computer system directed to a respective gaze target; and in response to detecting the gaze of the user of the computer system directed to the respective gaze target, displaying, via the one or more display generation components, respective content corresponding to the respective gaze target, including: in accordance with a determination that the respective gaze target is the first gaze target, displaying first content corresponding to the first gaze target; and in accordance with a determination that the respective gaze target is the second gaze target, displaying second content corresponding to the second gaze target, wherein the second content is different from the first content.
In accordance with some embodiments, a computer system configured to communicate with one or more display generation components and one or more input devices is described. The computer system comprises: one or more processors; and memory storing one or more programs configured to be executed by the one or more processors. The one or more programs include instructions for: displaying, via the one or more display generation components, a user interface, the user interface including: a first gaze target; and a second gaze target, different from the first gaze target; while displaying the user interface, detecting, via the one or more input devices, a gaze of a user of the computer system directed to a respective gaze target; and in response to detecting the gaze of the user of the computer system directed to the respective gaze target, displaying, via the one or more display generation components, respective content corresponding to the respective gaze target, including: in accordance with a determination that the respective gaze target is the first gaze target, displaying first content corresponding to the first gaze target; and in accordance with a determination that the respective gaze target is the second gaze target, displaying second content corresponding to the second gaze target, wherein the second content is different from the first content.
In accordance with some embodiments, a computer system configured to communicate with one or more display generation components and one or more input devices is described. The computer system comprises: means for displaying, via the one or more display generation components, a user interface, the user interface including: a first gaze target; and a second gaze target, different from the first gaze target; means for, while displaying the user interface, detecting, via the one or more input devices, a gaze of a user of the computer system directed to a respective gaze target; and means for, in response to detecting the gaze of the user of the computer system directed to the respective gaze target, displaying, via the one or more display generation components, respective content corresponding to the respective gaze target, including: in accordance with a determination that the respective gaze target is the first gaze target, displaying first content corresponding to the first gaze target; and in accordance with a determination that the respective gaze target is the second gaze target, displaying second content corresponding to the second gaze target, wherein the second content is different from the first content.
In accordance with some embodiments, a computer program product is described. The computer program product comprises one or more programs configured to be executed by one or more processors of a computer system that is in communication with one or more display generation components and one or more input devices. The one or more programs include instructions for: displaying, via the one or more display generation components, a user interface, the user interface including: a first gaze target; and a second gaze target, different from the first gaze target; while displaying the user interface, detecting, via the one or more input devices, a gaze of a user of the computer system directed to a respective gaze target; and in response to detecting the gaze of the user of the computer system directed to the respective gaze target, displaying, via the one or more display generation components, respective content corresponding to the respective gaze target, including: in accordance with a determination that the respective gaze target is the first gaze target, displaying first content corresponding to the first gaze target; and in accordance with a determination that the respective gaze target is the second gaze target, displaying second content corresponding to the second gaze target, wherein the second content is different from the first content.
In accordance with some embodiments, a method is described. The method comprises: at a computer system that is in communication with a display generation component and one or more input devices, wherein the display generation component includes a low-fidelity display region and a high-fidelity display region: displaying, via the display generation component, a gaze target within the low-fidelity display region of the display generation component; and in response to detecting, via the one or more input devices, a gaze of a user of the computer system directed to the gaze target displayed within the low-fidelity display region of the display generation component, displaying, via the display generation component, a user interface object within the high-fidelity display region of the display generation component.
In accordance with some embodiments, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium is described. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium stores one or more programs configured to be executed by one or more processors of a computer system that is in communication with a display generation component and one or more input devices, wherein the display generation component includes a low-fidelity display region and a high-fidelity display region. The one or more programs include instructions for: displaying, via the display generation component, a gaze target within the low-fidelity display region of the display generation component; and in response to detecting, via the one or more input devices, a gaze of a user of the computer system directed to the gaze target displayed within the low-fidelity display region of the display generation component, displaying, via the display generation component, a user interface object within the high-fidelity display region of the display generation component.
In accordance with some embodiments, a transitory computer-readable storage medium is described. The transitory computer-readable storage medium stores one or more programs configured to be executed by one or more processors of a computer system that is in communication with a display generation component and one or more input devices, wherein the display generation component includes a low-fidelity display region and a high-fidelity display region. The one or more programs include instructions for: displaying, via the display generation component, a gaze target within the low-fidelity display region of the display generation component; and in response to detecting, via the one or more input devices, a gaze of a user of the computer system directed to the gaze target displayed within the low-fidelity display region of the display generation component, displaying, via the display generation component, a user interface object within the high-fidelity display region of the display generation component.
In accordance with some embodiments, a computer system configured to communicate with a display generation component and one or more input devices, wherein the display generation component includes a low-fidelity display region and a high-fidelity display region, is described. The computer system comprises: one or more processors; and memory storing one or more programs configured to be executed by the one or more processors. The one or more programs include instructions for: displaying, via the display generation component, a gaze target within the low-fidelity display region of the display generation component; and in response to detecting, via the one or more input devices, a gaze of a user of the computer system directed to the gaze target displayed within the low-fidelity display region of the display generation component, displaying, via the display generation component, a user interface object within the high-fidelity display region of the display generation component.
In accordance with some embodiments, a computer system configured to communicate with a display generation component and one or more input devices, wherein the display generation component includes a low-fidelity display region and a high-fidelity display region, is described. The computer system comprises: means for displaying, via the display generation component, a gaze target within the low-fidelity display region of the display generation component; and means for, in response to detecting, via the one or more input devices, a gaze of a user of the computer system directed to the gaze target displayed within the low-fidelity display region of the display generation component, displaying, via the display generation component, a user interface object within the high-fidelity display region of the display generation component.
In accordance with some embodiments, a computer program product is described. The computer program product comprises one or more programs configured to be executed by one or more processors of a computer system that is in communication with a display generation component and one or more input devices, wherein the display generation component includes a low-fidelity display region and a high-fidelity display region. The one or more programs include instructions for: displaying, via the display generation component, a gaze target within the low-fidelity display region of the display generation component; and in response to detecting, via the one or more input devices, a gaze of a user of the computer system directed to the gaze target displayed within the low-fidelity display region of the display generation component, displaying, via the display generation component, a user interface object within the high-fidelity display region of the display generation component.
Note that the various embodiments described above can be combined with any other embodiments described herein. The features and advantages described in the specification are not all inclusive and, in particular, many additional features and advantages will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art in view of the drawings, specification, and claims. Moreover, it should be noted that the language used in the specification has been principally selected for readability and instructional purposes, and may not have been selected to delineate or circumscribe the inventive subject matter.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
For a better understanding of the various described embodiments, reference should be made to the Description of Embodiments below, in conjunction with the following drawings in which like reference numerals refer to corresponding parts throughout the figures.
FIG. 1A is a block diagram illustrating an operating environment of a computer system for providing XR experiences in some embodiments.
FIGS. 1B-1P are examples of a computer system for providing XR experiences in the operating environment of FIG. 1A.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a controller of a computer system that is configured to manage and coordinate a XR experience for the user in some embodiments.
FIG. 3A is a block diagram illustrating a display generation component of a computer system that is configured to provide a visual component of the XR experience to the user in accordance with some embodiments.
FIGS. 3B-3G illustrate the use of Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) to perform operations.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a hand tracking unit of a computer system that is configured to capture gesture inputs of the user in some embodiments.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an eye tracking unit of a computer system that is configured to capture gaze inputs of the user in some embodiments.
FIG. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating a glint-assisted gaze tracking pipeline in some embodiments.
FIGS. 7A-7M illustrate example techniques for interacting with virtual objects using gaze, in some embodiments.
FIG. 8 is a flow diagram of methods of interacting with virtual objects using gaze, in some embodiments.
FIGS. 9A-9U illustrate example techniques for navigating a user interface using gaze, in some embodiments.
FIG. 10 is a flow diagram of methods of navigating a user interface using gaze, in some embodiments.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
The present disclosure relates to user interfaces for providing an extended reality (XR) experience to a user, in some embodiments.
The systems, methods, and GUIs described herein improve user interface interactions with virtual/augmented reality environments in multiple ways.
In some embodiments, a computer system displays a user interface that includes multiple gaze targets. Based on receiving information indicating that a gaze of a user of the computer system is directed to a first gaze target, the computer system displays first content corresponding to the first gaze target. Based on receiving information indicating that the gaze of the user of is directed to a second gaze target, the computer system displays second content corresponding to the second gaze target. In some embodiments, the first gaze target and the second gaze target are displayed at opposite sides of third content of the user interface. In some embodiments, the first gaze target expands to display the first content and/or the second gaze target expands to display the second content.
In some embodiments, a computer system includes a display generation component that includes a low-fidelity display region and a high-fidelity display region. The computer system displays a gaze target in the low-fidelity display region of the display generation component. Based on receiving information indicating that a gaze of a user of the computer system is directed to the gaze target, the computer system displays a user interface object within the high-fidelity display region of the display generation component. In some embodiments, the computer system displays an animation of the gaze target moving from the low-fidelity display region toward the high-fidelity display region based on receiving the information indicating that the gaze of the user is directed to the gaze target. In some embodiments, the low-fidelity display region of the display generation component includes less pixels and/or a lower pixel density when compared to the high-fidelity display region of the display generation component. In some embodiments, the computer system displays multiple gaze targets within the low-fidelity display region of the display generation component, where the multiple gaze targets are associated with respective user interface objects and/or content.
FIGS. 1A-6 provide a description of example computer systems for providing XR experiences to users. FIGS. 7A-7M illustrate example techniques for interacting with virtual objects using gaze, in some embodiments. FIG. 8 is a flow diagram of methods of interacting with virtual objects using gaze, in some embodiments. The user interfaces in FIGS. 7A-7M are used to illustrate the processes in FIG. 8. FIGS. 9A-9U illustrate example techniques for navigating a user interface using gaze, in some embodiments. FIG. 10 is a flow diagram of methods of navigating a user interface using gaze, in some embodiments. The user interfaces in FIGS. 9A-9U are used to illustrate the processes in FIG. 10.
The processes described below enhance the operability of the devices and make the user-device interfaces more efficient (e.g., by helping the user to provide proper inputs and reducing user mistakes when operating/interacting with the device) through various techniques, including by providing improved visual feedback to the user, reducing the number of inputs needed to perform an operation, providing additional control options without cluttering the user interface with additional displayed controls, performing an operation when a set of conditions has been met without requiring further user input, improving privacy and/or security, providing a more varied, detailed, and/or realistic user experience while saving storage space, and/or additional techniques.
These techniques also reduce power usage and improve battery life of the device by enabling the user to use the device more quickly and efficiently. Saving on battery power, and thus weight, improves the ergonomics of the device. These techniques also enable real-time communication, allow for the use of fewer and/or less precise sensors resulting in a more compact, lighter, and cheaper device, and enable the device to be used in a variety of lighting conditions. These techniques reduce energy usage, thereby reducing heat emitted by the device, which is particularly important for a wearable device where a device well within operational parameters for device components can become uncomfortable for a user to wear if it is producing too much heat.
In addition, in methods described herein where one or more steps are contingent upon one or more conditions having been met, it should be understood that the described method can be repeated in multiple repetitions so that over the course of the repetitions all of the conditions upon which steps in the method are contingent have been met in different repetitions of the method. For example, if a method requires performing a first step if a condition is satisfied, and a second step if the condition is not satisfied, then a person of ordinary skill would appreciate that the claimed steps are repeated until the condition has been both satisfied and not satisfied, in no particular order. Thus, a method described with one or more steps that are contingent upon one or more conditions having been met could be rewritten as a method that is repeated until each of the conditions described in the method has been met. This, however, is not required of system or computer readable medium claims where the system or computer readable medium contains instructions for performing the contingent operations based on the satisfaction of the corresponding one or more conditions and thus is capable of determining whether the contingency has or has not been satisfied without explicitly repeating steps of a method until all of the conditions upon which steps in the method are contingent have been met. A person having ordinary skill in the art would also understand that, similar to a method with contingent steps, a system or computer readable storage medium can repeat the steps of a method as many times as are needed to ensure that all of the contingent steps have been performed.
In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 1A, the XR experience is provided to the user via an operating environment 100 that includes a computer system 101. The computer system 101 includes a controller 110 (e.g., processors of a portable electronic device or a remote server), a display generation component 120 (e.g., a head-mounted device (HMD), a display, a projector, a touch-screen, etc.), one or more input devices 125 (e.g., an eye tracking device 130, a hand tracking device 140, other input devices 150), one or more output devices 155 (e.g., speakers 160, tactile output generators 170, and other output devices 180), one or more sensors 190 (e.g., image sensors, light sensors, depth sensors, tactile sensors, orientation sensors, proximity sensors, temperature sensors, location sensors, motion sensors, velocity sensors, etc.), and optionally one or more peripheral devices 195 (e.g., home appliances, wearable devices, etc.). In some embodiments, one or more of the input devices 125, output devices 155, sensors 190, and peripheral devices 195 are integrated with the display generation component 120 (e.g., in a head-mounted device or a handheld device).
When describing a XR experience, various terms are used to differentially refer to several related but distinct environments that the user may sense and/or with which a user may interact (e.g., with inputs detected by a computer system 101 generating the XR experience that cause the computer system generating the XR experience to generate audio, visual, and/or tactile feedback corresponding to various inputs provided to the computer system 101). The following is a subset of these terms:
Physical environment: A physical environment refers to a physical world that people can sense and/or interact with without aid of electronic systems. Physical environments, such as a physical park, include physical articles, such as physical trees, physical buildings, and physical people. People can directly sense and/or interact with the physical environment, such as through sight, touch, hearing, taste, and smell.
Extended reality: In contrast, an extended reality (XR) environment refers to a wholly or partially simulated environment that people sense and/or interact with via an electronic system. In XR, a subset of a person's physical motions, or representations thereof, are tracked, and, in response, one or more characteristics of one or more virtual objects simulated in the XR environment are adjusted in a manner that comports with at least one law of physics. For example, a×R system may detect a person's head turning and, in response, adjust graphical content and an acoustic field presented to the person in a manner similar to how such views and sounds would change in a physical environment. In some situations (e.g., for accessibility reasons), adjustments to characteristic(s) of virtual object(s) in a XR environment may be made in response to representations of physical motions (e.g., vocal commands). A person may sense and/or interact with a XR object using any one of their senses, including sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell. For example, a person may sense and/or interact with audio objects that create a 3D or spatial audio environment that provides the perception of point audio sources in 3D space. In another example, audio objects may enable audio transparency, which selectively incorporates ambient sounds from the physical environment with or without computer-generated audio. In some XR environments, a person may sense and/or interact only with audio objects.
Examples of XR include virtual reality and mixed reality.
Virtual reality: A virtual reality (VR) environment refers to a simulated environment that is designed to be based entirely on computer-generated sensory inputs for one or more senses. A VR environment comprises a plurality of virtual objects with which a person may sense and/or interact. For example, computer-generated imagery of trees, buildings, and avatars representing people are examples of virtual objects. A person may sense and/or interact with virtual objects in the VR environment through a simulation of the person's presence within the computer-generated environment, and/or through a simulation of a subset of the person's physical movements within the computer-generated environment.
Mixed reality: In contrast to a VR environment, which is designed to be based entirely on computer-generated sensory inputs, a mixed reality (MR) environment refers to a simulated environment that is designed to incorporate sensory inputs from the physical environment, or a representation thereof, in addition to including computer-generated sensory inputs (e.g., virtual objects). On a virtuality continuum, a mixed reality environment is anywhere between, but not including, a wholly physical environment at one end and virtual reality environment at the other end. In some MR environments, computer-generated sensory inputs may respond to changes in sensory inputs from the physical environment. Also, some electronic systems for presenting an MR environment may track location and/or orientation with respect to the physical environment to enable virtual objects to interact with real objects (that is, physical articles from the physical environment or representations thereof). For example, a system may account for movements so that a virtual tree appears stationary with respect to the physical ground.
Examples of mixed realities include augmented reality and augmented virtuality. Augmented reality: An augmented reality (AR) environment refers to a simulated environment in which one or more virtual objects are superimposed over a physical environment, or a representation thereof. For example, an electronic system for presenting an AR environment may have a transparent or translucent display through which a person may directly view the physical environment. The system may be configured to present virtual objects on the transparent or translucent display, so that a person, using the system, perceives the virtual objects superimposed over the physical environment. Alternatively, a system may have an opaque display and one or more imaging sensors that capture images or video of the physical environment, which are representations of the physical environment. The system composites the images or video with virtual objects, and presents the composition on the opaque display. A person, using the system, indirectly views the physical environment by way of the images or video of the physical environment, and perceives the virtual objects superimposed over the physical environment. As used herein, a video of the physical environment shown on an opaque display is called “pass-through video,” meaning a system uses one or more image sensor(s) to capture images of the physical environment, and uses those images in presenting the AR environment on the opaque display. Further alternatively, a system may have a projection system that projects virtual objects into the physical environment, for example, as a hologram or on a physical surface, so that a person, using the system, perceives the virtual objects superimposed over the physical environment. An augmented reality environment also refers to a simulated environment in which a representation of a physical environment is transformed by computer-generated sensory information. For example, in providing pass-through video, a system may transform one or more sensor images to impose a select perspective (e.g., viewpoint) different than the perspective captured by the imaging sensors. As another example, a representation of a physical environment may be transformed by graphically modifying (e.g., enlarging) portions thereof, such that the modified portion may be representative but not photorealistic versions of the originally captured images. As a further example, a representation of a physical environment may be transformed by graphically eliminating or obfuscating portions thereof. Augmented virtuality: An augmented virtuality (AV) environment refers to a simulated environment in which a virtual or computer-generated environment incorporates one or more sensory inputs from the physical environment. The sensory inputs may be representations of one or more characteristics of the physical environment. For example, an AV park may have virtual trees and virtual buildings, but people with faces photorealistically reproduced from images taken of physical people. As another example, a virtual object may adopt a shape or color of a physical article imaged by one or more imaging sensors. As a further example, a virtual object may adopt shadows consistent with the position of the sun in the physical environment.
In an augmented reality, mixed reality, or virtual reality environment, a view of a three-dimensional environment is visible to a user. The view of the three-dimensional environment is typically visible to the user via one or more display generation components (e.g., a display or a pair of display modules that provide stereoscopic content to different eyes of the same user) through a virtual viewport that has a viewport boundary that defines an extent of the three-dimensional environment that is visible to the user via the one or more display generation components. In some embodiments, the region defined by the viewport boundary is smaller than a range of vision of the user in one or more dimensions (e.g., based on the range of vision of the user, size, optical properties or other physical characteristics of the one or more display generation components, and/or the location and/or orientation of the one or more display generation components relative to the eyes of the user). In some embodiments, the region defined by the viewport boundary is larger than a range of vision of the user in one or more dimensions (e.g., based on the range of vision of the user, size, optical properties or other physical characteristics of the one or more display generation components, and/or the location and/or orientation of the one or more display generation components relative to the eyes of the user). The viewport and viewport boundary typically move as the one or more display generation components move (e.g., moving with a head of the user for a head mounted device or moving with a hand of a user for a handheld device such as a tablet or smartphone). A viewpoint of a user determines what content is visible in the viewport, a viewpoint generally specfies a location and a direction relative to the three-dimensional environment, and as the viewpoint shifts, the view of the three-dimensional environment will also shift in the viewport. For a head mounted device, a viewpoint is typically based on a location an direction of the head, face, and/or eyes of a user to provide a view of the three-dimensional environment that is perceptually accurate and provides an immersive experience when the user is using the head-mounted device. For a handheld or stationed device, the viewpoint shifts as the handheld or stationed device is moved and/or as a position of a user relative to the handheld or stationed device changes (e.g., a user moving toward, away from, up, down, to the right, and/or to the left of the device). For devices that include display generation components with virtual passthrough, portions of the physical environment that are visible (e.g., displayed, and/or projected) via the one or more display generation components are based on a field of view of one or more cameras in communication with the display generation components which typcially move with the display generation components (e.g., moving with a head of the user for a head mounted device or moving with a hand of a user for a handheld device such as a tablet or smartphone) because the viewpoint of the user moves as the field of view of the one or more cameras moves (and the appearance of one or more virtual objects displayed via the one or more display generation components is updated based on the viewpoint of the user (e.g., displayed positions and poses of the virtual objects are updated based on the movement of the viewpoint of the user)). For display generation components with optical passthrough, portions of the physical environment that are visible (e.g., optically visible through one or more partially or fully transparent portions of the display generation component) via the one or more display generation components are based on a field of view of a user through the partially or fully transparent portion(s) of the display generation component (e.g., moving with a head of the user for a head mounted device or moving with a hand of a user for a handheld device such as a tablet or smartphone) because the viewpoint of the user moves as the field of view of the user through the partially or fully transparent portions of the display generation components moves (and the appearance of one or more virtual objects is updated based on the viewpoint of the user).
In some embodiments a representation of a physical environment (e.g., displayed via virtual passthrough or optical passthrough) can be partially or fully obscured by a virtual environment. In some embodiments, the amount of virtual environment that is displayed (e.g., the amount of physical environment that is not displayed) is based on an immersion level for the virtual environment (e.g., with respect to the representation of the physical environment). For example, increasing the immersion level optionally causes more of the virtual environment to be displayed, replacing and/or obscuring more of the physical environment, and reducing the immersion level optionally causes less of the virtual environment to be displayed, revealing portions of the physical environment that were previously not displayed and/or obscured. In some embodiments, at a particular immersion level, one or more first background objects (e.g., in the representation of the physical environment) are visually de-emphasized (e.g., dimmed, blurred, and/or displayed with increased transparency) more than one or more second background objects, and one or more third background objects cease to be displayed. In some embodiments, a level of immersion includes an associated degree to which the virtual content displayed by the computer system (e.g., the virtual environment and/or the virtual content) obscures background content (e.g., content other than the virtual environment and/or the virtual content) around/behind the virtual content, optionally including the number of items of background content displayed and/or the visual characteristics (e.g., colors, contrast, and/or opacity) with which the background content is displayed, the angular range of the virtual content displayed via the display generation component (e.g., 60 degrees of content displayed at low immersion, 120 degrees of content displayed at medium immersion, or 180 degrees of content displayed at high immersion), and/or the proportion of the field of view displayed via the display generation component that is consumed by the virtual content (e.g., 33% of the field of view consumed by the virtual content at low immersion, 66% of the field of view consumed by the virtual content at medium immersion, or 100% of the field of view consumed by the virtual content at high immersion). In some embodiments, the background content is included in a background over which the virtual content is displayed (e.g., background content in the representation of the physical environment). In some embodiments, the background content includes user interfaces (e.g., user interfaces generated by the computer system corresponding to applications), virtual objects (e.g., files or representations of other users generated by the computer system) not associated with or included in the virtual environment and/or virtual content, and/or real objects (e.g., pass-through objects representing real objects in the physical environment around the user that are visible such that they are displayed via the display generation component and/or a visible via a transparent or translucent component of the display generation component because the computer system does not obscure/prevent visibility of them through the display generation component). In some embodiments, at a low level of immersion (e.g., a first level of immersion), the background, virtual and/or real objects are displayed in an unobscured manner. For example, a virtual environment with a low level of immersion is optionally displayed concurrently with the background content, which is optionally displayed with full brightness, color, and/or translucency. In some embodiments, at a higher level of immersion (e.g., a second level of immersion higher than the first level of immersion), the background, virtual and/or real objects are displayed in an obscured manner (e.g., dimmed, blurred, or removed from display). For example, a respective virtual environment with a high level of immersion is displayed without concurrently displaying the background content (e.g., in a full screen or fully immersive mode). As another example, a virtual environment displayed with a medium level of immersion is displayed concurrently with darkened, blurred, or otherwise de-emphasized background content. In some embodiments, the visual characteristics of the background objects vary among the background objects. For example, at a particular immersion level, one or more first background objects are visually de-emphasized (e.g., dimmed, blurred, and/or displayed with increased transparency) more than one or more second background objects, and one or more third background objects cease to be displayed. In some embodiments, a null or zero level of immersion corresponds to the virtual environment ceasing to be displayed and instead a representation of a physical environment is displayed (optionally with one or more virtual objects such as application, windows, or virtual three-dimensional objects) without the representation of the physical environment being obscured by the virtual environment. Adjusting the level of immersion using a physical input element provides for quick and efficient method of adjusting immersion, which enhances the operability of the computer system and makes the user-device interface more efficient.
Viewpoint-locked virtual object: A virtual object is viewpoint-locked when a computer system displays the virtual object at the same location and/or position in the viewpoint of the user, even as the viewpoint of the user shifts (e.g., changes). In embodiments where the computer system is a head-mounted device, the viewpoint of the user is locked to the forward facing direction of the user's head (e.g., the viewpoint of the user is at least a portion of the field-of-view of the user when the user is looking straight ahead); thus, the viewpoint of the user remains fixed even as the user's gaze is shifted, without moving the user's head. In embodiments where the computer system has a display generation component (e.g., a display screen) that can be repositioned with respect to the user's head, the viewpoint of the user is the augmented reality view that is being presented to the user on a display generation component of the computer system. For example, a viewpoint-locked virtual object that is displayed in the upper left corner of the viewpoint of the user, when the viewpoint of the user is in a first orientation (e.g., with the user's head facing north) continues to be displayed in the upper left corner of the viewpoint of the user, even as the viewpoint of the user changes to a second orientation (e.g., with the user's head facing west). In other words, the location and/or position at which the viewpoint-locked virtual object is displayed in the viewpoint of the user is independent of the user's position and/or orientation in the physical environment. In embodiments in which the computer system is a head-mounted device, the viewpoint of the user is locked to the orientation of the user's head, such that the virtual object is also referred to as a “head-locked virtual object.”
Environment-locked virtual object: A virtual object is environment-locked (alternatively, “world-locked”) when a computer system displays the virtual object at a location and/or position in the viewpoint of the user that is based on (e.g., selected in reference to and/or anchored to) a location and/or object in the three-dimensional environment (e.g., a physical environment or a virtual environment). As the viewpoint of the user shifts, the location and/or object in the environment relative to the viewpoint of the user changes, which results in the environment-locked virtual object being displayed at a different location and/or position in the viewpoint of the user. For example, an environment-locked virtual object that is locked onto a tree that is immediately in front of a user is displayed at the center of the viewpoint of the user. When the viewpoint of the user shifts to the right (e.g., the user's head is turned to the right) so that the tree is now left-of-center in the viewpoint of the user (e.g., the tree's position in the viewpoint of the user shifts), the environment-locked virtual object that is locked onto the tree is displayed left-of-center in the viewpoint of the user. In other words, the location and/or position at which the environment-locked virtual object is displayed in the viewpoint of the user is dependent on the position and/or orientation of the location and/or object in the environment onto which the virtual object is locked. In some embodiments, the computer system uses a stationary frame of reference (e.g., a coordinate system that is anchored to a fixed location and/or object in the physical environment) in order to determine the position at which to display an environment-locked virtual object in the viewpoint of the user. An environment-locked virtual object can be locked to a stationary part of the environment (e.g., a floor, wall, table, or other stationary object) or can be locked to a moveable part of the environment (e.g., a vehicle, animal, person, or even a representation of portion of the users body that moves independently of a viewpoint of the user, such as a user's hand, wrist, arm, or foot) so that the virtual object is moved as the viewpoint or the portion of the environment moves to maintain a fixed relationship between the virtual object and the portion of the environment.
In some embodiments a virtual object that is environment-locked or viewpoint-locked exhibits lazy follow behavior which reduces or delays motion of the environment-locked or viewpoint-locked virtual object relative to movement of a point of reference which the virtual object is following. In some embodiments, when exhibiting lazy follow behavior the computer system intentionally delays movement of the virtual object when detecting movement of a point of reference (e.g., a portion of the environment, the viewpoint, or a point that is fixed relative to the viewpoint, such as a point that is between 5-300 cm from the viewpoint) which the virtual object is following. For example, when the point of reference (e.g., the portion of the environment or the viewpoint) moves with a first speed, the virtual object is moved by the device to remain locked to the point of reference but moves with a second speed that is slower than the first speed (e.g., until the point of reference stops moving or slows down, at which point the virtual object starts to catch up to the point of reference). In some embodiments, when a virtual object exhibits lazy follow behavior the device ignores small amounts of movement of the point of reference (e.g., ignoring movement of the point of reference that is below a threshold amount of movement such as movement by 0-5 degrees or movement by 0-50 cm). For example, when the point of reference (e.g., the portion of the environment or the viewpoint to which the virtual object is locked) moves by a first amount, a distance between the point of reference and the virtual object increases (e.g., because the virtual object is being displayed so as to maintain a fixed or substantially fixed position relative to a viewpoint or portion of the environment that is different from the point of reference to which the virtual object is locked) and when the point of reference (e.g., the portion of the environment or the viewpoint to which the virtual object is locked) moves by a second amount that is greater than the first amount, a distance between the point of reference and the virtual object initially increases (e.g., because the virtual object is being displayed so as to maintain a fixed or substantially fixed position relative to a viewpoint or portion of the environment that is different from the point of reference to which the virtual object is locked) and then decreases as the amount of movement of the point of reference increases above a threshold (e.g., a “lazy follow” threshold) because the virtual object is moved by the computer system to maintain a fixed or substantially fixed position relative to the point of reference. In some embodiments the virtual object maintaining a substantially fixed position relative to the point of reference includes the virtual object being displayed within a threshold distance (e.g., 1, 2, 3, 5, 15, 20, 50 cm) of the point of reference in one or more dimensions (e.g., up/down, left/right, and/or forward/backward relative to the position of the point of reference).
In some embodiments, spatial media includes spatial visual media and/or spatial audio. In some embodiments, a spatial capture is a capture of spatial media. In some embodiments, spatial visual media (also referred to as stereoscopic media) (e.g., a spatial image and/or a spatial video) is media that includes two different images or sets of images, representing two perspectives of the same or overlapping fields-of-view, for concurrent display. A first image representing a first perspective is presented to a first eye of the viewer and a second image representing a second perspective, different from the first perspective, is concurrently presented to a second eye of the viewer. The first image and the second image have the same or overlapping fields-of-view. In some embodiments, a computer system displays the first image via a first display that is positioned for viewing by the first eye of the viewer and concurrently displays the second image via a second display, different from the first display, that is position for viewing by the second eye of the viewer. In some embodiments, the first image and the second image, when viewed together, create a depth effect and provide the viewer with depth perception for the contents of the images. In some embodiments, a first video representing a first perspective is presented to a first eye of the viewer and a second video representing a second perspective, different from the first perspective, is concurrently presented to a second eye of the viewer. The first video and the second video have the same or overlapping fields-of-view. In some embodiments, the first video and the second video, when viewed together, create a depth effect and provide the viewer with depth perception for the contents of the videos. In some embodiments, spatial audio experiences in headphones are produced by manipulating sounds in the headphone's two audio channels (e.g., left and right) so that they resemble directional sounds arriving in the ear-canal. For example, the headphones can reproduce a spatial audio signal that simulates a soundscape around the listener (also referred to as the user). An effective spatial sound reproduction can render sounds such that the listener perceives the sound as coming from a location within the soundscape external to the listener's head, just as the listener would experience the sound if encountered in the real world.
The geometry of the listener's ear, and in particular the outer ear (pinna), has a significant effect on the sound that arrives from a sound source to a listener's eardrum. The spatial audio sound experience is possible by taking into account the effect of the listener's pinna, the listener's head, and/or the listener's torso to the sound that enters to the listener's ear-canal. The geometry of the user's ear is optionally determined by using a three-dimensional scanning device that produces a three-dimensional model of at least a portion of the visible parts of the user's ear. This geometry is optionally used to produce a filter for producing the spatial audio experience. In some embodiments, spatial audio is audio that has been filtered such that a listener of the audio perceives the audio as coming from one or more directions and/or locations in three-dimensional space (e.g., from above, below, and/or in front of the listener).
An example of such a filter is a Head-Related Transfer Function (HRTF) filter. These filters are used to provide an effect that is similar to how a human ear, head, and torso filter sounds. When the geometry of the ears of a listener is known, a personalized filter (e.g., a personalized HRTF filter) can be produced so that the sound experienced by that listener through headphones (e.g., in-ear headphones, on-ear headphones, and/or over-ear headphones) is more realistic. In some embodiments, two filters are produced-one filter per ear-so that each ear of the listener has a corresponding personalized filter (e.g., personalized HRTF filter), as the ears of the listener may be of different geometry.
In some embodiments, a HRTF filter includes some (or all) acoustic information required to describe how sound reflects or diffracts around a listener's head before entering the listener's auditory system. In some embodiments, a personalized HRTF filter can be selected from a database of previously determined HRTFs for users having similar anatomical characteristics. In some embodiments, a personalized HRTF filter can be generated by numerical modeling based on the geometry of the listener's ear. One or more processors of the computer system optionally apply the personalized HRTF filter for the listener to an audio input signal to generate a spatial input signal for playback by headphones that are connected (e.g., wirelessly or by wire) to the computer system.
Hardware: There are many different types of electronic systems that enable a person to sense and/or interact with various XR environments. Examples include head-mounted systems, projection-based systems, heads-up displays (HUDs), vehicle windshields having integrated display capability, windows having integrated display capability, displays formed as lenses designed to be placed on a person's eyes (e.g., similar to contact lenses), headphones/earphones, speaker arrays, input systems (e.g., wearable or handheld controllers with or without haptic feedback), smartphones, tablets, and desktop/laptop computers. A head-mounted system may include speakers and/or other audio output devices integrated into the head-mounted system for providing audio output. A head-mounted system may have one or more speaker(s) and an integrated opaque display. Alternatively, a head-mounted system may be configured to accept an external opaque display (e.g., a smartphone). The head-mounted system may incorporate one or more imaging sensors to capture images or video of the physical environment, and/or one or more microphones to capture audio of the physical environment. Rather than an opaque display, a head-mounted system may have a transparent or translucent display. The transparent or translucent display may have a medium through which light representative of images is directed to a person's eyes. The display may utilize digital light projection, OLEDs, LEDs, uLEDs, liquid crystal on silicon, laser scanning light source, or any combination of these technologies. The medium may be an optical waveguide, a hologram medium, an optical combiner, an optical reflector, or any combination thereof. In one embodiment, the transparent or translucent display may be configured to become opaque selectively. Projection-based systems may employ retinal projection technology that projects graphical images onto a person's retina. Projection systems also may be configured to project virtual objects into the physical environment, for example, as a hologram or on a physical surface. In some embodiments, the controller 110 is configured to manage and coordinate a XR experience for the user. In some embodiments, the controller 110 includes a suitable combination of software, firmware, and/or hardware. The controller 110 is described in greater detail below with respect to FIG. 2. In some embodiments, the controller 110 is a computing device that is local or remote relative to the scene 105 (e.g., a physical environment). For example, the controller 110 is a local server located within the scene 105. In another example, the controller 110 is a remote server located outside of the scene 105 (e.g., a cloud server, central server, etc.). In some embodiments, the controller 110 is communicatively coupled with the display generation component 120 (e.g., an HMD, a display, a projector, a touch-screen, etc.) via one or more wired or wireless communication channels 144 (e.g., BLUETOOTH, IEEE 802.11x, IEEE 802.16x, IEEE 802.3x, etc.). In another example, the controller 110 is included within the enclosure (e.g., a physical housing) of the display generation component 120 (e.g., an HMD, or a portable electronic device that includes a display and one or more processors, etc.), one or more of the input devices 125, one or more of the output devices 155, one or more of the sensors 190, and/or one or more of the peripheral devices 195, or share the same physical enclosure or support structure with one or more of the above.
