Display for virtual reality and augmented reality

Abstract

The current invention describes methods, techniques, devices, and apparatuses for graphics and display processing for virtual and augmented reality. In some examples, this disclosure describes a projection display system capable of rendering and displaying multiple virtual objects or virtual objects utilizing an estimated distance between a real world object and a user and adjusting a focus depth of said display system. In some examples, this disclosure proposes techniques for rendering and displaying multiple virtual objects or virtual objects at the same time at multiple different distances to a user.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for information display, the method comprising: determining a distance to an object; calculating a focus depth for displaying a first virtual object with a display based on the distance; and displaying, with the display, the first virtual object at the focus depth. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: determining an updated distance to the object; calculating an updated focus depth for displaying the first virtual object based on the updated distance; and displaying the first virtual object with the display at the updated focus depth. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising: determining respective focus depths for one or more additional virtual objects, the one or more additional virtual objects being different than the first virtual object; and displaying the one or more additional virtual objects at their respective focus depths. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said display is a projection display. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said projection display is a retinal projector. 
     
     
         6 . An apparatus for information display, the apparatus comprising: a data storage component configured to store virtual objects; and one or more processors configured to:
 determine a distance to an object; calculate a focus depth for displaying a first virtual object with a display based on the distance; and display the first virtual object at the focus depth.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein said one or more processors are further configured to:
 determine an updated distance to the object; calculate an updated focus depth for displaying the first virtual object based on the updated distance; and display the first virtual object with the display at the updated focal length.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein said one or more processors are further configured to:
 determine respective focal lengths for one or more additional virtual objects, the one or more additional virtual objects being different than the first virtual object; and display the one or more additional virtual objects at their respective focus depths.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein said one or more processors are configured to continuously determine the distance to the object; and wherein to calculate the focus depth, the one or more processors are configured to continuously calculate the focus depth based on the distance. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , further comprising: a display. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein said display is a projection display. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein said projection display is a retinal projector. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein said one or more processors include a data processor and an image processor. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein said image processor is configured to render the first virtual object. 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus for information display, the apparatus comprising: means for determining a distance to an object; means for calculating a focus depth for displaying a first virtual object with a display based on the distance; and means for displaying the first virtual object at the focus depth. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising: means for determining an updated distance to the object; means for calculating an updated focus depth for displaying the first virtual object based on the updated distance; and means for displaying the first virtual object with the display at the updated focus depth. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , further comprising: means for rendering the first virtual object at a plurality of appearances to a viewer. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , further comprising one or more processors to: determine a distance to an object; calculate a focus depth for displaying a first virtual object with a display based on the distance; and display the first virtual object at the focus depth.