초록 ▼

A system for combining virtual images with images of the real world. A range scanner determines the shape and distance of real-world objects within a field of interest to the observer using the apparatus. Virtual masking objects, which are simplified computer models of real-world objects, are derive

A system for combining virtual images with images of the real world. A range scanner determines the shape and distance of real-world objects within a field of interest to the observer using the apparatus. Virtual masking objects, which are simplified computer models of real-world objects, are derived from the range data. Virtual entities that are not present in the real world are simulated in an electronic computer. Images of the virtual entities and the virtual masking objects are combined into masked virtual images. The masked virtual images show the portions of virtual entities that would be visible if these entities actually existed in the real world. The masked virtual images and images of the real world scene are combined in such a manner that the virtual images appear to be obscured, when appropriate for their simulated, virtual location by real-world objects. The resulting combined image is presented in an electronic or optical display.

대표청구항 ▼

[ We claim:] [1.] A system for combining virtual images with a real-world scene within a field of interest for an observer, said system comprising:a range scanner scanning the field of interest and generating range data indicating the distance of real-world objects within the field of interest;a com

[ We claim:] [1.] A system for combining virtual images with a real-world scene within a field of interest for an observer, said system comprising:a range scanner scanning the field of interest and generating range data indicating the distance of real-world objects within the field of interest;a computer model simulating a virtual entity and producing a virtual image of said virtual entity at a location within the field of interest;means for generating masked virtual objects from said range data and said virtual image indicating those portions of said virtual image that are visible in the field of interest;means for combining said masked virtual objects and a real-world image of the field of interest to create a combined image in which said virtual image appears in the real-world image; anddisplay means for displaying said combined image to the observer.