3D Cornea Position Estimation Using Kalman Filter

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing eye tracking systems face inaccuracies and noise in cornea position estimation when the eye is moving, particularly due to challenges in identifying false glints and updating the cornea position effectively.

Innovation Solution

A method using a Kalman filter-based cornea movement filter to predict glint positions and iteratively refine the 3D cornea position estimation by selecting the most probable glint pairs, thereby continuously updating the filter with the latest position and velocity information.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If existing cornea position estimation solutions are used, then the system can provide basic eye tracking functionality, but the accuracy deteriorates when the cornea is moving due to noise in distance measurements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecornea position estimation accuracyVSAvoidmeasurement reliability during eye movement
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by predicting the cornea position and glint positions before actual measurement using a Kalman filter model. This allows the system to prepare expected values that guide the identification process, preventing noise from derailing the measurement when the eye is moving.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback by continuously updating the Kalman filter with new measurements and using the filtered estimates to improve subsequent measurements. The predicted cornea position and glint positions are fed back into the identification process, creating a closed-loop system that reduces noise accumulation over time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Device complexity

If traditional glint identification methods are used, then the process is simple, but false glints cannot be accurately identified when the cornea is moving

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveglint identification process complexityVSAvoidfalse glint detection accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary prediction of glint positions based on the moving cornea model before identifying actual glints in the image. This preliminary action provides expected locations that guide the search process, making it easier to distinguish true glints from false ones even when the cornea is in motion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The Kalman filter acts as an intermediary between the raw image data and the final glint identification. It provides predicted glint positions that mediate the matching process, allowing the system to accurately identify false glints by comparing actual detections against the predicted positions from the dynamic model.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Measurement precision

If the system continuously updates cornea position, then tracking accuracy improves, but noise in distance measurements increases when the eye is moving

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegaze information accuracyVSAvoidnoise in distance measurements
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary prediction of the cornea position using the Kalman filter before updating with new measurements. This preliminary estimate acts as a reference that prevents noise from causing large deviations in the updated position, allowing continuous tracking while filtering out measurement noise.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback from the Kalman filter's state estimation to guide the update process. The filter combines predicted position with new measurements in a weighted manner, where the weighting is determined by the estimated uncertainty. This feedback mechanism allows continuous updating while systematically reducing the impact of noise on the final gaze information.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3757655B1Method and system for 3D cornea position estimation
Publication Date: 2023.01.11 TOBII TECH AB
  • EP3757655B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3757655B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6
  • EP3757655B1 patent drawingFigure 7

AI summary

There is provided a method, system, and non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for performing three-dimensional, 3D, position estimation for the cornea center of an eye of a user, using a remote eye tracking system (210), wherein the position estimation is reliable and robust also when the cornea center moves over time in relation to an imaging device (110) associated with the eye tracking system (210). This is accomplished by generating, using, and optionally also updating, a cornea movement filter, CMF, in the cornea center position estimation.