Eyeglass lenses with eye tracking components
Patent Information
- Application Number
- JP2024509033
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2021-09-29
- Filing Date
- 2022-09-01
- Publication Date
- 2025-06-30
- Estimated Expiration
- 2042-09-01
AI Technical Summary
Incorporating gaze measurement components into wearable devices, such as eyeglasses, results in bulkiness, obstructed field of view, complex setup, and limited manufacturing options, affecting usability, safety, and aesthetic appeal.
A line-of-sight measurement device with lenses, light sources, and sensors placed along the periphery, connected to a processor, allowing for accurate gaze measurement without significantly altering the device's size or shape, using flexible printed circuit boards or conductive adhesives for connections.
The solution enables unobtrusive, efficient, and reliable gaze measurement in wearable devices with minimal impact on size and appearance, maintaining aesthetic value and reducing power consumption.
Smart Images

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Abstract
Description
[Technical field]
[0001] The subject matter disclosed in this application (hereinafter referred to as the present disclosure) relates to an eye tracker. The present disclosure also relates to a method for manufacturing an eye tracker. The present disclosure also relates to a method for making a lens for use in an eye tracker.
[0002] Eye tracking (also called "eye tracking" or "gaze tracking") has come to be used in a variety of fields, such as academic research, medical research, military, human-computer interaction, the gaming industry, aviation, and automation. In such a wide range of application fields, there is a need for eye trackers that are lightweight, compact, and capable of accurate gaze measurement. Wearable devices are becoming a promising platform on which eye trackers can be mounted.
[0003] However, there are various design challenges. Incorporating gaze tracking functionality into a wearable device tends to make the wearable device unwieldy and bulky. Incorporating gaze tracking components (including light sources and cameras) into a wearable device can partially block the user's view, negatively impacting usability and safety. In addition, employing multiple components complicates the setup and makes manufacturing difficult. In addition, it negatively impacts the aesthetics of the wearable device.
[0004] In the current approach, the gaze tracking component is integrated into the eyeglass frame. Therefore, eyeglass frame manufacturers need to consider how to integrate the gaze tracking component into the eyeglass frame. The integration of the gaze tracking component into the eyeglass frame requires detailed manufacturing know-how, and manufacturers have limited options for materials and manufacturing processes to manufacture such eyeglass frames.
[0005] Because the eyeglass frame industry is fashion and design driven, utilizing a vast network of subcontractors to manufacture eyeglasses in a wide variety of shapes and materials using a variety of techniques, the specialized requirements of incorporating eye tracking components into frames limits the number of options available to users.
[0006] Traditionally, cameras have been used for eye tracking. However, data processing related to camera images is power intensive. This challenge can be partly solved by dedicated devices such as extended reality (XR) headsets and smart glasses that include custom-designed processing elements and displays separate from the camera.
[0007] In light of these discussions, there exists a need to overcome the aforementioned challenges associated with incorporating eye gaze tracking functionality into wearable devices.
[0008] The present disclosure seeks to provide an eye gaze measurement device. The present disclosure also seeks to provide a method for manufacturing an eye gaze measurement device. The present disclosure also seeks to provide a method for making lenses for use in an eye gaze measurement device. The present disclosure also seeks to provide a solution to the existing problems of eye gaze measurement in wearable devices.