In some embodiments, the display generation component 120 is configured to provide the XR experience (e.g., at least a visual component of the XR experience) to the user. In some embodiments, the display generation component 120 includes a suitable combination of software, firmware, and/or hardware. The display generation component 120 is described in greater detail below with respect to FIG. 3A. In some embodiments, the functionalities of the controller 110 are provided by and/or combined with the display generation component 120.
According to some embodiments, the display generation component 120 provides a XR experience to the user while the user is virtually and/or physically present within the scene 105.
In some embodiments, the display generation component is worn on a part of the user's body (e.g., on his/her head, on his/her hand, etc.). As such, the display generation component 120 includes one or more XR displays provided to display the XR content. For example, in various embodiments, the display generation component 120 encloses the field-of-view of the user. In some embodiments, the display generation component 120 is a handheld device (such as a smartphone or tablet) configured to present XR content, and the user holds the device with a display directed towards the field-of-view of the user and a camera directed towards the scene 105. In some embodiments, the handheld device is optionally placed within an enclosure that is worn on the head of the user. In some embodiments, the handheld device is optionally placed on a support (e.g., a tripod) in front of the user. In some embodiments, the display generation component 120 is a XR chamber, enclosure, or room configured to present XR content in which the user does not wear or hold the display generation component 120. Many user interfaces described with reference to one type of hardware for displaying XR content (e.g., a handheld device or a device on a tripod) could be implemented on another type of hardware for displaying XR content (e.g., an HMD or other wearable computing device). For example, a user interface showing interactions with XR content triggered based on interactions that happen in a space in front of a handheld or tripod mounted device could similarly be implemented with an HMD where the interactions happen in a space in front of the HMD and the responses of the XR content are displayed via the HMD. Similarly, a user interface showing interactions with XR content triggered based on movement of a handheld or tripod mounted device relative to the physical environment (e.g., the scene 105 or a part of the user's body (e.g., the user's eye(s), head, or hand)) could similarly be implemented with an HMD where the movement is caused by movement of the HMD relative to the physical environment (e.g., the scene 105 or a part of the user's body (e.g., the user's eye(s), head, or hand)).
While pertinent features of the operating environment 100 are shown in FIG. 1A, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate from the present disclosure that various other features have not been illustrated for the sake of brevity and so as not to obscure more pertinent aspects of the example embodiments disclosed herein.
FIGS. 1A-1P illustrate various examples of a computer system that is used to perform the methods and provide audio, visual and/or haptic feedback as part of user interfaces described herein. In some embodiments, the computer system includes one or more display generation components (e.g., first and second display assemblies 1-120a, 1-120b and/or first and second optical modules 11.1.1-104a and 11.1.1-104b) for displaying virtual elements and/or a representation of a physical environment to a user of the computer system, optionally generated based on detected events and/or user inputs detected by the computer system. User interfaces generated by the computer system are optionally corrected by one or more corrective lenses 11.3.2-216 that are optionally removably attached to one or more of the optical modules to enable the user interfaces to be more easily viewed by users who would otherwise use glasses or contacts to correct their vision. While many user interfaces illustrated herein show a single view of a user interface, user interfaces in a HMD are optionally displayed using two optical modules (e.g., first and second display assemblies 1-120a, 1-120b and/or first and second optical modules 11.1.1-104a and 11.1.1-104b), one for a user's right eye and a different one for a user's left eye, and slightly different images are presented to the two different eyes to generate the illusion of stereoscopic depth, the single view of the user interface would typically be either a right-eye or left-eye view and the depth effect is explained in the text or using other schematic charts or views. In some embodiments, the computer system includes one or more external displays (e.g., display assembly 1-108) for displaying status information for the computer system to the user of the computer system (when the computer system is not being worn) and/or to other people who are near the computer system, optionally generated based on detected events and/or user inputs detected by the computer system. In some embodiments, the computer system includes one or more audio output components (e.g., electronic component 1-112) for generating audio feedback, optionally generated based on detected events and/or user inputs detected by the computer system. In some embodiments, the computer system includes one or more input devices for detecting input such as one or more sensors (e.g., one or more sensors in sensor assembly 1-356, and/or FIG. 1I) for detecting information about a physical environment of the device which can be used (optionally in conjunction with one or more illuminators such as the illuminators described in FIG. 1I) to generate a digital passthrough image, capture visual media corresponding to the physical environment (e.g., photos and/or video), or determine a pose (e.g., position and/or orientation) of physical objects and/or surfaces in the physical environment so that virtual objects ban be placed based on a detected pose of physical objects and/or surfaces. In some embodiments, the computer system includes one or more input devices for detecting input such as one or more sensors for detecting hand position and/or movement (e.g., one or more sensors in sensor assembly 1-356, and/or FIG. 1I) that can be used (optionally in conjunction with one or more illuminators such as the illuminators 6-124 described in FIG. 1I) to determine when one or more air gestures have been performed. In some embodiments, the computer system includes one or more input devices for detecting input such as one or more sensors for detecting eye movement (e.g., eye tracking and gaze tracking sensors in FIG. 1I) which can be used (optionally in conjunction with one or more lights such as lights 11.3.2-110 in FIG. 10) to determine attention or gaze position and/or gaze movement which can optionally be used to detect gaze-only inputs based on gaze movement and/or dwell. A combination of the various sensors described above can be used to determine user facial expressions and/or hand movements for use in generating an avatar or representation of the user such as an anthropomorphic avatar or representation for use in a real-time communication session where the avatar has facial expressions, hand movements, and/or body movements that are based on or similar to detected facial expressions, hand movements, and/or body movements of a user of the device. Gaze and/or attention information is, optionally, combined with hand tracking information to determine interactions between the user and one or more user interfaces based on direct and/or indirect inputs such as air gestures or inputs that use one or more hardware input devices such as one or more buttons (e.g., first button 1-128, button 11.1.1-114, second button 1-132, and or dial or button 1-328), knobs (e.g., first button 1-128, button 11.1.1-114, and/or dial or button 1-328), digital crowns (e.g., first button 1-128 which is depressible and twistable or rotatable, button 11.1.1-114, and/or dial or button 1-328), trackpads, touch screens, keyboards, mice and/or other input devices. One or more buttons (e.g., first button 1-128, button 11.1.1-114, second button 1-132, and or dial or button 1-328) are optionally used to perform system operations such as recentering content in three-dimensional environment that is visible to a user of the device, displaying a home user interface for launching applications, starting real-time communication sessions, or initiating display of virtual three-dimensional backgrounds. Knobs or digital crowns (e.g., first button 1-128 which is depressible and twistable or rotatable, button 11.1.1-114, and/or dial or button 1-328) are optionally rotatable to adjust parameters of the visual content such as a level of immersion of a virtual three-dimensional environment (e.g., a degree to which virtual-content occupies the viewport of the user into the three-dimensional environment) or other parameters associated with the three-dimensional environment and the virtual content that is displayed via the optical modules (e.g., first and second display assemblies 1-120a, 1-120b and/or first and second optical modules 11.1.1-104a and 11.1.1-104b).
FIG. 1B illustrates a front, top, perspective view of an example of a head-mountable display (HMD) device 1-100 configured to be donned by a user and provide virtual and altered/mixed reality (VR/AR) experiences. The HMD 1-100 can include a display unit 1-102 or assembly, an electronic strap assembly 1-104 connected to and extending from the display unit 1-102, and a band assembly 1-106 secured at either end to the electronic strap assembly 1-104. The electronic strap assembly 1-104 and the band 1-106 can be part of a retention assembly configured to wrap around a user's head to hold the display unit 1-102 against the face of the user.
In at least one example, the band assembly 1-106 can include a first band 1-116 configured to wrap around the rear side of a user's head and a second band 1-117 configured to extend over the top of a user's head. The second strap can extend between first and second electronic straps 1-105a, 1-105b of the electronic strap assembly 1-104 as shown. The strap assembly 1-104 and the band assembly 1-106 can be part of a securement mechanism extending rearward from the display unit 1-102 and configured to hold the display unit 1-102 against a face of a user.
In at least one example, the securement mechanism includes a first electronic strap 1-105a including a first proximal end 1-134 coupled to the display unit 1-102, for example a housing 1-150 of the display unit 1-102, and a first distal end 1-136 opposite the first proximal end 1-134. The securement mechanism can also include a second electronic strap 1-105b including a second proximal end 1-138 coupled to the housing 1-150 of the display unit 1-102 and a second distal end 1-140 opposite the second proximal end 1-138. The securement mechanism can also include the first band 1-116 including a first end 1-142 coupled to the first distal end 1-136 and a second end 1-144 coupled to the second distal end 1-140 and the second band 1-117 extending between the first electronic strap 1-105a and the second electronic strap 1-105b. The straps 1-105a-b and band 1-116 can be coupled via connection mechanisms or assemblies 1-114. In at least one example, the second band 1-117 includes a first end 1-146 coupled to the first electronic strap 1-105a between the first proximal end 1-134 and the first distal end 1-136 and a second end 1-148 coupled to the second electronic strap 1-105b between the second proximal end 1-138 and the second distal end 1-140.
In at least one example, the first and second electronic straps 1-105a-b include plastic, metal, or other structural materials forming the shape the substantially rigid straps 1-105a-b. In at least one example, the first and second bands 1-116, 1-117 are formed of elastic, flexible materials including woven textiles, rubbers, and the like. The first and second bands 1-116, 1-117 can be flexible to conform to the shape of the user′ head when donning the HMD 1-100.
In at least one example, one or more of the first and second electronic straps 1-105a-b can define internal strap volumes and include one or more electronic components disposed in the internal strap volumes. In one example, as shown in FIG. 1B, the first electronic strap 1-105a can include an electronic component 1-112. In one example, the electronic component 1-112 can include a speaker. In one example, the electronic component 1-112 can include a computing component such as a processor.
In at least one example, the housing 1-150 defines a first, front-facing opening 1-152. The front-facing opening is labeled in dotted lines at 1-152 in FIG. 1B because the display assembly 1-108 is disposed to occlude the first opening 1-152 from view when the HMD 1-100 is assembled. The housing 1-150 can also define a rear-facing second opening 1-154. The housing 1-150 also defines an internal volume between the first and second openings 1-152, 1-154. In at least one example, the HMD 1-100 includes the display assembly 1-108, which can include a front cover and display screen (shown in other figures) disposed in or across the front opening 1-152 to occlude the front opening 1-152. In at least one example, the display screen of the display assembly 1-108, as well as the display assembly 1-108 in general, has a curvature configured to follow the curvature of a user's face. The display screen of the display assembly 1-108 can be curved as shown to compliment the user's facial features and general curvature from one side of the face to the other, for example from left to right and/or from top to bottom where the display unit 1-102 is pressed.
In at least one example, the housing 1-150 can define a first aperture 1-126 between the first and second openings 1-152, 1-154 and a second aperture 1-130 between the first and second openings 1-152, 1-154. The HMD 1-100 can also include a first button 1-128 disposed in the first aperture 1-126 and a second button 1-132 disposed in the second aperture 1-130. The first and second buttons 1-128, 1-132 can be depressible through the respective apertures 1-126, 1-130. In at least one example, the first button 1-126 and/or second button 1-132 can be twistable dials as well as depressible buttons. In at least one example, the first button 1-128 is a depressible and twistable dial button and the second button 1-132 is a depressible button.
FIG. 1C illustrates a rear, perspective view of the HMD 1-100. The HMD 1-100 can include a light seal 1-110 extending rearward from the housing 1-150 of the display assembly 1-108 around a perimeter of the housing 1-150 as shown. The light seal 1-110 can be configured to extend from the housing 1-150 to the user's face around the user's eyes to block external light from being visible. In one example, the HMD 1-100 can include first and second display assemblies 1-120a, 1-120b disposed at or in the rearward facing second opening 1-154 defined by the housing 1-150 and/or disposed in the internal volume of the housing 1-150 and configured to project light through the second opening 1-154. In at least one example, each display assembly 1-120a-b can include respective display screens 1-122a, 1-122b configured to project light in a rearward direction through the second opening 1-154 toward the user's eyes.
In at least one example, referring to both FIGS. 1B and 1C, the display assembly 1-108 can be a front-facing, forward display assembly including a display screen configured to project light in a first, forward direction and the rear facing display screens 1-122a-b can be configured to project light in a second, rearward direction opposite the first direction. As noted above, the light seal 1-110 can be configured to block light external to the HMD 1-100 from reaching the user's eyes, including light projected by the forward facing display screen of the display assembly 1-108 shown in the front perspective view of FIG. 1B. In at least one example, the HMD 1-100 can also include a curtain 1-124 occluding the second opening 1-154 between the housing 1-150 and the rear-facing display assemblies 1-120a-b. In at least one example, the curtain 1-124 can be elastic or at least partially elastic.
Any of the features, components, and/or parts, including the arrangements and configurations thereof shown in FIGS. 1B and 1C can be included, either alone or in any combination, in any of the other examples of devices, features, components, and parts shown in FIGS. 1D-1F and described herein. Likewise, any of the features, components, and/or parts, including the arrangements and configurations thereof shown and described with reference to FIGS. 1D-1F can be included, either alone or in any combination, in the example of the devices, features, components, and parts shown in FIGS. 1B and 1C.
FIG. 1D illustrates an exploded view of an example of an HMD 1-200 including various portions or parts thereof separated according to the modularity and selective coupling of those parts. For example, the HMD 1-200 can include a band 1-216 which can be selectively coupled to first and second electronic straps 1-205a, 1-205b. The first securement strap 1-205a can include a first electronic component 1-212a and the second securement strap 1-205b can include a second electronic component 1-212b. In at least one example, the first and second straps 1-205a-b can be removably coupled to the display unit 1-202.
In addition, the HMD 1-200 can include a light seal 1-210 configured to be removably coupled to the display unit 1-202. The HMD 1-200 can also include lenses 1-218 which can be removably coupled to the display unit 1-202, for example over first and second display assemblies including display screens. The lenses 1-218 can include customized prescription lenses configured for corrective vision. As noted, each part shown in the exploded view of FIG. 1D and described above can be removably coupled, attached, re-attached, and changed out to update parts or swap out parts for different users. For example, bands such as the band 1-216, light seals such as the light seal 1-210, lenses such as the lenses 1-218, and electronic straps such as the straps 1-205a-b can be swapped out depending on the user such that these parts are customized to fit and correspond to the individual user of the HMD 1-200.
Any of the features, components, and/or parts, including the arrangements and configurations thereof shown in FIG. 1D can be included, either alone or in any combination, in any of the other examples of devices, features, components, and parts shown in FIGS. 1B, 1C, and 1E-1F and described herein. Likewise, any of the features, components, and/or parts, including the arrangements and configurations thereof shown and described with reference to FIGS. 1B, 1C, and 1E-1F can be included, either alone or in any combination, in the example of the devices, features, components, and parts shown in FIG. 1D.
FIG. 1E illustrates an exploded view of an example of a display unit 1-306 of a HMD. The display unit 1-306 can include a front display assembly 1-308, a frame/housing assembly 1-350, and a curtain assembly 1-324. The display unit 1-306 can also include a sensor assembly 1-356, logic board assembly 1-358, and cooling assembly 1-360 disposed between the frame assembly 1-350 and the front display assembly 1-308. In at least one example, the display unit 1-306 can also include a rear-facing display assembly 1-320 including first and second rear-facing display screens 1-322a, 1-322b disposed between the frame 1-350 and the curtain assembly 1-324.
In at least one example, the display unit 1-306 can also include a motor assembly 1-362 configured as an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the positions of the display screens 1-322a-b of the display assembly 1-320 relative to the frame 1-350. In at least one example, the display assembly 1-320 is mechanically coupled to the motor assembly 1-362, with at least one motor for each display screen 1-322a-b, such that the motors can translate the display screens 1-322a-b to match an interpupillary distance of the user's eyes.
In at least one example, the display unit 1-306 can include a dial or button 1-328 depressible relative to the frame 1-350 and accessible to the user outside the frame 1-350. The button 1-328 can be electronically connected to the motor assembly 1-362 via a controller such that the button 1-328 can be manipulated by the user to cause the motors of the motor assembly 1-362 to adjust the positions of the display screens 1-322a-b.
Any of the features, components, and/or parts, including the arrangements and configurations thereof shown in FIG. 1E can be included, either alone or in any combination, in any of the other examples of devices, features, components, and parts shown in FIGS. 1B-1D and 1F and described herein. Likewise, any of the features, components, and/or parts, including the arrangements and configurations thereof shown and described with reference to FIGS. 1B-1D and 1F can be included, either alone or in any combination, in the example of the devices, features, components, and parts shown in FIG. 1E.
FIG. 1F illustrates an exploded view of another example of a display unit 1-406 of a HMD device similar to other HMD devices described herein. The display unit 1-406 can include a front display assembly 1-402, a sensor assembly 1-456, a logic board assembly 1-458, a cooling assembly 1-460, a frame assembly 1-450, a rear-facing display assembly 1-421, and a curtain assembly 1-424. The display unit 1-406 can also include a motor assembly 1-462 for adjusting the positions of first and second display sub-assemblies 1-420a, 1-420b of the rear-facing display assembly 1-421, including first and second respective display screens for interpupillary adjustments, as described above.
The various parts, systems, and assemblies shown in the exploded view of FIG. 1F are described in greater detail herein with reference to FIGS. 1B-1E as well as subsequent figures referenced in the present disclosure. The display unit 1-406 shown in FIG. 1F can be assembled and integrated with the securement mechanisms shown in FIGS. 1B-1E, including the electronic straps, bands, and other components including light seals, connection assemblies, and so forth.
Any of the features, components, and/or parts, including the arrangements and configurations thereof shown in FIG. 1F can be included, either alone or in any combination, in any of the other examples of devices, features, components, and parts shown in FIGS. 1B-1E and described herein. Likewise, any of the features, components, and/or parts, including the arrangements and configurations thereof shown and described with reference to FIGS. 1B-1E can be included, either alone or in any combination, in the example of the devices, features, components, and parts shown in FIG. 1F.
FIG. 1G illustrates a perspective, exploded view of a front cover assembly 3-100 of an HMD device described herein, for example the front cover assembly 3-1 of the HMD 3-100 shown in FIG. 1G or any other HMD device shown and described herein. The front cover assembly 3-100 shown in FIG. 1G can include a transparent or semi-transparent cover 3-102, shroud 3-104 (or “canopy”), adhesive layers 3-106, display assembly 3-108 including a lenticular lens panel or array 3-110, and a structural trim 3-112. The adhesive layer 3-106 can secure the shroud 3-104 and/or transparent cover 3-102 to the display assembly 3-108 and/or the trim 3-112. The trim 3-112 can secure the various components of the front cover assembly 3-100 to a frame or chassis of the HMD device.
In at least one example, as shown in FIG. 1G, the transparent cover 3-102, shroud 3-104, and display assembly 3-108, including the lenticular lens array 3-110, can be curved to accommodate the curvature of a user's face. The transparent cover 3-102 and the shroud 3-104 can be curved in two or three dimensions, e.g., vertically curved in the Z-direction in and out of the Z-X plane and horizontally curved in the X-direction in and out of the Z-X plane. In at least one example, the display assembly 3-108 can include the lenticular lens array 3-110 as well as a display panel having pixels configured to project light through the shroud 3-104 and the transparent cover 3-102. The display assembly 3-108 can be curved in at least one direction, for example the horizontal direction, to accommodate the curvature of a user's face from one side (e.g., left side) of the face to the other (e.g., right side). In at least one example, each layer or component of the display assembly 3-108, which will be shown in subsequent figures and described in more detail, but which can include the lenticular lens array 3-110 and a display layer, can be similarly or concentrically curved in the horizontal direction to accommodate the curvature of the user's face.
In at least one example, the shroud 3-104 can include a transparent or semi-transparent material through which the display assembly 3-108 projects light. In one example, the shroud 3-104 can include one or more opaque portions, for example opaque ink-printed portions or other opaque film portions on the rear surface of the shroud 3-104. The rear surface can be the surface of the shroud 3-104 facing the user's eyes when the HMD device is donned. In at least one example, opaque portions can be on the front surface of the shroud 3-104 opposite the rear surface. In at least one example, the opaque portion or portions of the shroud 3-104 can include perimeter portions visually hiding any components around an outside perimeter of the display screen of the display assembly 3-108. In this way, the opaque portions of the shroud hide any other components, including electronic components, structural components, and so forth, of the HMD device that would otherwise be visible through the transparent or semi-transparent cover 3-102 and/or shroud 3-104.
In at least one example, the shroud 3-104 can define one or more apertures transparent portions 3-120 through which sensors can send and receive signals. In one example, the portions 3-120 are apertures through which the sensors can extend or send and receive signals. In one example, the portions 3-120 are transparent portions, or portions more transparent than surrounding semi-transparent or opaque portions of the shroud, through which sensors can send and receive signals through the shroud and through the transparent cover 3-102. In one example, the sensors can include cameras, IR sensors, LUX sensors, or any other visual or non-visual environmental sensors of the HMD device.
Any of the features, components, and/or parts, including the arrangements and configurations thereof shown in FIG. 1G can be included, either alone or in any combination, in any of the other examples of devices, features, components, and parts described herein. Likewise, any of the features, components, and/or parts, including the arrangements and configurations thereof shown and described herein can be included, either alone or in any combination, in the example of the devices, features, components, and parts shown in FIG. 1G.
FIG. 1H illustrates an exploded view of an example of an HMD device 6-100.
The HMD device 6-100 can include a sensor array or system 6-102 including one or more sensors, cameras, projectors, and so forth mounted to one or more components of the HMD 6-100. In at least one example, the sensor system 6-102 can include a bracket 1-338 on which one or more sensors of the sensor system 6-102 can be fixed/secured.
FIG. 1I illustrates a portion of an HMD device 6-100 including a front transparent cover 6-104 and a sensor system 6-102. The sensor system 6-102 can include a number of different sensors, emitters, receivers, including cameras, IR sensors, projectors, and so forth. The transparent cover 6-104 is illustrated in front of the sensor system 6-102 to illustrate relative positions of the various sensors and emitters as well as the orientation of each sensor/emitter of the system 6-102. As referenced herein, “sideways,” “side,” “lateral,” “horizontal,” and other similar terms refer to orientations or directions as indicated by the X-axis shown in FIG. 1J. Terms such as “vertical,” “up,” “down,” and similar terms refer to orientations or directions as indicated by the Z-axis shown in FIG. 1J. Terms such as “frontward,” “rearward,” “forward,” backward,” and similar terms refer to orientations or directions as indicated by the Y-axis shown in FIG. 1J.
In at least one example, the transparent cover 6-104 can define a front, external surface of the HMD device 6-100 and the sensor system 6-102, including the various sensors and components thereof, can be disposed behind the cover 6-104 in the Y-axis/direction. The cover 6-104 can be transparent or semi-transparent to allow light to pass through the cover 6-104, both light detected by the sensor system 6-102 and light emitted thereby.
As noted elsewhere herein, the HMD device 6-100 can include one or more controllers including processors for electrically coupling the various sensors and emitters of the sensor system 6-102 with one or more mother boards, processing units, and other electronic devices such as display screens and the like. In addition, as will be shown in more detail below with reference to other figures, the various sensors, emitters, and other components of the sensor system 6-102 can be coupled to various structural frame members, brackets, and so forth of the HMD device 6-100 not shown in FIG. 1I. FIG. 1I shows the components of the sensor system 6-102 unattached and un-coupled electrically from other components for the sake of illustrative clarity.
In at least one example, the device can include one or more controllers having processors configured to execute instructions stored on memory components electrically coupled to the processors. The instructions can include, or cause the processor to execute, one or more algorithms for self-correcting angles and positions of the various cameras described herein overtime with use as the initial positions, angles, or orientations of the cameras get bumped or deformed due to unintended drop events or other events.
In at least one example, the sensor system 6-102 can include one or more scene cameras 6-106. The system 6-102 can include two scene cameras 6-102 disposed on either side of the nasal bridge or arch of the HMD device 6-100 such that each of the two cameras 6-106 correspond generally in position with left and right eyes of the user behind the cover 6-103. In at least one example, the scene cameras 6-106 are oriented generally forward in the Y-direction to capture images in front of the user during use of the HMD 6-100. In at least one example, the scene cameras are color cameras and provide images and content for MR video pass through to the display screens facing the user's eyes when using the HMD device 6-100. The scene cameras 6-106 can also be used for environment and object reconstruction.
In at least one example, the sensor system 6-102 can include a first depth sensor 6-108 pointed generally forward in the Y-direction. In at least one example, the first depth sensor 6-108 can be used for environment and object reconstruction as well as user hand and body tracking. In at least one example, the sensor system 6-102 can include a second depth sensor 6-110 disposed centrally along the width (e.g., along the X-axis) of the HMD device 6-100. For example, the second depth sensor 6-110 can be disposed above the central nasal bridge or accommodating features over the nose of the user when donning the HMD 6-100. In at least one example, the second depth sensor 6-110 can be used for environment and object reconstruction as well as hand and body tracking. In at least one example, the second depth sensor can include a LIDAR sensor.
In at least one example, the sensor system 6-102 can include a depth projector 6-112 facing generally forward to project electromagnetic waves, for example in the form of a predetermined pattern of light dots, out into and within a field of view of the user and/or the scene cameras 6-106 or a field of view including and beyond the field of view of the user and/or scene cameras 6-106. In at least one example, the depth projector can project electromagnetic waves of light in the form of a dotted light pattern to be reflected off objects and back into the depth sensors noted above, including the depth sensors 6-108, 6-110. In at least one example, the depth projector 6-112 can be used for environment and object reconstruction as well as hand and body tracking.
In at least one example, the sensor system 6-102 can include downward facing cameras 6-114 with a field of view pointed generally downward relative to the HDM device 6-100 in the Z-axis. In at least one example, the downward cameras 6-114 can be disposed on left and right sides of the HMD device 6-100 as shown and used for hand and body tracking, headset tracking, and facial avatar detection and creation for display a user avatar on the forward facing display screen of the HMD device 6-100 described elsewhere herein. The downward cameras 6-114, for example, can be used to capture facial expressions and movements for the face of the user below the HMD device 6-100, including the cheeks, mouth, and chin.
In at least one example, the sensor system 6-102 can include jaw cameras 6-116. In at least one example, the jaw cameras 6-116 can be disposed on left and right sides of the HMD device 6-100 as shown and used for hand and body tracking, headset tracking, and facial avatar detection and creation for display a user avatar on the forward facing display screen of the HMD device 6-100 described elsewhere herein. The jaw cameras 6-116, for example, can be used to capture facial expressions and movements for the face of the user below the HMD device 6-100, including the user's jaw, cheeks, mouth, and chin. for hand and body tracking, headset tracking, and facial avatar
In at least one example, the sensor system 6-102 can include side cameras 6-118. The side cameras 6-118 can be oriented to capture side views left and right in the X-axis or direction relative to the HMD device 6-100. In at least one example, the side cameras 6-118 can be used for hand and body tracking, headset tracking, and facial avatar detection and re-creation.
In at least one example, the sensor system 6-102 can include a plurality of eye tracking and gaze tracking sensors for determining an identity, status, and gaze direction of a user's eyes during and/or before use. In at least one example, the eye/gaze tracking sensors can include nasal eye cameras 6-120 disposed on either side of the user's nose and adjacent the user's nose when donning the HMD device 6-100. The eye/gaze sensors can also include bottom eye cameras 6-122 disposed below respective user eyes for capturing images of the eyes for facial avatar detection and creation, gaze tracking, and iris identification functions.
In at least one example, the sensor system 6-102 can include infrared illuminators 6-124 pointed outward from the HMD device 6-100 to illuminate the external environment and any object therein with IR light for IR detection with one or more IR sensors of the sensor system 6-102. In at least one example, the sensor system 6-102 can include a flicker sensor 6-126 and an ambient light sensor 6-128. In at least one example, the flicker sensor 6-126 can detect overhead light refresh rates to avoid display flicker. In one example, the infrared illuminators 6-124 can include light emitting diodes and can be used especially for low light environments for illuminating user hands and other objects in low light for detection by infrared sensors of the sensor system 6-102.
In at least one example, multiple sensors, including the scene cameras 6-106, the downward cameras 6-114, the jaw cameras 6-116, the side cameras 6-118, the depth projector 6-112, and the depth sensors 6-108, 6-110 can be used in combination with an electrically coupled controller to combine depth data with camera data for hand tracking and for size determination for better hand tracking and object recognition and tracking functions of the HMD device 6-100. In at least one example, the downward cameras 6-114, jaw cameras 6-116, and side cameras 6-118 described above and shown in FIG. 1I can be wide angle cameras operable in the visible and infrared spectrums. In at least one example, these cameras 6-114, 6-116, 6-118 can operate only in black and white light detection to simplify image processing and gain sensitivity.
Any of the features, components, and/or parts, including the arrangements and configurations thereof shown in FIG. 1I can be included, either alone or in any combination, in any of the other examples of devices, features, components, and parts shown in FIGS. 1J-1L and described herein. Likewise, any of the features, components, and/or parts, including the arrangements and configurations thereof shown and described with reference to FIGS. 1J-1L can be included, either alone or in any combination, in the example of the devices, features, components, and parts shown in FIG. 1I.
FIG. 1J illustrates a lower perspective view of an example of an HMD 6-200 including a cover or shroud 6-204 secured to a frame 6-230. In at least one example, the sensors 6-203 of the sensor system 6-202 can be disposed around a perimeter of the HDM 6-200 such that the sensors 6-203 are outwardly disposed around a perimeter of a display region or area 6-232 so as not to obstruct a view of the displayed light. In at least one example, the sensors can be disposed behind the shroud 6-204 and aligned with transparent portions of the shroud allowing sensors and projectors to allow light back and forth through the shroud 6-204. In at least one example, opaque ink or other opaque material or films/layers can be disposed on the shroud 6-204 around the display area 6-232 to hide components of the HMD 6-200 outside the display area 6-232 other than the transparent portions defined by the opaque portions, through which the sensors and projectors send and receive light and electromagnetic signals during operation. In at least one example, the shroud 6-204 allows light to pass therethrough from the display (e.g., within the display region 6-232) but not radially outward from the display region around the perimeter of the display and shroud 6-204.
In some examples, the shroud 6-204 includes a transparent portion 6-205 and an opaque portion 6-207, as described above and elsewhere herein. In at least one example, the opaque portion 6-207 of the shroud 6-204 can define one or more transparent regions 6-209 through which the sensors 6-203 of the sensor system 6-202 can send and receive signals. In the illustrated example, the sensors 6-203 of the sensor system 6-202 sending and receiving signals through the shroud 6-204, or more specifically through the transparent regions 6-209 of the (or defined by) the opaque portion 6-207 of the shroud 6-204 can include the same or similar sensors as those shown in the example of FIG. 1I, for example depth sensors 6-108 and 6-110, depth projector 6-112, first and second scene cameras 6-106, first and second downward cameras 6-114, first and second side cameras 6-118, and first and second infrared illuminators 6-124. These sensors are also shown in the examples of FIGS. 1K and 1L. Other sensors, sensor types, number of sensors, and relative positions thereof can be included in one or more other examples of HMDs.
Any of the features, components, and/or parts, including the arrangements and configurations thereof shown in FIG. 1J can be included, either alone or in any combination, in any of the other examples of devices, features, components, and parts shown in FIGS. 1I and 1K-1L and described herein. Likewise, any of the features, components, and/or parts, including the arrangements and configurations thereof shown and described with reference to FIGS. 1I and 1K-1L can be included, either alone or in any combination, in the example of the devices, features, components, and parts shown in FIG. 1J.
FIG. 1K illustrates a front view of a portion of an example of an HMD device 6-300 including a display 6-334, brackets 6-336, 6-338, and frame or housing 6-330. The example shown in FIG. 1K does not include a front cover or shroud in order to illustrate the brackets 6-336, 6-338. For example, the shroud 6-204 shown in FIG. 1J includes the opaque portion 6-207 that would visually cover/block a view of anything outside (e.g., radially/peripherally outside) the display/display region 6-334, including the sensors 6-303 and bracket 6-338.
In at least one example, the various sensors of the sensor system 6-302 are coupled to the brackets 6-336, 6-338. In at least one example, the scene cameras 6-306 include tight tolerances of angles relative to one another. For example, the tolerance of mounting angles between the two scene cameras 6-306 can be 0.5 degrees or less, for example 0.3 degrees or less. In order to achieve and maintain such a tight tolerance, in one example, the scene cameras 6-306 can be mounted to the bracket 6-338 and not the shroud. The bracket can include cantilevered arms on which the scene cameras 6-306 and other sensors of the sensor system 6-302 can be mounted to remain un-deformed in position and orientation in the case of a drop event by a user resulting in any deformation of the other bracket 6-226, housing 6-330, and/or shroud.
Any of the features, components, and/or parts, including the arrangements and configurations thereof shown in FIG. 1K can be included, either alone or in any combination, in any of the other examples of devices, features, components, and parts shown in FIGS. 1I-1J and 1L and described herein. Likewise, any of the features, components, and/or parts, including the arrangements and configurations thereof shown and described with reference to FIGS. 1I-1J and 1L can be included, either alone or in any combination, in the example of the devices, features, components, and parts shown in FIG. 1K.
FIG. 1L illustrates a bottom view of an example of an HMD 6-400 including a front display/cover assembly 6-404 and a sensor system 6-402. The sensor system 6-402 can be similar to other sensor systems described above and elsewhere herein, including in reference to FIGS. 11-1K. In at least one example, the jaw cameras 6-416 can be facing downward to capture images of the user's lower facial features. In one example, the jaw cameras 6-416 can be coupled directly to the frame or housing 6-430 or one or more internal brackets directly coupled to the frame or housing 6-430 shown. The frame or housing 6-430 can include one or more apertures/openings 6-415 through which the jaw cameras 6-416 can send and receive signals.
Any of the features, components, and/or parts, including the arrangements and configurations thereof shown in FIG. 1L can be included, either alone or in any combination, in any of the other examples of devices, features, components, and parts shown in FIGS. 11-1K and described herein. Likewise, any of the features, components, and/or parts, including the arrangements and configurations thereof shown and described with reference to FIGS. 1I-1K can be included, either alone or in any combination, in the example of the devices, features, components, and parts shown in FIG. 1L.
