Eye Tracking Head-Mounted Light Distribution Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Professionals in low-light environments, such as building maintenance and rescue operations, face challenges in navigating and performing tasks without using their hands, as existing light sources lack adaptability and full control over light distribution.
Innovation Solution
A system incorporating a head-mountable eye tracking sensor and processor to configure luminous distribution based on eye tracking data, using deformable beam shaping elements and spatially separated light sources to adjust beam shapes and intensity, allowing hands-free control of light in response to gaze direction, focus, and environmental conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If head-mounted light sources are used to provide directed light, then hands-free control is achieved, but adaptability to changing tasks and full control over light distribution is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the luminous distribution by controlling multiple light sources based on real-time eye tracking data. The processor modifies beam shapes, intensities, and directions adaptively as the user's gaze and task requirements change, transforming a static light source into a dynamic, task-adaptive illumination system.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates eye tracking sensors that continuously monitor the user's gaze direction and provide feedback to the processor. This feedback loop enables the system to automatically adjust the light distribution to match the user's visual attention and task needs, achieving both hands-free operation and high adaptability.
2Device complexity
If fixed beam shape light sources are used, then device complexity is reduced, but control over light distribution shape and intensity is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting system is divided into multiple independent light sources (first light source and second light source) that can be controlled separately. Each light source can produce different beam shapes and intensities, allowing the system to create complex luminous distributions by combining simpler individual beams, thus maintaining relatively simple device complexity while achieving high adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the field of view receive different light distributions tailored to local requirements. The system adjusts beam shapes and intensities locally based on where the user is looking and what tasks are being performed in different areas, rather than providing uniform illumination throughout.
3Adaptability or versatility
If manual control of light sources is required, then full control over light distribution is achieved, but productivity and safety in low-light conditions deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting system serves itself by automatically adjusting its own operation based on eye tracking data. The processor controls the light sources without requiring manual intervention, enabling professionals to maintain full control over light distribution while keeping both hands free for task execution, thereby improving productivity and safety.
4Adaptability or versatility
If eye tracking sensors are added to enable adaptive light control, then adaptability and hands-free control are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The eye tracking sensor serves multiple functions: it detects gaze direction, determines focus areas, and provides input for adaptive light control. By making the sensor multi-functional, the system achieves high adaptability without proportionally increasing device complexity, as the same hardware component supports multiple control mechanisms.
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 intuitive, adaptive, and flexible light control in low-light conditions, enhancing task efficiency and safety by automatically adjusting light distribution according to the user's needs, without requiring manual operation of light sources.
Implementation Method 1
a head-mountable eye tracking sensor and processor coupled to said eye tracking sensor
Implementation Method 2
using deformable beam shaping elements and spatially separated light sources to adjust beam shapes and intensity
Implementation Method 3
at least one light source under control of said processor arranged to generate a configurable luminous distribution into a field of view
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed is a system (100) comprising a head-mountable eye tracking sensor (116), a processor (110) coupled to said eye tracking sensor and at least one light source (120, 20') under control of said processor, wherein the at least one light source is arranged to generate a configurable luminous distribution (10, 20) into a field of view of the wearer of the eye tracking sensor; and the processor is adapted to configure said luminous distribution in response to eye tracking data obtained from said eye tracking sensor. A method of controlling such a system and a computer program product for implementing such a method are also disclosed.