Eyewear Eye-Tracking via Infrared Waveguide Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing see-through displays in eyewear devices face challenges in providing reliable and stable eye tracking due to the difficulty in placing light emitting diodes (LEDs) in visible areas, which can introduce artifacts and complicate industrial design, especially in lightweight forms.
Innovation Solution
The use of a remote infrared emitter communicating infrared light through an optical waveguide to an optical output coupler for uniform illumination of the eye, allowing for effective eye movement tracking without visible light sources in the peripheral vision, thus simplifying industrial design and improving cosmetic impact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If visible light emitting diodes (LEDs) are placed in visible areas for eye tracking, then eye tracking function is enabled, but artifacts are introduced and industrial design is complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the wavelength/color of light from visible to infrared. The infrared emitter emits infrared light that is invisible to the human eye, eliminating visual artifacts while enabling eye tracking. The infrared light reflects off the eye and is detected by the infrared sensor, providing reliable eye tracking data without the harmful visual effects of visible LEDs.
2Reliability
If visible light emitting diodes (LEDs) are placed in visible areas for eye tracking, then eye tracking function is enabled, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent simplifies industrial design by using infrared light instead of visible light. This eliminates the need for complex visible LED placement and shielding mechanisms, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining eye tracking functionality.
3Shape
If infrared emitter is placed in peripheral vision area, then cosmetic impact is improved, but eye tracking accuracy may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an optical waveguide as an intermediary to transmit infrared light from the emitter to the eye. The waveguide couples the infrared light efficiently, ensuring that even when the emitter is positioned for cosmetic purposes, the light reaches the eye with sufficient intensity for accurate tracking. The optical output coupler further mediates by directing and focusing the light onto the eye surface.
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 enables reliable eye tracking with improved cosmetic and industrial design, providing stable and accurate eye movement tracking for enhanced user experience in augmented reality applications.
Implementation Method 1
an optical waveguide communicating infrared light from a remote infrared emitter
Implementation Method 2
an optical output coupler spreading the light beam to uniformly illuminate a user's eye
Data Source
AI summary
Eyewear having an optical waveguide communicating infrared light from a remote infrared emitter in the eyewear to an optical output coupler that uniformly illuminates an eye for tracking eye movement of a user. An optical input coupler couples a light beam emitted by the remote infrared emitter into the waveguide. The remote infrared emitter simplifies industrial design and is a single light source. The remote infrared emitter is not in a peripheral vision of a user's eye and improves a cosmetic impact.