FIG. 1M illustrates a rear perspective view of an inter-pupillary distance (IPD) adjustment system 11.1.1-102 including first and second optical modules 11.1.1-104a-b slidably engaging/coupled to respective guide-rods 11.1.1-108a-b and motors 11.1.1-110a-b of left and right adjustment subsystems 11.1.1-106a-b. The IPD adjustment system 11.1.1-102 can be coupled to a bracket 11.1.1-112 and include a button 11.1.1-114 in electrical communication with the motors 11.1.1-110a-b. In at least one example, the button 11.1.1-114 can electrically communicate with the first and second motors 11.1.1-110a-b via a processor or other circuitry components to cause the first and second motors 11.1.1-110a-b to activate and cause the first and second optical modules 11.1.1-104a-b, respectively, to change position relative to one another.
In at least one example, the first and second optical modules 11.1.1-104a-b can include respective display screens configured to project light toward the user's eyes when donning the HMD 11.1.1-100. In at least one example, the user can manipulate (e.g., depress and/or rotate) the button 11.1.1-114 to activate a positional adjustment of the optical modules 11.1.1-104a-b to match the inter-pupillary distance of the user's eyes. The optical modules 11.1.1-104a-b can also include one or more cameras or other sensors/sensor systems for imaging and measuring the IPD of the user such that the optical modules 11.1.1-104a-b can be adjusted to match the IPD.
In one example, the user can manipulate the button 11.1.1-114 to cause an automatic positional adjustment of the first and second optical modules 11.1.1-104a-b. In one example, the user can manipulate the button 11.1.1-114 to cause a manual adjustment such that the optical modules 11.1.1-104a-b move further or closer away, for example when the user rotates the button 11.1.1-114 one way or the other, until the user visually matches her/his own IPD. In one example, the manual adjustment is electronically communicated via one or more circuits and power for the movements of the optical modules 11.1.1-104a-b via the motors 11.1.1-110a-b is provided by an electrical power source. In one example, the adjustment and movement of the optical modules 11.1.1-104a-b via a manipulation of the button 11.1.1-114 is mechanically actuated via the movement of the button 11.1.1-114.
Any of the features, components, and/or parts, including the arrangements and configurations thereof shown in FIG. 1M can be included, either alone or in any combination, in any of the other examples of devices, features, components, and parts shown in any other FIGS. shown and described herein. Likewise, any of the features, components, and/or parts, including the arrangements and configurations thereof shown and described with reference to any other figure shown and described herein, either alone or in any combination, in the example of the devices, features, components, and parts shown in FIG. 1M.
FIG. 1N illustrates a front perspective view of a portion of an HMD 11.1.2-100, including an outer structural frame 11.1.2-102 and an inner or intermediate structural frame 11.1.2-104 defining first and second apertures 11.1.2-106a, 11.1.2-106b. The apertures 11.1.2-106a-b are shown in dotted lines in FIG. 1N because a view of the apertures 11.1.2-106a-b can be blocked by one or more other components of the HMD 11.1.2-100 coupled to the inner frame 11.1.2-104 and/or the outer frame 11.1.2-102, as shown. In at least one example, the HMD 11.1.2-100 can include a first mounting bracket 11.1.2-108 coupled to the inner frame 11.1.2-104. In at least one example, the mounting bracket 11.1.2-108 is coupled to the inner frame 11.1.2-104 between the first and second apertures 11.1.2-106a-b.
The mounting bracket 11.1.2-108 can include a middle or central portion 11.1.2-109 coupled to the inner frame 11.1.2-104. In some examples, the middle or central portion 11.1.2-109 may not be the geometric middle or center of the bracket 11.1.2-108. Rather, the middle/central portion 11.1.2-109 can be disposed between first and second cantilevered extension arms extending away from the middle portion 11.1.2-109. In at least one example, the mounting bracket 108 includes a first cantilever arm 11.1.2-112 and a second cantilever arm 11.1.2-114 extending away from the middle portion 11.1.2-109 of the mount bracket 11.1.2-108 coupled to the inner frame 11.1.2-104.
As shown in FIG. 1N, the outer frame 11.1.2-102 can define a curved geometry on a lower side thereof to accommodate a user's nose when the user dons the HMD 11.1.2-100. The curved geometry can be referred to as a nose bridge 11.1.2-111 and be centrally located on a lower side of the HMD 11.1.2-100 as shown. In at least one example, the mounting bracket 11.1.2-108 can be connected to the inner frame 11.1.2-104 between the apertures 11.1.2-106a-b such that the cantilevered arms 11.1.2-112, 11.1.2-114 extend downward and laterally outward away from the middle portion 11.1.2-109 to compliment the nose bridge 11.1.2-111 geometry of the outer frame 11.1.2-102. In this way, the mounting bracket 11.1.2-108 is configured to accommodate the user's nose as noted above. The nose bridge 11.1.2-111 geometry accommodates the nose in that the nose bridge 11.1.2-111 provides a curvature that curves with, above, over, and around the user's nose for comfort and fit.
The first cantilever arm 11.1.2-112 can extend away from the middle portion 11.1.2-109 of the mounting bracket 11.1.2-108 in a first direction and the second cantilever arm 11.1.2-114 can extend away from the middle portion 11.1.2-109 of the mounting bracket 11.1.2-10 in a second direction opposite the first direction. The first and second cantilever arms 11.1.2-112, 11.1.2-114 are referred to as “cantilevered” or “cantilever” arms because each arm 11.1.2-112, 11.1.2-114, includes a distal free end 11.1.2-116, 11.1.2-118, respectively, which are free of affixation from the inner and outer frames 11.1.2-102, 11.1.2-104. In this way, the arms 11.1.2-112, 11.1.2-114 are cantilevered from the middle portion 11.1.2-109, which can be connected to the inner frame 11.1.2-104, with distal ends 11.1.2-102, 11.1.2-104 unattached.
In at least one example, the HMD 11.1.2-100 can include one or more components coupled to the mounting bracket 11.1.2-108. In one example, the components include a plurality of sensors 11.1.2-110a-f. Each sensor of the plurality of sensors 11.1.2-110a-f can include various types of sensors, including cameras, IR sensors, and so forth. In some examples, one or more of the sensors 11.1.2-110a-f can be used for object recognition in three-dimensional space such that it is important to maintain a precise relative position of two or more of the plurality of sensors 11.1.2-110a-f. The cantilevered nature of the mounting bracket 11.1.2-108 can protect the sensors 11.1.2-110a-f from damage and altered positioning in the case of accidental drops by the user. Because the sensors 11.1.2-110a-f are cantilevered on the arms 11.1.2-112, 11.1.2-114 of the mounting bracket 11.1.2-108, stresses and deformations of the inner and/or outer frames 11.1.2-104, 11.1.2-102 are not transferred to the cantilevered arms 11.1.2-112, 11.1.2-114 and thus do not affect the relative positioning of the sensors 11.1.2-110a-f coupled/mounted to the mounting bracket 11.1.2-108.
Any of the features, components, and/or parts, including the arrangements and configurations thereof shown in FIG. 1N can be included, either alone or in any combination, in any of the other examples of devices, features, components, and described herein. Likewise, any of the features, components, and/or parts, including the arrangements and configurations thereof shown and described herein can be included, either alone or in any combination, in the example of the devices, features, components, and parts shown in FIG. 1N.
FIG. 10 illustrates an example of an optical module 11.3.2-100 for use in an electronic device such as an HMD, including HDM devices described herein. As shown in one or more other examples described herein, the optical module 11.3.2-100 can be one of two optical modules within an HMD, with each optical module aligned to project light toward a user's eye. In this way, a first optical module can project light via a display screen toward a user's first eye and a second optical module of the same device can project light via another display screen toward the user's second eye.
In at least one example, the optical module 11.3.2-100 can include an optical frame or housing 11.3.2-102, which can also be referred to as a barrel or optical module barrel. The optical module 11.3.2-100 can also include a display 11.3.2-104, including a display screen or multiple display screens, coupled to the housing 11.3.2-102. The display 11.3.2-104 can be coupled to the housing 11.3.2-102 such that the display 11.3.2-104 is configured to project light toward the eye of a user when the HMD of which the display module 11.3.2-100 is a part is donned during use. In at least one example, the housing 11.3.2-102 can surround the display 11.3.2-104 and provide connection features for coupling other components of optical modules described herein.
In one example, the optical module 11.3.2-100 can include one or more cameras 11.3.2-106 coupled to the housing 11.3.2-102. The camera 11.3.2-106 can be positioned relative to the display 11.3.2-104 and housing 11.3.2-102 such that the camera 11.3.2-106 is configured to capture one or more images of the user's eye during use. In at least one example, the optical module 11.3.2-100 can also include a light strip 11.3.2-108 surrounding the display 11.3.2-104. In one example, the light strip 11.3.2-108 is disposed between the display 11.3.2-104 and the camera 11.3.2-106. The light strip 11.3.2-108 can include a plurality of lights 11.3.2-110. The plurality of lights can include one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs) or other lights configured to project light toward the user's eye when the HMD is donned. The individual lights 11.3.2-110 of the light strip 11.3.2-108 can be spaced about the strip 11.3.2-108 and thus spaced about the display 11.3.2-104 uniformly or non-uniformly at various locations on the strip 11.3.2-108 and around the display 11.3.2-104.
In at least one example, the housing 11.3.2-102 defines a viewing opening 11.3.2-101 through which the user can view the display 11.3.2-104 when the HMD device is donned. In at least one example, the LEDs are configured and arranged to emit light through the viewing opening 11.3.2-101 and onto the user's eye. In one example, the camera 11.3.2-106 is configured to capture one or more images of the user's eye through the viewing opening 11.3.2-101.
As noted above, each of the components and features of the optical module 11.3.2-100 shown in FIG. 10 can be replicated in another (e.g., second) optical module disposed with the HMD to interact (e.g., project light and capture images) of another eye of the user.
Any of the features, components, and/or parts, including the arrangements and configurations thereof shown in FIG. 10 can be included, either alone or in any combination, in any of the other examples of devices, features, components, and parts shown in FIG. 1P or otherwise described herein. Likewise, any of the features, components, and/or parts, including the arrangements and configurations thereof shown and described with reference to FIG. 1P or otherwise described herein can be included, either alone or in any combination, in the example of the devices, features, components, and parts shown in FIG. 10.
FIG. 1P illustrates a cross-sectional view of an example of an optical module 11.3.2-200 including a housing 11.3.2-202, display assembly 11.3.2-204 coupled to the housing 11.3.2-202, and a lens 11.3.2-216 coupled to the housing 11.3.2-202. In at least one example, the housing 11.3.2-202 defines a first aperture or channel 11.3.2-212 and a second aperture or channel 11.3.2-214. The channels 11.3.2-212, 11.3.2-214 can be configured to slidably engage respective rails or guide rods of an HMD device to allow the optical module 11.3.2-200 to adjust in position relative to the user's eyes for match the user's interpapillary distance (IPD). The housing 11.3.2-202 can slidably engage the guide rods to secure the optical module 11.3.2-200 in place within the HMD.
In at least one example, the optical module 11.3.2-200 can also include a lens 11.3.2-216 coupled to the housing 11.3.2-202 and disposed between the display assembly 11.3.2-204 and the user's eyes when the HMD is donned. The lens 11.3.2-216 can be configured to direct light from the display assembly 11.3.2-204 to the user's eye. In at least one example, the lens 11.3.2-216 can be a part of a lens assembly including a corrective lens removably attached to the optical module 11.3.2-200. In at least one example, the lens 11.3.2-216 is disposed over the light strip 11.3.2-208 and the one or more eye-tracking cameras 11.3.2-206 such that the camera 11.3.2-206 is configured to capture images of the user's eye through the lens 11.3.2-216 and the light strip 11.3.2-208 includes lights configured to project light through the lens 11.3.2-216 to the users' eye during use.
Any of the features, components, and/or parts, including the arrangements and configurations thereof shown in FIG. 1P can be included, either alone or in any combination, in any of the other examples of devices, features, components, and parts and described herein. Likewise, any of the features, components, and/or parts, including the arrangements and configurations thereof shown and described herein can be included, either alone or in any combination, in the example of the devices, features, components, and parts shown in FIG. 1P.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an example of the controller 110 in some embodiments. While certain specific features are illustrated, those skilled in the art will appreciate from the present disclosure that various other features have not been illustrated for the sake of brevity, and so as not to obscure more pertinent aspects of the embodiments disclosed herein. To that end, as a non-limiting example, in some embodiments, the controller 110 includes one or more processing units 202 (e.g., microprocessors, application-specific integrated-circuits (ASICs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), graphics processing units (GPUs), central processing units (CPUs), processing cores, and/or the like), one or more input/output (I/O) devices 206, one or more communication interfaces 208 (e.g., universal serial bus (USB), FIREWIRE, THUNDERBOLT, IEEE 802.3x, IEEE 802.11x, IEEE 802.16x, global system for mobile communications (GSM), code division multiple access (CDMA), time division multiple access (TDMA), global positioning system (GPS), infrared (IR), BLUETOOTH, ZIGBEE, and/or the like type interface), one or more programming (e.g., I/O) interfaces 210, a memory 220, and one or more communication buses 204 for interconnecting these and various other components.
In some embodiments, the one or more communication buses 204 include circuitry that interconnects and controls communications between system components. In some embodiments, the one or more I/O devices 206 include at least one of a keyboard, a mouse, a touchpad, a joystick, one or more microphones, one or more speakers, one or more image sensors, one or more displays, and/or the like.
The memory 220 includes high-speed random-access memory, such as dynamic random-access memory (DRAM), static random-access memory (SRAM), double-data-rate random-access memory (DDR RAM), or other random-access solid-state memory devices. In some embodiments, the memory 220 includes non-volatile memory, such as one or more magnetic disk storage devices, optical disk storage devices, flash memory devices, or other non-volatile solid-state storage devices. The memory 220 optionally includes one or more storage devices remotely located from the one or more processing units 202. The memory 220 comprises a non-transitory computer readable storage medium. In some embodiments, the memory 220 or the non-transitory computer readable storage medium of the memory 220 stores the following programs, modules and data structures, or a subset thereof including an optional operating system 230 and a XR experience module 240.
The operating system 230 includes instructions for handling various basic system services and for performing hardware dependent tasks. In some embodiments, the XR experience module 240 is configured to manage and coordinate one or more XR experiences for one or more users (e.g., a single XR experience for one or more users, or multiple XR experiences for respective groups of one or more users). To that end, in various embodiments, the XR experience module 240 includes a data obtaining unit 241, a tracking unit 242, a coordination unit 246, and a data transmitting unit 248.
In some embodiments, the data obtaining unit 241 is configured to obtain data (e.g., presentation data, interaction data, sensor data, location data, etc.) from at least the display generation component 120 of FIG. 1A, and optionally one or more of the input devices 125, output devices 155, sensors 190, and/or peripheral devices 195. To that end, in various embodiments, the data obtaining unit 241 includes instructions and/or logic therefor, and heuristics and metadata therefor.
In some embodiments, the tracking unit 242 is configured to map the scene 105 and to track the position/location of at least the display generation component 120 with respect to the scene 105 of FIG. 1A, and optionally, to one or more of the input devices 125, output devices 155, sensors 190, and/or peripheral devices 195. To that end, in various embodiments, the tracking unit 242 includes instructions and/or logic therefor, and heuristics and metadata therefor. In some embodiments, the tracking unit 242 includes hand tracking unit 244 and/or eye tracking unit 243. In some embodiments, the hand tracking unit 244 is configured to track the position/location of one or more portions of the user's hands, and/or motions of one or more portions of the user's hands with respect to the scene 105 of FIG. 1A, relative to the display generation component 120, and/or relative to a coordinate system defined relative to the user's hand. The hand tracking unit 244 is described in greater detail below with respect to FIG. 4. In some embodiments, the eye tracking unit 243 is configured to track the position and movement of the user's gaze (or more broadly, the user's eyes, face, or head) with respect to the scene 105 (e.g., with respect to the physical environment and/or to the user (e.g., the user's hand)) or with respect to the XR content displayed via the display generation component 120. The eye tracking unit 243 is described in greater detail below with respect to FIG. 5.
In some embodiments, the coordination unit 246 is configured to manage and coordinate the XR experience presented to the user by the display generation component 120, and optionally, by one or more of the output devices 155 and/or peripheral devices 195. To that end, in various embodiments, the coordination unit 246 includes instructions and/or logic therefor, and heuristics and metadata therefor.
In some embodiments, the data transmitting unit 248 is configured to transmit data (e.g., presentation data, location data, etc.) to at least the display generation component 120, and optionally, to one or more of the input devices 125, output devices 155, sensors 190, and/or peripheral devices 195. To that end, in various embodiments, the data transmitting unit 248 includes instructions and/or logic therefor, and heuristics and metadata therefor.
Although the data obtaining unit 241, the tracking unit 242 (e.g., including the eye tracking unit 243 and the hand tracking unit 244), the coordination unit 246, and the data transmitting unit 248 are shown as residing on a single device (e.g., the controller 110), it should be understood that in other embodiments, any combination of the data obtaining unit 241, the tracking unit 242 (e.g., including the eye tracking unit 243 and the hand tracking unit 244), the coordination unit 246, and the data transmitting unit 248 may be located in separate computing devices.
Moreover, FIG. 2 is intended more as functional description of the various features that may be present in a particular implementation as opposed to a structural schematic of the embodiments described herein. As recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art, items shown separately could be combined and some items could be separated. For example, some functional modules shown separately in FIG. 2 could be implemented in a single module and the various functions of single functional blocks could be implemented by one or more functional blocks in various embodiments. The actual number of modules and the division of particular functions and how features are allocated among them will vary from one implementation to another and, in some embodiments, depends in part on the particular combination of hardware, software, and/or firmware chosen for a particular implementation.
FIG. 3A is a block diagram of an example of the display generation component 120 in some embodiments. While certain specific features are illustrated, those skilled in the art will appreciate from the present disclosure that various other features have not been illustrated for the sake of brevity, and so as not to obscure more pertinent aspects of the embodiments disclosed herein. To that end, as a non-limiting example, in some embodiments the display generation component 120 (e.g., HMD) includes one or more processing units 302 (e.g., microprocessors, ASICs, FPGAs, GPUs, CPUs, processing cores, and/or the like), one or more input/output (I/O) devices and sensors 306, one or more communication interfaces 308 (e.g., USB, FIREWIRE, THUNDERBOLT, IEEE 802.3x, IEEE 802.11x, IEEE 802.16x, GSM, CDMA, TDMA, GPS, IR, BLUETOOTH, ZIGBEE, and/or the like type interface), one or more programming (e.g., I/O) interfaces 310, one or more XR displays 312, one or more optional interior-and/or exterior-facing image sensors 314, a memory 320, and one or more communication buses 304 for interconnecting these and various other components.
In some embodiments, the one or more communication buses 304 include circuitry that interconnects and controls communications between system components. In some embodiments, the one or more I/O devices and sensors 306 include at least one of an inertial measurement unit (IMU), an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a thermometer, one or more physiological sensors (e.g., blood pressure monitor, heart rate monitor, blood oxygen sensor, blood glucose sensor, etc.), one or more microphones, one or more speakers, a haptics engine, one or more depth sensors (e.g., a structured light, a time-of-flight, or the like), and/or the like.
In some embodiments, the one or more XR displays 312 are configured to provide the XR experience to the user. In some embodiments, the one or more XR displays 312 correspond to holographic, digital light processing (DLP), liquid-crystal display (LCD), liquid-crystal on silicon (LCoS), organic light-emitting field-effect transitory (OLET), organic light-emitting diode (OLED), surface-conduction electron-emitter display (SED), field-emission display (FED), quantum-dot light-emitting diode (QD-LED), micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS), and/or the like display types. In some embodiments, the one or more XR displays 312 correspond to diffractive, reflective, polarized, holographic, etc. waveguide displays. For example, the display generation component 120 (e.g., HMD) includes a single XR display. In another example, the display generation component 120 includes a XR display for each eye of the user. In some embodiments, the one or more XR displays 312 are capable of presenting MR and VR content. In some embodiments, the one or more XR displays 312 are capable of presenting MR or VR content.
In some embodiments, the one or more image sensors 314 are configured to obtain image data that corresponds to at least a portion of the face of the user that includes the eyes of the user (and may be referred to as an eye-tracking camera). In some embodiments, the one or more image sensors 314 are configured to obtain image data that corresponds to at least a portion of the user's hand(s) and optionally arm(s) of the user (and may be referred to as a hand-tracking camera). In some embodiments, the one or more image sensors 314 are configured to be forward-facing so as to obtain image data that corresponds to the scene as would be viewed by the user if the display generation component 120 (e.g., HMD) was not present (and may be referred to as a scene camera). The one or more optional image sensors 314 can include one or more RGB cameras (e.g., with a complimentary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor or a charge-coupled device (CCD) image sensor), one or more infrared (IR) cameras, one or more event-based cameras, and/or the like.
The memory 320 includes high-speed random-access memory, such as DRAM, SRAM, DDR RAM, or other random-access solid-state memory devices. In some embodiments, the memory 320 includes non-volatile memory, such as one or more magnetic disk storage devices, optical disk storage devices, flash memory devices, or other non-volatile solid-state storage devices. The memory 320 optionally includes one or more storage devices remotely located from the one or more processing units 302. The memory 320 comprises a non-transitory computer readable storage medium. In some embodiments, the memory 320 or the non-transitory computer readable storage medium of the memory 320 stores the following programs, modules and data structures, or a subset thereof including an optional operating system 330 and a XR presentation module 340.
The operating system 330 includes instructions for handling various basic system services and for performing hardware dependent tasks. In some embodiments, the XR presentation module 340 is configured to present XR content to the user via the one or more XR displays 312. To that end, in various embodiments, the XR presentation module 340 includes a data obtaining unit 342, a XR presenting unit 344, a XR map generating unit 346, and a data transmitting unit 348.
In some embodiments, the data obtaining unit 342 is configured to obtain data (e.g., presentation data, interaction data, sensor data, location data, etc.) from at least the controller 110 of FIG. 1A. To that end, in various embodiments, the data obtaining unit 342 includes instructions and/or logic therefor, and heuristics and metadata therefor.
In some embodiments, the XR presenting unit 344 is configured to present XR content via the one or more XR displays 312. To that end, in various embodiments, the XR presenting unit 344 includes instructions and/or logic therefor, and heuristics and metadata therefor.
In some embodiments, the XR map generating unit 346 is configured to generate a XR map (e.g., a 3D map of the mixed reality scene or a map of the physical environment into which computer-generated objects can be placed to generate the extended reality) based on media content data. To that end, in various embodiments, the XR map generating unit 346 includes instructions and/or logic therefor, and heuristics and metadata therefor.
In some embodiments, the data transmitting unit 348 is configured to transmit data (e.g., presentation data, location data, etc.) to at least the controller 110, and optionally one or more of the input devices 125, output devices 155, sensors 190, and/or peripheral devices 195. To that end, in various embodiments, the data transmitting unit 348 includes instructions and/or logic therefor, and heuristics and metadata therefor.
Although the data obtaining unit 342, the XR presenting unit 344, the XR map generating unit 346, and the data transmitting unit 348 are shown as residing on a single device (e.g., the display generation component 120 of FIG. 1A), it should be understood that in other embodiments, any combination of the data obtaining unit 342, the XR presenting unit 344, the XR map generating unit 346, and the data transmitting unit 348 may be located in separate computing devices.
Moreover, FIG. 3A is intended more as a functional description of the various features that could be present in a particular implementation as opposed to a structural schematic of the embodiments described herein. As recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art, items shown separately could be combined and some items could be separated. For example, some functional modules shown separately in FIG. 3A could be implemented in a single module and the various functions of single functional blocks could be implemented by one or more functional blocks in various embodiments. The actual number of modules and the division of particular functions and how features are allocated among them will vary from one implementation to another and, in some embodiments, depends in part on the particular combination of hardware, software, and/or firmware chosen for a particular implementation.
Implementations within the scope of the present disclosure can be partially or entirely realized using a tangible computer-readable storage medium (or multiple tangible computer-readable storage media of one or more types) encoding one or more computer-readable instructions. It should be recognized that computer-readable instructions can be organized in any format, including applications, widgets, processes, software, and/or components.
Implementations within the scope of the present disclosure include a computer-readable storage medium that encodes instructions organized as an application (e.g., application 3160) that, when executed by one or more processing units, control an electronic device (e.g., device 3150) to perform the method of FIG. 3B, the method of FIG. 3C, and/or one or more other processes and/or methods described herein.
It should be recognized that application 3160 (shown in FIG. 3D) can be any suitable type of application, including, for example, one or more of: a browser application, an application that functions as an execution environment for plug-ins, widgets or other applications, a fitness application, a health application, a digital payments application, a media application, a social network application, a messaging application, and/or a maps application. In some embodiments, application 3160 is an application that is pre-installed on device 3150 at purchase (e.g., a first-party application). In some embodiments, application 3160 is an application that is provided to device 3150 via an operating system update file (e.g., a first-party application or a second-party application). In some embodiments, application 3160 is an application that is provided via an application store. In some embodiments, the application store can be an application store that is pre-installed on device 3150 at purchase (e.g., a first-party application store). In some embodiments, the application store is a third-party application store (e.g., an application store that is provided by another application store, downloaded via a network, and/or read from a storage device).
Referring to FIG. 3B and FIG. 3F, application 3160 obtains information (e.g., 3010). In some embodiments, at 3010, information is obtained from at least one hardware component of device 3150. In some embodiments, at 3010, information is obtained from at least one software module of device 3150. In some embodiments, at 3010, information is obtained from at least one hardware component external to device 3150 (e.g., a peripheral device, an accessory device, and/or a server). In some embodiments, the information obtained at 3010 includes positional information, time information, notification information, user information, environment information, electronic device state information, weather information, media information, historical information, event information, hardware information, and/or motion information. In some embodiments, in response to and/or after obtaining the information at 3010, application 3160 provides the information to a system (e.g., 3020).
In some embodiments, the system (e.g., 3110 shown in FIG. 3E) is an operating system hosted on device 3150. In some embodiments, the system (e.g., 3110 shown in FIG. 3E) is an external device (e.g., a server, a peripheral device, an accessory, and/or a personal computing device) that includes an operating system.
Referring to FIG. 3C and FIG. 3D, application 3160 obtains information (e.g., 3030). In some embodiments, the information obtained at 3030 includes positional information, time information, notification information, user information, environment information electronic device state information, weather information, media information, historical information, event information, hardware information, and/or motion information. In response to and/or after obtaining the information at 3030, application 3160 performs an operation with the information (e.g., 3040). In some embodiments, the operation performed at 3040 includes: providing a notification based on the information, sending a message based on the information, displaying the information, controlling a user interface of a fitness application based on the information, controlling a user interface of a health application based on the information, controlling a focus mode based on the information, setting a reminder based on the information, adding a calendar entry based on the information, and/or calling an API of system 3110 based on the information.
In some embodiments, one or more steps of the method of FIG. 3B and/or the method of FIG. 3C is performed in response to a trigger. In some embodiments, the trigger includes detection of an event, a notification received from system 3110, a user input, and/or a response to a call to an API provided by system 3110.
In some embodiments, the instructions of application 3160, when executed, control device 3150 to perform the method of FIG. 3B and/or the method of FIG. 3C by calling an application programming interface (API) (e.g., API 3190) provided by system 3110. In some embodiments, application 3160 performs at least a portion of the method of FIG. 3B and/or the method of FIG. 3C without calling API 3190.
In some embodiments, one or more steps of the method of FIG. 3B and/or the method of FIG. 3C includes calling an API (e.g., API 3190) using one or more parameters defined by the API. In some embodiments, the one or more parameters include a constant, a key, a data structure, an object, an object class, a variable, a data type, a pointer, an array, a list or a pointer to a function or method, and/or another way to reference a data or other item to be passed via the API.
Referring to FIG. 3D, device 3150 is illustrated. In some embodiments, device 3150 is a personal computing device, a smart phone, a smart watch, a fitness tracker, a head mounted display (HMD) device, a media device, a communal device, a speaker, a television, and/or a tablet. As illustrated in FIG. 3D, device 3150 includes application 3160 and an operating system (e.g., system 3110 shown in FIG. 3E). Application 3160 includes application implementation module 3170 and API-calling module 3180. System 3110 includes API 3190 and implementation module 3100. It should be recognized that device 3150, application 3160, and/or system 3110 can include more, fewer, and/or different components than illustrated in FIGS. 3D and 3E.
In some embodiments, application implementation module 3170 includes a set of one or more instructions corresponding to one or more operations performed by application 3160. For example, when application 3160 is a messaging application, application implementation module 3170 can include operations to receive and send messages. In some embodiments, application implementation module 3170 communicates with API-calling module 3180 to communicate with system 3110 via API 3190 (shown in FIG. 3E).
In some embodiments, API 3190 is a software module (e.g., a collection of computer-readable instructions) that provides an interface that allows a different module (e.g., API-calling module 3180) to access and/or use one or more functions, methods, procedures, data structures, classes, and/or other services provided by implementation module 3100 of system 3110. For example, API-calling module 3180 can access a feature of implementation module 3100 through one or more API calls or invocations (e.g., embodied by a function or a method call) exposed by API 3190 (e.g., a software and/or hardware module that can receive API calls, respond to API calls, and/or send API calls) and can pass data and/or control information using one or more parameters via the API calls or invocations. In some embodiments, API 3190 allows application 3160 to use a service provided by a Software Development Kit (SDK) library. In some embodiments, application 3160 incorporates a call to a function or method provided by the SDK library and provided by API 3190 or uses data types or objects defined in the SDK library and provided by API 3190. In some embodiments, API-calling module 3180 makes an API call via API 3190 to access and use a feature of implementation module 3100 that is specified by API 3190. In such embodiments, implementation module 3100 can return a value via API 3190 to API-calling module 3180 in response to the API call. The value can report to application 3160 the capabilities or state of a hardware component of device 3150, including those related to aspects such as input capabilities and state, output capabilities and state, processing capability, power state, storage capacity and state, and/or communications capability. In some embodiments, API 3190 is implemented in part by firmware, microcode, or other low level logic that executes in part on the hardware component.
In some embodiments, API 3190 allows a developer of API-calling module 3180 (which can be a third-party developer) to leverage a feature provided by implementation module 3100. In such embodiments, there can be one or more API-calling modules (e.g., including API-calling module 3180) that communicate with implementation module 3100. In some embodiments, API 3190 allows multiple API-calling modules written in different programming languages to communicate with implementation module 3100 (e.g., API 3190 can include features for translating calls and returns between implementation module 3100 and API-calling module 3180) while API 3190 is implemented in terms of a specific programming language. In some embodiments, API-calling module 3180 calls APIs from different providers such as a set of APIs from an OS provider, another set of APIs from a plug-in provider, and/or another set of APIs from another provider (e.g., the provider of a software library) or creator of the another set of APIs.
Examples of API 3190 can include one or more of: a pairing API (e.g., for establishing secure connection, e.g., with an accessory), a device detection API (e.g., for locating nearby devices, e.g., media devices and/or smartphone), a payment API, a UIKit API (e.g., for generating user interfaces), a location detection API, a locator API, a maps API, a health sensor API, a sensor API, a messaging API, a push notification API, a streaming API, a collaboration API, a video conferencing API, an application store API, an advertising services API, a web browser API (e.g., WebKit API), a vehicle API, a networking API, a WiFi API, a Bluetooth API, an NFC API, a UWB API, a fitness API, a smart home API, contact transfer API, photos API, camera API, and/or image processing API. In some embodiments, the sensor API is an API for accessing data associated with a sensor of device 3150. For example, the sensor API can provide access to raw sensor data. For another example, the sensor API can provide data derived (and/or generated) from the raw sensor data. In some embodiments, the sensor data includes temperature data, image data, video data, audio data, heart rate data, IMU (inertial measurement unit) data, lidar data, location data, GPS data, and/or camera data. In some embodiments, the sensor includes one or more of an accelerometer, temperature sensor, infrared sensor, optical sensor, heartrate sensor, barometer, gyroscope, proximity sensor, temperature sensor, and/or biometric sensor.
In some embodiments, implementation module 3100 is a system (e.g., operating system and/or server system) software module (e.g., a collection of computer-readable instructions) that is constructed to perform an operation in response to receiving an API call via API 3190. In some embodiments, implementation module 3100 is constructed to provide an API response (via API 3190) as a result of processing an API call. By way of example, implementation module 3100 and API-calling module 3180 can each be any one of an operating system, a library, a device driver, an API, an application program, or other module. It should be understood that implementation module 3100 and API-calling module 3180 can be the same or different type of module from each other. In some embodiments, implementation module 3100 is embodied at least in part in firmware, microcode, or hardware logic.
In some embodiments, implementation module 3100 returns a value through API 3190 in response to an API call from API-calling module 3180. While API 3190 defines the syntax and result of an API call (e.g., how to invoke the API call and what the API call does), API 3190 might not reveal how implementation module 3100 accomplishes the function specified by the API call. Various API calls are transferred via the one or more application programming interfaces between API-calling module 3180 and implementation module 3100. Transferring the API calls can include issuing, initiating, invoking, calling, receiving, returning, and/or responding to the function calls or messages. In other words, transferring can describe actions by either of API-calling module 3180 or implementation module 3100. In some embodiments, a function call or other invocation of API 3190 sends and/or receives one or more parameters through a parameter list or other structure.
In some embodiments, implementation module 3100 provides more than one API, each providing a different view of or with different aspects of functionality implemented by implementation module 3100. For example, one API of implementation module 3100 can provide a first set of functions and can be exposed to third-party developers, and another API of implementation module 3100 can be hidden (e.g., not exposed) and provide a subset of the first set of functions and also provide another set of functions, such as testing or debugging functions which are not in the first set of functions. In some embodiments, implementation module 3100 calls one or more other components via an underlying API and thus is both an API-calling module and an implementation module. It should be recognized that implementation module 3100 can include additional functions, methods, classes, data structures, and/or other features that are not specified through API 3190 and are not available to API-calling module 3180. It should also be recognized that API-calling module 3180 can be on the same system as implementation module 3100 or can be located remotely and access implementation module 3100 using API 3190 over a network. In some embodiments, implementation module 3100, API 3190, and/or API-calling module 3180 is stored in a machine-readable medium, which includes any mechanism for storing information in a form readable by a machine (e.g., a computer or other data processing system). For example, a machine-readable medium can include magnetic disks, optical disks, random access memory; read only memory, and/or flash memory devices.
