Augmented reality viewer with automated surface selection placement and content orientation placement

Abstract

An augmented reality viewer is described. A user orientation determination module determines a user orientation. A content vector calculator calculates a content orientation vector relative to a near edge and a far edge of content, determines a dot product of the user orientation vector and the content orientation vector, and positions the content based on a magnitude of the dot product. A surface area vector calculator calculates a surface area orientation vector for each of a plurality of surface area. A surface selection module determines a dot product of the user orientation vector and each surface area orientation vector and selects a preferred surface based on the relative magnitude of the dot products.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . An augmented reality viewer comprising:
 a display that permits a user to see real world objects;   a data channel to hold content;   a surface area extraction module to determine a first surface area and a second surface area;   a user orientation determination module to determine a first user orientation vector indicative of a first orientation of a user relative to the first surface area and the second surface area;   a surface area selection module to select a preferred surface area between the first surface area of the second surface area based on normal to the respective surface area being directed more opposite to the first user orientation of the user, including a surface area vector calculator to a calculate a first surface area orientation vector indicative of an orientation of the first surface area and a second surface area orientation vector indicative of an orientation of the second surface area, wherein the surface area selection module determines a dot product of the first user orientation vector and the first surface area orientation vector and a dot product of the first user orientation vector and the second surface area orientation vector and selects the preferred surface area based on a relative magnitude of the dot product of the first user orientation vector and the first surface area orientation vector and the dot product of first user orientation vector and the second surface area orientation vector; and   a projector that displays the content through the display to the user within confines of the preferred surface area while the user views the real world objects.   
     
     
         2 . The augmented reality viewer of  claim 1 , wherein the first surface area orientation vector is normal to the first surface area and the second surface area orientation vector is normal to the second surface area and the preferred surface area is selected based on the dot product that is the most negative in magnitude. 
     
     
         3 . The augmented reality viewer of  claim 1 , wherein the user position and user orientation determination module determines a second user orientation vector indicative a second orientation of the user and the surface area selection module determines a dot product of the second user orientation vector and the first surface area orientation vector and a dot product of the second user orientation vector and the second surface area orientation vector and selects the preferred surface area based on a relative magnitude of the dot product of the second user orientation vector and the first surface area orientation vector and the dot product of the second user orientation vector and the second surface area orientation vector. 
     
     
         4 . The augmented reality viewer of  claim 3 , wherein the user remains in the same position relative to the first surface area and the second surface area when the first user orientation changes to the second user orientation. 
     
     
         5 . The augmented reality viewer of  claim 3 , wherein the user moves from a first position to a second position relative to the first surface area and the second surface area when the first user orientation changes to the second user orientation. 
     
     
         6 . The augmented reality viewer of  claim 3 , wherein the preferred surface area remains the same when the user orientation vector changes from the first user orientation vector to the second user orientation vector. 
     
     
         7 . The augmented reality viewer of  claim 3 , wherein the preferred surface changes from the first surface to the second surface when the user orientation vector changes from the first user orientation vector to the second user orientation vector. 
     
     
         8 . The augmented reality viewer of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a size determination module that resizes the content in the preferred surface to fit the second surface area.   
     
     
         9 . The augmented reality viewer of  claim 8 , wherein the content has the same aspect ratio in the first surface area and in the second surface area. 
     
     
         10 . An augmented reality viewing method comprising:
 determining, by a processor, a first surface area and a second surface area;   determining, by the processor, a first user orientation vector indicative of a first orientation of a user relative to the first surface area and the second surface area;   selecting, by the processor, a preferred surface area between the first surface area of the second surface area based on normal to the respective surface area being directed more towards the first location of the user, including calculating a first surface area orientation vector indicative of an orientation of the first surface area and a second surface area orientation vector indicative of an orientation of the second surface area, determining a dot product of the first user orientation vector and the first surface area orientation vector and a dot product of the first user orientation vector and the second surface area orientation vector, and selecting the preferred surface area based on a relative magnitude of the dot product of the first user orientation vector and the first surface area orientation vector and the dot product of first user orientation vector and the second surface area orientation vector; and   displaying, by the processor, content through a display to the user within confines of the preferred surface area while the user views real world objects through the display from the first location.