[0009] According to a first aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides an eye gaze measurement device. at least one lens for each eye, a first surface of the at least one lens facing an eye of the user when the eye gaze measurement device is worn by the user; a frame holding said at least one lens; at least one light source disposed along a periphery of the first surface of the at least one lens; a plurality of sensors disposed along the periphery of the first surface of the at least one lens; a processor coupled to the at least one light source and to the plurality of sensors; and wherein the processor: controlling the at least one light source to project light toward an eye of the user; controlling a plurality of sensors to sense reflections of light from an eye surface of the user; processing sensor data relating to the sensed reflection to determine a user's gaze direction; The present invention is configured to carry out the following steps:
[0010] According to a second aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a method for manufacturing an eye gaze measurement device, the method comprising: Cutting the lenses to fit the frame; disposing at least one light source along a periphery of the first surface of the lens; wherein the first surface of the lens faces an eye of the user when the eye tracking device is worn by the user, and the method further comprises: disposing a plurality of sensors along the periphery of the first surface of the lens; providing connections between the at least one light source and the plurality of sensors; mounting the lenses in the frames; coupling said at least one light source and said plurality of sensors to a processor using said connection means; said processor; controlling the at least one light source to project light toward an eye of the user; controlling a plurality of sensors to sense reflections of light from an eye surface of the user; processing sensor data relating to the sensed reflection to determine a user's gaze direction; and Includes.
[0011] According to a third aspect, certain embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method of making a lens for use in an eye tracking device, the method comprising: cutting a lens to fit a shape of a frame of the eye tracking device; disposing at least one light source along a periphery of the first surface of the lens; disposing a plurality of sensors along the periphery of the first surface of the lens; providing connection means to said at least one light source and to said plurality of sensors; Includes.
[0012] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present disclosure substantially eliminates or at least partially addresses the aforementioned problems in the prior art by providing an eye gaze measuring device that can be easily, reliably, and efficiently integrated into existing wearable devices without appreciably impacting the overall size and shape of the wearable device, and that is unobtrusive to a user, allowing the aesthetic value of the wearable device to be maintained.
[0013] Further aspects, advantages, features and objects of the present disclosure will become apparent from the accompanying drawings and detailed description of illustrative embodiments, taken in conjunction with the appended claims.
[0014] It will also be appreciated that features of the present disclosure can be combined in various combinations without departing from the scope defined by the appended claims. [Brief description of the drawings]
[0015] The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the disclosure, example configurations of the disclosure are shown in the drawings. However, the disclosure is not limited to the specific methods and apparatus disclosed therein. Also, the drawings are not drawn to scale. Similar elements are designated by the same numerals wherever possible. Embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following drawings, in which: [Figure 1] 1 illustrates a lens made for use in an eye tracking device, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Diagram 2] 1 illustrates another lens configured for use in an eye tracking device, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a portion of an eye gaze measurement device in operation, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 4] 1 illustrates an eye gaze measurement device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Diagram 5] 1 illustrates another gaze measurement device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 6] 1 illustrates yet another gaze measurement device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 7] 1 illustrates yet another gaze measurement device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 8] 1 illustrates yet another gaze measurement device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 9A] 5 illustrates steps of a method for manufacturing an eye gaze measurement device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 9B] 1 illustrates steps of a method for manufacturing an eye tracking device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In the accompanying drawings, underlined numbers are used to represent the item at which the number is located or adjacent to the number. Numbers without underlines are associated with the item identified by the line extending from the number. When a number is not underlined and is written with an arrow, the number is used to identify the item to which the arrow points. Detailed Description of the Embodiments
[0016] The following detailed description illustrates embodiments of the present disclosure and how they may be practiced. Although several forms for carrying out the present disclosure have been disclosed, those skilled in the art will recognize that other forms for carrying out the present disclosure are possible.
