A device for recording the user's visual perception parameters

Abstract

This utility model relates to technical means for recording human visual perception parameters. The device for recording user visual perception parameters is a single-unit device and comprises a monitor for displaying visual stimulus material, a video camera, a computing module, and an infrared illumination unit. The video camera is mounted below the monitor along its central axis. The infrared illumination unit contains three infrared emitters, one central infrared emitter located coaxially with the optical axis of the video camera lens, and two side infrared emitters located symmetrically on either side of the video camera. The device is equipped with a controller capable of sequentially activating the left side, central, and right side infrared emitters, with each activation synchronized with the formation of a separate video frame by the video camera.In one embodiment, a central infrared emitter is mounted directly in front of the front lens of the video camera, coaxial with its optical axis. The technical result of this utility model is increased accuracy in determining the user's gaze direction and the stability of visual perception parameters as the user's head position relative to the screen changes.

Description

[0001] Technical field

[0002] The utility model relates to the field of technical means for recording and analyzing human visual perception and can be used in psychophysiological research, ergonomics, neuromarketing, education and other areas that require determining the direction of the user's gaze when interacting with a visual interface.

[0003] Technology Level

[0004] Devices are known for recording the parameters of a user's visual perception, containing a video camera, infrared radiation sources and computing means for processing images of the user's eyes, used to determine the direction of gaze when observing visual information on a screen.

[0005] In particular, a device for tracking the direction of gaze is known, disclosed in patent document EP 2236074 A1, in which the display is equipped with infrared radiation sources that form reflections from the user's eyes, and a video camera is used to record images of the eyes and subsequently analyze the parameters of visual perception.

[0006] Also known are solutions that use infrared radiation sources placed offset from the optical axis of the video camera to form images of the user's eye under various lighting conditions, which is described, for example, in patent document US 8944600 B2, which discloses an infrared illumination control system for eye tracking.

[0007] Furthermore, video-oculography devices are known in which a video camera and infrared radiation sources are used together to record eye movements and determine the direction of gaze, as described, for example, in patent document US 4973149 A.

[0008] However, known devices generally do not provide a strictly defined spatial geometry of infrared illumination relative to the optical axis of the video camera, combined with the sequential synchronized activation of multiple infrared sources, with each source corresponding to a separate video frame. This leads to a decrease in the stability of visual perception parameter recording when the user's head position changes and an increase in the error in determining gaze direction.

[0009] Problem of the utility model

[0010] The objective of the utility model is to create a device for recording the parameters of a user's visual perception, ensuring increased accuracy in determining the direction of gaze and increased stability in recording the parameters of visual perception when the position of the user's head changes relative to the screen.

[0011] Technical result

[0012] The technical result of the utility model is to increase the accuracy of determining the direction of the user's gaze and to increase the stability of recording the parameters of visual perception due to the strictly defined geometry of the infrared illumination and the synchronized control of the infrared radiation sources and the video camera.

[0013] The essence of the utility model

[0014] The device for recording the user's visual perception parameters is made in the form of a monoblock and contains a monitor for displaying visual stimulus material, a video camera, a computing module and an infrared illumination unit.

[0015] The video camera is installed under the monitor along its central axis, which ensures that the optical axis of the video camera is oriented towards the user when viewing the image on the screen.

[0016] The infrared illumination unit contains three infrared emitters, with one central infrared emitter located coaxially with the optical axis of the video camera lens, and two side infrared emitters located symmetrically on both sides of the video camera.

[0017] The device is equipped with a controller functionally linked to the video camera and infrared emitters, and capable of sequentially activating the left, central, and right infrared emitters. Each activation of the corresponding infrared emitter is synchronized with the formation of a single video frame by the video camera.

[0018] The coaxial position of the central infrared emitter relative to the optical axis of the video camera ensures symmetrical reflection of infrared radiation from the user's pupil, reducing systematic error in determining gaze direction. The symmetrical position of the side infrared emitters ensures the formation of infrared reflections at various illumination angles, improving the stability of visual perception recording as the user's head position changes.

[0019] The sequential synchronized activation of infrared emitters allows for the production of a sequence of video frames corresponding to different geometric lighting conditions of the user's eyes, which compensates for the influence of reflection asymmetry and external lighting factors.

