Smart Eyewear Eye Tracking with Infrared Lens-Edge Detectors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing eye-tracking systems in smart eyewear are bulky and interfere with human sight due to the use of visible light illumination, or are not accurate enough when using infrared and near-infrared wavelengths outside the human-eye sensitivity range.
Innovation Solution
An eyewear system with at least two infrared radiation sources and detectors, utilizing modulated infrared radiation, matched noise filters, and a processing unit for accurate gaze estimation, combined with a demodulation module and analog/digital signal conversion, to track eye movements without interfering with vision.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If visible light illumination is used for eye tracking, then the system can be simpler and more compact, but it interferes with human sight capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the wavelength parameter of the illumination light from visible light to infrared light. This parameter change allows the eye-tracking system to operate outside the human visual sensitivity range, eliminating interference with sight capacity while maintaining the ability to track eye movements through infrared reflection from the eye surface
2Object-affected harmful factors
If infrared and near-infrared wavelengths are used for eye tracking, then sight capacity is not interfered with, but the system accuracy is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the infrared illumination into multiple distinct infrared light sources positioned at different locations. This segmentation allows the system to capture infrared reflections from multiple points on the eye surface simultaneously, improving the precision of eye movement and gaze direction estimation while maintaining infrared wavelength operation that does not interfere with sight
3Adaptability or versatility
If traditional eye-tracking systems are used in smart eyewear, then the functionality is basic, but the device appears bulky and does not look like common eyewear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the operational parameters by using infrared illumination instead of visible light, which allows the illumination sources to be smaller and less obtrusive. This parameter change enables the eye-tracking system to be integrated into compact smart eyewear designs that maintain a sleek, eyewear-like appearance while preserving full functional capability for gaze tracking and augmented reality applications
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 system provides accurate gaze tracking with minimal interference, enabling precise estimation of eye direction and movement, suitable for augmented and mixed reality applications.
Implementation Method 1
The eye-tracking system (200) comprises at least two infrared radiation sources (210) coupled to the frame (110) so as to face and emit infrared radiation towards a respective eye to be tracked of a user
Implementation Method 2
at least one infrared detector (220) coupled to the frame (110), and configured to detect the optical signal reflected by the eye to be tracked at the infrared wavelengths
Implementation Method 3
the processing and control unit (230) is configured for controlling each one of the at least two infrared radiation sources (210) so as to emit an infrared radiation modulated with a respective modulation signal
Data Source
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AI summary
Eyewear (100) comprising: - a frame (110) comprising a front (111), two temples (112, 113) coupled to the front (111) and at least one lens (114, 115) coupled to the front (111); - an eye-tracking system (200) associated to the frame (110); characterized in that the eye-tracking system (200) comprises: - at least one infrared radiation source (210) coupled to the frame (110) so as to face and emit infrared radiation towards a respective eye to be tracked of a user when such a user wears the eyewear (100); - a plurality of infrared detectors (220) coupled to the edge of the at least one lens (114, 115), said infrared detectors (220) being configured to detect the optical signal reflected by the eye to be tracked and generate a respective an electric detection signal; - a processing and control unit (230) associated to the at least one infrared radiation source (210) and to the plurality of infrared detectors (220), said processing and control unit (230) being configured to activate the at least one infrared radiation source (210) so as to emit the infrared radiation, to receive the electric detection signals and to to estimate the direction of the gaze of the eye to be tracked on the basis of said received electric detection signals; - a battery (240) associated to the processing and control unit (230), the infrared detectors (220) and to the at least one infrared radiation source (210) so as to electrically supply them.