[0017] According to a first aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides an eye gaze measurement device. at least one lens for each eye, a first surface of the at least one lens facing an eye of the user when the eye gaze measurement device is worn by the user; a frame holding said at least one lens; at least one light source disposed along a periphery of the first surface of the at least one lens; a plurality of sensors disposed along the periphery of the first surface of the at least one lens; a processor coupled to the at least one light source and to the plurality of sensors; and wherein the processor: controlling the at least one light source to project light toward an eye of the user; controlling a plurality of sensors to sense reflections of light from an eye surface of the user; processing sensor data relating to the sensed reflection to determine a user's gaze direction; The present invention is configured to carry out the following steps:
[0018] According to a second aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a method for manufacturing an eye gaze measurement device, the method comprising: Cutting the lenses to fit the frame; disposing at least one light source along a periphery of the first surface of the lens; wherein the first surface of the lens faces an eye of the user when the eye tracking device is worn by the user, and the method further comprises: disposing a plurality of sensors along the periphery of the first surface of the lens; providing connection means to said at least one light source and to said plurality of sensors; mounting the lenses in the frames; coupling said at least one light source and said plurality of sensors to a processor using said connection means; said processor; controlling the at least one light source to project light toward an eye of the user; controlling a plurality of sensors to sense reflections of light from an eye surface of the user; processing sensor data relating to the sensed reflection to determine a user's gaze direction; and Includes.
[0019] According to a third aspect, certain embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method of making a lens for use in an eye tracking device, the method comprising: cutting a lens to fit a shape of a frame of the eye tracking device; disposing at least one light source along a periphery of the first surface of the lens; disposing a plurality of sensors along the periphery of the first surface of the lens; providing connection means to said at least one light source and to said plurality of sensors; Includes.
[0020] According to the embodiments of the present disclosure, the gaze measurement device can be advantageously implemented in an existing wearable device in a simple, reliable and efficient manner. The incorporation of the gaze measurement device into an existing wearable device according to the embodiments of the present disclosure has a negligible impact on the overall size and shape of the wearable device. The at least one light source and the multiple sensors can be retrofitted to any wearable device (e.g., glasses or sunglasses), so that the gaze measurement device can be worn like normal glasses or sunglasses. By disposing the at least one light source and the multiple sensors in the peripheral area, it is not noticeable to the user and the aesthetic value of the wearable device is maintained. The gaze measurement device is lightweight and has a compact shape. In addition, the gaze measurement device can perform accurate gaze measurement with low power consumption.
[0021] Throughout this disclosure, the term "wearable device" refers to an article worn over a user's eyes. Such wearable devices may be worn for a variety of purposes, such as, for example, fashion or decoration, environmental protection, or presenting an augmented reality scene to a user. Examples of such wearable devices include, but are not limited to, eyeglasses, sunglasses, smart glasses, head mounted displays, etc.
[0022] In some embodiments, at least one lens of the eye tracking device has an optical power prescribed for the user's eye, allowing the eye tracking device to be customized according to the user's visual acuity. The optical power may not completely correct the user's visual acuity, but may be selected to suit the user's needs.
[0023] In some embodiments, at least one lens of the eye tracking device is a sunglasses lens. Such embodiments allow a user to easily use the eye tracking device in outdoor environments and are aesthetically pleasing.
[0024] The lenses can be made of one of the following: glass, polycarbonate, plastic, or high index plastic. The lenses can have at least one of the following coatings: anti-reflective, anti-scratch, photochromic, UV-blocking, and polarizing.
[0025] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the lens serves as a base on which at least one light source and a number of sensors are directly disposed. Hereinafter, these light sources and sensors are collectively referred to as "gaze measurement components" for convenience. As mentioned above, the lens is cut to fit the shape of the frame before disposing the gaze measurement components on the periphery of the first surface of the lens.
[0026] Throughout this specification, the term "periphery" refers to the region adjacent to the edge of the first surface. In some embodiments, this region may be on the first surface itself. In some embodiments, this region may be perpendicular to the first surface. In some embodiments, the width of this region ranges from 0.01 millimeters to 5 millimeters. For example, the width of this region may be from 0.01, 0.05, 0.1, 0.25, 0.5, 1 millimeter to 0.1, 0.5, 1, 2.5, or 5 millimeters.
