Bioptic Eyewear Driver Assistance with Gaze Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Low vision drivers using bioptic eyewear face challenges in quickly and confidently spotting objects at a distance due to fixed focal length telescopic lenses, especially at high speeds, which limits their situational awareness and driving efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A driver assistance system that detects the use of bioptic eyewear and tracks the driver's gaze direction through the telescopic lens, using remote sensors to identify objects of interest and provide real-time visual or audio feedback on key driving indicators, such as traffic signals or signs, enhancing situational awareness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If fixed focal length telescopic lenses are used in bioptic eyewear, then the device complexity is reduced and ease of manufacture is improved, but the driver's ability to quickly and confidently spot objects at distance deteriorates, especially at high speeds
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by transitioning from fixed focal length lenses to variable focal length telescopic lenses in bioptic eyewear. The variable focal length capability allows the lens to dynamically adjust its optical power based on the driver's needs and driving conditions, enabling quick focusing on distant objects at different ranges without manual adjustment delays. This dynamic optical adjustment resolves the contradiction by maintaining manufacturing simplicity while significantly improving object spotting reliability at high speeds.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements parameter changes by modifying the focal length parameter of the telescopic lens from a fixed value to a variable range. This parameter change enables the lens to adapt to different viewing distances and driving scenarios, allowing drivers to quickly acquire and maintain focus on distant objects regardless of vehicle speed. The variable focal length parameter directly addresses the reliability issue while preserving the ease of manufacture through integration into existing bioptic eyewear frameworks.
2Measurement precision
If drivers focus attention on one object through the telescopic lens, then measurement precision of the object is improved, but the loss of time for scanning the environment increases
Solution Approach 1:
The variable focal length telescopic lens enables rapid dynamic adjustment between scanning mode (wider field of view) and detailed inspection mode (zoomed view). Drivers can quickly shift focus between multiple objects and distances without manual refocusing delays, maintaining measurement precision on target objects while minimizing the time spent transitioning between viewing modes. This dynamic optical switching resolves the time loss issue while preserving detection precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary action by pre-positioning the variable focal length lens in a ready state that can rapidly adjust to any required focal length. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for manual focusing adjustments during driving, allowing drivers to immediately acquire precise views of distant objects when needed while maintaining the ability to quickly scan the broader environment by adjusting to different focal lengths.
3Reliability
If variable focal length telescopic lenses are used to improve object spotting, then the driver's situational awareness is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The variable focal length telescopic lens serves multiple functions within a single optical element, combining the capabilities of multiple fixed focal length lenses into one component. This multi-functionality allows the lens to handle various viewing distances and driving scenarios without requiring separate lens systems, thereby improving situational awareness while limiting the increase in device complexity through functional integration rather than additive components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple optical functions into a single variable focal length lens, combining the capabilities of multiple fixed focal length lenses into one integrated component. This merging approach improves situational awareness by providing flexible viewing options while containing device complexity through consolidation rather than multiplication of optical elements. The unified lens structure maintains compatibility with existing bioptic eyewear designs.
Data Source
AI summary
Assistance is provided to a driver of a road vehicle using bioptic eyewear which has a carrier lens and a telescopic lens. Presence of bioptic eyewear on the driver is detected while driving the vehicle. Spatial positioning of the driver with bioptic eyewear is tracked to identify a telescopic event in which the driver is looking through the telescopic lens. A gaze direction through the telescopic lens is detected during the telescopic event. Remote sensing data is collected covering a region of interest corresponding to a projection of the gaze direction. An object is detected within the region of interest. A driving indicator is identified according to the object. The driving indicator is presented to the driver as supplemental information to highlight key driving indicators such as identity of signage and color of a traffic light.