[0020] Implementation of a utility model

[0021] To implement the utility model, a device is used, made in the form of a monoblock, containing a monitor, a video camera, an infrared illumination unit, a controller and a computing module.

[0022] The device is installed at the workstation so that the monitor is in front of the user. The user is positioned in front of the monitor at a distance that ensures their eyes are within the video camera's working area. After the device is turned on, visual stimuli are displayed on the monitor.

[0023] The controller activates the left, central, and right infrared emitters sequentially, synchronously with the generation of corresponding video frames by the camera. The resulting sequence of video frames is transmitted to the computing module, which processes the video frames and determines the user's visual perception parameters, including the direction of gaze relative to the monitor screen.

[0024] Variants of the utility model

[0025] In one embodiment, the infrared emitters are configured with a wavelength of approximately 850 nm, and the video camera is equipped with an optical filter that blocks radiation with a wavelength of less than 835 nm, which reduces the influence of visible light and increases the contrast of the image of the user's eye.

[0026] In another embodiment, the video camera is configured to generate a video sequence with a frequency of at least 250 frames per second, which increases the stability of determining the direction of gaze during rapid eye movements of the user.

[0027] In another variant, the sequential activation of the infrared emitters is carried out according to a three-step scheme, in which the left side, central and right side infrared emitters are sequentially activated, and the video camera generates video frames corresponding to them.

[0028] In one embodiment, the computing module is configured to process a sequence of video frames generated by sequential activation of infrared emitters to determine the direction of the user's gaze relative to the monitor screen, which ensures increased stability in determining the direction of gaze by using video frames obtained under different geometric conditions of infrared illumination of the user's eye.

[0029] In another embodiment, the computing module is configured to preliminarily determine the presence of a user's face in a video frame and exclude from processing video frames in which the user's face is absent, which increases the stability of recording visual perception parameters.

[0030] In another embodiment, the computing module is configured to determine the position of the user's head relative to the working area and to generate a feedback signal when the head goes beyond the specified area, which ensures that the position of the user's head is maintained within the area optimal for recording the parameters of visual perception, and thereby increases the accuracy and repeatability of determining the direction of gaze.

[0031] In another embodiment, the central infrared emitter is installed directly in front of the front lens of the video camera coaxially with its optical axis, while the emitting surface of the central infrared emitter is located within the field of view of the video camera, which ensures stable formation of reflections of infrared radiation from the user's eye.

Claims

1. A device for recording the parameters of a user's visual perception, made in the form of a monoblock, containing a monitor for displaying visual stimulus material, a video camera, a computing module and an infrared illumination unit, characterized in that the video camera is installed under the monitor along its central axis, the infrared illumination unit contains three infrared emitters, of which one central infrared emitter is located coaxially with the optical axis of the video camera lens, and two side infrared emitters are located symmetrically on both sides of the video camera, wherein the device is equipped with a controller functionally connected to the video camera and the said infrared emitters and configured with the possibility of alternately activating the left side, central and right side infrared emitters, wherein each activation of the corresponding infrared emitter is synchronized with the formation of a separate video frame by the video camera.

2. The device according to paragraph 1, characterized in that the infrared emitters are made with a radiation wavelength of about 850 nm, while the video camera is equipped with an optical filter that blocks radiation with a wavelength of less than 835 nm.

3. The device according to paragraph 1, characterized in that the video camera is designed with the ability to generate a video sequence with a frequency of at least 250 frames per second.

4. The device according to paragraph 1, characterized in that the sequential activation of the infrared emitters is carried out according to a three-stroke scheme, in which the left side, central and right side infrared emitters are sequentially activated, and the video camera generates video frames corresponding to them.

5. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the computing module is configured to process a sequence of video frames generated by sequential activation of infrared emitters, to determine the direction of the user’s gaze relative to the monitor screen.

6. The device according to paragraph 1, characterized in that the computing module is configured to preliminarily determine the presence of the user’s face in the video frame and exclude from processing video frames in which the user’s face is absent.

7. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the computing module is designed with the ability to determine the position of the user’s head relative to the working area and generate a feedback signal when the head goes beyond the specified area.

8. The device according to paragraph 1, characterized in that the central infrared emitter is installed directly in front of the front lens of the video camera coaxially with its optical axis, while the emitting surface of the central infrared emitter is located within the field of view of the video camera.