[0027] In some embodiments, the at least one light source and the plurality of sensors are arranged along the periphery of the first surface using a flexible printed circuit board. The flexible printed circuit board provides a means of connection to the at least one light source and the plurality of sensors. The flexible printed circuit board can be formed by screen printing conductive tracks using functional inks onto a thin sheet of flexible material. Examples of such flexible materials include, but are not limited to, polyimides such as Kapton® and Cirlex®, polyesters, polycarbonates, and the like. The flexible printed circuit board is preferably formed to conform to the shape of the periphery. Technical advantages of using a flexible printed circuit board include the elimination of connectors and cables, reducing manufacturing costs and time, and enabling reliable electrical connections and communication.
[0028] Alternatively, in some embodiments, in the gaze measurement device, the at least one light source and the plurality of sensors are disposed along the periphery of the first surface using a conductive adhesive. The connection to the at least one light source and the plurality of sensors is provided by wires printed on the periphery of the first surface. Examples of such conductive adhesives include, but are not limited to, silver conductive epoxy adhesives, nickel conductive epoxy adhesives, conductive silicone adhesives, and the like. A technical advantage of using a conductive adhesive is that its properties (such as curing temperature) can be adapted to the specific material of the lens, improving fatigue resistance.
[0029] It will be appreciated that the connection means can be implemented in various ways. As an example, the connection means can be implemented as a bundle of wires. As another example, the connection means can be implemented as aligned anisotropic nanowires of a metal or metal alloy. Examples of highly conductive metals are silver, gold, copper, aluminum, etc. As yet another example, the connection means can be implemented as a transparent electrode layer. Such a transparent electrode layer may be made, for example, of indium tin oxide (ITO) or doped zinc oxide (ZnO). The ZnO is doped with aluminum or hydrogen.
[0030] It will be appreciated that such connection means provide power for operation to the gaze measurement components (i.e. at least one light source and a number of sensors) and enable communication between the processor and the gaze measurement components. Such connections are provided without compromising the aesthetic design of the wearable device. To this end, a power source providing power as well as the processor can be located at any suitable position on the frame of the gaze measurement device. As an example, the power source can be located at the temple end of the frame. As another example, the processor can be located at the bridge of the frame.
[0031] In some embodiments, the gaze measurement device comprises a wireless communication interface, enabling the processor to transmit sensor data or information related to the user's gaze direction to an external device.
[0032] In some embodiments, the sensor data is in the form of an image representative of features of the user's eye, which may include at least one of: a pupil shape of the user's eye, a pupil size, a corneal reflection of at least one light source from a surface of the user's eye, a relative position of the pupil to the corneal reflection, and a relative position of the pupil to the corner of the user's eye.
[0033] In some embodiments, when processing the sensor data, the processor is configured to process the images to determine eye characteristics of the user, and to determine a gaze direction of the user's eyes based on the eye characteristics of the user.
[0034] In some embodiments, in the gaze measurement device, the light emitted by the at least one light source is infrared light. In other words, the at least one light source and the plurality of sensors may operate with infrared light and can be implemented as at least one infrared light source and a plurality of infrared sensors. Infrared light is invisible to the user's eyes and is not sensed by the user, so it is suitable for the purpose of gaze measurement.
[0035] In some embodiments, the light emitted by the at least one light source is ultraviolet light. In such a case, the at least one light source and the plurality of sensors may, in some embodiments, operate with ultraviolet light and be implemented as at least one ultraviolet light source and a plurality of ultraviolet sensors. In this case, the ultraviolet light is selected to have a wavelength range that is not harmful to the human eye. For example, the ultraviolet light is selected to have a wavelength range of 315 nm to 400 nm.
[0036] As a further alternative, the light emitted by the at least one light source may be visible light in the visible portion of the spectrum.
[0037] The present disclosure also relates to a method of the second aspect and a method of the third aspect, the various embodiments and variants disclosed above with respect to the first aspect apply mutatis mutandis to both methods.
[0038] In some embodiments, in these methods, the at least one light source and the plurality of sensors are positioned along a periphery of the first surface of the lens using a flexible printed circuit board, the flexible printed circuit board also providing a connection means.
