Abstract: Parallax views of objects are used to generate 3D depth maps of the objects using time of flight (TOF) information. In this way, the deleterious effects of multipath interference can be reduced to improve 3D depth map accuracy without using computationally intensive algorithms.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus providing a head-mounted display to be worn by the user and presenting a video to the user through the head-mounted display; measuring outside world information via an outside world measurement section of the head mounted display; detecting, via a notification information detection section, whether or not the information measured by the outside world measurement section contains any notification information to be notified to the user, including that the notification information detection section detects at least one reference position, which is set by the user as notification information; and notifying the user, via a notification section, when the notification information detection section detects notification information by way of displaying a video of the at least one reference position to the user in the head-mounted display.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a rotation transmitting device which permits the transmission of rotation with a reduced play and which permits the constituents to be aligned easily. The rotation transmitting device has a transmitting member (30) which surrounds a rotating part (12) of a drive shaft (11) and a rotating part (22) of a driven shaft (21). At least either the rotating part (12) of the drive shaft (11) or the rotating part (22) of the driven shaft (21) has an external surface that comes into contact with the internal surface of the transmitting member (30) so that friction arising between the internal surface and the external surface achieves torque transmission and reception to and from the transmitting member (30).

Abstract: An acoustic-based Direction of Arrival (DoA) system uses acoustic information to determine the direction of incoming sound, such as a person talking. The direction of the sound is then used to focus a laser-based time of flight (ToF) system to narrow the area of laser illumination, improving the signal to noise ratio because laser illumination is focused on the direction of the sound. The DoA system also provides elevation information pertaining to the source of the sound, to further narrow the required field of view of the laser ToF system.

Abstract: In a head-mounted display for blocking out an outside world from a user's vision when worn by the user to present a video, an outside world measurement section measures outside world information. A notification information detection section detects whether or not the information measured by the outside world measurement section contains any notification information to be notified to the user. A notification section notifies the user when the notification information detection section detects notification information.

Abstract: To reduce the random noise in a depth map that is rendered using colors to convey the various depths, pattern recognition may be used to selectively apply noise reduction or to modulate the strength of the noise reduction. In this way, the potential adverse effect on the detail/sharpness of the image can be ameliorated. For example, in an image of a person, the skin does not have any sharp edges so noise reduction can be applied to such an image with little adverse consequence, whereas noise reduction applied to the image of a person's eye can cause loss of the detail of the iris, eyelashes, etc. Using pattern recognition on objects in the image, the appropriate level of noise reduction can be applied across an image while minimizing blurring/loss of detail.

Abstract: Each of plural devices includes a laser emitter and a camera for detecting reflections of laser light emitted by the device, so that plural of the devices can generate their own depth maps showing images within the field of view of their cameras. The resulting 3D depth maps from multiple cameras at potentially arbitrary locations can be aggregated to create a more accurate 3D depth map of the area covered by all the individual cameras. Each device/camera may be assigned a unique identification such as a unique number and a mechanism to identify, either electronically or visually, devices in its field of view. Using this information, the relative locations of the cameras can be calculated for purposes of aggregating the multiple depth maps.

Abstract: In a head-mounted display for presenting a video by shielding an outside world from a field of view of a user when mounted on the user, an information presentation block presents information including audio and a moving image to the field of view of the user; a video reproduction block reproduces a video of content; a camera takes a video of the outside world; a switching block selectively switches between the video of the content and the video of the outside world and causes the selected video to be presented onto the information presentation block; and a gain control block, when the switching block switches from the video of the content to the video of the outside world, gradually increases a brightness of the video of the outside world.

Abstract: Each of plural devices includes a laser emitter and a camera for detecting reflections of laser light emitted by the device, so that plural of the devices can generate their own depth maps showing images within the field of view of their cameras. The resolution of each depth map may be improved by accessing a data store of prior images of objects and combining the prior images using super-resolution with current images of the depth maps.

