Sony patents PSVR headset with built-in cameras
A Sony patent application has been published for a PlayStation VR headset. The application shows wireless VR glasses with built-in motion detection cameras. Also mentioned are new controllers with built-in cameras.
The patent application was discovered by LetsGoDigital, the site that earlier this year already found the patent application surrounding the possible design of the PlayStation 5 or a devkit of that console. The now found application shows a PlayStation VR headset with three built-in cameras: two on the front and one on the back. Several modern VR glasses such as the Oculus Rift S use cameras for motion detection, but do not contain a camera on the back. The new PSVR headset, like the current PSVR glasses, has some built-in LEDs that are used to register movements.
The PSVR glasses described would use a separate camera, which should be similar to the current PlayStation Camera and Xbox Kinect. In the patent text, Sony speaks of a camera that ‘can capture consecutive images of optically detectable indicators’. This probably refers to the built-in LEDs on the VR glasses. The images from this separate camera are analyzed to determine the position of the built-in LEDs, in order to register the movements of gamers and convert them into digital movement. The current PSVR also uses a separate camera that follows the LEDs of the VR glasses for positional tracking.
Sony mentions the possibility to use the VR glasses wirelessly. Sony talks about several technologies that can be used when creating a wireless connection, including bluetooth. This does not mean that Sony will actually use bluetooth, since the bandwidth of bluetooth is too low for that. The described headset can also be connected to a console via a cable.
The new VR glasses also offer a ‘transparent mode’. By means of the cameras on the front of the VR glasses, the real world can be displayed on the screens of the headset. The images from these cameras can be displayed simultaneously, which should provide a stereoscopic 3D image. This mode could possibly be used for playing augmented reality games.
The patent application contains images of new controllers. These are somewhat similar to the current PlayStation Move controllers. According to the patent, the new controllers will be equipped with a built-in camera that can be used to improve positioning.
Sony may have applied for a patent for a new PSVR headset that may be in development for, for example, the upcoming PlayStation 5. Sony previously indicated that the PlayStation 5 is compatible with current PSVR headsets. It is not known whether Sony is actually working on new VR glasses. Companies apply for patents on a large scale and most techniques that are patented do not end up in products.