[0039] In some embodiments, in these methods, the at least one light source and the plurality of sensors are disposed along a periphery of the first surface of the lens using a conductive adhesive, and the connection means is provided by printing wires on the periphery of the first surface.
[0040] In some embodiments, in these methods, the light emitted by the at least one light source is infrared. In some embodiments, the light emitted by the at least one light source is ultraviolet.
[0041] In some embodiments, in these methods, the lens has an optical power prescribed for the user's eye. In some embodiments, in these methods, the lens is a sunglass lens.
[0042] The eye tracking component is positioned on the periphery of the first surface of the lens using a process that includes multiple steps, a first step of which is to hold the lens in a prefabricated holder, and a second step of which includes using one or more of the following techniques:
[0043] In some embodiments, these methods further comprise: machining a first surface of the lens to form a plurality of recesses and disposing at least one light source and a plurality of sensors within the plurality of recesses; filling the recesses with a material having the same refractive index as the lens after disposing at least one light source and a plurality of sensors; Includes.
[0044] The first surface of the lens may be machined to form the recesses using a computer numerically controlled (CNC) milling process, where a multi-point cutting tool is rotated using computer control to progressively remove material from the lens, thereby producing custom designed recesses for placement of the eye tracking components.
[0045] In some embodiments, the connecting means is allowed to exit from the at least one light source and the plurality of sensors prior to filling the plurality of recesses. In some embodiments, the connecting means is embedded with the eye tracking component.
[0046] The recesses can be filled using one of the following techniques: casting, overmolding, insert molding, dispensing, or inkjet molding. Overmolding and insert molding are typically used when the gaze sensing component is durable and can withstand thermal expansion.
[0047] In some embodiments, the material that can be used to fill the recesses includes at least one polymer, including, but not limited to, polymethylmethacrylate, styrene-co-acrylonitrile copolymer, polyamide, thermoplastic polyimide, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyolefin, polycarbonate, polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, polyether, polyether-ether-ketone, polyetherimide, thermoplastic resin, epoxy resin, and the like.
[0048] According to another embodiment, the step of arranging the at least one light source and the plurality of sensors is performed by casting the at least one light source and the plurality of sensors into the lens along the periphery of the first surface, respectively. In this regard, lens casting techniques are employed to embed the at least one light source and the plurality of sensors into the lens. The at least one lens and the plurality of sensors are attached to the inner wall of the mold cavity before casting so that they are aligned with the periphery of the first surface of the lens when manufactured. A liquid material is then introduced into the mold cavity and allowed to solidify. In the ophthalmic industry, it is common to use casting as a manufacturing method. Casting is usually performed with low viscosity monomers, for example thermosetting plastics. Since casting does not involve heating, the thermal stress in the material is small and the residual tension is also small. This results in a higher quality compared to injection molding.
[0049] According to yet another embodiment, the step of disposing the at least one light source and the plurality of sensors is performed using one of injection molding and lamination.
[0050] In injection molding, molten material, which can be made from a thermoplastic, is forced into a mold at high pressure and allowed to cool.
[0051] In lamination, at least one light source and multiple sensors, along with a connection means (at the periphery of the first surface of the lens), are placed between the lens and a perforated laminate film with openings for the eye-tracking components, and then heat is applied to seal the laminate film to the lens.
[0052] According to yet another embodiment, the step of disposing the at least one light source and the plurality of sensors is performed by printing the at least one light source and the plurality of sensors, respectively, along the periphery of the first surface of the lens. Such printing may be performed using three-dimensional (3D) printing of the lens, which allows for the gaze measurement components and connection means to be embedded directly into the mechanical structure of the lens. [Detailed description of the drawing]
[0053] 1, a lens 102 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is illustrated. The lens 102 is adapted for use in an eye tracking device. At least one light source (illustrated as light source 106) and a number of sensors (illustrated as sensors 108a, 108b, 108c, 108d) are disposed along a periphery 104 of a first side of the lens 102. The light source 106 and the sensors 108a-108d are coupled to a processor 110.
