Dynamic Glint Eye Tracking via Optical Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current eye-tracking systems are inefficient and costly due to the need for extensive image processing of eye images, leading to bulky, slow, and power-hungry devices that are not robust to changes in the eye region.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus that uses a dynamically adjustable light source and freeform optical elements to generate a dynamic glint pattern on the eye, allowing for real-time optical contrast enhancement without additional image processing, enabling accurate and efficient gaze direction detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional image processing methods are used to track eye features, then gaze detection can be performed, but the system becomes bulky, slow, and power-hungry due to extensive pixel-wise processing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential information needed for gaze detection by using glint pattern recognition instead of processing entire eye images. The light source and optical elements are configured to create distinctive glint patterns that directly indicate gaze direction, eliminating the need for complex pixel-wise image processing while maintaining measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/image processing system with an optical system. Instead of capturing and processing images to identify eye features, the system uses configured light sources and optical elements to create glint patterns that directly encode gaze information, substituting computational image processing with optical pattern generation and detection.
2Measurement precision
If extensive image processing is performed on captured eye images, then gaze direction can be determined, but power consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts only the critical glint pattern information from the eye region using configured optical elements, avoiding the power-intensive processing of complete eye images. The light sources and optical components are arranged to create glint patterns that directly reveal gaze direction with minimal processing requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes power-hungry computational image processing with an optical approach where light sources and optical elements create glint patterns that inherently encode gaze information. This optical substitution dramatically reduces power consumption while maintaining gaze detection accuracy.
3Device complexity
If standard light sources are used for eye illumination, then the system is simple, but captured image information lacks contrast between eye features
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by configuring light sources and optical elements to create specific glint patterns at particular locations on the eye. Different regions of the eye receive tailored illumination that enhances the contrast of specific features, allowing the simple lighting system to provide rich informational content about gaze direction.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameters of the illumination by configuring light sources to emit at specific wavelengths and optical elements to create particular glint patterns. These parameter changes enhance the contrast between different eye features without complicating the overall lighting system design.
4Reliability
If robust gaze detection is achieved through comprehensive image processing, then accuracy improves, but the system becomes slower and more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts only the essential glint pattern information needed for robust gaze detection, eliminating unnecessary processing steps. By configuring light sources and optical elements to create distinctive glint patterns that directly indicate gaze direction, the system achieves reliability without the speed penalty of comprehensive image processing.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides a robust, low-cost, and energy-efficient method for detecting gaze direction, enhancing captured image information and improving user experience by reducing the complexity and power consumption of eye-tracking systems.
Implementation Method 1
a light source for forming illuminating light to an eye region of a user
Implementation Method 2
a sensor configured to capture reflected light from the eye region
Implementation Method 3
optical element(s) configured to guide the illuminating light from the light source to the eye region
Data Source
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AI summary
A method and apparatus for determining gaze direction information, comprising a light source for forming illuminating light to an eye region of a user, optical element(s) configured to guide the illuminating light from the light source to the eye region, wherein the illuminating light is dynamically adjustable to generate a dynamic light beam on the eye region, and a sensor configured to capture reflected light on the eye region and generate reflection eye data, comprising maintaining settings comprising user profile information, adjusting spectral power distribution of the light source based on the user profile information, receiving the reflection eye data, and generating the gaze direction information based on the reflection eye data.