An application programming interface (API) is an interface between a first software process and a second software process that specifies a format for communication between the first software process and the second software process. Limited APIs (e.g., private APIs or partner APIs) are APIs that are accessible to a limited set of software processes (e.g., only software processes within an operating system or only software processes that are approved to access the limited APIs). Public APIs that are accessible to a wider set of software processes. Some APIs enable software processes to communicate about or set a state of one or more input devices (e.g., one or more touch sensors, proximity sensors, visual sensors, motion/orientation sensors, pressure sensors, intensity sensors, sound sensors, wireless proximity sensors, biometric sensors, buttons, switches, rotatable elements, and/or external controllers). Some APIs enable software processes to communicate about and/or set a state of one or more output generation components (e.g., one or more audio output generation components, one or more display generation components, and/or one or more tactile output generation components). Some APIs enable particular capabilities (e.g., scrolling, handwriting, text entry, image editing, and/or image creation) to be accessed, performed, and/or used by a software process (e.g., generating outputs for use by a software process based on input from the software process). Some APIs enable content from a software process to be inserted into a template and displayed in a user interface that has a layout and/or behaviors that are specified by the template.
Many software platforms include a set of frameworks that provides the core objects and core behaviors that a software developer needs to build software applications that can be used on the software platform. Software developers use these objects to display content onscreen, to interact with that content, and to manage interactions with the software platform. Software applications rely on the set of frameworks for their basic behavior, and the set of frameworks provides many ways for the software developer to customize the behavior of the application to match the specific needs of the software application. Many of these core objects and core behaviors are accessed via an API. An API will typically specify a format for communication between software processes, including specifying and grouping available variables, functions, and protocols. An API call (sometimes referred to as an API request) will typically be sent from a sending software process to a receiving software process as a way to accomplish one or more of the following: the sending software process requesting information from the receiving software process (e.g., for the sending software process to take action on), the sending software process providing information to the receiving software process (e.g., for the receiving software process to take action on), the sending software process requesting action by the receiving software process, or the sending software process providing information to the receiving software process about action taken by the sending software process. Interaction with a device (e.g., using a user interface) will in some circumstances include the transfer and/or receipt of one or more API calls (e.g., multiple API calls) between multiple different software processes (e.g., different portions of an operating system, an application and an operating system, or different applications) via one or more APIs (e.g., via multiple different APIs). For example, when an input is detected the direct sensor data is frequently processed into one or more input events that are provided (e.g., via an API) to a receiving software process that makes some determination based on the input events, and then sends (e.g., via an API) information to a software process to perform an operation (e.g., change a device state and/or user interface) based on the determination. While a determination and an operation performed in response could be made by the same software process, alternatively the determination could be made in a first software process and relayed (e.g., via an API) to a second software process, that is different from the first software process, that causes the operation to be performed by the second software process. Alternatively, the second software process could relay instructions (e.g., via an API) to a third software process that is different from the first software process and/or the second software process to perform the operation. It should be understood that some or all user interactions with a computer system could involve one or more API calls within a step of interacting with the computer system (e.g., between different software components of the computer system or between a software component of the computer system and a software component of one or more remote computer systems). It should be understood that some or all user interactions with a computer system could involve one or more API calls between steps of interacting with the computer system (e.g., between different software components of the computer system or between a software component of the computer system and a software component of one or more remote computer systems).
In some embodiments, the application can be any suitable type of application, including, for example, one or more of: a browser application, an application that functions as an execution environment for plug-ins, widgets or other applications, a fitness application, a health application, a digital payments application, a media application, a social network application, a messaging application, and/or a maps application.
In some embodiments, the application is an application that is pre-installed on the first computer system at purchase (e.g., a first-party application). In some embodiments, the application is an application that is provided to the first computer system via an operating system update file (e.g., a first-party application). In some embodiments, the application is an application that is provided via an application store. In some embodiments, the application store is pre-installed on the first computer system at purchase (e.g., a first-party application store) and allows download of one or more applications. In some embodiments, the application store is a third-party application store (e.g., an application store that is provided by another device, downloaded via a network, and/or read from a storage device). In some embodiments, the application is a third-party application (e.g., an app that is provided by an application store, downloaded via a network, and/or read from a storage device). In some embodiments, the application controls the first computer system to perform methods 800 and/or 1000 (FIGS. 8 and/or 10) by calling an application programming interface (API) provided by the system process using one or more parameters.
In some embodiments, exemplary APIs provided by the system process include one or more of: a pairing API (e.g., for establishing secure connection, e.g., with an accessory), a device detection API (e.g., for locating nearby devices, e.g., media devices and/or smartphone), a payment API, a UIKit API (e.g., for generating user interfaces), a location detection API, a locator API, a maps API, a health sensor API, a sensor API, a messaging API, a push notification API, a streaming API, a collaboration API, a video conferencing API, an application store API, an advertising services API, a web browser API (e.g., WebKit API), a vehicle API, a networking API, a WiFi API, a Bluetooth API, an NFC API, a UWB API, a fitness API, a smart home API, contact transfer API, a photos API, a camera API, and/or an image processing API.
In some embodiments, at least one API is a software module (e.g., a collection of computer-readable instructions) that provides an interface that allows a different module (e.g., API-calling module 3180) to access and use one or more functions, methods, procedures, data structures, classes, and/or other services provided by an implementation module of the system process. The API can define one or more parameters that are passed between the API-calling module and the implementation module. In some embodiments, API 3190 defines a first API call that can be provided by API-calling module 3180. The implementation module is a system software module (e.g., a collection of computer-readable instructions) that is constructed to perform an operation in response to receiving an API call via the API. In some embodiments, the implementation module is constructed to provide an API response (via the API) as a result of processing an API call. In some embodiments, the implementation module is included in the device (e.g., 3150) that runs the application. In some embodiments, the implementation module is included in an electronic device that is separate from the device that runs the application.
FIG. 4 is a schematic, pictorial illustration of an example embodiment of the hand tracking device 140. In some embodiments, hand tracking device 140 (FIG. 1A) is controlled by hand tracking unit 244 (FIG. 2) to track the position/location of one or more portions of the user's hands, and/or motions of one or more portions of the user's hands with respect to the scene 105 of FIG. 1A (e.g., with respect to a portion of the physical environment surrounding the user, with respect to the display generation component 120, or with respect to a portion of the user (e.g., the user's face, eyes, or head), and/or relative to a coordinate system defined relative to the user's hand). In some embodiments, the hand tracking device 140 is part of the display generation component 120 (e.g., embedded in or attached to a head-mounted device). In some embodiments, the hand tracking device 140 is separate from the display generation component 120 (e.g., located in separate housings or attached to separate physical support structures).
In some embodiments, the hand tracking device 140 includes image sensors 404 (e.g., one or more IR cameras, 3D cameras, depth cameras, and/or color cameras, etc.) that capture three-dimensional scene information that includes at least a hand 406 of a human user. The image sensors 404 capture the hand images with sufficient resolution to enable the fingers and their respective positions to be distinguished. The image sensors 404 typically capture images of other parts of the user's body, as well, or possibly all of the body, and may have either zoom capabilities or a dedicated sensor with enhanced magnification to capture images of the hand with the desired resolution. In some embodiments, the image sensors 404 also capture 2D color video images of the hand 406 and other elements of the scene. In some embodiments, the image sensors 404 are used in conjunction with other image sensors to capture the physical environment of the scene 105, or serve as the image sensors that capture the physical environments of the scene 105. In some embodiments, the image sensors 404 are positioned relative to the user or the user's environment in a way that a field of view of the image sensors or a portion thereof is used to define an interaction space in which hand movement captured by the image sensors are treated as inputs to the controller 110.
In some embodiments, the image sensors 404 output a sequence of frames containing 3D map data (and possibly color image data, as well) to the controller 110, which extracts high-level information from the map data. This high-level information is typically provided via an Application Program Interface (API) to an application running on the controller, which drives the display generation component 120 accordingly. For example, the user may interact with software running on the controller 110 by moving his hand 406 and changing his hand posture.
In some embodiments, the image sensors 404 project a pattern of spots onto a scene containing the hand 406 and capture an image of the projected pattern. In some embodiments, the controller 110 computes the 3D coordinates of points in the scene (including points on the surface of the user's hand) by triangulation, based on transverse shifts of the spots in the pattern. This approach is advantageous in that it does not require the user to hold or wear any sort of beacon, sensor, or other marker. It gives the depth coordinates of points in the scene relative to a predetermined reference plane, at a certain distance from the image sensors 404. In the present disclosure, the image sensors 404 are assumed to define an orthogonal set of x, y, z axes, so that depth coordinates of points in the scene correspond to z components measured by the image sensors. Alternatively, the image sensors 404 (e.g., a hand tracking device) may use other methods of 3D mapping, such as stereoscopic imaging or time-of-flight measurements, based on single or multiple cameras or other types of sensors.
In some embodiments, the hand tracking device 140 captures and processes a temporal sequence of depth maps containing the user's hand, while the user moves his hand (e.g., whole hand or one or more fingers). Software running on a processor in the image sensors 404 and/or the controller 110 processes the 3D map data to extract patch descriptors of the hand in these depth maps. The software matches these descriptors to patch descriptors stored in a database 408, based on a prior learning process, in order to estimate the pose of the hand in each frame. The pose typically includes 3D locations of the user's hand joints and finger tips.
The software may also analyze the trajectory of the hands and/or fingers over multiple frames in the sequence in order to identify gestures. The pose estimation functions described herein may be interleaved with motion tracking functions, so that patch-based pose estimation is performed only once in every two (or more) frames, while tracking is used to find changes in the pose that occur over the remaining frames. The pose, motion, and gesture information are provided via the above-mentioned API to an application program running on the controller 110. This program may, for example, move and modify images presented on the display generation component 120, or perform other functions, in response to the pose and/or gesture information.
In some embodiments, a gesture includes an air gesture. An air gesture is a gesture that is detected without the user touching (or independently of) an input element that is part of a device (e.g., computer system 101, one or more input device 125, and/or hand tracking device 140) and is based on detected motion of a portion (e.g., the head, one or more arms, one or more hands, one or more fingers, and/or one or more legs) of the user's body through the air including motion of the user's body relative to an absolute reference (e.g., an angle of the user's arm relative to the ground or a distance of the user's hand relative to the ground), relative to another portion of the user's body (e.g., movement of a hand of the user relative to a shoulder of the user, movement of one hand of the user relative to another hand of the user, and/or movement of a finger of the user relative to another finger or portion of a hand of the user), and/or absolute motion of a portion of the user's body (e.g., a tap gesture that includes movement of a hand in a predetermined pose by a predetermined amount and/or speed, or a shake gesture that includes a predetermined speed or amount of rotation of a portion of the user's body).
In some embodiments, input gestures used in the various examples and embodiments described herein include air gestures performed by movement of the user's finger(s) relative to other finger(s) (or part(s) of the user's hand) for interacting with an XR environment (e.g., a virtual or mixed-reality environment), in some embodiments. In some embodiments, an air gesture is a gesture that is detected without the user touching an input element that is part of the device (or independently of an input element that is a part of the device) and is based on detected motion of a portion of the user's body through the air including motion of the user's body relative to an absolute reference (e.g., an angle of the user's arm relative to the ground or a distance of the user's hand relative to the ground), relative to another portion of the user's body (e.g., movement of a hand of the user relative to a shoulder of the user, movement of one hand of the user relative to another hand of the user, and/or movement of a finger of the user relative to another finger or portion of a hand of the user), and/or absolute motion of a portion of the user's body (e.g., a tap gesture that includes movement of a hand in a predetermined pose by a predetermined amount and/or speed, or a shake gesture that includes a predetermined speed or amount of rotation of a portion of the user's body).
In some embodiments in which the input gesture is an air gesture (e.g., in the absence of physical contact with an input device that provides the computer system with information about which user interface element is the target of the user input, such as contact with a user interface element displayed on a touchscreen, or contact with a mouse or trackpad to move a cursor to the user interface element), the gesture takes into account the user's attention (e.g., gaze) to determine the target of the user input (e.g., for direct inputs, as described below). Thus, in implementations involving air gestures, the input gesture is, for example, detected attention (e.g., gaze) toward the user interface element in combination (e.g., concurrent) with movement of a user's finger(s) and/or hands to perform a pinch and/or tap input, as described in more detail below.
In some embodiments, input gestures that are directed to a user interface object are performed directly or indirectly with reference to a user interface object. For example, a user input is performed directly on the user interface object in performing the input gesture with the user's hand at a position that corresponds to the position of the user interface object in the three-dimensional environment (e.g., as determined based on a current viewpoint of the user). In some embodiments, the input gesture is performed indirectly on the user interface object in accordance with the user performing the input gesture while a position of the user's hand is not at the position that corresponds to the position of the user interface object in the three-dimensional environment while detecting the user's attention (e.g., gaze) on the user interface object. For example, for direct input gesture, the user is enabled to direct the user's input to the user interface object by initiating the gesture at, or near, a position corresponding to the displayed position of the user interface object (e.g., within 0.5 cm, 1 cm, 5 cm, or a distance between 0-5 cm, as measured from an outer edge of the option or a center portion of the option). For an indirect input gesture, the user is enabled to direct the user's input to the user interface object by paying attention to the user interface object (e.g., by gazing at the user interface object) and, while paying attention to the option, the user initiates the input gesture (e.g., at any position that is detectable by the computer system) (e.g., at a position that does not correspond to the displayed position of the user interface object).
In some embodiments, input gestures (e.g., air gestures) used in the various examples and embodiments described herein include pinch inputs and tap inputs, for interacting with a virtual or mixed-reality environment, in some embodiments. For example, the pinch inputs and tap inputs described below are performed as air gestures.
In some embodiments, a pinch input is part of an air gesture that includes one or more of: a pinch gesture, a long pinch gesture, a pinch and drag gesture, or a double pinch gesture. For example, a pinch gesture that is an air gesture includes movement of two or more fingers of a hand to make contact with one another, that is, optionally, followed by an immediate (e.g., within 0-1 seconds) break in contact from each other. A long pinch gesture that is an air gesture includes movement of two or more fingers of a hand to make contact with one another for at least a threshold amount of time (e.g., at least 1 second), before detecting a break in contact with one another. For example, a long pinch gesture includes the user holding a pinch gesture (e.g., with the two or more fingers making contact), and the long pinch gesture continues until a break in contact between the two or more fingers is detected. In some embodiments, a double pinch gesture that is an air gesture comprises two (e.g., or more) pinch inputs (e.g., performed by the same hand) detected in immediate (e.g., within a predefined time period) succession of each other. For example, the user performs a first pinch input (e.g., a pinch input or a long pinch input), releases the first pinch input (e.g., breaks contact between the two or more fingers), and performs a second pinch input within a predefined time period (e.g., within 1 second or within 2 seconds) after releasing the first pinch input.
In some embodiments, a pinch and drag gesture that is an air gesture includes a pinch gesture (e.g., a pinch gesture or a long pinch gesture) performed in conjunction with (e.g., followed by) a drag input that changes a position of the user's hand from a first position (e.g., a start position of the drag) to a second position (e.g., an end position of the drag). In some embodiments, the user maintains the pinch gesture while performing the drag input, and releases the pinch gesture (e.g., opens their two or more fingers) to end the drag gesture (e.g., at the second position). In some embodiments, the pinch input and the drag input are performed by the same hand (e.g., the user pinches two or more fingers to make contact with one another and moves the same hand to the second position in the air with the drag gesture). In some embodiments, the pinch input is performed by a first hand of the user and the drag input is performed by the second hand of the user (e.g., the user's second hand moves from the first position to the second position in the air while the user continues the pinch input with the user's first hand). In some embodiments, an input gesture that is an air gesture includes inputs (e.g., pinch and/or tap inputs) performed using both of the user's two hands. For example, the input gesture includes two (e.g., or more) pinch inputs performed in conjunction with (e.g., concurrently with, or within a predefined time period of) each other. For example, a first pinch gesture performed using a first hand of the user (e.g., a pinch input, a long pinch input, or a pinch and drag input), and, in conjunction with performing the pinch input using the first hand, performing a second pinch input using the other hand (e.g., the second hand of the user's two hands).
In some embodiments, a tap input (e.g., directed to a user interface element) performed as an air gesture includes movement of a user's finger(s) toward the user interface element, movement of the user's hand toward the user interface element optionally with the user's finger(s) extended toward the user interface element, a downward motion of a user's finger (e.g., mimicking a mouse click motion or a tap on a touchscreen), or other predefined movement of the user's hand. In some embodiments a tap input that is performed as an air gesture is detected based on movement characteristics of the finger or hand performing the tap gesture movement of a finger or hand away from the viewpoint of the user and/or toward an object that is the target of the tap input followed by an end of the movement. In some embodiments the end of the movement is detected based on a change in movement characteristics of the finger or hand performing the tap gesture (e.g., an end of movement away from the viewpoint of the user and/or toward the object that is the target of the tap input, a reversal of direction of movement of the finger or hand, and/or a reversal of a direction of acceleration of movement of the finger or hand).
In some embodiments, attention of a user is determined to be directed to a portion of the three-dimensional environment based on detection of gaze directed to the portion of the three-dimensional environment (optionally, without requiring other conditions). In some embodiments, attention of a user is determined to be directed to a portion of the three-dimensional environment based on detection of gaze directed to the portion of the three-dimensional environment with one or more additional conditions such as requiring that gaze is directed to the portion of the three-dimensional environment for at least a threshold duration (e.g., a dwell duration) and/or requiring that the gaze is directed to the portion of the three-dimensional environment while the viewpoint of the user is within a distance threshold from the portion of the three-dimensional environment in order for the device to determine that attention of the user is directed to the portion of the three-dimensional environment, where if one of the additional conditions is not met, the device determines that attention is not directed to the portion of the three-dimensional environment toward which gaze is directed (e.g., until the one or more additional conditions are met).
In some embodiments, the detection of a ready state configuration of a user or a portion of a user is detected by the computer system. Detection of a ready state configuration of a hand is used by a computer system as an indication that the user is likely preparing to interact with the computer system using one or more air gesture inputs performed by the hand (e.g., a pinch, tap, pinch and drag, double pinch, long pinch, or other air gesture described herein). For example, the ready state of the hand is determined based on whether the hand has a predetermined hand shape (e.g., a pre-pinch shape with a thumb and one or more fingers extended and spaced apart ready to make a pinch or grab gesture or a pre-tap with one or more fingers extended and palm facing away from the user), based on whether the hand is in a predetermined position relative to a viewpoint of the user (e.g., below the user's head and above the user's waist and extended out from the body by at least 15, 20, 25, 30, or 50 cm), and/or based on whether the hand has moved in a particular manner (e.g., moved toward a region in front of the user above the user's waist and below the user's head or moved away from the user's body or leg). In some embodiments, the ready state is used to determine whether interactive elements of the user interface respond to attention (e.g., gaze) inputs.
In scenarios where inputs are described with reference to air gestures, it should be understood that similar gestures could be detected using a hardware input device that is attached to or held by one or more hands of a user, where the position of the hardware input device in space can be tracked using optical tracking, one or more accelerometers, one or more gyroscopes, one or more magnetometers, and/or one or more inertial measurement units and the position and/or movement of the hardware input device is used in place of the position and/or movement of the one or more hands in the corresponding air gesture(s). In scenarios where inputs are described with reference to air gestures, it should be understood that similar gestures could be detected using a hardware input device that is attached to or held by one or more hands of a user, user inputs can be detected with controls contained in the hardware input device such as one or more touch-sensitive input elements, one or more pressure-sensitive input elements, one or more buttons, one or more knobs, one or more dials, one or more joysticks, one or more hand or finger coverings that can detect a position or change in position of portions of a hand and/or fingers relative to each other, relative to the user's body, and/or relative to a physical environment of the user, and/or other hardware input device controls, wherein the user inputs with the controls contained in the hardware input device are used in place of hand and/or finger gestures such as air taps or air pinches in the corresponding air gesture(s). For example, a selection input that is described as being performed with an air tap or air pinch input could be alternatively detected with a button press, a tap on a touch-sensitive surface, a press on a pressure-sensitive surface, or other hardware input. As another example, a movement input that is described as being performed with an air pinch and drag could be alternatively detected based on an interaction with the hardware input control such as a button press and hold, a touch on a touch-sensitive surface, a press on a pressure-sensitive surface, or other hardware input that is followed by movement of the hardware input device (e.g., along with the hand with which the hardware input device is associated) through space. Similarly, a two-handed input that includes movement of the hands relative to each other could be performed with one air gesture and one hardware input device in the hand that is not performing the air gesture, two hardware input devices held in different hands, or two air gestures performed by different hands using various combinations of air gestures and/or the inputs detected by one or more hardware input devices that are described above.
In some embodiments, the software may be downloaded to the controller 110 in electronic form, over a network, for example, or it may alternatively be provided on tangible, non-transitory media, such as optical, magnetic, or electronic memory media. In some embodiments, the database 408 is likewise stored in a memory associated with the controller 110. Alternatively or additionally, some or all of the described functions of the computer may be implemented in dedicated hardware, such as a custom or semi-custom integrated circuit or a programmable digital signal processor (DSP). Although the controller 110 is shown in FIG. 4, by way of example, as a separate unit from the image sensors 404, some or all of the processing functions of the controller may be performed by a suitable microprocessor and software or by dedicated circuitry within the housing of the image sensors 404 (e.g., a hand tracking device) or otherwise associated with the image sensors 404. In some embodiments, at least some of these processing functions may be carried out by a suitable processor that is integrated with the display generation component 120 (e.g., in a television set, a handheld device, or head-mounted device, for example) or with any other suitable computerized device, such as a game console or media player. The sensing functions of image sensors 404 may likewise be integrated into the computer or other computerized apparatus that is to be controlled by the sensor output.
FIG. 4 further includes a schematic representation of a depth map 410 captured by the image sensors 404, in some embodiments. The depth map, as explained above, comprises a matrix of pixels having respective depth values. The pixels 412 corresponding to the hand 406 have been segmented out from the background and the wrist in this map. The brightness of each pixel within the depth map 410 corresponds inversely to its depth value, i.e., the measured z distance from the image sensors 404, with the shade of gray growing darker with increasing depth. The controller 110 processes these depth values in order to identify and segment a component of the image (i.e., a group of neighboring pixels) having characteristics of a human hand. These characteristics, may include, for example, overall size, shape and motion from frame to frame of the sequence of depth maps.
FIG. 4 also schematically illustrates a hand skeleton 414 that controller 110 ultimately extracts from the depth map 410 of the hand 406, in some embodiments. In FIG. 4, the hand skeleton 414 is superimposed on a hand background 416 that has been segmented from the original depth map. In some embodiments, key feature points of the hand (e.g., points corresponding to knuckles, finger tips, center of the palm, end of the hand connecting to wrist, etc.) and optionally on the wrist or arm connected to the hand are identified and located on the hand skeleton 414. In some embodiments, location and movements of these key feature points over multiple image frames are used by the controller 110 to determine the hand gestures performed by the hand or the current state of the hand, in some embodiments.
FIG. 5 illustrates an example embodiment of the eye tracking device 130 (FIG. 1A). In some embodiments, the eye tracking device 130 is controlled by the eye tracking unit 243 (FIG. 2) to track the position and movement of the user's gaze with respect to the scene 105 or with respect to the XR content displayed via the display generation component 120. In some embodiments, the eye tracking device 130 is integrated with the display generation component 120. For example, in some embodiments, when the display generation component 120 is a head-mounted device such as headset, helmet, goggles, or glasses, or a handheld device placed in a wearable frame, the head-mounted device includes both a component that generates the XR content for viewing by the user and a component for tracking the gaze of the user relative to the XR content. In some embodiments, the eye tracking device 130 is separate from the display generation component 120. For example, when display generation component is a handheld device or a XR chamber, the eye tracking device 130 is optionally a separate device from the handheld device or XR chamber. In some embodiments, the eye tracking device 130 is a head-mounted device or part of a head-mounted device. In some embodiments, the head-mounted eye-tracking device 130 is optionally used in conjunction with a display generation component that is also head-mounted, or a display generation component that is not head-mounted. In some embodiments, the eye tracking device 130 is not a head-mounted device, and is optionally used in conjunction with a head-mounted display generation component. In some embodiments, the eye tracking device 130 is not a head-mounted device, and is optionally part of a non-head-mounted display generation component.
In some embodiments, the display generation component 120 uses a display mechanism (e.g., left and right near-eye display panels) for displaying frames including left and right images in front of a user's eyes to thus provide 3D virtual views to the user. For example, a head-mounted display generation component may include left and right optical lenses (referred to herein as eye lenses) located between the display and the user's eyes. In some embodiments, the display generation component may include or be coupled to one or more external video cameras that capture video of the user's environment for display. In some embodiments, a head-mounted display generation component may have a transparent or semi-transparent display through which a user may view the physical environment directly and display virtual objects on the transparent or semi-transparent display. In some embodiments, display generation component projects virtual objects into the physical environment. The virtual objects may be projected, for example, on a physical surface or as a holograph, so that an individual, using the system, observes the virtual objects superimposed over the physical environment. In such cases, separate display panels and image frames for the left and right eyes may not be necessary.
As shown in FIG. 5, in some embodiments, eye tracking device 130 (e.g., a gaze tracking device) includes at least one eye tracking camera (e.g., infrared (IR) or near-IR (NIR) cameras), and illumination sources (e.g., IR or NIR light sources such as an array or ring of LEDs) that emit light (e.g., IR or NIR light) towards the user's eyes. The eye tracking cameras may be pointed towards the user's eyes to receive reflected IR or NIR light from the light sources directly from the eyes, or alternatively may be pointed towards “hot” mirrors located between the user's eyes and the display panels that reflect IR or NIR light from the eyes to the eye tracking cameras while allowing visible light to pass. The eye tracking device 130 optionally captures images of the user's eyes (e.g., as a video stream captured at 60-120 frames per second (fps)), analyze the images to generate gaze tracking information, and communicate the gaze tracking information to the controller 110. In some embodiments, two eyes of the user are separately tracked by respective eye tracking cameras and illumination sources. In some embodiments, only one eye of the user is tracked by a respective eye tracking camera and illumination sources.
In some embodiments, the eye tracking device 130 is calibrated using a device-specific calibration process to determine parameters of the eye tracking device for the specific operating environment 100, for example the 3D geometric relationship and parameters of the LEDs, cameras, hot mirrors (if present), eye lenses, and display screen. The device-specific calibration process may be performed at the factory or another facility prior to delivery of the AR/VR equipment to the end user. The device-specific calibration process may be an automated calibration process or a manual calibration process. A user-specific calibration process may include an estimation of a specific user's eye parameters, for example the pupil location, fovea location, optical axis, visual axis, eye spacing, etc. Once the device-specific and user-specific parameters are determined for the eye tracking device 130, images captured by the eye tracking cameras can be processed using a glint-assisted method to determine the current visual axis and point of gaze of the user with respect to the display, in some embodiments.
As shown in FIG. 5, the eye tracking device 130 (e.g., 130A or 130B) includes eye lens(es) 520, and a gaze tracking system that includes at least one eye tracking camera 540 (e.g., infrared (IR) or near-IR (NIR) cameras) positioned on a side of the user's face for which eye tracking is performed, and an illumination source 530 (e.g., IR or NIR light sources such as an array or ring of NIR light-emitting diodes (LEDs)) that emit light (e.g., IR or NIR light) towards the user's eye(s) 592. The eye tracking cameras 540 may be pointed towards mirrors 550 located between the user's eye(s) 592 and a display 510 (e.g., a left or right display panel of a head-mounted display, or a display of a handheld device, a projector, etc.) that reflect IR or NIR light from the eye(s) 592 while allowing visible light to pass (e.g., as shown in the top portion of FIG. 5), or alternatively may be pointed towards the user's eye(s) 592 to receive reflected IR or NIR light from the eye(s) 592 (e.g., as shown in the bottom portion of FIG. 5).
In some embodiments, the controller 110 renders AR or VR frames 562 (e.g., left and right frames for left and right display panels) and provides the frames 562 to the display 510. The controller 110 uses gaze tracking input 542 from the eye tracking cameras 540 for various purposes, for example in processing the frames 562 for display. The controller 110 optionally estimates the user's point of gaze on the display 510 based on the gaze tracking input 542 obtained from the eye tracking cameras 540 using the glint-assisted methods or other suitable methods. The point of gaze estimated from the gaze tracking input 542 is optionally used to determine the direction in which the user is currently looking.
The following describes several possible use cases for the user's current gaze direction, and is not intended to be limiting. As an example use case, the controller 110 may render virtual content differently based on the determined direction of the user's gaze. For example, the controller 110 may generate virtual content at a higher resolution in a foveal region determined from the user's current gaze direction than in peripheral regions. As another example, the controller may position or move virtual content in the view based at least in part on the user's current gaze direction. As another example, the controller may display particular virtual content in the view based at least in part on the user's current gaze direction. As another example use case in AR applications, the controller 110 may direct external cameras for capturing the physical environments of the XR experience to focus in the determined direction. The autofocus mechanism of the external cameras may then focus on an object or surface in the environment that the user is currently looking at on the display 510. As another example use case, the eye lenses 520 may be focusable lenses, and the gaze tracking information is used by the controller to adjust the focus of the eye lenses 520 so that the virtual object that the user is currently looking at has the proper vergence to match the convergence of the user's eyes 592. The controller 110 may leverage the gaze tracking information to direct the eye lenses 520 to adjust focus so that close objects that the user is looking at appear at the right distance.
In some embodiments, the eye tracking device is part of a head-mounted device that includes a display (e.g., display 510), two eye lenses (e.g., eye lens(es) 520), eye tracking cameras (e.g., eye tracking camera(s) 540), and light sources (e.g., illumination sources 530 (e.g., IR or NIR LEDs)), mounted in a wearable housing. The light sources emit light (e.g., IR or NIR light) towards the user's eye(s) 592. In some embodiments, the light sources may be arranged in rings or circles around each of the lenses as shown in FIG. 5. In some embodiments, eight illumination sources 530 (e.g., LEDs) are arranged around each lens 520 as an example. However, more or fewer illumination sources 530 may be used, and other arrangements and locations of illumination sources 530 may be used.
In some embodiments, the display 510 emits light in the visible light range and does not emit light in the IR or NIR range, and thus does not introduce noise in the gaze tracking system. Note that the location and angle of eye tracking camera(s) 540 is given by way of example, and is not intended to be limiting. In some embodiments, a single eye tracking camera 540 is located on each side of the user's face. In some embodiments, two or more NIR cameras 540 may be used on each side of the user's face. In some embodiments, a camera 540 with a wider field of view (FOV) and a camera 540 with a narrower FOV may be used on each side of the user's face. In some embodiments, a camera 540 that operates at one wavelength (e.g., 850 nm) and a camera 540 that operates at a different wavelength (e.g., 940 nm) may be used on each side of the user's face.
Embodiments of the gaze tracking system as illustrated in FIG. 5 may, for example, be used in computer-generated reality, virtual reality, and/or mixed reality applications to provide computer-generated reality, virtual reality, augmented reality, and/or augmented virtuality experiences to the user.
FIG. 6 illustrates a glint-assisted gaze tracking pipeline, in some embodiments. In some embodiments, the gaze tracking pipeline is implemented by a glint-assisted gaze tracking system (e.g., eye tracking device 130 as illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 5). The glint-assisted gaze tracking system may maintain a tracking state. Initially, the tracking state is off or “NO”. When in the tracking state, the glint-assisted gaze tracking system uses prior information from the previous frame when analyzing the current frame to track the pupil contour and glints in the current frame. When not in the tracking state, the glint-assisted gaze tracking system attempts to detect the pupil and glints in the current frame and, if successful, initializes the tracking state to “YES” and continues with the next frame in the tracking state.
As shown in FIG. 6, the gaze tracking cameras may capture left and right images of the user's left and right eyes. The captured images are then input to a gaze tracking pipeline for processing beginning at 610. As indicated by the arrow returning to element 600, the gaze tracking system may continue to capture images of the user's eyes, for example at a rate of 60 to 120 frames per second. In some embodiments, each set of captured images may be input to the pipeline for processing. However, in some embodiments or under some conditions, not all captured frames are processed by the pipeline.
At 610, for the current captured images, if the tracking state is YES, then the method proceeds to element 640. At 610, if the tracking state is NO, then as indicated at 620 the images are analyzed to detect the user's pupils and glints in the images. At 630, if the pupils and glints are successfully detected, then the method proceeds to element 640. Otherwise, the method returns to element 610 to process next images of the user's eyes.
At 640, if proceeding from element 610, the current frames are analyzed to track the pupils and glints based in part on prior information from the previous frames. At 640, if proceeding from element 630, the tracking state is initialized based on the detected pupils and glints in the current frames. Results of processing at element 640 are checked to verify that the results of tracking or detection can be trusted. For example, results may be checked to determine if the pupil and a sufficient number of glints to perform gaze estimation are successfully tracked or detected in the current frames. At 650, if the results cannot be trusted, then the tracking state is set to NO at element 660, and the method returns to element 610 to process next images of the user's eyes. At 650, if the results are trusted, then the method proceeds to element 670. At 670, the tracking state is set to YES (if not already YES), and the pupil and glint information is passed to element 680 to estimate the user's point of gaze.
FIG. 6 is intended to serve as one example of eye tracking technology that may be used in a particular implementation. As recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art, other eye tracking technologies that currently exist or are developed in the future may be used in place of or in combination with the glint-assisted eye tracking technology describe herein in the computer system 101 for providing XR experiences to users, in some embodiments.
In some embodiments, the captured portions of real world environment 602 are used to provide a XR experience to the user, for example, a mixed reality environment in which one or more virtual objects are superimposed over representations of real world environment 602.
Thus, the description herein describes some embodiments of three-dimensional environments (e.g., XR environments) that include representations of real world objects and representations of virtual objects. For example, a three-dimensional environment optionally includes a representation of a table that exists in the physical environment, which is captured and displayed in the three-dimensional environment (e.g., actively via cameras and displays of a computer system, or passively via a transparent or translucent display of the computer system). As described previously, the three-dimensional environment is optionally a mixed reality system in which the three-dimensional environment is based on the physical environment that is captured by one or more sensors of the computer system and displayed via a display generation component. As a mixed reality system, the computer system is optionally able to selectively display portions and/or objects of the physical environment such that the respective portions and/or objects of the physical environment appear as if they exist in the three-dimensional environment displayed by the computer system. Similarly, the computer system is optionally able to display virtual objects in the three-dimensional environment to appear as if the virtual objects exist in the real world (e.g., physical environment) by placing the virtual objects at respective locations in the three-dimensional environment that have corresponding locations in the real world. For example, the computer system optionally displays a vase such that it appears as if a real vase is placed on top of a table in the physical environment. In some embodiments, a respective location in the three-dimensional environment has a corresponding location in the physical environment. Thus, when the computer system is described as displaying a virtual object at a respective location with respect to a physical object (e.g., such as a location at or near the hand of the user, or at or near a physical table), the computer system displays the virtual object at a particular location in the three-dimensional environment such that it appears as if the virtual object is at or near the physical object in the physical world (e.g., the virtual object is displayed at a location in the three-dimensional environment that corresponds to a location in the physical environment at which the virtual object would be displayed if it were a real object at that particular location).
