Eye-Tracking Data Spectacles for Safe Hands-Free Driving
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current data spectacles used for driving vehicles, especially those with semi-transparent displays, pose a risk to driving safety as they can divert the driver's attention and impair the view of the traffic situation, and existing interaction methods such as mechanical or voice input are not intuitive or safe for hands-free operation.
Innovation Solution
A display system with cameras that determine the wearer's viewing direction to control presentations on the spectacles using eye movements, allowing the wearer to activate content by looking at specific areas on the display, which can be larger than the activating element, enabling hands-free operation and reducing distraction from driving.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If presentations are displayed on semi-transparent displays of data spectacles, then the driver can access information, but the view of the traffic situation is impaired and driving safety is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The display system presents information in a localized manner by detecting the wearer's viewing direction and selectively displaying presentations only in the peripheral visual field or when the wearer looks away from the road. This ensures that critical driving information remains visible while traffic situation information is displayed only when it does not interfere with the primary driving task.
2Ease of operation
If mechanical input devices or touch-sensitive input devices are provided at data spectacles, then interaction with presentations is enabled, but the user's hands are no longer available for mastering the driving effort
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical input devices (touch pads, buttons) with a voice-based command input system. The voice recognition unit detects and processes verbal commands from the driver, enabling full hands-free operation. This substitution eliminates the need for manual interaction with the spectacles while maintaining comprehensive control capabilities for adjusting presentations and accessing information.
3Ease of operation
If voice input is used for operating data spectacles, then hands-free operation is enabled, but acceptance of the voice input by users is reduced due to technical difficulties
Solution Approach 1:
The voice recognition unit is integrated into the existing control architecture of the data spectacles, sharing processing resources with other system functions. The unit can recognize multiple types of commands (display control, information requests, settings adjustments) and works alongside the eye-tracking and presentation control systems, thereby reducing overall system complexity through functional integration rather than adding separate dedicated systems.
4Area of stationary object
If the display area for activating element is small, then the display is compact, but the wearer needs precise eye movement control to activate content
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs a two-stage activation process: first, the wearer directs their gaze toward the general area of interest on the display, and second, a voice command or slight head movement confirms the selection. This preliminary positioning followed by confirmation reduces the precision requirement for eye movements while maintaining accurate content activation, making the interface more forgiving of natural eye movement variations.
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
This solution allows drivers to safely interact with data spectacles using eye movements, maintaining focus on the road while accessing information without needing to physically operate the device, thus enhancing driving safety and reducing cognitive diversion.
Implementation Method 1
an image-taking unit, particularly at least one camera configured for providing an image of an eye of the wearer of the data spectacles
Data Source
AI summary
A display system is disclosed, including data spectacles which have a spectacles frame and a display which is mounted at the spectacles frame such that it is situated in the field of vision of the wearer of the spectacles frame. The display system further includes an image-taking unit, particularly at least one camera set up for providing an image of an eye of the wearer of the data spectacles; a processing unit configured to: receive the image; determine the viewing direction of the eye in the image; determine the display area in the display in which an activating element is displayed; determine whether the viewing direction of the eye is directed at the display area of the activating element; and in response to a meeting of a condition: display assigned contents on the display, which are assigned to the activating element, on a display area that is larger than the display area of the activating element The condition is that the viewing direction of the eye is aimed at the display area of the activating element.