[0054] 2, another lens 202 prepared for use in an eye tracking device in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure is illustrated. Along a periphery 204 of a first surface of the lens 202, at least one light source (for convenience, one of ten light sources is labeled 206) and a number of sensors (for convenience, two of twenty sensors are labeled 208a and 208b, respectively) are disposed.
[0055] The at least one light source and the plurality of sensors are coupled to the processor 210 .
[0056] 1 and 2 are merely examples and should not unduly limit the scope of the claims herein. It should be understood that the illustrated implementations of lenses 102 and 202 are provided as examples only and should not be construed as limiting the number, types, or arrangement of light sources and sensors. Those skilled in the art will recognize many variations, alternatives, and modifications of the embodiments of the present disclosure.
[0057] Referring to Figure 3, a schematic diagram is depicted showing a portion of an eye tracking device in operation, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. In the portion of the eye tracking device, a lens is shown along with at least one light source and multiple sensors. In this diagram, dotted lines indicate the field of view of each sensor.
[0058] 3 is merely an example, which should not unduly limit the scope of the claims herein. One of ordinary skill in the art could recognize many variations, substitutions, and modifications of the disclosed embodiments.
[0059] Referring to FIG. 4, an eye gaze measurement device 400 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is illustrated. The eye gaze measurement device 400 includes: At least one lens per eye (for convenience, one of the two lenses is designated 402); a frame 404 holding said at least one lens; at least one light source (for convenience one of ten light sources designated 406) disposed along a periphery of a first surface of said at least one lens; a plurality of sensors (for convenience, two of the twenty sensors are labeled 408a and 408b, respectively) disposed along the periphery of the first surface of the at least one lens; a processor 410 coupled to the at least one light source and the plurality of sensors; Equipped with.
[0060] Referring to FIG. 5, another gaze measurement device 500 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is illustrated. The gaze measurement device 500 includes: At least one lens per eye (for convenience, one of the two lenses is designated 502); a frame 504 holding said at least one lens; at least one light source (for convenience one of ten light sources is designated 506) disposed along a periphery of a first surface of said at least one lens; a plurality of sensors (for convenience, two of the twenty sensors are labeled 508a and 508b, respectively) disposed along the periphery of the first surface of the at least one lens; a processor (not shown) coupled to the at least one light source and the plurality of sensors; Equipped with.
[0061] Referring to FIG. 6, yet another gaze measurement device 600 is illustrated in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The gaze measurement device 600 includes: At least one lens per eye (for convenience, one of the two lenses is labeled 602); a frame 604 holding said at least one lens; at least one light source (for convenience one of nine light sources is labeled 606) disposed along a periphery of a first surface of said at least one lens; a plurality of sensors (for convenience, two of the eighteen sensors are labeled 608a and 608b, respectively) disposed along the periphery of the first surface of the at least one lens; a processor (not shown) coupled to the at least one light source and the plurality of sensors; Equipped with.
[0062] Referring to FIG. 7, yet another gaze measurement device 700 is illustrated in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The gaze measurement device 700 includes: at least one lens per eye (for convenience only one lens is labeled 702); a frame 704 holding said at least one lens; at least one light source (for convenience only one light source is labeled 706) disposed along a periphery of a first surface of the at least one lens; a plurality of sensors (for convenience only two sensors are labeled 608a and 708b, respectively) disposed along the periphery of the first surface of the at least one lens; a processor (not shown) coupled to the at least one light source and the plurality of sensors; Equipped with.
[0063] Referring to FIG. 8, yet another gaze measurement device 800 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is illustrated. The gaze measurement device 800 includes: at least one lens per eye (for convenience only one lens is labeled 802); a frame 804 holding said at least one lens; at least one light source (for convenience only one light source is labeled 806) disposed along a periphery of a first surface of the at least one lens; a plurality of sensors (for convenience only two sensors are labeled 808a and 808b, respectively) disposed along the periphery of the first surface of the at least one lens; a processor (not shown) coupled to the at least one light source and the plurality of sensors; Equipped with.