In some embodiments, real world objects that exist in the physical environment that are displayed in the three-dimensional environment (e.g., and/or visible via the display generation component) can interact with virtual objects that exist only in the three-dimensional environment. For example, a three-dimensional environment can include a table and a vase placed on top of the table, with the table being a view of (or a representation of) a physical table in the physical environment, and the vase being a virtual object.
In a three-dimensional environment (e.g., a real environment, a virtual environment, or an environment that includes a mix of real and virtual objects), objects are sometimes referred to as having a depth or simulated depth, or objects are referred to as being visible, displayed, or placed at different depths. In this context, depth refers to a dimension other than height or width. In some embodiments, depth is defined relative to a fixed set of coordinates (e.g., where a room or an object has a height, depth, and width defined relative to the fixed set of coordinates). In some embodiments, depth is defined relative to a location or viewpoint of a user, in which case, the depth dimension varies based on the location of the user and/or the location and angle of the viewpoint of the user. In some embodiments where depth is defined relative to a location of a user that is positioned relative to a surface of an environment (e.g., a floor of an environment, or a surface of the ground), objects that are further away from the user along a line that extends parallel to the surface are considered to have a greater depth in the environment, and/or the depth of an object is measured along an axis that extends outward from a location of the user and is parallel to the surface of the environment (e.g., depth is defined in a cylindrical or substantially cylindrical coordinate system with the position of the user at the center of the cylinder that extends from a head of the user toward feet of the user). In some embodiments where depth is defined relative to viewpoint of a user (e.g., a direction relative to a point in space that determines which portion of an environment that is visible via a head mounted device or other display), objects that are further away from the viewpoint of the user along a line that extends parallel to the direction of the viewpoint of the user are considered to have a greater depth in the environment, and/or the depth of an object is measured along an axis that extends outward from a line that extends from the viewpoint of the user and is parallel to the direction of the viewpoint of the user (e.g., depth is defined in a spherical or substantially spherical coordinate system with the origin of the viewpoint at the center of the sphere that extends outwardly from a head of the user). In some embodiments, depth is defined relative to a user interface container (e.g., a window or application in which application and/or system content is displayed) where the user interface container has a height and/or width, and depth is a dimension that is orthogonal to the height and/or width of the user interface container. In some embodiments, in circumstances where depth is defined relative to a user interface container, the height and or width of the container are typically orthogonal or substantially orthogonal to a line that extends from a location based on the user (e.g., a viewpoint of the user or a location of the user) to the user interface container (e.g., the center of the user interface container, or another characteristic point of the user interface container) when the container is placed in the three-dimensional environment or is initially displayed (e.g., so that the depth dimension for the container extends outward away from the user or the viewpoint of the user). In some embodiments, in situations where depth is defined relative to a user interface container, depth of an object relative to the user interface container refers to a position of the object along the depth dimension for the user interface container. In some embodiments, multiple different containers can have different depth dimensions (e.g., different depth dimensions that extend away from the user or the viewpoint of the user in different directions and/or from different starting points). In some embodiments, when depth is defined relative to a user interface container, the direction of the depth dimension remains constant for the user interface container as the location of the user interface container, the user and/or the viewpoint of the user changes (e.g., or when multiple different viewers are viewing the same container in the three-dimensional environment such as during an in-person collaboration session and/or when multiple participants are in a real-time communication session with shared virtual content including the container). In some embodiments, for curved containers (e.g., including a container with a curved surface or curved content region), the depth dimension optionally extends into a surface of the curved container. In some situations, z-separation (e.g., separation of two objects in a depth dimension), z-height (e.g., distance of one object from another in a depth dimension), z-position (e.g., position of one object in a depth dimension), z-depth (e.g., position of one object in a depth dimension), or simulated z dimension (e.g., depth used as a dimension of an object, dimension of an environment, a direction in space, and/or a direction in simulated space) are used to refer to the concept of depth as described above.
In some embodiments, a user is optionally able to interact with virtual objects in the three-dimensional environment using one or more hands as if the virtual objects were real objects in the physical environment. For example, as described above, one or more sensors of the computer system optionally capture one or more of the hands of the user and display representations of the hands of the user in the three-dimensional environment (e.g., in a manner similar to displaying a real world object in three-dimensional environment described above), or in some embodiments, the hands of the user are visible via the display generation component via the ability to see the physical environment through the user interface due to the transparency/translucency of a portion of the display generation component that is displaying the user interface or due to projection of the user interface onto a transparent/translucent surface or projection of the user interface onto the user's eye or into a field of view of the user's eye. Thus, in some embodiments, the hands of the user are displayed at a respective location in the three-dimensional environment and are treated as if they were objects in the three-dimensional environment that are able to interact with the virtual objects in the three-dimensional environment as if they were physical objects in the physical environment. In some embodiments, the computer system is able to update display of the representations of the user's hands in the three-dimensional environment in conjunction with the movement of the user's hands in the physical environment.
In some of the embodiments described below, the computer system is optionally able to determine the “effective” distance between physical objects in the physical world and virtual objects in the three-dimensional environment, for example, for the purpose of determining whether a physical object is directly interacting with a virtual object (e.g., whether a hand is touching, grabbing, holding, etc. a virtual object or within a threshold distance of a virtual object). For example, a hand directly interacting with a virtual object optionally includes one or more of a finger of a hand pressing a virtual button, a hand of a user grabbing a virtual vase, two fingers of a hand of the user coming together and pinching/holding a user interface of an application, and any of the other types of interactions described here. For example, the computer system optionally determines the distance between the hands of the user and virtual objects when determining whether the user is interacting with virtual objects and/or how the user is interacting with virtual objects. In some embodiments, the computer system determines the distance between the hands of the user and a virtual object by determining the distance between the location of the hands in the three-dimensional environment and the location of the virtual object of interest in the three-dimensional environment. For example, the one or more hands of the user are located at a particular position in the physical world, which the computer system optionally captures and displays at a particular corresponding position in the three-dimensional environment (e.g., the position in the three-dimensional environment at which the hands would be displayed if the hands were virtual, rather than physical, hands). The position of the hands in the three-dimensional environment is optionally compared with the position of the virtual object of interest in the three-dimensional environment to determine the distance between the one or more hands of the user and the virtual object. In some embodiments, the computer system optionally determines a distance between a physical object and a virtual object by comparing positions in the physical world (e.g., as opposed to comparing positions in the three-dimensional environment). For example, when determining the distance between one or more hands of the user and a virtual object, the computer system optionally determines the corresponding location in the physical world of the virtual object (e.g., the position at which the virtual object would be located in the physical world if it were a physical object rather than a virtual object), and then determines the distance between the corresponding physical position and the one of more hands of the user. In some embodiments, the same techniques are optionally used to determine the distance between any physical object and any virtual object. Thus, as described herein, when determining whether a physical object is in contact with a virtual object or whether a physical object is within a threshold distance of a virtual object, the computer system optionally performs any of the techniques described above to map the location of the physical object to the three-dimensional environment and/or map the location of the virtual object to the physical environment.
In some embodiments, the same or similar technique is used to determine where and what the gaze of the user is directed to and/or where and at what a physical stylus held by a user is pointed. For example, if the gaze of the user is directed to a particular position in the physical environment, the computer system optionally determines the corresponding position in the three-dimensional environment (e.g., the virtual position of the gaze), and if a virtual object is located at that corresponding virtual position, the computer system optionally determines that the gaze of the user is directed to that virtual object. Similarly, the computer system is optionally able to determine, based on the orientation of a physical stylus, to where in the physical environment the stylus is pointing. In some embodiments, based on this determination, the computer system determines the corresponding virtual position in the three-dimensional environment that corresponds to the location in the physical environment to which the stylus is pointing, and optionally determines that the stylus is pointing at the corresponding virtual position in the three-dimensional environment.
Similarly, the embodiments described herein may refer to the location of the user (e.g., the user of the computer system) and/or the location of the computer system in the three-dimensional environment. In some embodiments, the user of the computer system is holding, wearing, or otherwise located at or near the computer system. Thus, in some embodiments, the location of the computer system is used as a proxy for the location of the user. In some embodiments, the location of the computer system and/or user in the physical environment corresponds to a respective location in the three-dimensional environment. For example, the location of the computer system would be the location in the physical environment (and its corresponding location in the three-dimensional environment) from which, if a user were to stand at that location facing a respective portion of the physical environment that is visible via the display generation component, the user would see the objects in the physical environment in the same positions, orientations, and/or sizes as they are displayed by or visible via the display generation component of the computer system in the three-dimensional environment (e.g., in absolute terms and/or relative to each other). Similarly, if the virtual objects displayed in the three-dimensional environment were physical objects in the physical environment (e.g., placed at the same locations in the physical environment as they are in the three-dimensional environment, and having the same sizes and orientations in the physical environment as in the three-dimensional environment), the location of the computer system and/or user is the position from which the user would see the virtual objects in the physical environment in the same positions, orientations, and/or sizes as they are displayed by the display generation component of the computer system in the three-dimensional environment (e.g., in absolute terms and/or relative to each other and the real world objects).
In the present disclosure, various input methods are described with respect to interactions with a computer system. When an example is provided using one input device or input method and another example is provided using another input device or input method, it is to be understood that each example may be compatible with and optionally utilizes the input device or input method described with respect to another example. Similarly, various output methods are described with respect to interactions with a computer system. When an example is provided using one output device or output method and another example is provided using another output device or output method, it is to be understood that each example may be compatible with and optionally utilizes the output device or output method described with respect to another example. Similarly, various methods are described with respect to interactions with a virtual environment or a mixed reality environment through a computer system. When an example is provided using interactions with a virtual environment and another example is provided using mixed reality environment, it is to be understood that each example may be compatible with and optionally utilizes the methods described with respect to another example. As such, the present disclosure discloses embodiments that are combinations of the features of multiple examples, without exhaustively listing all features of an embodiment in the description of each example embodiment.
User Interfaces and Associated Processes
Attention is now directed towards embodiments of user interfaces (“UI”) and associated processes that may be implemented on a computer system, such as a portable multifunction device or a head-mounted device, in communication with a display generation component, one or more input devices, and (optionally) one or cameras.
FIGS. 7A-7M illustrate examples of techniques and user interfaces for interacting with virtual objects using gaze. FIG. 8 is a flow diagram of an exemplary method 800 for interacting with virtual objects using gaze. The user interfaces in FIGS. 7A-7M are used to illustrate the processes described below, including the processes in FIG. 8. In some embodiments, the user interfaces described in FIGS. 7A-7M are displayed on a head-mounted device and a user provides inputs (e.g., to interact with virtual objects as described below) using gaze, air gestures, voice commands, and/or inputs on a remote control.
FIG. 7A illustrates computer system 700 displaying, via display 702, background 704. In some embodiments, computer system 700 is a head-mounted device. In some embodiments, any of the features, components, and/or parts, including the arrangements and configurations thereof shown in FIGS. 1B-1P can be included, either alone or in any combination, in computer system 700. In some embodiments, display 702 includes a transparent or translucent display through which user 706 may directly view physical environment 708 in which user 706 is positioned. In some embodiments, computer system 700 is configured to present virtual objects on the transparent or translucent display, so that user 706 perceives the virtual objects superimposed over physical environment 708. In some embodiments, background 704 is physical environment 708 in which user 706 is located. In some embodiments, background 704 is a representation of physical environment 708 in which user 706 is located (e.g., when display 702 is opaque instead of transparent or translucent).
At FIG. 7A, computer system 700 receives information indicative of a gaze of user 706. In some embodiments, computer system 700 includes one or more sensors and/or cameras that track movement of eyes of user 706 as user 706 wears computer system 700 on their head (e.g., display 702 of computer system 700 is positioned in front of the eyes of user 706 when computer system 700 is worn on the head of user 706). Accordingly, computer system 700 can determine and/or estimate a position on display 702 and/or a position within physical environment 708 at which user 706 is looking and/or otherwise has their eyes directed toward. At FIG. 7A, computer system 700 displays, via display 702, gaze indicator 710 at a first location relative to display 702 indicating a position and/or direction of the gaze of user 706. In some embodiments, gaze indicator 710 is not displayed via display 702 of computer system 700. In some embodiments, gaze indicator 710 is displayed at one or more portions of display 702 that are associated with controls and/or functions of computer system 700 (e.g., gaze indicator is clamped to one or more portions of display 702). For instance, in some embodiments, gaze indicator 710 is displayed at one or more first portions of display 702 that include user interface objects and/or display regions configured to cause computer system 700 to perform an operation in response to user input (e.g., a gaze input), but gaze indicator 710 is not displayed at one or more second portions of display 702 that do not include user interface objects and/or display regions configured to cause computer system 700 to perform an operation in response to user input (e.g., a gaze input).
At FIG. 7A, gaze indicator 710 indicates that the gaze of user 706 is directed to a first location on display 702 that is not associated with causing computer system 700 to perform an operation. Accordingly, computer system 700 does not display user interface objects that, when selected via user input (e.g., a gaze input), cause computer system 700 to perform an operation. Instead, at FIG. 7A, computer system 700 maintains display of background 704 without displaying any additional visual elements and/or user interface objects (e.g., on display 702 and/or overlaid on background 704).
At FIG. 7B, computer system 700 receives information, such as information from one or more sensors, indicating that the gaze of user 706 has moved to a second location relative to display 702. For instance, at FIG. 7B, gaze indicator 710 is displayed at a second location that is closer to a center of display 702 when compared to the first location of gaze indicator 710 shown at FIG. 7A. Based on the information indicating the position and/or direction of the gaze of user 706, computer system 700 determines that the second location of display 702 is associated with causing computer system 700 to perform an operation. At FIG. 7B, computer system 700 displays gaze target 712 in accordance with the determination that the second location of display 702 is associated with causing computer system 700 to perform an operation.
At FIG. 7B, computer system 700 continues to receive information indicating that the gaze of user 706 is directed to the second position and/or a position corresponding to gaze target 712. In some embodiments, computer system 700 performs an operation when the gaze of user 706 is directed to gaze target 712 for a predetermined amount of time, such as a tenth of a second, two-tenths of a second, three-tenths of a second, half a second, or one second. In response to determining that the gaze of user 706 is directed to gaze target 712 and/or directed to gaze target 712 for the predetermined amount of time, computer system 700 displays user interface 714, as shown at FIG. 7C.
At FIG. 7C, user interface 714 includes first content 716, first gaze target 718, and second gaze target 720. First content 716 is displayed at a first size to include information associated with an application of computer system 700, such as a maps application. In some embodiments, first content 716 is associated with an application of computer system 700 that was last accessed and/or most recently used by user 706 of computer system 700. As such, computer system 700 displays first content 716 in response to detecting the gaze of user directed to gaze target 712. In some embodiments, first content 716 is associated with a default application and/or a home screen that is displayed in response to detecting the gaze of user directed to gaze target 712. At FIG. 7C, first content 716 is displayed at the first size to indicate that an application and/or content item associated with first content 716 is activated within a list of content items. As such, first content 716 can be interacted with via user inputs. As shown at FIG. 7C, first content 716 is displaying navigation information associated with a bike route. In some embodiments, computer system 700 pauses navigational instructions in response to receiving information indicating that the gaze of user 706 is directed to user interface object 716a of first content 716.
First gaze target 718 is displayed at a second size, smaller than the first size, and does not include information associated with an application of computer system 700. In some embodiments, first gaze target 718 is displayed with an appearance, such as a color, that is indicative of information and/or a user interface of an application that is displayed when first gaze target 718 is activated, such as via the gaze of user 706. As set forth below, computer system 700 is configured to display second content associated with first gaze target 718 in response to receiving information indicating that the gaze of user 706 is directed to first gaze target 718 (e.g., directed to first gaze target 718 for a predetermined amount of time).
Second gaze target 720 is displayed at the second size, smaller than the first size, and does not include information associated with an application of computer system 700. In some embodiments, second gaze target 720 is displayed with an appearance, such as a color, that is indicative of information and/or a user interface of an application that is displayed when second gaze target 720 is activated, such as via the gaze of user 706. Computer system 700 is configured to display third content associated with second gaze target 720 in response to receiving information indicating that the gaze of user 706 is directed to second gaze target 720 (e.g., directed to second gaze target 720 for a predetermined amount of time).
At FIG. 7C, first gaze target 718 is displayed to the left of first content 716 and second gaze target 720 is displayed to the right of first content 716. As set forth in detail below with reference to FIGS. 7K-7M, user interface 714 includes multiple gaze targets when the activated content is within a middle of a list of content items. For instance, at FIG. 7C, first content 716 is associated with a content item of a list of content items that is not at the beginning or end of the content item list. As such, user interface 714 includes first gaze target 718 and second gaze target 720 to indicate that the list of content items can be scrolled in either direction to access additional content, functions, operations, information, and/or applications.
At FIG. 7C, computer system 700 receives information indicating that the gaze of user 706 is directed to first gaze target 718, as illustrated by gaze indicator 710. Based on receiving the information indicating that the gaze of user 706 is directed to first gaze target 718, computer system 700 displays a visual indication of a gaze dwell threshold, as shown at FIG. 7D. In some embodiments, computer system 700 forgoes display of and/or does not display the visual indication of the gaze dwell threshold.
At FIG. 7D, computer system 700 updates user interface 714 to include the visual indication of the gaze dwell threshold. The visual indication of the gaze dwell threshold provides guidance to user 706 to maintain their gaze at the position and/or in the direction of first gaze target 718 for a predetermined period of time to activate first gaze target 718. In some embodiments, computer system 700 does not perform a function, such as displaying content associated with first gaze target 718, until computer system 700 receives information indicating that the gaze of user 706 is maintained at first gaze target 718 for the predetermined period of time. In some embodiments, the predetermined period of time is a tenth of a second, two-tenths of a second, three-tenths of a second, half a second, or one second.
At FIG. 7D, the visual indication of the gaze dwell threshold includes changing an appearance of first gaze target 718, as indicated by first gaze target 718 being illustrated with a dashed line and a first shading. In some embodiments, computer system 700 displays first gaze target 718 as increasing in brightness, increasing in size, and/or moving over time as the visual indication of the gaze dwell threshold. As such, user 706 recognizes that their gaze should be maintained at first gaze target 718 to cause computer system 700 to perform an operation and/or function associated with first gaze target 718.
In addition to, or in lieu of, changing the appearance of first gaze target 718, the visual indication of the gaze dwell threshold includes adjusting an appearance of background 704. For instance, at FIG. 7D, background 704 is displayed with a second shading. In some embodiments, computer system 700 causes background 704 to dim and/or to decrease in brightness as the visual indication of the gaze dwell threshold. Therefore, computer system 700 provides guidance to user 706 to maintain their gaze at first gaze target 718 in order to cause computer system 700 to perform an operation and/or function. In some embodiments, computer system 700 performs an operation and/or function when the gaze of user 706 meets and/or satisfies the gaze dwell threshold to avoid inadvertently performing the operation and/or function when user 706 does not intend to cause computer system 700 to perform the operation and/or function. For instance, when user 706 temporarily glances at first gaze target 718, user 706 may not intend to activate first gaze target 718 and cause computer system 700 to perform the operation and/or function associated with first gaze target 718. Thus, computer system 700 does not perform the operation and/or function associated with first gaze target 718 until user 706 maintains their gaze at first gaze target 718 for a predetermined amount of time that satisfies the gaze dwell threshold.
In some embodiments, computer system 700 causes the visual indication of the gaze dwell threshold to reverse back to an original state when the gaze of user 706 is determined to meet and/or satisfy the gaze dwell threshold. For example, in some embodiments, computer system 700 changes the appearance of gaze target 718 from the appearance shown at FIG. 7D back to the appearance shown at FIG. 7C when the gaze of user 706 is determined to satisfy the gaze dwell threshold. In some embodiments, computer system 700 causes the appearance of background 704 to change from the appearance shown at FIG. 7D back to the appearance shown at FIG. 7C when the gaze of user 706 is determined to satisfy the gaze dwell threshold.
At FIG. 7E, computer system 700 determines that the gaze dwell threshold has been met and/or that the gaze of user 706 has been maintained directed to first gaze target 718 for a predetermined amount of time. Based on the determination that the gaze dwell threshold has been satisfied, computer system 700 initiates performance of an operation and/or function. For instance, at FIGS. 7E-7G, computer system 700 displays an animation of displaying second content 722 associated with first gaze target 718 and ceasing display of first content 716 based on the determination that the gaze dwell threshold has been met.
At FIG. 7E, computer system 700 displays a first frame of the animation of displaying second content 722 associated with first gaze target 718 and ceasing display of first content 716. For instance, at FIG. 7E, computer system 700 displays first content 716 at a size that is smaller when compared to the size of first content 716 illustrated in FIGS. 7B-7D. In addition, computer system 700 displays second content 722 at a first size that is smaller than the size of first content 716. In some embodiments, the animation including display of second content 722 includes causing first gaze target 718 to transition and/or transform into second content 722. In some embodiments, computer system 700 ceases display of second gaze target 720 based on the determination that the gaze dwell threshold with respect to first gaze target 718 has been satisfied. In some embodiments, computer system 700 gradually fades second gaze target 720 when computer system 700 initiates the animation of displaying second content 722 and ceasing display of first content 716. In some embodiments, second gaze target 720 is no longer displayed when computer system 700 ends the animation of displaying second content 722 and ceasing display of first content 716 (e.g., second content 722 is displayed and first content 716 is no longer displayed, such that the animation is completed).
At FIG. 7F, computer system 700 displays a second frame of the animation of displaying second content 722 associated with first gaze target 718 and ceasing display of first content 716. For instance, at FIG. 7F, computer system 700 displays first content 716 at a size that is smaller when compared to the size of first content 716 illustrated in FIGS. 7B-7D and a size that is smaller when compared to the size of first content 716 illustrated in FIG. 7E. In some embodiments, the animation including ceasing display of first content 716 includes causing first content 716 to transition and/or transform into third gaze target 724, as shown at FIG. 7G. In addition, computer system 700 displays second content 722 at a second size that is larger than the size of first content 716 and larger than the first size of second content 722 illustrated in FIG. 7E.
At FIG. 7G, the animation of displaying second content 722 associated with first gaze target 718 and ceasing display of first content 716 has ended. As set forth above, computer system 700 ceases display of first content 716 and displays third gaze target 724, where third gaze target 724 is associated with first content 716. For instance, in response to receiving information indicating that the gaze of user 706 is directed to third gaze target 724, computer system 700 displays user interface 714 including first content 716, as shown at FIG. 7B.
At FIG. 7G, computer system 722 displays second content 722 and third gaze target 724. Computer system 722 does not display an additional gaze target at the left side of second content 722 because second content 722 is at the end of the list of content items (e.g., second content 722 is the leftmost content item of the list of content items). In some embodiments, when content 722 is at the other end of the list (e.g., second content 722 is the rightmost content item of content items), computer system 722 displays third gaze target 724 at the left side of second content 722 and does not display an additional gaze target at the right side of second content 722. Second content 722 includes information associated with a music application. As shown at FIG. 7G, computer system 700 is causing audio associated with the music application to be output (e.g., via a speaker in communication with computer system 700 and/or an external speaker in communication with computer system 700), as indicated by pause user interface object 722a.
At FIG. 7G, computer system 700 receives information indicating that the gaze of user 706 is directed to pause user interface object 722a. In some embodiments, computer system 700 detects that the gaze of user 706 is directed to pause user interface object 722a for a predetermined amount of time that satisfies a gaze dwell threshold. In response to receiving the information indicating that the gaze of user 706 is directed to pause user interface object 722a, computer system 700 causes the audio associated with music application to pause, as shown at FIG. 7H.
At FIG. 7H, computer system 700 updates and/or changes an appearance of second content 722 to include play user interface object 722b indicating that the audio associated with music application has been paused. In some embodiments, computer system 700 changes the appearance of second content 722 to further indicate that the audio associated with music application has been paused. For instance, in some embodiments, computer system 700 causes a background of second content 722 to dim and/or decrease in brightness.
Computer system 700 is configured to cease display of user interface 714 in response to receiving information indicating that the gaze of user 706 is not directed to first content 716, second content 722, first gaze target 718, second gaze target 720, and/or third gaze target 724. At FIG. 7H, computer system 700 receives information indicating that the gaze of user 706 is directed to background 704. In some embodiments, computer system 700 does not cease display of user interface 714 until computer system 700 determines that the gaze of user 706 is not directed to user interface 714 (e.g., first content 716, second content 722, first gaze target 718, second gaze target 720, and/or third gaze target 724) for a predetermined amount of time that is associated with a gaze dwell threshold.
At FIG. 7I, computer system 700 no longer displays and/or ceases display of user interface 714 based on receiving the information indicating that the gaze of user 706 is directed to background 704 and/or away from user interface 714 (e.g., for a predetermined amount of time that satisfies a gaze threshold). Therefore, user 706 can quickly and easily cause computer system 700 to display and/or cease to display various content based on a location and/or direction at which user 706 is looking. At FIG. 7I, computer system 700 receives information indicating that the gaze of user 706 has moved and is directed to a location and/or in a direction indicated by gaze indicator 710. As set forth above with reference to FIG. 7A, the location and/or direction of the gaze of user 706 shown at FIG. 7I is not at a location and/or direction that is associated with causing computer system 700 to perform an operation. Accordingly, computer system 700 does not display user interface objects that, when selected via user input (e.g., a gaze input), cause computer system 700 to perform an operation.
At FIG. 7I, computer system 700 receives information indicating that the gaze of user 706 has moved from being directed to the location and/or direction shown at FIG. 7I to the location and/or direction shown at FIG. 7J.
At FIG. 7J, based on receiving the information indicating that the gaze of user 706 moved and in accordance with a determination that the location and/or direction shown at FIG. 7J is associated with causing computer system 700 to perform an operation, computer system 700 displays gaze target 712. At FIG. 7J, computer system 700 continues to receive information indicating that the gaze of user 706 is directed to a position and/or in a direction corresponding to gaze target 712. In some embodiments, computer system 700 performs an operation when the gaze of user 706 is directed to gaze target 712 for a predetermined amount of time, such as a tenth of a second, two-tenths of a second, three-tenths of a second, a half a second, or one second. In response to determining that the gaze of user 706 is directed to gaze target 712 and/or directed to gaze target 712 for the predetermined amount of time, computer system 700 displays user interface 714, as shown at FIG. 7K.
At FIG. 7K, computer system 700 displays user interface 714 (e.g., re-displays user interface 714), which includes second content 722 and third gaze target 724. Therefore, computer system 700 displays user interface 714 with the same content being displayed since the last time user interface 714 was displayed. For instance, at FIG. 7H, computer system 700 displays user interface 714 with second content 722 and third gaze target 724 before ceasing to display user interface 714 based on receiving information indicating that the gaze of user 706 is directed to background 704 and/or away from user interface 714. When computer system 700 receives information indicating that the gaze of user 706 requests to display user interface 714 again, computer system 700 re-displays user interface 714 with the last displayed content (e.g., second content 722). In some embodiments, computer system 700 displays user interface 714 with default content instead of including the last displayed content of user interface 714.
At FIG. 7K, computer system 700 receives information indicating that the gaze of user 706 is directed to third gaze target 724. In some embodiments, computer system 700 determines that the gaze of user 706 is maintained and/or continues to be directed to third gaze target 724 for a predetermined amount of time that satisfies a gaze dwell threshold. In some embodiments, computer system 700 displays the visual indication of the gaze dwell threshold based on receiving the information indicating that the gaze of user 706 is directed to third gaze target 724, as described above with reference to FIG. 7D. Based on receiving the information that the gaze of user 706 is directed to third gaze target 724 (and, optionally, based on a determination that the gaze of user 706 is maintained directed to third gaze target 724 for a predetermined amount of time that satisfies the gaze dwell threshold), computer system 700 displays first content 716 associated with third gaze target 724, as shown at FIG. 7L. In some embodiments, computer system 700 displays an animation where first content 716 is gradually displayed and second content 722 gradually ceases to be displayed, as described above with reference to FIGS. 7E-7G.
At FIG. 7L, computer system 700 displays user interface 714 including first content 716, first gaze target 718, and second gaze target 720. As set forth above, computer system 700 displays multiple gaze targets when the activated and/or displayed content is not at a terminus and/or end of a list of content items. For instance, at FIG. 7K, second content 722 is at the terminus and/or the end (e.g., a left-most end) of a list of content items, where the list of content items includes first content 716, second content 722, and third content 726 (e.g., shown at FIG. 7M). At FIG. 7K, because second content 722 is at the terminus and/or end of the list of content items, user interface 714 includes third gaze target 724 displayed to the right of second content 722, but user interface 714 does not include an additional gaze target to the left of second content 722. As such, computer system 700 provides a visual indication that second content 722 is at the terminus and/or end of the list of content items and that no additional content items are to the left of second content 722.
At FIG. 7L, user interface 714 includes first gaze target 718 associated with second content 722 displayed to the left of first content 716. In addition, user interface 714 includes second gaze target 720 associated with third content 726 (e.g., shown at FIG. 7M) displayed to the right of first content 716. Accordingly, computer system 700 provides a visual indication that first content 716 is in the middle of the list of content items and/or that additional content items can be access to either the right or the left of first content 716.
At FIG. 7L, computer system 700 receives information indicating that the gaze of user 706 is directed to second gaze target 720. In some embodiments, computer system 700 determines that the gaze of user 706 is maintained and/or continues to be directed to second gaze target 720 for a predetermined amount of time that satisfies a gaze dwell threshold. In some embodiments, computer system 700 displays the visual indication of the gaze dwell threshold based on receiving the information indicating that the gaze of user 706 is directed to second gaze target 720, as described above with reference to FIG. 7D. Based on receiving the information that the gaze of user 706 is directed to second gaze target 720 (and, optionally, based on a determination that the gaze of user 706 is maintained directed to second gaze target 720 for a predetermined amount of time that satisfies the gaze dwell threshold), computer system 700 displays third content 726 associated with second gaze target 720, as shown at FIG. 7M. In some embodiments, computer system 700 displays an animation where third content 726 is gradually displayed and first content 716 gradually ceases to be displayed, as described above with reference to FIGS. 7E-7G.
At FIG. 7M, computer system 700 displays user interface 714 including third content 726, third gaze target 724, and fourth gaze target 728. User interface 714 includes both third gaze target 724 and fourth gaze target 728 indicating that third content 726 is in the middle of the list of content items and/or that third content 726 is not at the terminus and/or end of the list of content items. Third content 726 includes information and/or user interface objects associated with a news application and/or a browser application of computer system 700. In some embodiments, computer system 700 is configured to scroll the information and/or user interface objects of third content 726 in response to receiving information indicating that the gaze of user 706 is directed to a particular location relative to third content 726. For instance, in response to receiving information indicating that the gaze of user 706 is directed toward a bottom edge 726a and/or a top edge 726b of third content 726, computer system 700 causes the information and/or user interface objects of third content 726 to scroll (e.g., move and/or translate) in an upward or downward direction.
At FIG. 7M, computer system 700 receives information indicating that the gaze of user 706 is directed to third content 726, as indicated by gaze indicator 710. In some embodiments, in response to receiving information indicating that the gaze of user 706 is directed to third content 726 (and, optionally, that the gaze of user 706 is maintained directed to third content 726 for a predetermined amount of time that satisfies a gaze dwell threshold), computer system 700 performs an operation associated with third content 726. For instance, in some embodiments, computer system 700 enlarges third content 726, displays an article associated with third content 726, and/or moves third content 726 in response to receiving the information indicating that the gaze of user is directed to third content 726.
Additional descriptions regarding FIGS. 7A-7M are provided below in reference to method 800 described with respect to FIG. 8.
FIG. 8 is a flow diagram of an exemplary method 800 for interacting with virtual objects using gaze, in some embodiments. In some embodiments, method 800 is performed at a computer system (e.g., computer system 101 in FIG. 1A) (e.g., HMD 1-100, 1-200, 3-100, 6-100, 6-200, 6-300, 6-400, 11.1.1-100, and/or 11.1.2-100, and/or 700) (e.g., a smartphone, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, a desktop computer, and/or a head mounted device (e.g., a head mounted augmented reality and/or extended reality device)) that is in communication with one or more display generation components (e.g., 702) (e.g., display unit 1-102, display unit 1-202, display unit 1-306, display unit 1-406, display generation component 120, display screens 1-122a-b, first and second rear-facing display screens 1-322a, 1-322b, display 11.3.2-104, first and second display assemblies 1-120a, 1-120b, display assembly 1-320, display assembly 1-421, first and second display sub-assemblies 1-420a, 1-420b, display assembly 3-108, display assembly 11.3.2-204, first and second optical modules 11.1.1-104a and 11.1.1-104b, optical module 11.3.2-100, optical module 11.3.2-200, lenticular lens array 3-110, display region or area 6-232, display/display region 6-334, and/or display 700a) (e.g., one or more displays, display devices, display controllers, touch-sensitive display systems, monitors, and/or head mounted display systems) and one or more input devices (e.g., sensors 190, sensors 306, image sensors 314, image sensors 404, sensor assembly 1-356, sensor assembly 1-456, sensor system 6-102, sensor system 6-202, sensors 6-203, sensor system 6-302, sensors 6-303, sensor system 6-402, and/or sensors 11.1.2-110a-f) (e.g., one or more cameras, a touch-sensitive surface, a keyboard, integrated and/or connected motion sensors, a controller, and/or a mouse) (in some embodiments, the computer system is in communication with one or more cameras (e.g., an infrared camera, a depth camera, and/or a visible light camera)). In some embodiments, method 800 is governed by instructions that are stored in a non-transitory (or transitory) computer-readable storage medium and that are executed by one or more processors of a computer system, such as the one or more processors 202 of computer system 101 (e.g., controller 110 in FIG. 1A). Some operations in method 800 are, optionally, combined and/or the order of some operations is, optionally, changed.
The computer system (e.g., 101 and/or 700) displays (802), via the one or more display generation components (e.g., 702), a user interface (e.g., 714) (e.g., one or more user interface objects, a user interface and/or one or more user interface objects overlaid on a representation of a physical environment, and/or a user interface and/or one or more user interface objects displayed on a transparent surface through which a physical environment can be concurrently viewed), the user interface (e.g., 714) including (e.g., concurrently including and/or concurrently displaying): a first gaze target (804) (e.g., 718, 720, 724, and/or 728) (e.g., a first region of the user interface and/or a first visible user interface object, where the computer system performs a first operation in accordance with (or, in some embodiments, in response to) a determination that a gaze of the user is directed at and/or in a direction of the first gaze target for a threshold amount of time, such as a non-zero amount of time); and a second gaze target (806) (e.g., 718, 720, 724, and/or 728), different from the first gaze target (e.g., 718, 720, 724, and/or 728) (e.g., a second region of the user interface (different from the first region of the user interface) and/or a second user interface object (different from the first user interface object), where the computer system performs a second operation, different from the first operation, in accordance with (or, in some embodiments, in response to) a determination that a gaze of the user is directed at and/or in a direction of the second gaze target for a threshold amount of time, such as a non-zero amount of time). In some embodiments, the first gaze target (e.g., 718, 720, 724, and/or 728) is positioned at a first location of the user interface relative (e.g., 714) to the one or more display generation components (e.g., 702) and the second gaze target (e.g., 718, 720, 724, and/or 728) is positioned at a second location, different from the first location, of the user interface (e.g., 714) relative to the one or more display generation components (e.g., 702).
