Gaze-Aligned Camera Housing for Smart Glasses
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing smartglasses with fixed webcams struggle to capture images faithfully, as users tend to move their heads instead of their gaze, leading to framing defects and discomfort, especially when used for remote training or surgeries.
Innovation Solution
An over-glasses apparatus with a camera housing positioned at the height of the user's pupils, equipped with an actuation system allowing rotation around the X and Y axes, ensuring that the camera follows the user's gaze without the need for head movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a fixed webcam is positioned on the temporal sides or forehead of the device, then the device structure is simple and compact, but the captured images suffer from framing defects and do not faithfully represent the user's point of view
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the camera housing movable relative to the glasses frame through a positioning mechanism. The camera housing can be adjusted along the Z-axis (vertically) and rotated around the X-axis (pitch) and Y-axis (roll), allowing it to dynamically adapt to different user positions and gaze directions, thereby achieving accurate image framing without complex fixed positioning structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies parameter changes by adjusting the camera housing's position and orientation parameters (vertical position along Z-axis, pitch angle around X-axis, roll angle around Y-axis) to optimize the captured image quality. This allows the system to adapt to different users and gaze directions by changing positional and angular parameters rather than requiring complex mechanical adjustments.
2Manufacturing precision
If the camera is positioned on the user's forehead to follow gaze, then the captured images better represent the user's point of view, but the device becomes bulky and heavy with complex transmission mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the camera system into separate functional modules: the glasses frame provides structural support, the camera housing provides mounting and protection, and the positioning mechanism provides adjustment capability. This modular segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently, reducing overall weight while maintaining gaze alignment precision through coordinated movement of the camera housing relative to the frame.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies the extraction principle by separating the camera housing from the glasses frame, allowing the camera to be independently positioned and adjusted. This extraction eliminates the need for complex integrated transmission mechanisms while maintaining the ability to follow gaze, as the camera housing can be independently controlled to track eye movements without adding bulk to the overall device.
3Ease of operation
If users move their heads to point objects of attention, then the fixed camera can capture the object, but this causes discomfort and unnatural positioning for the user
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies feedback by implementing an eye tracking system that continuously monitors the user's gaze direction and provides real-time feedback to the positioning mechanism. The camera housing automatically adjusts its position and orientation based on this feedback to follow the user's gaze, eliminating the need for head movement while maintaining accurate object capture. This closed-loop feedback system ensures both user comfort and capture accuracy.
Data Source
AI summary
An over-glasses apparatus, configured to be associated with a pair of glasses worn by a user, is disclosed. The apparatus includes a support structure, an eye tracking system, an image sensor, an actuation system of the image sensor, a camera housing, and means for processing and control. Advantageously, the image sensor and the actuation system of the image sensor are within the camera housing, arranged substantially in correspondence with a longitudinally median part of the main body, so that the camera housing intercepts an axis that connects the user's pupils.