Abstract: Machine learning is applied to both 2D images from an infrared imager imaging laser reflections from an object and to the 3D depth map of the object that is generated using the 2D images and time of flight (TOF) information. In this way, the 3D depth map accuracy can be improved without increasing laser power or using high resolution imagers.

Abstract: The present technology enables a user wearing a head-mounted display having a display section provided in front of the eyes of the user to directly check a state in front of the user. A head-mounted display includes: a display section; a casing supporting the display section in front of eyes of a user; and an optical system supported by the casing, the optical system allowing the user to view an image of an object disposed in a rear of the display section as viewed from the user.

Abstract: A micro mirror assembly widens the field of view (FOV) of a 3D depth map sensor, alleviating the limitation of limited laser illumination power and limitations on the resolution of the available imaging device.

Abstract: To reduce the random noise in a depth map that is rendered using colors to convey the various depths, pattern recognition may be used to selectively apply noise reduction or to modulate the strength of the noise reduction. In this way, the potential adverse effect on the detail/sharpness of the image can be ameliorated. For example, in an image of a person, the skin does not have any sharp edges so noise reduction can be applied to such an image with little adverse consequence, whereas noise reduction applied to the image of a person's eye can cause loss of the detail of the iris, eyelashes, etc. Using pattern recognition on objects in the image, the appropriate level of noise reduction can be applied across an image while minimizing blurring/loss of detail.

Abstract: Each of plural devices includes a laser emitter and a camera for detecting reflections of laser light emitted by the device, so that plural of the devices can generate their own depth maps showing images within the field of view of their cameras. The resulting 3D depth maps from multiple cameras at potentially arbitrary locations can be aggregated to create a more accurate 3D depth map of the area covered by all the individual cameras. Each device/camera may be assigned a unique identification such as a unique number and a mechanism to identify, either electronically or visually, devices in its field of view. Using this information, the relative locations of the cameras can be calculated for purposes of aggregating the multiple depth maps.

Abstract: A camera based depth mapping system. Depth information is coded with colors to make a laser-generated 3D depth map easier to interpret. In the event that the laser illumination is not sufficient, the depth information can have a low signal to noise ratio, i.e., the depth map can be noisy. Color noise reduction techniques are used to alleviate this problem.

Abstract: Multiple camera systems which use laser illumination for ranging benefit from a heartbeat to synchronize the timing of the individual lasers to eliminate collisions of multiple simultaneous laser emissions. An optical micromesh system provides for the dynamic entry and egress of mobile and stationary nodes. The optical communication between nodes may be controlled using time domain multiplexing (TDM) to avoid cross talk and communication collision due to overlapping laser illumination. By using an optical, laser based micromesh network, laser ranging can be used to dynamically map node location.

Abstract: Range to a human speaker is determined using a laser-based time of flight (ToF) system, with the range then being used to adjust the gain of a microphone receiving the speaker's voice. If desired, an acoustic-based Direction of Arrival (DoA) system uses acoustic information to determine the direction of incoming sound, such as a person talking, and the direction of the sound is then used to focus the area of laser illumination.

Abstract: In a head-mounted display for presenting a video by shielding an outside world from a field of view of a user when mounted on the user, an information presentation block presents information including audio and a moving image to the field of view of the user; a video reproduction block reproduces a video of content; a camera takes a video of the outside world; a switching block selectively switches between the video of the content and the video of the outside world and causes the selected video to be presented onto the information presentation block; and a gain control block, when the switching block switches from the video of the content to the video of the outside world, gradually increases a brightness of the video of the outside world.

Abstract: In a head-mounted display for blocking out an outside world from a user's vision when worn by the user to present a video, an outside world measurement section measures outside world information. A notification information detection section detects whether or not the information measured by the outside world measurement section contains any notification information to be notified to the user. A notification section notifies the user when the notification information detection section detects notification information.

Abstract: Audio spatial effects are provided using a spherical array of ultrasonic speakers, with the azimuth angle and, if desired, elevation angle demanded by a control signal from, for example, a game console being matched to the sonic axis of one of the speakers in the array to activate the matching speaker.