While displaying the user interface (e.g., 714), the computer system (e.g., 101 and/or 700) detects (808), via the one or more input devices, a gaze of a user (e.g., 706) of the computer system (e.g., 101 and/or 700) directed to a respective gaze target (e.g., 718, 720, 724, and/or 728) (e.g., the first gaze target or the second gaze target) (e.g., a position and/or a direction (e.g., relative to the one or more display generation components) where a user of the computer system is looking) (or, in some embodiments, receiving information, such as gaze tracking information, from the one or more input devices that indicates a location and/or direction (e.g., relative to the one or more display generation components) of a gaze of the user of the computer system).
In response to detecting the gaze of the user (e.g., 706) of the computer system (e.g., 101 and/or 700) directed to the respective gaze target (e.g., 718, 720, 724, and/or 728), the computer system (e.g., 101 and/or 700) displays (810), via the one or more display generation components (e.g., 702), respective content (e.g., 716, 722, and/or 726) corresponding to the respective gaze target (e.g., 718, 720, 724, and/or 728), including: in accordance with a determination that the respective gaze target (e.g., 718, 720, 724, and/or 728) is the first gaze target (e.g., 718, 720, 724, and/or 728) (e.g., a determination that the gaze of the user of the computer system is directed to (e.g., in the direction of and/or focused at) the first gaze target) (e.g., for a threshold (non-zero) amount of time), the computer system (e.g., 101 and/or 700) displays (812) first content (e.g., 716, 722, and/or 726) (e.g., first information, one or more first user interface objects, and/or a first user interface) (in some embodiments, displaying the first content includes expanding the first gaze target, such as enlarging, animating, changing a shape, and/or otherwise causing a size of the first gaze target to increase) corresponding to the first gaze target (e.g., 718, 720, 724, and/or 728) (e.g., the first content is associated with the first gaze target, such as the first content includes information associated with a first application of the computer system and/or the first application corresponds to the first gaze target); and in accordance with a determination that the respective gaze target (e.g., 718, 720, 724, and/or 728) is the second gaze target (e.g., 718, 720, 724, and/or 728) (e.g., a determination that the gaze of the user of the computer system is directed to (e.g., in the direction of and/or focused at) the second gaze target) (e.g., for a threshold (non-zero) amount of time), the computer system (e.g., 101 and/or 700) displays (814) second content (e.g., 716, 722, and/or 726) (e.g., second information, one or more second user interface objects, and/or a second user interface) (in some embodiments, displaying the second content includes expanding the second gaze target, such as enlarging, moving, animating, changing a shape, and/or otherwise causing a size of the second gaze target to increase) corresponding to the second gaze target (e.g., 718, 720, 724, and/or 728) (e.g., the second content is associated with the second gaze target, such as the second content includes information associated with a second application of the computer system and/or the second application corresponds to the second gaze target), wherein the second content (e.g., 716, 722, and/or 726) is different from the first content (e.g., 716, 722, and/or 726).
Displaying the first content in accordance with a determination that the respective gaze target is the first gaze target and displaying second content in accordance with a determination that the respective gaze target is the second gaze target allows a user to cause the computer system to perform an operation using their eyes, which reduces the burden for performing inputs when using a head-mounted device, provides the user with a more seamless experience when interacting with virtual objects, and enables the user to navigate the user interface more quickly and efficiently with fewer errors, thereby reducing the time and number of inputs required to perform an operation.
In some embodiments, displaying the user interface (e.g., 714) includes the computer system (e.g., 101 and/or 700) displaying third content (e.g., 716, 722, and/or 726) (e.g., third information, one or more third user interface objects, and/or a third user interface) that is different from the first content (e.g., 716, 722, and/or 726) and the second content (e.g., 716, 722, and/or 726), the first gaze target (e.g., 718, 720, 724, and/or 728) is positioned at a first side (e.g., gaze target 718 positioned at the left side of content 716 at FIG. 7C) (e.g., a top side, a bottom side, a right side, or a left side) of the third content (e.g., 716, 722, and/or 726) (e.g., the first gaze target is positioned next to, adjacent, and/or near a side of the third content and/or a boundary defining the third content), and the second gaze target (e.g., 718, 720, 724, and/or 728) is positioned at a second side (e.g., gaze target 720 is positioned at the right side of content 726 at FIG. 7C) (e.g., a top side, a bottom side, a right side, or a left side) of the third content (e.g., 716, 722, and/or 726) (e.g., the first gaze target is positioned next to, adjacent, and/or near a side of the third content and/or a boundary defining the third content) that is different from the first side of the third content (e.g., 716, 722, and/or 726) (in some embodiments, the first side and the second side are opposite one another). Displaying the first gaze target at the first side of the third content and displaying the second gaze target at the second side of the third content provides a visual indication about where the third content is in a list of content items, which provides improved visual feedback and enables the user to navigate the user interface more quickly and efficiently with fewer errors, thereby reducing the time and number of inputs required to perform an operation.
In some embodiments, displaying the respective content (e.g., 716, 722, and/or 726) corresponding to the respective gaze target (e.g., 718, 720, 724, and/or 728) includes the computer system (e.g., 101 and/or 700) reducing a size of the third content (e.g., 716, 722, and/or 726) (e.g., shrinking the third content, changing an appearance of the third content so that it appears to become smaller, and/or scaling the third content from a first size to a second size less than the first size). In some embodiments, reducing the size of the third content (e.g., 716, 722, and/or 726) includes decreasing the size of the content (e.g., 716, 722, and/or 726) to a threshold size and changing an appearance of the third content (e.g., 716, 722, and/or 726) so that it transitions to and/or is ultimately displayed as a new gaze target (e.g., 718, 720, 724, and/or 728) positioned at a side of the first content (e.g., 716, 722, and/or 726). Reducing the size of the third content when displaying the respective content provides a visual indication that the first gaze target or the second gaze target, respectively, has been activated, which provides improved visual feedback and enables the user to navigate the user interface more quickly and efficiently with fewer errors, thereby reducing the time and number of inputs required to perform an operation.
In some embodiments, in response to detecting the gaze of the user (e.g., 706) of the computer system (e.g., 101 and/or 700) directed to the respective gaze target (e.g., 718, 720, 724, and/or 728) (e.g., the first gaze target or the second gaze target) and prior to displaying the respective content (e.g., 716, 722, and/or 726) (e.g., prior to and/or before displaying the first content or the second content corresponding to the first gaze target or the second gaze target, respectively) associated with the respective gaze target (e.g., 718, 720, 724, and/or 728), the computer system (e.g., 101 and/or 700) displays, via the one or more display generation components (e.g., 702), an indication of progress toward meeting a gaze dwell threshold (e.g., the indication of progress toward meeting the gaze dwell threshold illustrated in FIG. 7D) (e.g., a visual indication that provides confirmation to the user of the computer system that the gaze of the user is directed to the first gaze target or the second gaze target and/or a visual indication that provides guidance to the user of the computer system that the user should maintain their gaze at the first gaze target or the second gaze target for at least a threshold amount of time to activate the first gaze target or the second gaze target, respectively). In some embodiments, the indication of progress toward meeting the gaze dwell threshold changes, such as changes in appearance, over time based on an amount of time at which the gaze of the user is directed to the respective gaze target (e.g., based on an amount of change in progress of the gaze of the user toward satisfying the gaze dwell threshold). Displaying the indication of progress toward meeting a gaze dwell threshold provides a visual indication and/or guidance to the user about how long to direct their gaze at the respective gaze target, which provides improved visual feedback and enables the user to navigate the user interface more quickly and efficiently with fewer errors, thereby reducing the time and number of inputs required to perform an operation.
In some embodiments, displaying the indication of progress toward meeting the gaze dwell threshold includes the computer system (e.g., 101 and/or 700) increasing a brightness of the respective gaze target (e.g., 718, 720, 724, and/or 728) (e.g., shading of gaze target 718 illustrated in FIG. 7D) (e.g., gradually increasing the brightness of the respective gaze target over time and/or increasing the brightness of the respective gaze target based on the gaze of the user of the computer system being continuously directed to the respective gaze target). Increasing the brightness of the respective gaze target provides a visual indication and/or guidance to the user about how long to direct their gaze at the respective gaze target, which provides improved visual feedback and enables the user to navigate the user interface more quickly and efficiently with fewer errors, thereby reducing the time and number of inputs required to perform an operation.
In some embodiments, displaying the indication of progress toward meeting the gaze dwell threshold includes the computer system (e.g., 101 and/or 700) increasing a size of the respective gaze target (e.g., 718, 720, 724, and/or 728) (e.g., shading of gaze target 718 illustrated in FIG. 7D) (e.g., gradually increasing the size of the respective gaze target from a first size to a second size larger than the first size over time and/or increasing the size of the respective gaze target based on the gaze of the user of the computer system being continuously directed to the respective gaze target). Increasing the size of the respective gaze target provides a visual indication and/or guidance to the user about how long to direct their gaze at the respective gaze target, which provides improved visual feedback and enables the user to navigate the user interface more quickly and efficiently with fewer errors, thereby reducing the time and number of inputs required to perform an operation.
In some embodiments, displaying the indication of progress toward meeting the gaze dwell threshold includes the computer system (e.g., 101 and/or 700) reducing a brightness of a background (e.g., 704) (e.g., shading of background 704 illustrated in FIG. 7D) (e.g., a portion of the user interface and/or the one or more display generation components corresponding to physical and/or virtual elements that are behind the first gaze target and the second gaze target from the perspective of the user) (e.g., gradually reducing the brightness and/or the contrast of the background over time and/or reducing the brightness and/or the contrast of the background based on the user of the computer system being continuously directed to the respective gaze target) (e.g., applying a dimming effect to the background). Reducing a brightness of a background provides a visual indication and/or guidance to the user about how long to direct their gaze at the respective gaze target, which provides improved visual feedback and enables the user to navigate the user interface more quickly and efficiently with fewer errors, thereby reducing the time and number of inputs required to perform an operation.
In some embodiments, in response to detecting the gaze of the user (e.g., 706) of the computer system (e.g., 101 and/or 700) directed to the respective gaze target (e.g., 718, 720, 724, and/or 728) and after (or, in some embodiments, while) displaying the respective content (e.g., 716, 722, and/or 726) (e.g., and/or in accordance with a determination that the gaze of the user of the computer system is directed to the respective gaze target for an amount of time that satisfies the gaze dwell threshold (e.g., the gaze of the user of the computer system is maintained at the respective gaze target for at least a threshold amount of time that satisfies an amount of time associated with the gaze dwell threshold)), the computer system (e.g., 101 and/or 700) changes an appearance of the indication of progress toward meeting the gaze dwell threshold toward (e.g., to or back to) an original state (e.g., no shading of gaze targets and/or background 704 illustrated in FIG. 7G) (e.g., displaying the indication of progress toward meeting the gaze dwell threshold includes changing an appearance of a visual element from a first state to a second state, such as changing the appearance of the visual element from the first state to the second state gradually and/or over time, and changing the appearance of the indication of progress toward meeting the gaze dwell threshold back to the original state includes changing the appearance of the visual element from the second state back to the first state, such as changing the appearance of the visual element from the second state to the first state gradually and/or over time). Changing the appearance of the indication of progress toward meeting the gaze dwell threshold toward an original state provides a visual indication that the respective gaze target has been activated, which provides improved visual feedback and enables the user to navigate the user interface more quickly and efficiently with fewer errors, thereby reducing the time and number of inputs required to perform an operation.
In some embodiments, the computer system (e.g., 101 and/or 700) displays (e.g., in the user interface), via the one or more display generation components (e.g., 702), a visual gaze indicator (e.g., 710, 908, and/or 928a) (e.g., a visual element that indicates a position and/or location on the user interface, on a representation of a physical environment, and/or on the one or more display generation components that corresponds to a position and/or location of where the user is determined and/or estimated to be looking) at a first position (e.g., a position of gaze indicator 710 illustrated in FIG. 7A) (e.g., a first position with respect to the user interface and/or the one or more display generation components) that is based on the detected gaze of the user (e.g., 706) of the computer system (e.g., 101 and/or 700) (e.g., the displayed position of the visual gaze indicator is determined based on information, such as information received from one or more sensors and/or the one or more input devices of the computer system, that indicates a location and/or direction (e.g., relative to the one or more display generation components) of a gaze of the user of the computer system); and in response to detecting a change in the gaze of the user (e.g., 706) of the computer system (e.g., 101 and/or 700) (e.g., information received from one or more sensors and/or the one or more input devices of the computer system indicates a location and/or direction (e.g., relative to the one or more display generation components) of a gaze of the user of the computer system has changed and/or moved from a first location and/or direction to a second location and/or direction), the computer system (e.g., 101 and/or 700) displays the visual gaze indicator (e.g., 710, 908, and/or 928a) at a second position (e.g., a position of gaze indicator 710 illustrated in FIG. 7B) that is different from the first position (e.g., displaying movement of the visual gaze indicator from the first position to the second position so that the visual gaze indicator appears to follow and/or track the gaze of the user). Displaying the visual gaze indicator at the second position in response to detecting a change in the gaze of the user of the computer system provides a visual indication of a location at which the computer system determines the gaze of the user of the computer system is relative to the one or more display generation components, which provides improved visual feedback and enables the user to navigate the user interface more quickly and efficiently with fewer errors, thereby reducing the time and number of inputs required to perform an operation.
In some embodiments, the gaze of the user (e.g., 706) of the computer system (e.g., 101 and/or 700) is directed outside of a first region (e.g., a region within a predefined distance of user interface 714 illustrated in FIG. 7C) of the one or more display generation components (e.g., 702) that includes the first gaze target (e.g., 718, 720, 724, and/or 728) and the second gaze target (e.g., 718, 720, 724, and/or 728), and displaying the visual gaze indicator (e.g., 710, 908, and/or 928a) at the first position (e.g., the position of gaze indicator 710 illustrated in FIG. 7A) that is based on the detected gaze of the user (e.g., 706) of the computer system (e.g., 101 and/or 700) includes the computer system (e.g., 101 and/or 700) displaying the visual gaze indicator (e.g., 710, 908, and/or 928a) within the first region of the one or more display generation components (e.g., 702) that includes the first gaze target (e.g., 718, 720, 724, and/or 728) and the second gaze target (e.g., 718, 720, 724, and/or 728) (e.g., the visual gaze indicator is constrained to be displayed within a respective region of the one or more display generation components and/or the user interface such that the visual gaze indicator is displayed in areas of the one or more display generation components and/or the user interface that includes selectable user interface objects and/or user interface objects that can be interacted with via the gaze of the user, but the visual gaze indicator is not displayed in other regions of the one or more display generation components and/or the user interface (e.g., regions that do not include selectable user interface objects and/or user interface objects that can be interacted with via the gaze of the user)). In some embodiments, the computer system (e.g., 101 and/or 700) ceases display of the visual gaze indicator (e.g., 710, 908, and/or 928a) when the gaze of the user (e.g., 706) of the computer system (e.g., 101 and/or 700) is directed outside of the first region (e.g., a region within a predefined distance of user interface 714 illustrated in FIG. 7C) of the one or more display generation components (e.g., 702) that includes the first gaze target (e.g., 718, 720, 724, and/or 728) and the second gaze target (e.g., 718, 720, 724, and/or 728). Displaying the visual gaze indicator in the first region of the user interface without displaying the visual gaze indicator in the second region of the user interface provides a visual indication as to where the gaze of the user of the computer system can be used as an input, which provides improved visual feedback and enables the user to navigate the user interface more quickly and efficiently with fewer errors, thereby reducing the time and number of inputs required to perform an operation. Displaying the visual gaze indicator in the first region of the user interface without displaying the visual gaze indicator in the second region of the user interface reduces the amount of battery power consumed by the computer system by displaying the visual gaze indicator in regions of the one or more display generation components that can be used as inputs without displaying the visual gaze indicator in regions of the one or more display generation components that do not include user interface objects that can be selected via gaze.
In some embodiments, displaying the user interface (e.g., 714) includes the computer system (e.g., 101 and/or 700) displaying a first content item (e.g., 716, 722, 726, and/or 916a-916e) (e.g., information, one or more user interface objects, and/or a user interface) in a set of content items (e.g., 716, 722, 726, and/or 916) (e.g., the first content item is part of a set and/or list of content items and/or displayed within a set and/or list of content items) (in some embodiments, the set of content items includes displaying the first content item and the remaining content items as thumbnails and/or affordances that are at a size smaller than the first content item) (in some embodiments, the set of content items includes three or more content items) (in some embodiments, the set of content items are arranged in a sequence), and in accordance with a determination that the first content item (e.g., 716, 722, 726, and/or 916a-916e) is not at a terminus of the set of content items (e.g., 716, 722, 726, and/or 916) (e.g., the first content item is in a middle of the set of content items and/or the first content item is not at a beginning and is not at an end of the set of content items): the computer system (e.g., 101 and/or 700) displays the first gaze target (e.g., 718, 720, 724, and/or 728) at a first side (e.g., a top side, a bottom side, a right side, or a left side) of the first content item (e.g., 716, 722, 726, and/or 916a-916e) and the computer system (e.g., 101 and/or 700) displays the second gaze target (e.g., 718, 720, 724, and/or 728) at a second side (e.g., a top side, a bottom side, a right side, a left side, and/or an opposite side) of the first content item (e.g., 716, 722, 726, and/or 916a-916e), different from the first side of the first content item (e.g., 716, 722, 726, and/or 916a-916e) (in some embodiments, the first side and the second side are opposite one another). Displaying the first gaze target at the first side of the first content item and displaying the second gaze target at the second side of the first content item when the first content item is not at a terminus of the set of content items provides a visual indication about where the first content item is in the set of content items, which provides improved visual feedback and enables the user to navigate the user interface more quickly and efficiently with fewer errors, thereby reducing the time and number of inputs required to perform an operation.
In some embodiments, (e.g., before or after displaying the user interface with the first gaze target and the second gaze target) (e.g., after navigating to the first content item from a second content item in the set of content items) in accordance with a determination that the first content item (e.g., 716, 722, 726, and/or 916a-916e) is at a respective terminus of the set of content items (e.g., 716, 722, 724, and/or 916) (e.g., the first content item is at the beginning of the plurality of content items, the first content item is at the end of the set of content items, and/or the first content item is not in the middle of the set of content items), the computer system (e.g., 101 and/or 700) displays the first gaze target (e.g., 718, 720, 724, and/or 728) at a respective side (e.g., a top side, a bottom side, a right side, or a left side) of the first content item (e.g., 716, 722, 726, and/or 916a-916e) and the computer system (e.g., 101 and/or 700) forgoes display of the second gaze target (e.g., 718, 720, 724, and/or 728) (e.g., the second gaze target is not displayed to indicate that the first content item is at the end and/or the terminus of the set of content items). Displaying the first gaze target at the respective side of the first content item and forgoing display of the second gaze target when the first content item is at a respective terminus of the set of content items provides a visual indication about where the first content item is in the set of content items, which provides improved visual feedback and enables the user to navigate the user interface more quickly and efficiently with fewer errors, thereby reducing the time and number of inputs required to perform an operation.
In some embodiments, displaying the first gaze target (e.g., 718, 720, 724, and/or 728) at the respective side of the first content item (e.g., 716, 722, 726, and/or 916a-916e) includes, in accordance with a determination that the first content item (e.g., 716, 722, 726, and/or 916a-916e) is at a first terminus of the set of content items (e.g., 716, 722, 726, and/or 916) (e.g., the first content item is at a first end of the set of content items, such as the first content item is at the beginning of the set of content items, the first content item is at the end of the set of content items, and/or the first content item is not in the middle of the set of content items), the computer system (e.g., 101 and/or 700) displays the first gaze target (e.g., 718, 720, 724, and/or 728) at the first side (e.g., a top side, a bottom side, a right side, or a left side) of the first content item (e.g., 716, 722, 726, and/or 916a-916e) while forgoing display of the second gaze target (e.g., 718, 720, 724, and/or 728) (e.g., the second gaze target is not displayed to indicate that the first content item is at the end and/or the terminus of the set of content items); and in accordance with a determination that the first content item (e.g., 716, 722, 726, and/or 916a-916e) is at a second terminus of the set of content items (e.g., 716, 722, 726, and/or 916), different from the first terminus (e.g., the first content item is at a second end of the set of content items different from the first end of the set of content items, such as the first content item is at the beginning of the set of content items, the first content item is at the end of the set of content items, and/or the first content item is not in the middle of the set of content items), the computer system (e.g., 101 and/or 700) displays the first gaze target (e.g., 718, 720, 724, and/or 728) at the second side (e.g., a top side, a bottom side, a right side, or a left side) of the first content item (e.g., 716, 722, 726, and/or 916a-916e) while forgoing display of the second gaze target (e.g., 718, 720, 724, and/or 728) (e.g., the second gaze target is not displayed to indicate that the first content item is at the end and/or the terminus of the set of content items). Displaying the first gaze target at the first side of the first content item and forgoing display of the second gaze target when the first content item is at a first terminus of the set of content items and displaying the first gaze target at the second side of the first content item and forgoing display of the second gaze target when the first content item is at a second terminus of the set of content items provides a visual indication about where the first content item is in a list of content items, which provides improved visual feedback and enables the user to navigate the user interface more quickly and efficiently with fewer errors, thereby reducing the time and number of inputs required to perform an operation.
In some embodiments, the respective gaze target (e.g., 718, 720, 724, and/or 728) has a first color and a background of the respective content has the first color (e.g., the respective gaze target is displayed with a color that matches and/or is the same as at least one color of a background of the respective content that is displayed when the gaze of the user of the computer system is directed to the respective gaze target). Displaying the respective gaze target with the same color as the background of the respective content provides a visual indication about the content that is displayed when the respective gaze target is selected, which provides improved visual feedback and enables the user to navigate the user interface more quickly and efficiently with fewer errors, thereby reducing the time and number of inputs required to perform an operation.
In some embodiments, prior to displaying the first gaze target (e.g., 718, 720, 724, and/or 728) and the second gaze target (e.g., 718, 720, 724, and/or 728) (e.g., prior to displaying the user interface) (e.g., while the computer system is not displaying the user interface and/or while the computer system is not displaying the first gaze target and is not displaying the second gaze target), the computer system (e.g., 101 and/or 700) detects that the gaze of the user (e.g., 706) of the computer system (e.g., 101 and/or 700) is directed to a predefined position (e.g., a position of gaze indicator 710 associated with gaze target 712 illustrated in FIG. 7B) (e.g., a position corresponding to the first gaze target or a position corresponding to the second gaze target) (e.g., position associated with displaying the user interface) (e.g., a region of the user interface and/or a visible user interface object, where the computer system performs an operation in accordance with (or, in some embodiments, in response to) a determination that a gaze of the user is directed at and/or in a direction of the third gaze target for a threshold amount of time, such as a non-zero amount of time); and in response to detecting that the gaze of the user (e.g., 706) of the computer system (e.g., 101 and/or 700) is directed to (e.g., in the direction of and/or focused at) the predefined position (e.g., for a threshold (non-zero) amount of time), the computer system (e.g., 101 and/or 700) displays (e.g., concurrently displaying) the first gaze target (e.g., 718, 720, 724, and/or 728) and the second gaze target (e.g., 718, 720, 724, and/or 728) (e.g., displaying the user interface with the first gaze target and the second gaze target). Displaying the first gaze target and the second gaze target in response to detecting that the gaze of the user of the computer system is directed to the predefined position reduces the amount of user interface objects that are displayed via the display generation components at a given time, which reduces the amount of battery consumption of the computer system and conserves space on the one or more display generation components.
In some embodiments, while displaying the respective content (e.g., 716, 722, and/or 726) corresponding to the respective gaze target (e.g., 718, 720, 724, and/or 728), the computer system (e.g., 101 and/or 700) detects that the gaze of the user (e.g., 706) of the computer system (e.g., 101 and/or 700) is not directed to the respective content (e.g., 716, 722, and/or 726) (e.g., the computer system receives information indicating that the gaze of the user has moved from being directed to the respective content and/or that the gaze of the user is otherwise not directed to the respective content); and in response to detecting that the gaze of the user (e.g., 706) of the computer system (e.g., 101 and/or 700) is not directed to the respective content (e.g., 716, 722, and/or 726), the computer system (e.g., 101 and/or 700) ceases display of the respective content (e.g., 716, 722, and/or 726) corresponding to the respective gaze target (e.g., 718, 720, 724, and/or 728) (e.g., no longer displaying the respective content via the one or more display generation components and/or removing display of the respective content from the one or more display generation components). Ceasing display of the respective content corresponding to the respective gaze target in response to detecting that the gaze of the user of the computer system is not directed to the respective content allows a user to cause the computer system to perform an operation using their eyes, which reduces the burden for performing inputs when using a head-mounted device, provides the user with a more seamless experience when interacting with virtual objects, and enables the user to navigate the user interface more quickly and efficiently with fewer errors, thereby reducing the time and number of inputs required to perform an operation.
In some embodiments, while displaying the respective content (e.g., 716, 722, and/or 726) corresponding to the respective gaze target (e.g., 718, 720, 724, and/or 728), the computer system (e.g., 101 and/or 700) detects that the gaze of the user (e.g., 706) of the computer system (e.g., 101 and/or 700) is directed to (e.g., the computer system receives information indicating that the gaze of the user has moved from being directed to the respective content and/or that the gaze of the user is otherwise directed to a representation of an environment in which the user is located) a representation of an environment (e.g., background 704) in which the computer system (e.g., 101 and/or 700) is located (e.g., a passthrough representation of a physical environment surrounding the computer system and/or the user) (in some embodiments, the representation of the environment in which the computer system is located is the actual, physical environment in which the computer system and/or the user is located when the one or more display generation components include a transparent and/or translucent display) (in some embodiments, the representation of the environment in which the computer system is located is an image of the physical environment surrounding the computer system and/or the user that is captured via one or more sensors of the computer system, such as a camera) (in some embodiments, the respective content is overlaid on at least a portion of the representation of the environment in which the computer system is located); and in response to detecting that the gaze of the user (e.g., 706) of the computer system (e.g., 101 and/or 700) is directed to the representation of the environment (e.g., background 704) in which the computer system (e.g., 101 and/or 700) is located, the computer system (e.g., 101 and/or 700) ceases display of the respective content (e.g., 716, 722, and/or 724) corresponding to the respective gaze target (e.g., 718, 720, 724, and/or 728) (e.g., no longer displaying the respective content via the one or more display generation components and/or removing display of the respective content from the one or more display generation components). Ceasing display of the respective content corresponding to the respective gaze target in response to detecting that the gaze of the user of the computer system is directed to the representation of the environment in which the computer system is located allows a user to cause the computer system to perform an operation using their eyes, which reduces the burden for performing inputs when using a head-mounted device, provides the user with a more seamless experience when interacting with virtual objects, and enables the user to navigate the user interface more quickly and efficiently with fewer errors, thereby reducing the time and number of inputs required to perform an operation.
In some embodiments, aspects/operations of methods 800 and 1000 may be interchanged, substituted, and/or added between these methods. For example, the first gaze target and the second gaze target of method 800 can be displayed in the low-fidelity region of method 1000 and/or the respective content of method 800 can be displayed in the high-fidelity region of method 1000. For brevity, these details are not repeated here.
FIGS. 9A-9U illustrate examples of navigating a user interface using gaze. FIG. 10 is a flow diagram of an exemplary method 1000 for navigating a user interface using gaze. The user interfaces in FIGS. 9A-9U are used to illustrate the processes described below, including the processes in FIG. 10. In some embodiments, the user interfaces described in FIGS. 9A-9U are displayed on a head-mounted device and a user provides inputs (e.g., to interact with virtual objects as described below) using gaze, air gestures, voice commands, and/or inputs on a remote control.
FIG. 9A illustrates computer system 700 displaying, via display 702, background 900. In some embodiments, computer system 700 is a head-mounted device. In some embodiments, any of the features, components, and/or parts, including the arrangements and configurations thereof shown in FIGS. 1B-1P can be included, either alone or in any combination, in computer system 700. In some embodiments, display 702 includes a transparent or translucent display through which user 706 may directly view physical environment 708 in which user 706 is positioned. In some embodiments, computer system 700 is configured to present virtual objects on the transparent or translucent display, so that user 706 perceives the virtual objects superimposed over physical environment 708. In some embodiments, background 900 is physical environment 708 in which user 706 is located. In some embodiments, background 900 is a representation of physical environment 708 in which user 706 is located (e.g., when display 702 is opaque instead of transparent or translucent).
At FIG. 9A, display 702 includes a plurality of display regions for displaying various types of information, user interface objects, and/or other visual elements (e.g., overlaid and/or superimposed on background 900). At FIG. 9A, display 702 includes high-fidelity display region 902 and low-fidelity display region 904. High-fidelity display region 902 includes one relatively large display area, whereas low-fidelity display region 904 includes three relatively small display areas (e.g., 904a, 904b, and 904c). In some embodiments, low-fidelity display region 904 includes one display area, two display areas, or more than three display areas.
In some embodiments, low-fidelity display region 904 includes a number of pixles and/or a pixel density that is below a threshold number of pixels and/or pixel density, such as below 100 pixels per inch (ppi), below 110 ppi, below 120 ppi, or below 150 ppi. In some embodiments, low-fidelity display region 904 includes a low-resolution display that includes a realtively low number of pixels and/or larger pixels as compared to a high-resolution display. In some embodiments, high-fidelity display region 902 includes a number of pixels and/or a pixel density that is above a threshold number of pixels and/or pixel density, such as above 300 ppi, above 400 ppi, above 500 ppi, above 750 ppi, above 1000 ppi, above 2000 ppi, above 3400 ppi, above 4500 ppi, or above 5500 ppi. In some embodiments, high-fidelity display region 902 includes a high-resolution display that includes a higher number of pixels and/or smaller pixels as compared to a low-resolution display. In some embodiments, the pixel density of high-fidelity display region 902 is two times greater, three times greater, four times greater, or five times greater than the pixel density of low-fidelity display region 904. In some embodiments, low-fidelity display region 904 consumes less battery power than high-fidelity display region 902. In some embodiments, computer system 700 displays relatively simple and/or non-complex visual elements in low-fidelity display region 904 and computer system 700 displays relatively complex and/or detailed visual elements in high-fidelity display region 902. Computer system 700 can thus save battery consumption by displaying some visual elements (e.g., simplistic, non-complex, and/or less detailed visual elements) in low-fidelity display region 904 and other visual elements (e.g., relatively complex and/or highly detailed visual elements) in high-fidelity display region 902.
While FIG. 9A illustrates high-fidelity display region 902 and low fidelity display regions 904a, 904b, and 904c as dashed boxes, it should be noted that computer system 700 does not display display regions 902, 904a, 904b, and 904c via display 702. Instead, display regions 902, 904a, 904b, and 904c are part of display 702 and used to display various visual elements. Accordingly, display regions 902, 904a, 904b, and 904c are shown in FIG. 9A to facilitate the understanding of which areas different visual elements are displayed within display 702, but are not actually distinguishable and/or visible to user 706.
As set forth in detail below, computer system 700 is configured to perform various operations and/or functions in response to receiving information indicating a gaze of user 706 directed to high-fidelity display region 902, first low-fidelity display region 904a, second low-fidelity display region 904b, and/or third low-fidelity display region 904c. In some cases, the information indicating the gaze of user 706 does not precisely reflect the actual location and/or direction at which user 706 is looking. Therefore, computer system 700 can still perform the various operations and/or functions when the information indicating the gaze of user 706 indicates that the gaze of user 706 is directed within a threshold distance of display regions 902, 904a, 904b, and/or 904c. For instance, FIG. 9A illustrates gaze regions 906a, 906b, 906c, and 906d surrounding display regions 902, 904a, 904b, and 904c, respectively. Based on receiving information indicating that the gaze of user 706 is within gaze regions 906a, 906b, 906c, and 906d, computer system 700 is configured to perform the respective function and/or operation even though the gaze of user 706 is not precisely at a location and/or in a direction of display regions 902, 904a, 904b, and 904c.
While FIG. 9A illustrates gaze regions 906a, 906b, 906c, and 906d, computer system 700 does not display gaze regions 906a, 906b, 906c, and 906d via display 702. Instead, gaze regions 906a, 906b, 906c, and 906d are shown in FIG. 9A for ease of explanation of the concepts described below.
At FIG. 9B, computer system 700 receives information indicating that the gaze of user 706 is directed outside of any of gaze regions 906a, 906b, 906c, and 906d, as illustrated by gaze indicator 908. In some embodiments, gaze indicator 908 is not displayed via display 702 of computer system 700. In some embodiments, gaze indicator 908 is displayed at one or more portions of display 702 that are associated with controls and/or functions of computer system 700. For instance, in some embodiments, gaze indicator 908 is displayed at one or more first portions of display 702 that include user interface objects and/or display regions configured to cause computer system 700 to perform an operation in response to user input (e.g., a gaze input), but gaze indicator 908 is not displayed at one or more second portions of display 702 that do not include user interface objects and/or display regions configured to cause computer system 700 to perform an operation in response to user input (e.g., a gaze input). Based on receiving the information indicating that the gaze of user 706 is directed outisde of each of gaze regions 906a, 906b, 906c, and 906d, computer system 700 does not display any visual element and/or perform any operation and/or function.
At FIG. 9C, computer system 700 receives information indicating that the gaze of user 706 has moved from outside of gaze regions 906a, 906b, 906c, and 906d into gaze region 906c, as indicated by arrow 910 and gaze indicator 908 within gaze region 906c. In some embodiments, computer system 700 receives information indicating that the gaze of user 706 is maintained within gaze region 906c for a predetermined amount of time that satisfies a gaze dwell threshold. Based on receiving the information indicating that the gaze of user 706 is within gaze region 906c, computer system 700 displays gaze target 912a within second low-fidelity display region 904b, as shown at FIG. 9D. While gaze indicator 908 is shown within second low-fidelity display region 904b at FIG. 9C, computer system 700 is configured to display gaze target 912a when the information indicating that the gaze of user 706 indicates that the gaze of user 706 is directed to any location within gaze region 906c. In some embodiments, computer system 700 displays (e.g., continuously displays) gaze target 912a within second low-fidelity display region 904b without receiving information indicating that the gaze of user 706 indicates that the gaze of user 706 is directed to gaze region 906c of second low-fidelity display region 904b. In some embodiments, computer system 700 increases a size and/or changes an appearance of gaze target 912a based on receiving information indicating that the gaze of user 706 is directed to gaze region 906c of second low-fidelity display region 904b.
