Rendering visual emphasis proximate to virtual objects for augmented or virtual reality

Abstract

Configurations are disclosed for presenting virtual reality and augmented reality experiences to users. The system may comprise an image-generating source to provide one or more frames of image data in a time-sequential manner, a light modulator configured to transmit light associated with the one or more frames of image data, a substrate to direct image information to a user's eye, wherein the substrate houses a plurality of reflectors, a first reflector of the plurality of reflectors to reflect transmitted light associated with a first frame of image data at a first angle to the user's eye, and a second reflector to reflect transmitted light associated with a second frame of the image data at a second angle to the user's eye.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of driving an augmented reality display system, the method comprising:
 rendering a first virtual object at a location on a field of view of a user; and   rendering a visual emphasis at least spatially proximate the rendered first virtual object in the field of view of the user substantially concurrently with the rendering of the first virtual object.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein rendering a visual emphasis includes rendering the visual emphasis with an intensity gradient. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein rendering a visual emphasis includes rendering the visual emphasis with blurring proximate a perimeter of the visual emphasis. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein rendering a visual emphasis at least spatially proximate the rendered first virtual object includes rendering a halo visual effect spatially proximate the rendered first virtual object. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein rendering a halo visual effect spatially proximate the rendered first virtual object includes rendering the halo visual effect to be brighter than the rendered first virtual object. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4  wherein rendering the halo visual effect to be brighter than the rendered first virtual object is in response to a determination that the rendered first virtual object is darker than a threshold value of darkness. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4  wherein rendering a halo visual effect includes rendering the halo visual effect in a separate focal plane from the rendered first virtual object in a perceived three-dimensional space. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 4  wherein rendering a halo visual effect includes rendering the halo visual effect with an intensity gradient. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 4  wherein rendering a halo visual effect includes rendering the halo visual effect with an intensity gradient that matches a dark halo resulting from occlusion applied to the rendering of the first virtual object to compensate for a darkfield effect of the occlusion. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 4  wherein rendering a halo visual effect includes rendering the halo visual effect with blurring proximate a perimeter of the halo visual effect. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the rendered first visual object has a non-circular perimeter and the rendered halo visual effect conforms to the non-circular perimeter. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein rendering a visual emphasis at least spatially proximate the rendered first virtual object includes rendering the visual effect in a separate focal plane from the rendered first virtual object in a perceived three-dimensional space. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1  wherein rendering the visual effect in a separate focal plane from the rendered first virtual object in a perceived three-dimensional space includes rendering the visual effect in a focal plane spaced relative away from the user with respect to a focal plane in which the rendered first virtual object is rendered.