Eye Tracking Docking Device for Mobile Gaze Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current mobile devices lack effective methods for user interaction and control beyond traditional touch-based interfaces, limiting the ability to utilize eye movement for controlling applications and objects on the screen.
Innovation Solution
Integration of a docking device with infrared LEDs and a camera module that captures eye movements, using computer-vision algorithms to determine the user's gaze point, allowing for eye-tracking control of mobile device functions such as scrolling and object movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional touch-based interfaces are used for mobile device control, then the device structure remains simple, but user interaction capabilities are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functional components (infrared LEDs for illumination, camera module for eye movement capture, and processing unit for gaze point determination) into an integrated docking device that couples with the mobile device. This merging approach enables eye-tracking control functionality while maintaining a unified structural design, resolving the contradiction between enhanced interaction capabilities and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The docking device is designed to perform multiple functions: providing infrared illumination for eye tracking, capturing eye movements via camera, and potentially serving as a charging or data transfer dock. This multi-functionality approach allows the device to enhance user interaction capabilities without adding separate dedicated components for each function, thereby managing overall device complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If eye tracking components are integrated into the mobile device, then eye movement control capability is enabled, but the device size and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent separates eye-tracking control functionality into a distinct docking device that couples with the mobile device rather than integrating components directly into the mobile device body. This segmentation allows the mobile device to maintain its original simple structure while the docking device houses all eye-tracking components (infrared LEDs, camera module, processing unit), enabling eye movement control capability without increasing mobile device complexity.
3Measurement precision
If infrared LEDs and camera module are added for eye tracking, then gaze point detection is enabled, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs infrared LEDs that emit light in synchronization with the camera's frame rate rather than continuous illumination. The LEDs are activated periodically at specific intervals to provide illumination for each frame capture, enabling accurate gaze point detection through synchronized illumination and capture while significantly reducing power consumption compared to continuous LED operation.
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
Enables users to interact with mobile devices using eye movements, enhancing usability and providing a new form of control for applications and games by accurately determining the user's gaze point on the screen.
Implementation Method 1
Integration of a docking device with infrared LEDs and a camera module that captures eye movements
Implementation Method 2
An image of the user's eyes and/or face, captured by a front-facing camera on or coupled to the mobile device, may be analyzed using computer-vision algorithms
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems to facilitate eye tracking control on mobile devices are provided. An image of a portion of a user is received at an eye tracking device, where the image includes reflections caused by light emitted on the user from one or more light sources located within the eye tracking device. One or more eye features associated with an eye of the user is detected using the reflections. Point of regard information is determined using the one or more eye features, where the point of regard information indicates a location on a display of a computing device coupled to the eye tracking device at which the user was looking when the image of the portion of the user was taken. The point of regard information is sent to an application capable of performing a subsequent operation using the point of regard information.