At FIG. 9D, while computer system 700 displays gaze target 912a within second low-fidelity display region 904b, computer system 700 receives information indicating that the gaze of user 706 is maintained within gaze region 906c. In some embodiments, computer system 700 determines that the gaze of user 706 is maintained within gaze region 906c for a predetermined amount of time that satisfies a gaze dwell threshold, such as a tenth of a second, two-tenths of a second, three-tenths of a second, half a second, or one second. Based on receiving the information indicating that the gaze of user 706 is maintained within gaze region 906c, computer system 700 initiates an animation of gaze target 912a moving toward high-fidelity display region 902, as shown at FIG. 9E.
FIG. 9E illustrates a portion (e.g., a frame) of the animation of gaze target 912a moving from second low-fidelity display region 904b toward high-fidelity display region 902. At FIG. 9E, gaze target 912a moves from a first location within second low-fidelity display region 904b toward a second location within high-fidelity display region 902, as illustrated by arrow 914. The animation of gaze target 912a moving from second low-fidelity display region 904b to high-fidelity display region 902 includes gaze target 912a changing appearance. At FIG. 9E, gaze target 912a is initially displayed as a circle within second low-fidelity display region 904b and transitions into an oval shape as it moves toward high-fidelity display region 902. In some embodiments, computer system 700 displays gaze target 912a changing from a first appearance within second low-fidelity display region 904b to a second appearance that is based on content associated with gaze target 912a as gaze target 912a moves toward high-fidelity display region 902. For example, as set forth below with reference to FIG. 9F, gaze target 912a corresponds to a home user interface 916 (illustrated at FIG. 9F). Home user interface 916 includes a plurality of selectable user interface objects 916a-916e (illustrated at FIGS. 9F-9H), which include a stadium shape. At FIG. 9E, computer system 700 displays the animation of gaze target 912a changing appearance into a shape that is closer to the stadium shape of selectable user interface objects 916a-916e of home user interface 916 as gaze target 912a moves toward high-fidelity display region 902. The animation of gaze target 912a therefore provides a visual indication and/or confirmation that gaze target 912a has been activated and/or selected via the gaze of user 706.
In some embodiments, computer system 700 displays the animation of gaze target 912a moving from second low-fidelity display region 904b toward high-fidelity display region 904 without changing the appearance of gaze target 912a. In some embodiments, computer system 700 coordinates and/or times the movement of gaze target 912a from second low-fidelity display region 904a toward high-fidelity display region 904 with display of home user interface 916. For instance, in some embodiments, computer system 700 displays home user interface 916 within high-fidelity display region 902 at the same time and/or within a threshold time range of gaze target 912a moving into high-fidelity display region 902. In some embodiments, computer system 700 does not display a transformation and/or transition of the appearance of gaze target 912a into home user interface 916 and/or one of selectable user interface objects 916a-916e of home user interface 916.
At FIG. 9F, computer system 700 displays home user interface 916 within high-fidelity display region 902 and ceases display of gaze target 912a. In some embodiments, computer system 700 displays gaze target 912a as transitioning into and/or transforming into home user interface 916 while displaying the animation of gaze target 912a moving from second low-fidelity display region 904b toward high-fidelity display region 902. In some embodiments, computer system 700 displays gaze target 912a as fading out (e.g., fading out within second low-fidelity display region 904b or in high-fidelity display region 902) in coordination with displaying home user interface 916 within high-fidelity display region 902.
At FIG. 9F, home user interface 916 includes selectable user interface objects 916a-916d. In some embodiments, selectable user interface objects 916a-916d correspond to a list of content items, where selection of a respective selectable user interface object causes computer system 700 to display content corresponding to the selected respective selectable user interface object. In some embodiments, selectable user interface objects 916a-916d correspond to a list of applications of computer system 700. In some such embodiments, selection of a respective selectable user interface object causes computer system 700 to launch and/or display a user interface associated with an application corresponding to the selected respective selectable user interface object.
Selectable user interface objects 916a-916d of home user interface 916 are scrollable, such that computer system 700 is configured to display additional selectable user interface objects in response to user input. For instance, at FIG. 9F, computer system 700 receives information indicating that the gaze of user 706 is directed toward the right side of the list of selectable user interface objects 916a-916d, as illustrate by gaze indicator 908. Based on receiving the information indicating that the gaze of user 706 is directed to the right side of selectable user interface objects 916a-916d, computer system 700 scrolls and/or translates selectable user interface objects 916a-916d to display additional selectable user interface objects, as shown at FIG. 9G. In some embodiments, computer system 700 scrolls selectable user interface objects 916a-916d of home user interface 916 with different characteristics based on the gaze of user 706. For instance, in some embodiments, computer system 700 scrolls selectable user interface objects 916a-916d in different directions, at different speeds, and/or applies different magnitudes to the scroll based on a location of the gaze of user 706 (e.g., a location of the gaze of user 706 determined based on the information indicating the gaze of user 706).
At FIG. 9G, computer system 700 scrolls selectable user interface objects 916a-916d, as indicated by arrow 917. After scrolling selectable user interface objects 916a-916d, computer system 700 displays selectable user interface object 916e in addition to selectable user interface objects 916a-916d based on receiving the information indicating that the gaze of user is directed to the right side of selectable user interface objects 916a-916d at FIG. 9F. In some embodiments, computer system 700 ceases display of selectable user interface object 916a to maintain display of a predetermined number of selectable user interface objects (e.g., four selectable user interface objects). In some embodiments, computer system 700 continues to scroll and/or translate selectable user interface objects 916a-916e based on receiving information indicating that the gaze of user 706 is maintained at the right side of selectable user interface objects 916a-916e, home user interface 916, and/or high-fidelity display region 902. In some such embodiments, computer system 700 continues to display (and, optionally, cease to display) selectable user interface objects of home user interface 916 until reaching an end of a list of selectable user interface objects.
As set forth above, computer system 700 is configured to display content and/or applications associated with selectable user interface objects 916a-916e in response to receiving user input corresponding to a respective selectable user interface object. At FIG. 9G, computer system 700 receives information indicating that the gaze of user 706 is directed to selectable user interface object 916c of home user interface 916, as shown by gaze indicator 908. Based on receiving the information indicating that the gaze of user 706 is directed to selectable user interface object 916c, computer system 700 displays gaze target 920, as shown at FIG. 9H. In some embodiments, computer system 700 displays gaze target 920 based on receiving information indicating that the gaze of user 706 is maintained on selectable user interface object 916c for a predetermined amount of time that satisfies a gaze dwell threshold.
At FIG. 9H, computer system 700 displays gaze target 920 below selectable user interface object 916c relative to display 702. Computer system 700 displays gaze target 920 to confirm whether user 706 actually intends to select selectable user interface object 916c and cause computer system 700 to display content and/or a user interface of an application associated with selectable user interface object 916c. For instance, in some cases, user 706 may glance at selectable user interface object 916c when deciding which of selectable user interface objects 916a-916e to select without intending to cause computer system 700 to display the content associated with selectable user interface object 916c. Therefore, computer system 700 displays gaze target 920 to guide the user to direct their gaze at gaze target 920 to confirm selection of selectable user interface object 916c. In some embodiments, computer system 700 forgoes displaying gaze target 920 and displays content associated with selectable user interface object 916c based on receiving the information indicating that the gaze of user 706 is directed to selectable user interface object 916c (and, optionally, that the gaze of user 706 is maintained directed to selectable user interface object 916c for a predetermined amount of time that satisfies a gaze dwell threshold).
At FIG. 9H, computer system 700 receives information indicating that the gaze of user 706 is directed to gaze target 920. Based on receiving the information indicating that the gaze of user 706 is directed to gaze target 920, computer system 700 displays content 922 associated with selectable user interface object 916c, as shown at FIG. 9I. In some embodiments, computer system 700 displays content 922 based on receiving information that the gaze of user 706 is maintained directed to gaze target 920 for a predetermined amount of time that satisfies a gaze dwell threshold. In some embodiments, home user interface 916 and/or content 922 includes user interface 714, as described above with reference to FIGS. 7A-7M. For instance, in some embodiments, displaying home user interface 916 and/or content 922 in high-fidelity display region 902 includes displaying content 716, content 722, content 726, and/or gaze targets 718, 720, 724, and/or 728 within high-fidelity display region 902, which optionally react to inputs in some or all of the ways described above with reference to FIGS. 7A-7M.
At FIG. 9I, computer system 700 displays content 922 within high-fidelity display region 902. In some embodiments, content 922 includes information associated with selectable user interface object 916c. In some embodiments, content 922 includes a user interface of an application associated with selectable user interface object 916c. In some embodiments, content 922 includes user interface objects that cause computer system 700 to perform an operation and/or function in response to user input (e.g., a gaze input) selecting a respective user interface object. In some embodiments, content 922 includes multimedia content, such as audio and/or video.
At FIG. 9I, computer system 700 receives information indicating that the gaze of user 706 is directed outside of gaze region 906a of high-fidelity display region 902. The information also indicates that the gaze of user 706 is directed outside of gaze regions 906b-906d associated with low-fidelity display regions 904a-904c, respectively. Based on receiving the information indicating that the gaze of user 706 is directed outside of gaze region 906a, computer system 700 initiates a fading out animation of content 922, as shown at FIGS. 9J and 9K. In some embodiments, the fading out animation of content 922 ultimately results in computer system 700 ceasing to display content 922 absent receiving information indicating that the gaze of user 706 is directed to at least one of gaze regions 906a-906d.
At FIG. 9J, computer system 700 displays content 922 with a first appearance that is different from the appearance of content 922 shown at FIG. 9I, as indicated by the dashed line of content 922. The first appearance of content 922 includes a faded appearance as compared to the appearance of content 922 shown at FIG. 9I. In some embodiments, the faded appearance of content 922 at FIG. 9J includes a reduced brightness, an increased opacity, and/or a reduced contrast in comparison to the appearance of content 922 at FIG. 9I. In some embodiments, computer system 700 displays content 922 gradually fading out over time so that content 922 appears to continuously disappear from high-fidelity display region 902.
At FIG. 9K, computer system 700 no longer and/or ceases display of content 922 within high-fidelity display region 902, thereby indicating an end of the fading out animation of content 922. Accordingly, computer system 700 dismisses content 922 from and/or clears high-fidelity display region 902 based on receiving information indicating that the gaze of user 706 is directed outside of gaze region 906a (and, optionally, outside of gaze regions 906b-906d). In some cases, user 706 intends to temporarily clear high-fidelity display region 902 and/or inadvertently clears high-fidelity display region 902. Computer system 700 is configured to re-display content 922 within high-fidelity display region 902 based on receiving information indicating that the gaze of user 706 is directed to gaze region 906c of second low-fidelity display region 904b. For instance, at FIG. 9K, computer system 700 receives information indicating that the gaze of user 706 is directed to gaze region 906c of second low-fidelity display region 904b. Based on receiving the information indicating that the gaze of user 706 is directed to gaze region 906c, computer system 700 re-displays content 922 within high-fidelity display region 902, as shown at FIG. 9L. At FIG. 9K, computer system 700 displays gaze target 912a within second low-fidelity display region 904b based on receiving the information indicating that the gaze of user 706 is directed to gaze region 906c. However, computer system 700 re-displays content 922 within high-fidelity display region 902 even though the information does not indicate that the gaze of user 706 is precisely directed at gaze target 912.
In some embodiments, computer system 700 re-displays content 922 within high-fidelity display region 902 based on receiving the information indicating that the gaze of user 706 is directed to gaze region 906c within a predetermined amount of time since the fading out animation of content 922 ends. For instance, in some embodiments, computer system 700 re-displays content 922 within high-fidelity display region 902 when computer system 700 receives information indicating that the gaze of user 706 is directed to gaze region 906c within 1 second, 2 seconds, 3 seconds, 4 seconds, 5 seconds, or 10 seconds since the fading out animation of content 922 ends. In some embodiments, computer system 700 does not re-display content 922 within high-fidelity display region 902 (e.g., computer system 700 does not display any content within high-fidelity display region 902) when computer system 700 receives information indicating that the gaze of user 706 is directed to gaze region 906c after the predetermined amount of time has elapsed since the fading out animation of content 922 has ended.
At FIG. 9L, computer system 700 displays (e.g., re-displays) content 922 within high-fidelity display region 902 based on receiving the information that the gaze of user 706 is directed to gaze region 906c (and, optionally, that the information indicates that the gaze of user 706 is directed to gaze region 906c within a predetermined amount of time since the fading out animation of content 922 ended). Therefore, computer system 700 allows user 706 to quickly re-display content 922 in the event that user 706 did not intend to remove content 922 from high-fidelity display region 902 and/or user 706 intended to temporarily remove content 922 from high-fidelity display region 902.
At FIG. 9L, computer system 700 receives information indicating that the gaze of user 706 is directed outside of gaze region 906a (and, optionally, outside of gaze regions 906b-906d). Based on receiving the information that the gaze of user 706 is directed outside of gaze region 906a, computer system 700 ceases display of and/or removes display of content 922 from within high-fidelity display region 902, as shown at FIG. 9M. In some embodiments, computer system 700 displays the fading out animation of content 922 in response to receiving the information indicating that the gaze of user 706 is outside of gaze region 906a.
At FIG. 9M, computer system 700 no longer displays content 922 within high-fidelity display region 902 based on receiving the information that the gaze of user 706 is outside of gaze region 906a. Low-fidelity display regions 904a-904c are each associated with displaying different types of information and/or user interfaces. As set forth above, with reference to FIGS. 9C-9L, second low-fidelity display region 904b is associated with displaying a list of content items respectively corresponding to various information and/or applications of computer system. First low-fidelity display region 904a is associated with displaying date and/or time information and notifications of (e.g., received at and/or generated by) computer system 700.
For instance, at FIG. 9M, computer system 700 receives information indicating that the gaze of user 706 is directed to first low-fidelity display region 904a. As set forth above, the gaze of user 706 can be directed anywhere within gaze region 906b for computer system 700 to determine that the gaze of user 706 is directed to first low-fidelity display region 904a. For example, at FIG. 9M, gaze indicator 908 is slightly outside of first low-fidelity display region 904a, but within gaze region 906b. As such, computer system 700 determines that the gaze of user 706 is directed to first low-fidelity display region 904a. Based on receiving the information indicating that the gaze of user 706 is directed to first low-fidelity display region 904a, computer system 700 displays time indicator 924 within first low-fidelity display region 904a, as shown at FIG. 9N.
At FIG. 9N, computer system 700 displays time indicator 924 within first low-fidelity display region 904a. In some embodiments, computer system 700 continuously displays time indicator 924 within first low-fidelity display region 904a while computer system 700 is in an active state (e.g., an on state, a normal operating state that is not a low-power mode, and/or a non-sleep state). In some embodiments, computer system 700 displays time indicator 924 without receiving information indicating that the gaze of user 706 is directed to gaze region 906b of first low-fidelity display region 904a. At FIG. 9N, computer system 700 receives information that the gaze of user 706 is maintained within gaze region 906b of first low-fidelity display region 904a. In some embodiments, computer system 700 determines that the gaze of user 706 is maintained within gaze region 906b of first low-fidelity display region 904a for a predetermined amount of time that satisfies a gaze dwell threshold.
Based on receiving the information indicating that the gaze of user 706 is maintained within gaze region 906b of first low-fidelity display region 904a, computer system 700 displays gaze target 912b, as shown at FIG. 9O. In some embodiments, computer system 700 continuously displays gaze target 912b within first low-fidelity display region 904a while in an active state. In some embodiments, computer system 700 displays gaze target 912b concurrently with time indicator 924 (e.g., based on receiving information indicating that the gaze of user 706 is directed to gaze region 906b of first low-fidelity display region 904a). Computer system 700 displays gaze target 912b as a visual indication and/or guide to user 706 that directing their gaze to gaze target 912b causes computer system 700 to perform an operation and/or function. At FIG. 9O, computer system 700 receives information indicating that the gaze of user 706 is directed to gaze target 912b. In some embodiments, computer system 700 determines that the gaze of user 706 is maintained directed at gaze target 912b for a predetermined amount of time that satisfies a gaze dwell threshold.
Based on receiving the information that the gaze of user 706 is directed to gaze target 912b, computer system 700 displays notification user interface 926 within high-fidelity display region 902, as shown at FIG. 9P. In some embodiments, computer system 700 displays an animation of gaze target 912b moving from within first low-fidelity display region 904a toward high-fidelity display region, as described above with reference to FIGS. 9D-9F. At FIG. 9P, computer system 700 ceases display of time indicator 924 and gaze target 912b from within first low-fidelity display region 904a. In some embodiments, computer system 700 maintains display of time indicator 924 and/or gaze target 912b within first low-fidelity display region 904a while computer system 700 displays notification user interface 926 within high-fidelity display region 902.
At FIG. 9P, notification user interface 926 includes first notification 926a and second notification 926b. In some embodiments, notification user interface 926 includes a single notification or more than two notifications. In some embodiments, notification user interface 926 is scrollable, such that computer system 700 displays additional notifications in response to receiving user input requesting to scroll notification user interface 926 (e.g., similar to a user input requesting to scroll home user interface 916, as described above with reference to FIGS. 9F and 9G).
At FIG. 9P, computer system 700 displays first notification 926a at a first size, which is larger than a second size at which second notification 926b is displayed. In some embodiments, the first size of first notification 926a corresponds to first notification 926a being an active notification, a most recent notification, and/or a notification that has been designated with a highest priority level when compared to other notifications. In some embodiments, first notification 926a includes additional information when compared to second notification 926b because first notification 926a is displayed at a larger size.
At FIG. 9P, computer system 700 receives information indicating that the gaze of user 706 is directed to second notification 926b. In some embodiments, computer system 700 determines that the gaze of user 706 is maintained directed to second notification 926b for a predetermined amount of time that satisfies a gaze dwell threshold. Based on receiving the information indicating that the gaze of user 706 is directed to second notification 926b, computer system 700 decreases a size of first notification 926a and increases a size of second notification 926b, as shown at FIG. 9Q.
At FIG. 9Q, computer system 700 displays notification user interface 926, including first notification 926a at the second size and second notification 926b at the first size. In some embodiments, first notification 926a includes more information and/or additional information when displayed at the first size (e.g., as shown at FIG. 9P) when compared to being displayed at the second size (e.g., as shown at FIG. 9Q). Similarly, in some embodiments, second notification includes more information and/or additional information when displayed at the first size (e.g., as shown at FIG. 9Q) when compared to being displayed at the second size (e.g., as shown at FIG. 9P). Thus, computer system 700 allows user 706 to view notifications received at computer system 700 and to obtain additional information by directing their gaze at a respective notification.
In some embodiments, computer system 700 receives information indicating that the gaze of user 706 is directed to and/or maintained directed to second notification 926b, as illustrated by gaze indicator 928a at FIG. 9Q. In some embodiments, based on receiving the information indicating that the gaze of user 706 is directed to and/or maintained directed to second notification 926b, computer system 700 performs an operation and/or function associated with second notification 926b. In some embodiments, the operation and/or function associated with second notification 926b includes launching and/or displaying a user interface of an application that generated and/or is otherwise associated with second notification 926b. In some embodiments, the operation and/or function associated with second notification 926b includes displaying still further information related to second notification 926b.
At FIG. 9Q, computer system 700 receives information indicating that the gaze of user 706 is directed away from and/or outside of gaze region 906a of high-fidelity display region 902, as shown by gaze indicator 908. In some embodiments, computer system 700 determines that the gaze of user 706 is maintained outside of gaze region 906a of high-fidelity display region 902 for a predetermined amount of time that satisfies a gaze dwell threshold. Based on receiving the information indicating that the gaze of user 706 is directed outside of gaze region 906a of high-fidelity display region 902, computer system 700 ceases and/or no longer displays notification user interface 926 within high-fidelity display region 902, as shown at FIG. 9R. In some embodiments, computer system 700 displays a fading out animation of notification user interface based on receiving the information indicating that the gaze of user 706 is outside of gaze region 906a (e.g., similar to the fading out animation of content 922 described above with reference to FIGS. 91-9L).
At FIG. 9R, computer system 700 no longer displays notification user interface 926 within high-fidelity display region 902 based on receiving the information that the gaze of user 706 is outside of gaze region 906a. As set forth above, low-fidelity display regions 904a-904c are each associated with displaying different types of information and/or user interfaces. For instance, as described above with reference to FIGS. 9C-9L, second low-fidelity display region 904b is associated with displaying a list of content items respectively corresponding to various information and/or applications of computer system 700 and first low-fidelity display region 904a is associated with displaying date and/or time information and notifications of (e.g., received at and/or generated by) computer system 700. Third low-fidelity display region 904c is associated with displaying system status information and/or a control user interface, as described below with reference to FIGS. 9S-9U.
At FIG. 9R, computer system 700 receives information indicating that the gaze of user 706 is directed to third low-fidelity display region 904c. As set forth above, the gaze of user 706 can be directed anywhere within gaze region 906d for computer system 700 to determine that the gaze of user 706 is directed to third low-fidelity display region 904c. For example, at FIG. 9R, gaze indicator 908 is slightly outside of third low-fidelity display region 904c, but within gaze region 906d. As such, computer system 700 determines that the gaze of user 706 is directed to third low-fidelity display region 904c. Based on receiving the information indicating that the gaze of user 706 is directed to third low-fidelity display region 904c, computer system 700 displays status indicators 930a and 930b within third low-fidelity display region 904c, as shown at FIG. 9S.
At FIG. 9S, computer system 700 displays status indicators 930a and 930b within third low-fidelity display region 904c. Status indicator 930a corresponds to a wireless communication connection status, such as a connection and/or connection strength between computer system 700 and a WiFi, short range wireless, and/or cellular network. Status indicator 930b corresponds to a battery status, such as an amount of and/or an estimated amount of remaining battery power of computer system 700. In some embodiments, status indicators 930a and/or 930b are associated with other system status information of computer system 700. In some embodiments, computer system 700 continuously displays status indicators 930a and/or 930b within third low-fidelity display region 904c while computer system 700 is in an active state (e.g., an on state, a normal operating state that is not a low-power mode, and/or a non-sleep state). In some embodiments, computer system 700 displays status indicators 930a and/or 930b within third low-fidelity display region 904c without receiving information indicating that the gaze of user 706 is directed to gaze region 906d of third low-fidelity display region 904c. At FIG. 9S, computer system 700 receives information indicating that the gaze of user 706 is maintained within gaze region 906d of third low-fidelity display region 904c. In some embodiments, computer system 700 determines that the gaze of user 706 is maintained within gaze region 906d of third low-fidelity display region 904c for a predetermined amount of time that satisfies a gaze dwell threshold.
Based on receiving the information indicating that the gaze of user 706 is maintained within gaze region 906d of third low-fidelity display region 904c, computer system 700 displays gaze target 912c, as shown at FIG. 9T. In some embodiments, computer system 700 continuously displays gaze target 912c within third low-fidelity display region 904c while in an active state. In some embodiments, computer system 700 displays gaze target 912c concurrently with status indicators 930a and/or 930b (e.g., based on receiving information indicating that the gaze of user 706 is directed to gaze region 906d of third low-fidelity display region 904c). Computer system 700 displays gaze target 912c as a visual indication and/or guide to user 706 that directing their gaze to gaze target 912c causes computer system 700 to perform an operation and/or function. At FIG. 9T, computer system 700 receives information indicating that the gaze of user 706 is directed to gaze target 912c. In some embodiments, computer system 700 determines that the gaze of user 706 is maintained directed at gaze target 912c for a predetermined amount of time that satisfies a gaze dwell threshold.
Based on receiving the information that the gaze of user 706 is directed to gaze target 912c, computer system 700 displays control user interface 932 within high-fidelity display region 902, as shown at FIG. 9U. In some embodiments, computer system 700 displays an animation of gaze target 912c moving from within third low-fidelity display region 904c toward high-fidelity display region 902, as described above with reference to FIGS. 9D-9F. At FIG. 9U, computer system 700 ceases display of status indicator 930a, status indicator 930b, and gaze target 912c from within third low-fidelity display region 904c. In some embodiments, computer system 700 maintains display of status indicator 930a, status indicator 930b, and/or gaze target 912c within third low-fidelity display region 904c while computer system 700 displays control user interface 932 within high-fidelity display region 902.
At FIG. 9U, control user interface 932 includes user interface objects 932a-932d. In some embodiments, control user interface 932 includes one user interface object, two user interface objects, three user interface objects, or more than four user interface objects. In some embodiments, control user interface 932 is scrollable, such that computer system 700 displays additional user interface objects in response to receiving user input requesting to scroll control user interface 932 (e.g., similar to a user input requesting to scroll home user interface 916, as described above with reference to FIGS. 9F and 9G).
At FIG. 9U, computer system 700 displays user interface objects 932a and 932b at a first size, user interface object 932c at a second size larger than the first size, and user interface object 932d at a third size larger than the first and second sizes. In some embodiments, the respective sizes of user interface objects 932a-932d are based on the amount of information associated with and/or displayed within user interface objects 932a-932d. In some embodiments, the respective sizes of user interface objects 932a-932d are customizable by user 706, such that computer system 700 is configured to adjust the respective sizes of user interface objects 932a-932d based on receiving information corresponding to one or more user inputs.
At FIG. 9U, computer system 700 receives information indicating that the gaze of user 706 is directed to user interface object 932d, as shown by gaze indicator 908. In some embodiments, computer system 700 determines that the gaze of user 706 is maintained directed to user interface object 932d for a predetermined amount of time that satisfies a gaze dwell threshold. In some embodiments, based on receiving the information indicating that the gaze of user 706 is directed to user interface object 932d, computer system 700 performs an operation and/or function associated with user interface object 932d. For instance, in some embodiments, computer system 700 displays a user interface of an application associated with user interface object 932d based on receiving the information indicating that the gaze of user 706 is directed to user interface object 932d. In some embodiments, computer system 700 performs an operation with respect to an external device, such as a remotely controlled external device, based on receiving the information indicating that the gaze of user 706 is directed to user interface object 932d. In some embodiments, computer system 700 adjusts one or more settings of computer system 700 based on receiving the information indicating that the gaze of user 706 is directed to user interface object 932d.
As set forth above, in some embodiments, computer system 700 ceases displaying control user interface 932 within high-fidelity display region 902 based on receiving information indicating that the gaze of user 706 is directed away from and/or outside of gaze region 906a of high-fidelity display region (and, optionally, that the gaze of user 706 is maintained directed away from and/or outside of gaze region 906a for a predetermined amount of time that satisfies a gaze dwell threshold).
Additional descriptions regarding FIGS. 9A-9U are provided below in reference to method 1000 described with respect to FIG. 10.
FIG. 10 is a flow diagram of an exemplary method 1000 for navigating a user interface using gaze, in some embodiments. In some embodiments, method 1000 is performed at a computer system (e.g., computer system 101 in FIG. 1A) (e.g., HMD 1-100, 1-200, 3-100, 6-100, 6-200, 6-300, 6-400, 11.1.1-100, and/or 11.1.2-100, and/or 700) (e.g., a smartphone, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, a desktop computer, and/or a head mounted device (e.g., a head mounted augmented reality and/or extended reality device)) that is in communication with a display generation component (e.g., 702) (e.g., display unit 1-102, display unit 1-202, display unit 1-306, display unit 1-406, display generation component 120, display screens 1-122a-b, first and second rear-facing display screens 1-322a, 1-322b, display 11.3.2-104, first and second display assemblies 1-120a, 1-120b, display assembly 1-320, display assembly 1-421, first and second display sub-assemblies 1-420a, 1-420b, display assembly 3-108, display assembly 11.3.2-204, first and second optical modules 11.1.1-104a and 11.1.1-104b, optical module 11.3.2-100, optical module 11.3.2-200, lenticular lens array 3-110, display region or area 6-232, display/display region 6-334, and/or display 700a) (e.g., a display, a display device, a display controller, a touch-sensitive display system, a monitor, and/or a head mounted display system) and one or more input devices (e.g., sensors 190, sensors 306, image sensors 314, image sensors 404, sensor assembly 1-356, sensor assembly 1-456, sensor system 6-102, sensor system 6-202, sensors 6-203, sensor system 6-302, sensors 6-303, sensor system 6-402, and/or sensors 11.1.2-110a-f) (e.g., one or more cameras, a touch-sensitive surface, a keyboard, integrated and/or connected motion sensors, a controller, and/or a mouse) (in some embodiments, the computer system is in communication with one or more cameras (e.g., an infrared camera, a depth camera, and/or a visible light camera)), where the display generation component (e.g., 702) includes a low-fidelity display region (e.g., 904, 904a, 904b, and/or 904c) (e.g., a first portion, a first area, and/or a first zone of the display generation component having a first amount of visual fidelity (e.g., a first resolution, a first amount of pixels, a first density of pixels, a first refresh rate, and/or one or more first characteristics that enable the first display region to display user interface objects with a first precision, accuracy, and/or exactness)) and a high-fidelity display region (e.g., 902) (e.g., a second portion, a second area, and/or a second zone of the display generation component having a second amount of visual fidelity (e.g., a second resolution, a second amount of pixels, a second density of pixels, a second refresh rate, and/or one or more second characteristics that enable the second display region to display user interface objects with a second precision, accuracy, and/or exactness) greater than the first amount of fidelity (e.g., the second display region is able to display user interface objects with a greater resolution, precision, accuracy, and/or exactness as compared to the first display region)). In some embodiments, the first display region and the second display region are separate and distinct from one another. In some embodiments, the first display region and the second display region are separated from one another by another component, such as a portion of another component, of the computer system. In some embodiments, the first display region and the second display region are different portions of the same display generation component that are not separated by another component of the computer system. In some embodiments, method 1000 is governed by instructions that are stored in a non-transitory (or transitory) computer-readable storage medium and that are executed by one or more processors of a computer system, such as the one or more processors 202 of computer system 101 (e.g., controller 110 in FIG. 1A). Some operations in method 1000 are, optionally, combined and/or the order of some operations is, optionally, changed.
The computer system (e.g., 101 and/or 700) displays (1002), via the display generation component (e.g., 702), a gaze target (e.g., 912a, 912b, and/or 912c) (e.g., a user interface object, where the computer system performs an operation in accordance with (or, in some embodiments, in response to) a determination that a gaze of the user is directed at and/or toward the first gaze target for a threshold (non-zero) amount of time) within the low-fidelity display region (e.g., 904, 904a, 904b, and/or 904c) of the display generation component (e.g., 702) (e.g., the gaze target is displayed in the first display region, such that the gaze target is displayed with the first amount of fidelity). In some embodiments, the computer system (e.g., 101 and/or 700) displays the gaze target (e.g., 912a, 912b, and/or 912c) in accordance with (or, in some embodiments in response to) detecting a gaze of a user (e.g., 706) of the computer system (e.g., 101 and/or 700) directed to the low-fidelity display region (e.g., 904, 904a, 904b, and/or 904c) for a threshold (non-zero) amount of time.
In response to detecting, via the one or more input devices, a gaze of a user (e.g., 706) of the computer system (e.g., 101 and/or 700) (e.g., a position and/or a location relative to the display generation component where a user of the computer system is looking, viewing, and/or has their eyes directed toward) directed to (e.g., in a direction and/or focused at a position of) the gaze target (e.g., 912a, 912b, and/or 912c) displayed within the low-fidelity display region (e.g., 904, 904a, 904b, and/or 904c) of the display generation component (e.g., 702) (e.g., the user of the computer system is viewing, looking at, and/or has their eyes directed toward the gaze target for a threshold amount of time) (or, in some embodiments, receiving information from one or more input devices of the computer system that indicates a position and/or direction (e.g., relative to the display generation component) of a gaze of the user of the computer system is directed to the gaze target), the computer system (e.g., 101 and/or 700) displays (1004), via the display generation component (e.g., 702), a user interface object (e.g., 916, 922, 926, and/or 932) (e.g., a selectable and/or interactive user interface object configured to cause the computer system to perform an operation in response to selection, a user interface including content and/or information associated with the gaze target, and/or a user interface object including information associated with the computer system and/or an application of the computer system) within the high-fidelity display region (e.g., 902) of the display generation component (e.g., 702) (e.g., the user interface object is displayed in the second display region, such that the gaze target is displayed with the second amount of fidelity).
Displaying the user interface object within the high-fidelity display region of the display generation component in response to detecting the gaze of the user of the computer system directed to the gaze target displayed within the low-fidelity display region of the display generation component allows a user to cause the computer system to perform an operation using their eyes, which reduces the burden for performing inputs when using a head-mounted device, provides the user with a more seamless experience when interacting with virtual objects, and enables the user to navigate the user interface more quickly and efficiently with fewer errors, thereby reducing the time and number of inputs required to perform an operation. In addition, displaying the user interface object within the high-fidelity display region of the display generation component in response to detecting the gaze of the user of the computer system directed to the gaze target displayed within the low-fidelity display region of the display generation component allows the computer system to display relatively simple user interface objects in an area of the display generation component that has a relatively low resolution and to display more complex user interface objects and/or user interfaces in an area of the display generation component that has a relatively high resolution.
In some embodiments, in response to detecting the gaze of the user (e.g., 706) of the computer system (e.g., 101 and/or 700) directed to the gaze target (e.g., 912a, 912b, and/or 912c) displayed within the low-fidelity display region (e.g., 904, 904a, 904b, and/or 904c) of the display generation component (e.g., 702), the computer system (e.g., 101 and/or 700) displays, via the display generation component (e.g., 702), movement (e.g., movement indicated by arrow 914) (e.g., displaying movement and/or a movement animation of the gaze target from a first position relative to the display generation component, such as a first position within the low-fidelity display region, to a second position relative to the display generation component, such as a second position within the high-fidelity display region, over time) of the gaze target (e.g., 912a, 912b, and/or 912c) from the low-fidelity display region (e.g., 904, 904a, 904b, and/or 904c) of the display generation component (e.g., 702) toward the high-fidelity display region (e.g., 902) of the display generation component (e.g., 702). In some embodiments, displaying movement (e.g., movement indicated by arrow 914) of the gaze target (e.g., 912a, 912b, and/or 912c) from the low-fidelity region (e.g., 904, 904a, 904b, and/or 904c) of the display generation component (e.g., 702) toward the high-fidelity display region (e.g., 902) of the display generation component (e.g., 702) includes changing an appearance (e.g., changing the appearance of gaze target 912a shown in FIGS. 9D and 9E) of the gaze target (e.g., 912a, 912b, and/or 912c) so that the gaze target (e.g., 912a, 912b, and/or 912c) gradually transitions from a first appearance, such as a first shape, to a second appearance, such as a second shape different from the first shape. In some embodiments, changing the appearance of the gaze target (e.g., 912a, 912b, and/or 912c) includes displaying the gaze target (e.g., 912a, 912b, and/or 912c) as a user interface object when in the low-fidelity display region (e.g., 904, 904a, 904b, and/or 904c) and displaying content (e.g., 916, 922, 926, and/or 932) associated with the gaze target (e.g., 912a, 912b, and/or 912c) when the gaze target (e.g., 912a, 912b, and/or 912c) reaches the high-fidelity display region (e.g., 902). Displaying movement of the gaze target from the low-fidelity display region of the display generation component toward the high-fidelity display region of the display generation component provides a visual indication that the gaze target has been activated, which provides improved visual feedback and enables the user to navigate the user interface more quickly and efficiently with fewer errors, thereby reducing the time and number of inputs required to perform an operation.
