Flexible LED Eye Tracking Illumination for Gaze Accuracy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing eye-tracking systems face challenges in accurately detecting gaze direction across a broad population with varying eye and head shapes, sizes, and degrees of vision impairment, while also balancing requirements such as low power consumption, reduced size/weight, reliability, manufacturability, and cost, and struggle to minimize gaze errors.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an optical assembly with integrated near-infrared (NIR) micro light emitting diodes (LEDs) around the lens or frame of smart glasses, which provide uniform illumination and are connected to a flexible circuit board with embedded conductive wires, allowing for efficient eye-tracking by capturing reflected light with cameras positioned for optimal gaze angle determination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional eye-tracking illumination sources are used, then the system may achieve basic eye-tracking functionality, but the system fails to provide accurate gaze direction detection across diverse user populations with varying eye and head shapes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by positioning multiple LEDs at different locations around the lens frame, with each LED oriented to illuminate specific regions of the eye. This localized illumination approach ensures that users with various eye and head shapes receive appropriate light coverage for accurate eye-tracking, thereby improving measurement precision while accommodating diversity in user anatomy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single-point or single-plane illumination source to a three-dimensional arrangement of multiple LEDs positioned around the lens frame. This spatial distribution across multiple dimensions enables comprehensive illumination of the eye from various angles, improving gaze detection accuracy while adapting to different eye and head geometries.
2Measurement precision
If multiple LEDs are added around the lens to improve illumination coverage, then gaze direction detection accuracy improves, but the device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a universal mounting structure that can accommodate multiple LEDs with different orientations and positions using a standardized interface. This multi-functional design allows the same structural framework to support various LED configurations, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining improved illumination coverage for accurate gaze detection.
3Measurement precision
If LEDs are positioned to illuminate specific eye regions for accurate gaze tracking, then measurement precision improves, but the illumination intensity and uniformity decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the illumination functions of multiple LEDs into a coordinated system where each LED targets specific eye regions. By combining the light output from multiple strategically positioned LEDs, the system achieves both region-specific illumination for precise gaze tracking and sufficient overall illumination intensity through the cumulative effect of multiple light sources.
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 enhances gaze direction detection accuracy, reduces gaze errors, and balances system design criteria by providing efficient, reliable, and cost-effective eye-tracking performance across diverse user populations.
Implementation Method 1
a flexible structure including multiple light emitting diodes (LEDs) that may be mounted around the lens or around the frame, of smart glasses, as illumination sources. The light emitting diodes may illuminate near-infrared light
Implementation Method 2
The light illuminated/generated by the LEDs may be reflected from an eye(s) of a user and the reflected light (e.g., a glint(s)) of the eye(s) may be captured by one or more cameras
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods, and devices for eye tracking are provided. A device may include at least one printed circuit board including a shape around a lens of the device. The device may also include a plurality of light emitting diodes arranged around the shape of the lens. The plurality of light emitting diodes may be configured to connect to the at least one printed circuit board. The plurality of light emitting diodes may also be configured to illuminate light directed to at least one eye of a user to cause at least one reflection of the at least one eye.