[0064] 4-8 are merely illustrative and should not unduly limit the scope of the claims of this application. As previously mentioned, the periphery of the first surface is the area proximate to the edge of the first surface. In FIGS. 4, 5, and 6, this area is on the first surface itself, whereas in FIGS. 7 and 8, this area is perpendicular to the first surface. Furthermore, in FIGS. 4-8, frames 404, 504, 604, 704, and 804 are shown as full-rim, half-rim, rimless, another full-rim, and another rimless frame, respectively. It should be understood that the specific implementations of the eye tracking devices 400, 500, 600, 700, and 800 are provided as examples and are not to be construed as limiting the particular number, type, or arrangement of light sources and sensors. Those skilled in the art will recognize many variations, alternatives, and modifications of the embodiments of the present disclosure.
[0065] 9A and 9B, steps of a method for manufacturing an eye gaze measurement device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure are illustrated. In step 902, a lens is cut to fit the shape of a frame. In step 904, at least one light source is disposed along the periphery of a first side of the lens. This first side of the lens faces the eye of a user when the eye gaze measurement device is worn by the user. In step 906, a plurality of sensors are disposed along the periphery of the first side of the lens. In step 908, a connection means is provided to the at least one light source and the plurality of sensors along the periphery of the first side. In step 910, the lens is attached to the frame. In step 912, the at least one light source and the plurality of sensors are coupled to a processor using a connection means.
[0066] In step 914, the processor controlling the at least one light source to project light towards an eye of a user; controlling a plurality of sensors to sense reflections of light from a surface of the user's eye; processing sensor data relating to the sensed reflection to determine a user's gaze direction; The present invention is configured to carry out the following steps:
[0067] The above steps are merely exemplary and may include alternative steps, i.e., one or more steps may be added, one or more steps may be removed, or one or more steps may be performed in a different order, without departing from the scope of the appended claims. For example, steps 904 and 906 may be performed simultaneously.
[0068] Steps 902, 904, 906, and 908 may also be considered to represent steps in a method of preparing a lens for use in an eye tracking device, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0069] Modifications to the embodiments of the present disclosure described above can be made without departing from the scope defined by the appended claims. The terms "including," "comprising," "incorporating," "having," "being," and the like used to describe and claim the present disclosure are intended to be interpreted in a non-exclusive manner, i.e., to allow for the presence of items, parts, or components not expressly described. The absence of a specification that an element is plural does not preclude the presence of a plurality of such elements. The terms "first," "second," "third," and the like used in this specification do not indicate order, quantity, or importance, but are merely used to distinguish one element from another.
Claims
1. A line-of-sight measurement device, comprising: - At least one lens for each monocular eye, wherein when the line-of-sight measurement device is worn by a user, a first surface thereof faces the user's eyeball; - A frame for holding the at least one lens; - At least one light source arranged along a peripheral portion of the first surface of the at least one lens; - A plurality of sensors arranged along the peripheral portion of the first surface of the at least one lens; - A processor combined with the at least one light source and the plurality of sensors; wherein the at least one light source and the plurality of sensors are arranged along the peripheral portion of the first surface, and a connection to the at least one light source and the plurality of sensors is provided by a wire printed on the peripheral portion of the first surface; the processor is configured to - Control the at least one light source to irradiate light toward the user's eye; - Control the plurality of sensors to sense light reflection from the surface of the user's eye; - Process sensor data related to the sensed reflection to determine the user's line-of-sight direction; and is configured to perform the above operations. A line-of-sight measurement device.
2. The line-of-sight measurement device according to claim 1, wherein the light emitted from the at least one light source is infrared light.