In some embodiments, displaying movement (e.g., movement indicated by arrow 914) of the gaze target (e.g., 912a, 912b, and/or 912c) from the low-fidelity display region (e.g., 904, 904a, 904b, and/or 904c) of the display generation component (e.g., 702) toward the high-fidelity display region (e.g., 902) of the display generation component (e.g., 702) includes the computer system (e.g., 101 and/or 700) displaying the movement of the gaze target (e.g., 912a, 912b, and/or 912c) while concurrently displaying (e.g., while initiating display of) the user interface object (e.g., 916, 922, 926, and/or 932) within the high-fidelity display region (e.g., 902) of the display generation component (e.g., 702) (e.g., coordinating display of the movement of the gaze target with display of the user interface object) (e.g., the user interface object is displayed at the same time and/or within a threshold time range of the gaze target moving within the high-fidelity display region of the display generation component). In some embodiments, movement of the gaze target (e.g., 912a, 912b, and/or 912c) from the low-fidelity display region (e.g., 904, 904a, 904b, and/or 904c) of the display generation component (e.g., 702) toward the high-fidelity display region (e.g., 902) of the display generation component (e.g., 702) causes the user (e.g., 706) of the computer system (e.g., 101 and/or 700) to perceive that the gaze target (e.g., 912a, 912b, and/or 912c) changes, transforms, and/or transitions into the user interface object (e.g., 916, 922, 926, and/or 932) as the gaze target (e.g., 912a, 912b, and/or 912c) moves toward the high-fidelity display region (e.g., 902) of the display generation component (e.g., 702). Displaying the movement of the gaze target while concurrently displaying the user interface object within the high-fidelity display region of the display generation component provides a visual indication that the gaze target has been activated, which provides improved visual feedback and enables the user to navigate the user interface more quickly and efficiently with fewer errors, thereby reducing the time and number of inputs required to perform an operation.
In some embodiments, the low-fidelity display region (e.g., 904, 904a, 904b, and/or 904c) of the display generation component (e.g., 702) includes a number of pixels (e.g., areas of the low-fidelity display region of the display generation component that are each configured to separately illuminate) that is below a threshold number of pixels (and/or a density of pixels that is below a threshold density of pixels) (e.g., less than 100 pixels per inch, less than 110 pixels per inch, less than 120 pixels per inch, or less than 150 pixels per inch). In some embodiments, the low-fidelity display region (e.g., 904, 904a, 904b, and/or 904c) of the display generation component (e.g., 702) includes a first number of pixels (or first pixel density) that is less than a second number of pixels (or second pixel density) of the high-fidelity display region (e.g., 902) of the display generation component (e.g., 702). The low-fidelity display region of the display generation component having a number of pixels that is below a threshold number of pixels provides the computer system with a region for displaying relatively simple user interface objects without consuming additional battery power, thereby reducing an amount of power consumed by the computer system.
In some embodiments, the high-fidelity display region (e.g., 902) of the display generation component (e.g., 702) includes a high-resolution display (e.g., a display that includes a pixel density greater than such as above 300 ppi, above 400 ppi, above 500 ppi, above 750 ppi, above 1000 ppi, above 2000 ppi, above 3400 ppi, above 4500 ppi, or above 5500 ppi). In some embodiments, the high-fidelity display region (e.g., 902) of the display generation component (e.g., 702) includes a first resolution (e.g., first number of pixels and/or pixel density) that is greater than a second resolution (e.g., a second number of pixel and/or pixel density) of the low-fidelity display region (e.g., 904, 904a, 904b, and/or 904c) of the display generation component (e.g., 702). The high-fidelity display region of the display generation component including a high-resolution display provides the computer system with a region for displaying relatively complex user interface objects in response to detecting user input, such as a gaze of the user, thereby reducing an amount of power consumed by the computer system.
In some embodiments, while displaying the gaze target (e.g., 912a, 912b, and/or 912c) within the low-fidelity display region (e.g., 904, 904a, 904b, and/or 904c) of the display generation component (e.g., 702), the computer system (e.g., 101 and/or 700) displays (e.g., concurrently with the first gaze target) a second gaze target (e.g., 912a, 912b, and/or 912c) (e.g., a user interface object, where the computer system performs an operation in accordance with (or, in some embodiments, in response to) a determination that a gaze of the user is directed at and/or toward the second gaze target for a threshold (non-zero) amount of time) within the low-fidelity display region (e.g., 904, 904a, 904b, and/or 904c) of the display generation component (e.g., 702). Displaying a second gaze target within the low-fidelity display region of the display generation component allows the computer system to display selectable user interface objects for performing respective functions without consuming additional battery power, thereby reducing an amount of power consumed by the computer system.
In some embodiments, displaying the user interface object (e.g., 916, 922, 926, and/or 932) in response to detecting the gaze of the user (e.g., 706) of the computer system (e.g., 101 and/or 700) directed to the gaze target (e.g., 912a, 912b, and/or 912c) includes displaying first information (e.g., 916, 922, 926, and/or 932) (e.g., a first user interface and/or one or more first user interface objects associated with controlling functions and/or operations of the computer system, such as a control user interface of the computer system, status information and/or user interface objects associated with the computer system, applications of the computer system, date information, and/or time information). In response to detecting, via the one or more input devices, a gaze of the user (e.g., 706) of the computer system (e.g., 101 and/or 700) (e.g., a position and/or a location relative to the display generation component where a user of the computer system is looking, viewing, and/or has their eyes directed toward) directed to (e.g., in a direction and/or focused at a position of) the second gaze target (e.g., 912a, 912b, and/or 912c), the computer system (e.g., 101 and/or 700) displays (e.g., in the user interface object or in a second user interface object), via the display generation component (e.g., 702), second information (e.g., 916, 922, 926, and/or 932) (e.g., a second user interface and/or one or more second user interface objects associated with controlling functions and/or operations of the computer system, such as a control user interface of the computer system, status information and/or user interface objects associated with the computer system, applications of the computer system, date information, and/or time information), different from the first information (e.g., 916, 922, 926, and/or 932), in the high-fidelity display region (e.g., 902) of the display generation component (e.g., 702). Displaying first information in response to detecting the gaze of the user of the computer system directed to the gaze target and displaying second information, different from the first information, in response to detecting a gaze of the user of the computer system directed to the second gaze target allows the computer system to display selectable user interface objects for performing respective functions without consuming additional battery power, thereby reducing an amount of power consumed by the computer system.
In some embodiments, while displaying the user interface object (e.g., 916, 922, 926, and/or 932) within the high-fidelity display region (e.g., 902) of the display generation component (e.g., 702), the computer system (e.g., 101 and/or 700) detects, via the one or more input devices, that the gaze of the user (e.g., 706) of the computer system (e.g., 101 and/or 700) is directed to the user interface object (e.g., 916, 922, 926, and/or 932) (e.g., the user of the computer system is viewing, looking at, and/or has their eyes directed toward the user interface object and/or a position of the display generation component relative to the user interface object for a threshold amount of time) (or, in some embodiments, receiving information from one or more input devices of the computer system that indicates a position and/or direction (e.g., relative to the display generation component) of a gaze of the user of the computer system is directed to the user interface object); and in response to detecting that the gaze of the user (e.g., 706) of the computer system (e.g., 101 and/or 700) is directed to the user interface object (e.g., 916, 922, 926, and/or 932) (e.g., optionally in response to detecting that the gaze of the user of the computer system is directed to the user interface object for at least a threshold amount of time), the computer system performs a function associated with the user interface object (e.g., 916, 922, 926, and/or 932) (e.g., selection of the user interface object via the gaze of the user of the computer system causes the computer system to perform an operation and/or function that is associated with the user interface object, such as selecting the user interface object, selecting a portion of the user interface object, and/or displaying additional information associated with the user interface object). In some embodiments, in response to detecting that the gaze of the user (e.g., 706) of the computer system (e.g., 101 and/or 700) is directed to the user interface object (e.g., 916, 922, 926, and/or 932): in accordance with a determination that the gaze of the user (e.g., 706) of the computer system (e.g., 101 and/or 700) is directed to the user interface object (e.g., 916, 922, 926, and/or 932) for at least a threshold amount of time, performing a function associated with the user interface object (e.g., 916, 922, 926, and/or 932); and in accordance with a determination that the gaze of the user (e.g., 706) of the computer system (e.g., 101 and/or 700) is directed to the user interface object (e.g., 916, 922, 926, and/or 932) for less than the threshold amount of time, forgoing performing the function associated with the user interface object (e.g., 916, 922, 926, and/or 932). Performing the function associated with the user interface object in response to detecting that the gaze of the user of the computer system is directed to the user interface object allows a user to cause the computer system to perform an operation using their eyes, which reduces the burden for performing inputs when using a head-mounted device, provides the user with a more seamless experience when interacting with virtual objects, and enables the user to navigate the user interface more quickly and efficiently with fewer errors, thereby reducing the time and number of inputs required to perform an operation.
In some embodiments, performing the function associated with the user interface object (e.g., 916, 922, 926, and/or 932) includes the computer system displaying one or more additional user interface objects (e.g., additional user interface objects associated with content 922, second notification 926b, and/or user interface object 932d) (e.g., content, text, images, selectable objects, affordances, and/or user-selectable graphical user interface elements) (e.g., content corresponding to the user interface object and/or selectable user interface objects that cause the computer system to perform additional functions and/or operations). Displaying one or more additional user interface objects in response to detecting that the gaze of the user of the computer system is directed to the user interface object allows a user to cause the computer system to perform an operation using their eyes, which reduces the burden for performing inputs when using a head-mounted device, provides the user with a more seamless experience when interacting with virtual objects, and enables the user to navigate the user interface more quickly and efficiently with fewer errors, thereby reducing the time and number of inputs required to perform an operation.
In some embodiments, while displaying the user interface object (e.g., 916, 922, 926, and/or 932) within the high-fidelity display region (e.g., 902) of the display generation component (e.g., 702), the computer system (e.g., 101 and/or 700) detects, via the one or more input devices, that the gaze of the user (e.g., 706) of the computer system (e.g., 101 and/or 700) is directed away from the user interface object (e.g., 916, 922, 926, and/or 932) (e.g., the computer system receives information indicating that the gaze of the user has moved from being directed to the user interface object to another location relative to the display generation component and/or that the gaze of the user is otherwise not directed to the user interface object); and in response to detecting that the gaze of the user (e.g., 706) of the computer system (e.g., 101 and/or 700) is directed away from the user interface object (e.g., 916, 922, 926, and/or 932), the computer system (e.g., 101 and/or 700) ceases display of the user interface object (e.g., 916, 922, 926, and/or 932) within the high-fidelity display region (e.g., 902) of the display generation component (e.g., 702) (e.g., no longer displaying the user interface object and/or removing display of the user interface object). In some embodiments, in response to detecting that the gaze of the user (e.g., 706) of the computer system (e.g., 101 and/or 700) is directed away from the user interface object (e.g., 916, 922, 926, and/or 932): in accordance with a determination that the gaze of the user (e.g., 706) of the computer system (e.g., 101 and/or 700) is directed away from the user interface object (e.g., 916, 922, 926, and/or 932) for at least a threshold amount of time, ceasing display of the user interface object (e.g., 916, 922, 926, and/or 932) within the high-fidelity display region (e.g., 902) of the display generation component (e.g., 702); and in accordance with a determination that the gaze of the user (e.g., 706) of the computer system (e.g., 101 and/or 700) is directed away from the user interface object (e.g., 916, 922, 926, and/or 932) for less than the threshold amount of time, maintaining display of the user interface object (e.g., 916, 922, 926, and/or 932) within the high-fidelity display region (e.g., 902) of the display generation component (e.g., 702). Ceasing display of the user interface object within the high-fidelity display region of the display generation component in response to detecting that the gaze of the user of the computer system is directed away from the user interface object allows a user to cause the computer system to perform an operation using their eyes, which reduces the burden for performing inputs when using a head-mounted device, provides the user with a more seamless experience when interacting with virtual objects, and enables the user to navigate the user interface more quickly and efficiently with fewer errors, thereby reducing the time and number of inputs required to perform an operation.
In some embodiments, while displaying the user interface object (e.g., 916, 922, 926, and/or 932) within the high-fidelity display region (e.g., 902) of the display generation component (e.g., 702), the computer system (e.g., 101 and/or 700) detects, via the one or more input devices, a request to scroll (e.g., gaze of user 706 as indicated by gaze indicator 908 in FIG. 9F) the user interface object (e.g., 916, 922, 926, and/or 932) based on the gaze of the user (e.g., 706) of the computer system (e.g., 101 and/or 700) (e.g., the computer system receives information indicating that the gaze of the user has moved and/or is otherwise directed to a location of the display generation component that is associated with a scroll operation) (in some embodiments, the request to scroll the user interface object includes the computer system receiving information indicating that the gaze of the user of the computer system is directed to a second user interface object of a plurality of user interface objects, where the plurality of user interface objects includes the user interface object); and in response to detecting the request to scroll the user interface object (e.g., 916, 922, 926, and/or 932) based on the gaze of the user (e.g., 706) of the computer system (e.g., 101 and/or 700), the computer system (e.g., 101 and/or 700) scrolls (e.g., as indicated by arrow 917) (e.g., translating and/or moving a portion of) the user interface object (e.g., 916, 922, 926, and/or 932) based on the gaze of the user (e.g., 706) of the computer system (e.g., 101 and/or 700). In some embodiments, in response to detecting the request to scroll the user interface object (e.g., 916, 922, 926, and/or 932) based on the gaze of the user (e.g., 706) of the computer system (e.g., 101 and/or 700): in accordance with a determination that the gaze of the user (e.g., 706) of the computer system (e.g., 101 and/or 700) is directed to a location of the display generation component (e.g., 702) that is associated with a scroll operation (e.g., a location of the gaze of user 706 indicated by gaze indicator 908 in FIG. 9F) for at least a threshold amount of time, scrolling the user interface object (e.g., 916, 922, 926, and/or 932) based on the gaze of the user (e.g., 706) of the computer system (e.g., 101 and/or 700); and in accordance with a determination that the gaze of the user (e.g., 706) of the computer system (e.g., 101 and/or 700) is directed to the location of the display generation component that is associated with the scroll operation (e.g., a location of the gaze of user 706 indicated by gaze indicator 908 in FIG. 9F) for less than the threshold amount of time, forgoing scrolling the user interface object (e.g., 916, 922, 926, and/or 932) based on the gaze of the user (e.g., 706) of the computer system (e.g., 101 and/or 700). Scrolling the user interface object in response to detecting the request to scroll the user interface object based on the gaze of the user of the computer system allows a user to cause the computer system to perform an operation using their eyes, which reduces the burden for performing inputs when using a head-mounted device, provides the user with a more seamless experience when interacting with virtual objects, and enables the user to navigate the user interface more quickly and efficiently with fewer errors, thereby reducing the time and number of inputs required to perform an operation.
In some embodiments, in accordance with a determination that the request to scroll the user interface object (e.g., 916, 922, 926, and/or 932) is based on the gaze of the user (e.g., 706) of the computer system (e.g., 101 and/or 700) directed to a first location (e.g., a location of the gaze of user 706 indicated by gaze indicator 908 in FIG. 9F) relative to the user interface object (e.g., 916, 922, 926, and/or 932) (e.g., the computer system receives information indicating that the gaze of the user is directed to a first location next to, adjacent to, and/or proximate a first boundary and/or first edge of the user interface object and/or the computer system receives information indicating that the gaze of the user is directed to a second user interface object of a plurality of user interface objects, where the plurality of user interface objects includes the user interface object), the computer system (e.g., 101 and/or 700) scrolls the user interface object (e.g., 916, 922, 926, and/or 932) with one or more first characteristics (e.g., a first magnitude, a first direction, and/or a first speed); and in accordance with a determination that the request to scroll the user interface object is based on the gaze of the user (e.g., 706) of the computer system (e.g., 101 and/or 700) directed to a second location (e.g., a location of the gaze of user 706 that is further to the left or to the right of the location indicated by gaze indicator 908 in FIG. 9F) relative to the user interface object (e.g., 916, 922, 926, and/or 932) (e.g., the computer system receives information indicating that the gaze of the user is directed to a second location next to, adjacent to, and/or proximate a second boundary and/or second edge of the user interface object and/or the computer system receives information indicating that the gaze of the user is directed to a third user interface object of the plurality of user interface objects, where the plurality of user interface objects includes the user interface object) that is different from the first location, the computer system (e.g., 101 and/or 700) scrolls the user interface object (e.g., 916, 922, 926, and/or 932) with one or more second characteristics (e.g., a second magnitude, a second direction, and/or a second speed) different from the one or more first characteristics. Scrolling the user interface object with one or more first characteristics when the gaze of the user of the computer system is directed to a first location relative to the user interface object and scrolling the user interface object with one or more second characteristics, different from the one or more first characteristics, when the gaze of the user of the computer system is directed to a second location relative to the user interface object that is different from the first location allows a user to cause the computer system to perform an operation using their eyes, which reduces the burden for performing inputs when using a head-mounted device, provides the user with a more seamless experience when interacting with virtual objects, and enables the user to navigate the user interface more quickly and efficiently with fewer errors, thereby reducing the time and number of inputs required to perform an operation.
In some embodiments, the computer system (e.g., 101 and/or 700) displays third information (e.g., 924, 930a, and/or 930b) (e.g., a third user interface and/or one or more third user interface objects associated with controlling functions and/or operations of the computer system, such as a control user interface of the computer system, status information and/or user interface objects associated with the computer system, applications of the computer system, date information, and/or time information) in a first portion (e.g., 904a, 904b, and/or 904c) (e.g., a first area and/or display segment) of the low-fidelity display region (e.g., 904, 904a, 904b, and/or 904c) of the display generation component (e.g., 702); and the computer system (e.g., 101 and/or 700) displays fourth information (e.g., 924, 930a, and/or 930b) (e.g., a fourth user interface and/or one or more fourth user interface objects associated with controlling functions and/or operations of the computer system, such as a control user interface of the computer system, status information and/or user interface objects associated with the computer system, applications of the computer system, date information, and/or time information), different from the third information (e.g., 924, 930a, and/or 930b), in a second portion (e.g., 904a, 904b, and/or 904c) (e.g., a second area and/or display segment) of the low-fidelity display region (e.g., 904, 904a, 904b, and/or 904c) of the display generation component (e.g., 702) (in some embodiments, the second portion of the low-fidelity display region of the display generation component that is separate from, distinct from, and/or does not overlap with the first portion of the low-fidelity display region of the display generation component). Displaying third information in a first portion of the low-fidelity display region of the display generation component and displaying fourth information in a second portion of the low-fidelity display region of the display generation component allows the computer system to display selectable user interface objects for performing respective functions without consuming additional battery power, thereby reducing an amount of power consumed by the computer system.
In some embodiments, the third information (e.g., 924, 930a, and/or 930b) includes an indication of a date (e.g., 924) (e.g., a day of the week, a day of a month, a month of the year, and/or a year) and an indication of time (e.g., 924) (e.g., a current time of day) or an indication of one or more notifications received at the computer system (e.g., notifications from one or more applications of the computer system, such as notifications including information about incoming messages, phone calls, real time communications, and/or information associated with a respective application of the computer system), and the fourth information (e.g., 924, 930a, and/or 930b) includes status information (e.g., 930a and/or 930b) related to the computer system (e.g., 101 and/or 700) (e.g., information about a connection to a wireless communication protocol, such as WiFi or Bluetooth, and/or information about an amount of battery power remaining for the computer system). The third information including an indication of a date and an indication of time or an indication of one or more notifications received at the computer system and the fourth information including status information related to the computer system allows the computer system to display information without consuming additional battery power, thereby reducing an amount of power consumed by the computer system.
In some embodiments, the first portion (e.g., 904a, 904b, and/or 904c) of the low-fidelity display region (e.g., 904, 904a, 904b, and/or 904c) of the display generation component (e.g., 702) corresponds to a home region (e.g., 904b) for navigating to a home user interface (e.g., 916) (e.g., an area of the low-fidelity display region of the display generation component that, when selected via user input (e.g., a gaze of the user directed to the home region for a non-zero amount of time), causes the computer system to launch, open, and/or otherwise display a home user interface) (in some embodiments, a home user interface includes one or more selectable user interface elements for opening corresponding applications) (in some embodiments, a home user interface includes one or more widgets, a dock including one or more selectable user interface elements, one or more application icons associated with respective applications of the computer system, and/or one or more application icons that include respective badges and/or indicators indicating recent and/or unread communications associated with a respective application), and the second portion (e.g., 904a, 904b, and/or 904c) of the low-fidelity display region (e.g., 904, 904a, 904b, and/or 904c) of the display generation component (e.g., 702) corresponds to an information region (e.g., 904a and/or 904c) for navigating to a status user interface (e.g., 926 and/or 932) (e.g., an area of the low-fidelity display region of the display generation component that, when selected via user input (e.g., a gaze of the user directed to the home region for a non-zero amount of time), causes the computer system to launch, open, and/or otherwise display a status user interface including information corresponding to a status or statuses of the computer system (e.g., information about a connection to a wireless communication protocol, such as WiFi or Bluetooth, and/or information about an amount of battery power remaining for the computer system)). The first portion of the low-fidelity display region of the display generation component corresponding to a home region for navigating to a home user interface and the second portion of the low-fidelity display region of the display generation component corresponding to an information region for navigating to a status user interface allows the computer system to display selectable user interface objects for performing respective functions without consuming additional battery power, thereby reducing an amount of power consumed by the computer system.
In some embodiments, in response to detecting the gaze of the user (e.g., 706) of the computer system (e.g., 101 and/or 700) directed toward the first portion (e.g., 904a, 904b, and/or 904c) of the low-fidelity display region (e.g., 904, 904a, 904b, and/or 904c) of the display generation component (e.g., 702), the computer system (e.g., 101 and/or 700) displays, via the one or more display generation components (e.g., 702), an animation (e.g., movement of gaze indicator 912a as illustrated in FIGS. 9D and 9E) (e.g., changing an appearance of a user interface object displayed within the home region and/or changing an appearance of the home region over time, such as increasing a brightness, increasing a size of the home region and/or a user interface object within the home region, and/or displaying movement of the home region and/or a user interface object within the home region) within the home region (e.g., 904b) indicating activation of the home user interface (e.g., 916) (e.g., displaying the animation indicates to the user of the computer system that the gaze of the user selected the home region and/or otherwise caused the computer system to display the home user interface). Displaying the animation within the home region indicating activation of the home user interface in response to detecting the gaze of the user of the computer system directed toward the first portion of the low-fidelity display region of the display generation component provides a visual indication to the user of the computer system that the home region has been activated, thereby providing improved visual feedback and enabling the user to navigate the user interface more quickly and efficiently with fewer errors, which reduces the time and number of inputs required to perform an operation.
In some embodiments, displaying the animation (e.g., movement of gaze indicator 912a shown in FIGS. 9D and 9E) within the home region (e.g., 904b) indicating activation of the home user interface (e.g., 916) includes the computer system (e.g., 101 and/or 700) displaying movement of a visual element (e.g., movement of gaze indicator 912a as shown in FIGS. 9D and 9E) (e.g., the home region itself and/or a user interface object displayed within the home region) within the home region (e.g., 904b) (e.g., changing a displayed position of the visual element over time) moving toward the high-fidelity display region (e.g., 902) of the display generation component (e.g., 702) (e.g., the home region and/or a user interface object displayed within the home region moves from the low-fidelity display region of the display generation component toward the high-fidelity display region of the display generation component over time). The animation including displaying movement of a visual element within the home region moving toward the high-fidelity display region of the display generation component provides a visual indication to the user of the computer system that the home region has been activated, thereby providing improved visual feedback and enabling the user to navigate the user interface more quickly and efficiently with fewer errors, which reduces the time and number of inputs required to perform an operation.
In some embodiments, prior to (e.g., before) detecting the gaze of the user (e.g., 706) of the computer system (e.g., 101 and/or 700) directed to the gaze target (e.g., 912a, 912b, and/or 912c) displayed within the low-fidelity display region (e.g., 904, 904a, 904b, and/or 904c) of the display generation component (e.g., 702), the computer system (e.g., 101 and/or 700) displays, via the display generation component (e.g., 702), the gaze target (e.g., 912a, 912b, and/or 912c) at a first size (e.g., the gaze target is displayed at a first size relative to the display generation component and/or relative to the low-fidelity display region of the display generation component before the gaze of the user is detected and/or determined to be directed to the low-fidelity display region of the display generation component); and in response to detecting the gaze of the user (e.g., 706) of the computer system (e.g., 101 and/or 700) moving into the low-fidelity display region (e.g., 904, 904a, 904b, and/or 904c) of the display generation component (e.g., 702) (e.g., the computer system receives information indicating that the gaze of the user has moved into and/or is otherwise directed to the low-fidelity display region), the computer system (e.g., 101 and/or 700) displays the gaze target (e.g., 912a, 912b, and/or 912c) at a second size (e.g., a second size relative to the display generation component and/or the low-fidelity display region of the display generation component) that is larger than the first size (e.g., the gaze target expands and/or increases from the first size to the second size when the computer system receives information indicating that the gaze of the user is directed to the low-fidelity display region of the display generation component). Displaying the gaze target at a first size prior to detecting the gaze of the user of the computer system directed to the gaze target within the low-fidelity display region of the display generation component and displaying the gaze target at a second size that is larger than the first size, in response to detecting the gaze of the user of the computer system moving into the low-fidelity display region of the display generation component provides a visual indication to the user of the computer system that the gaze target has been activated, thereby providing improved visual feedback and enabling the user to navigate the user interface more quickly and efficiently with fewer errors, which reduces the time and number of inputs required to perform an operation.
In some embodiments, while displaying the user interface object (e.g., 916, 922, 926, and/or 932) within the high-fidelity display region (e.g., 902) of the display generation component (e.g., 702), the computer system (e.g., 101 and/or 700) detects, via the one or more input devices, that the gaze of the user (e.g., 706) of the computer system (e.g., 101 and/or 700) is directed away from the user interface object (e.g., 916, 922, 926, and/or 932) (e.g., the computer system receives information indicating that the gaze of the user has moved from being directed to the user interface object to another location relative to the display generation component and/or that the gaze of the user is otherwise not directed to the user interface object); and in response to detecting that the gaze of the user (e.g., 706) of the computer system (e.g., 101 and/or 700) is directed away from the user interface object (e.g., 916, 922, 926, and/or 932), the computer system (e.g., 101 and/or 700) displays, via the display generation component (e.g., 702), a fading out animation (e.g., content 922 fading out as shown in FIGS. 91-9K) of the user interface object (e.g., 916, 922, 926, and/or 932) within the high-fidelity display region (e.g., 902) of the display generation component (e.g., 702) (e.g., displaying the user interface object fading away from display, such as reducing a brightness of the user interface object over time, dimming the user interface object over time, and/or causing the user interface object to gradually cease to be displayed). Displaying the fading out animation of the user interface object within the high-fidelity display region of the display generation component in response to detecting that the gaze of the user of the computer system is directed away from the user interface object provides a visual indication to the user of the computer system that the user interface object is ceasing to be displayed, thereby providing improved visual feedback and enabling the user to navigate the user interface more quickly and efficiently with fewer errors, which reduces the time and number of inputs required to perform an operation.
In some embodiments, displaying the fading out animation (e.g., content 922 fading out as shown in FIGS. 91-9K) of the user interface object (e.g., 916, 922, 926, and/or 932) includes the computer system (e.g., 101 and/or 700) displaying the user interface object (e.g., 916, 922, 926, and/or 932) gradually fading (e.g., reducing a brightness of the user interface object over a respective amount time, dimming the user interface object over a respective amount of time, and/or causing the user interface object to cease to be displayed over a respective amount of time) from display within the high-fidelity display region (e.g., 902) of the display generation component (e.g., 702). The fading out animation of the user interface object including displaying the user interface object gradually fading from display within the high-fidelity display region of the display generation component provides a visual indication to the user of the computer system that the user interface object is ceasing to be displayed, thereby providing improved visual feedback and enabling the user to navigate the user interface more quickly and efficiently with fewer errors, which reduces the time and number of inputs required to perform an operation.
In some embodiments, after detecting the gaze of the user (e.g., 706) of the computer system (e.g., 101 and/or 700) directed away from the user interface object (e.g., 916, 922, 926, and/or 932), the computer system (e.g., 101 and/or 700) detects, via the one or more input devices, that the gaze of the user (e.g., 706) of the computer system (e.g., 101 and/or 700) (e.g., a position and/or a location relative to the display generation component where a user of the computer system is looking, viewing, and/or has their eyes directed toward) is directed to (e.g., in a direction and/or focused at a position of) the high-fidelity display region (e.g., 902) of the display generation component (e.g., 702) (e.g., the user of the computer system is viewing, looking at, and/or has their eyes directed toward the high-fidelity display region of the display generation component for a threshold amount of time) (or, in some embodiments, receiving information from one or more input devices of the computer system that indicates a position and/or direction (e.g., relative to the display generation component) of a gaze of the user of the computer system is directed to the high-fidelity display region of the display generation component); and in response to detecting that the gaze of the user (e.g., 706) of the computer system (e.g., 101 and/or 700) is directed to the high-fidelity display region (e.g., 902) of the display generation component (e.g., 702): in accordance with a determination that the fading out animation is in progress (e.g., the fading out animation has not ended, the fading out animation is ongoing, the user interface object is still being displayed, and/or the user interface object has not been displayed for less than a threshold amount of time), the computer system (e.g., 101 and/or 700) displays a fading in animation (e.g., re-displaying content as shown in FIGS. 9K and 9L) (e.g., displaying the user interface object fading onto from display, such as increasing a brightness of the user interface object over time and/or causing the user interface object to gradually be re-displayed) of the user interface object (e.g., 916, 922, 926, and/or 932) so that the user interface object (e.g., 916, 922, 926, and/or 932) is displayed within the high-fidelity region (e.g., 902) of the display generation component (e.g., 702); and in accordance with a determination that the fading out animation has ended (e.g., the fading out animation is not ongoing, the user interface object is no longer displayed, and/or the user interface object has not been displayed for more than a threshold amount of time), the computer system (e.g., 101 and/or 700) forgoes display of the user interface object (e.g., 916, 922, 926, and/or 932) within the high-fidelity region (e.g., 902) of the display generation component (e.g., 702) (e.g., forgoing displaying the fading in animation of the user interface object and not displaying the user interface object). Displaying the fading in animation of the user interface object in accordance with a determination that the fading out animation is in progress and forgoing display of the user interface object within the high-fidelity region of the display generation component in accordance with a determination that the fading animation has ended allows the user to quickly re-display the user interface object when their attention is temporarily directed elsewhere, which reduces the number of inputs needed to perform an operation.
In some embodiments, aspects/operations of methods 800 and 1000 may be interchanged, substituted, and/or added between these methods. For brevity, these details are not repeated here.
The foregoing description, for purpose of explanation, has been described with reference to specific embodiments. However, the illustrative discussions above are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in view of the above teachings. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best use the invention and various described embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.
As described above, one aspect of the present technology is the gathering and use of data available from various sources to improve interactions with virtual objects. The present disclosure contemplates that in some instances, this gathered data may include personal information data that uniquely identifies or can be used to contact or locate a specific person. Such personal information data can include demographic data, location-based data, telephone numbers, email addresses, twitter IDs, home addresses, data or records relating to a user's health or level of fitness (e.g., vital signs measurements, medication information, exercise information), date of birth, or any other identifying or personal information.
The present disclosure recognizes that the use of such personal information data, in the present technology, can be used to the benefit of users. For example, the personal information data can be used to improve interactions with virtual objects. Further, other uses for personal information data that benefit the user are also contemplated by the present disclosure. For instance, health and fitness data may be used to provide insights into a user's general wellness, or may be used as positive feedback to individuals using technology to pursue wellness goals.
The present disclosure contemplates that the entities responsible for the collection, analysis, disclosure, transfer, storage, or other use of such personal information data will comply with well-established privacy policies and/or privacy practices. In particular, such entities should implement and consistently use privacy policies and practices that are generally recognized as meeting or exceeding industry or governmental requirements for maintaining personal information data private and secure. Such policies should be easily accessible by users, and should be updated as the collection and/or use of data changes. Personal information from users should be collected for legitimate and reasonable uses of the entity and not shared or sold outside of those legitimate uses. Further, such collection/sharing should occur after receiving the informed consent of the users. Additionally, such entities should consider taking any needed steps for safeguarding and securing access to such personal information data and ensuring that others with access to the personal information data adhere to their privacy policies and procedures. Further, such entities can subject themselves to evaluation by third parties to certify their adherence to widely accepted privacy policies and practices. In addition, policies and practices should be adapted for the particular types of personal information data being collected and/or accessed and adapted to applicable laws and standards, including jurisdiction-specific considerations. For instance, in the US, collection of or access to certain health data may be governed by federal and/or state laws, such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA); whereas health data in other countries may be subject to other regulations and policies and should be handled accordingly. Hence different privacy practices should be maintained for different personal data types in each country.
Despite the foregoing, the present disclosure also contemplates embodiments in which users selectively block the use of, or access to, personal information data. That is, the present disclosure contemplates that hardware and/or software elements can be provided to prevent or block access to such personal information data. For example, in the case of interacting with virtual objects using gaze, the present technology can be configured to allow users to select to “opt in” or “opt out” of participation in the collection of personal information data during registration for services or anytime thereafter. In another example, users can select not to provide data for interacting with virtual objects. In yet another example, users can select to limit the length of time data is maintained. In addition to providing “opt in” and “opt out” options, the present disclosure contemplates providing notifications relating to the access or use of personal information. For instance, a user may be notified upon downloading an app that their personal information data will be accessed and then reminded again just before personal information data is accessed by the app.
Moreover, it is the intent of the present disclosure that personal information data should be managed and handled in a way to minimize risks of unintentional or unauthorized access or use. Risk can be minimized by limiting the collection of data and deleting data once it is no longer needed. In addition, and when applicable, including in certain health related applications, data de-identification can be used to protect a user's privacy. De-identification may be facilitated, when appropriate, by removing specific identifiers (e.g., date of birth, etc.), controlling the amount or specificity of data stored (e.g., collecting location data a city level rather than at an address level), controlling how data is stored (e.g., aggregating data across users), and/or other methods.
Therefore, although the present disclosure broadly covers use of personal information data to implement one or more various disclosed embodiments, the present disclosure also contemplates that the various embodiments can also be implemented without the need for accessing such personal information data. That is, the various embodiments of the present technology are not rendered inoperable due to the lack of all or a portion of such personal information data. For example, interactions with virtual objects using gaze based on non-personal information data or a bare minimum amount of personal information, such as the content being requested by the device associated with a user, other non-personal information available to the service, or publicly available information.
