Eye Gaze Interface Virtual Cylinder Rotation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing eye gaze controlled devices face challenges in providing a simple yet flexible user interface that balances angular accuracy and time averaging, limiting the number of eye gaze targets and compromising communication speed, especially when transmitting complex information or controlling sophisticated devices like robotic arms.
Innovation Solution
A software-controlled user interface that uses a virtual window on a virtual cylinder, allowing users to rotate and select symbols by sustained eye gaze, enabling efficient control of devices with minimal training, and scalable to handle a large array of symbols and commands.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If eye gaze direction sensors use time averaging to improve angular accuracy, then measurement precision improves, but productivity decreases due to slower response time
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the time averaging window based on the current operational context. When high precision is needed (e.g., selecting among closely spaced targets), the averaging time is extended. When speed is prioritized (e.g., rapid command selection), the averaging time is reduced. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by allowing the system to optimize between precision and speed according to real-time needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of time averaging duration based on the number and spatial distribution of eye gaze targets. When targets are few and well-separated, shorter averaging times are used to improve response speed. When targets are numerous or closely spaced, longer averaging times are applied to maintain angular accuracy. This parameter adjustment strategy resolves the trade-off between measurement precision and productivity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the interface displays a large number of eye gaze targets simultaneously, then adaptability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The interface is segmented into multiple organized groups or categories of targets (e.g., communication functions, device control, information access). Each group can be independently managed and displayed. This segmentation allows the system to handle a large total number of targets while keeping each visible subset manageable, thus resolving the contradiction between adaptability and complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent organizes eye gaze targets in multi-dimensional space rather than simply displaying them all in a single flat array. Targets can be arranged in hierarchical levels, grouped by function, or organized in three-dimensional spatial arrangements. This dimensional organization allows numerous targets to be accessed systematically without overwhelming the user interface, balancing adaptability with manageable complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A software controlled user interface and method for an eye gaze controlled device, designed to accommodate angular accuracy versus time averaging tradeoffs for eye gaze direction sensors. The method can scale between displaying a small to large number of different eye gaze target symbols at any given time, yet still transmit a large array of different symbols to outside devices with minimal user training. At least part of the method may be implemented by way of a virtual window onto the surface of a virtual cylinder, with eye gaze sensitive symbols that can be rotated by eye gaze thus bringing various groups of symbols into view, and then selected by continual gazing. Specific examples of use of this interface and method on an eyeglasses-like head-mountable, vision-controlled, device are disclosed, along with various operation examples including sending and receiving text messages, control of robotic devices and control of remote vehicles.