3. The line-of-sight measurement device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one lens has an optical power adjusted to the user's eye.
4. The line-of-sight measurement device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one lens is a sunglass lens.
5. A method for manufacturing a line-of-sight measurement device, the method comprising: - Cutting a lens according to the shape of a frame; - Arranging at least one light source along a peripheral portion of a first surface of the lens, wherein the first surface of the lens faces the user's eye when the line-of-sight measurement device is worn by the user, and the method further comprises: - Arranging a plurality of sensors along the peripheral portion of the first surface of the lens; - Preparing connection means for the at least one light source and the plurality of sensors; - Mounting the lens on the frame; - Using the connection means to couple the at least one light source and the plurality of sensors to a processor; - The processor - Controlling the at least one light source to irradiate light toward the eyes of the user; - Controlling a plurality of sensors to sense light reflection from the surface of the user's eyes; - Processing sensor data related to the sensed reflection to determine the line-of-sight direction of the user; - Configuring to perform; - including, wherein the at least one light source and the plurality of sensors are arranged along the peripheral portion of the first surface using a conductive adhesive, and connection means is provided by printing a wire along the peripheral portion of the first surface, a method.
6. The method according to claim 5, - Machining the first surface of the lens to form a plurality of recesses along the peripheral portion, and arranging the at least one light source and the plurality of sensors in the plurality of recesses; - After arranging the at least one light source and the plurality of sensors, filling the plurality of recesses with a material having the same refractive index as the lens; - including, a method.
7. The method according to claim 5, wherein arranging the at least one light source and the plurality of sensors is performed by casting the at least one light source and the plurality of sensors into the lens along the peripheral portion of the first surface by a casting technique.
8. The method according to claim 5, wherein arranging the at least one light source and the plurality of sensors is performed by printing the at least one light source and the plurality of sensors along the peripheral portion of the first surface of the lens.
9. The method according to claim 5, wherein arranging the at least one light source and the plurality of sensors is performed using any one of injection molding and laminating.
10. The method according to claim 5, wherein the light emitted from the at least one light source is infrared light.
11. The method according to any one of claims 5 to 10, wherein the at least one lens has an optical power adjusted to the user's eyes.
12. The method according to any one of claims 5 to 10, wherein the lens is a sunglass lens.
13. A method of making a lens for use in a line-of-sight measurement device, the method comprising: - Cutting the lens according to the shape of the frame of the line-of-sight measurement device; - Arranging at least one light source along the peripheral portion of the first surface of the lens; - arranging a plurality of sensors along the peripheral portion of the first surface of the lens; - providing connecting means for the at least one light source and the plurality of sensors; A method comprising: the at least one light source and the plurality of sensors are arranged along the peripheral portion of the first surface using a conductive adhesive, and connecting means is provided by printing a wire along the peripheral portion of the first surface.
14. The method according to claim 13, - machining the first surface of the lens to form a plurality of recesses along the peripheral portion, and arranging the at least one light source and the plurality of sensors in the plurality of recesses; - after arranging the at least one light source and the plurality of sensors, filling the plurality of recesses with a material having the same refractive index as the lens. A method comprising.
15. The arranging of the at least one light source and the plurality of sensors is performed by casting the at least one light source and the plurality of sensors into the lens along the peripheral portion of the first surface by a casting technique, respectively, according to the method of claim 13.
16. The arranging of the at least one light source and the plurality of sensors is performed by printing the at least one light source and the plurality of sensors along the peripheral portion of the first surface of the lens, respectively, according to the method of claim 13.
17. The arranging of the at least one light source and the plurality of sensors is performed using any one of injection molding and laminating, according to the method of claim 13.
18. The light emitted from the at least one light source is infrared, according to the method of claim 13.
19. The at least one lens has an optical power adjusted to the user's eye, according to the method of any one of claims 13 to 18.
20. The lens is a sunglass lens, according to the method of any one of claims 13 to 18.