Occlusion using pre-generated 3d models for augmented reality

Abstract

To prevent virtual content from occluding physical objects in an augmented reality (AR) system, the embodiments herein describe generating a pass-through texture using a pre-generated model of a physical object. In one embodiment, the AR system determines the location of the physical object as well as its orientation. With this information, the system rotates and re-sizes the pre-generated model of the object to match its location and orientation in the real-world. The system then generates the pass-through texture from the pre-generated model and inserts the texture into the virtual content. When the virtual content is displayed, the pass-through texture permits light from the real-world view to pass through substantially unaffected by the virtual content. In this manner, the physical object (which aligns with the location of the pass-through texture in the virtual content) can be seen by the user—i.e., is not occluded by the virtual content.