Multi-Display Gaze Tracking Power Optimization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing multi-display systems face inefficiencies in tracking user gaze across multiple displays, leading to unnecessary power consumption and reduced accuracy due to the continuous operation of all eye tracking devices, even when only one is actively needed.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a system where a processor determines the user's gaze direction across multiple displays and activates only the eye tracking device associated with the currently focused display, deactivating the others to conserve power and enhance tracking accuracy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If all eye tracking devices operate continuously in a multi-display system, then gaze tracking coverage across all displays is maintained, but power consumption increases and tracking accuracy may deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegaze tracking coverageVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the operational state of eye tracking devices based on real-time gaze data. When a user's gaze moves from one display to another, the system transitions the corresponding eye tracking device from an active state to a deactivated state, while activating the device associated with the new display. This dynamic state adjustment maintains continuous tracking coverage while significantly reducing power consumption compared to continuous operation of all devices.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of continuous operation, eye tracking devices are activated periodically based on detected gaze direction changes. The system monitors gaze patterns and triggers device activation only when necessary (when gaze moves to a new display), creating a periodic on-demand operation pattern that reduces overall power consumption while maintaining reliable tracking coverage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

2Reliability

If all eye tracking devices operate continuously, then comprehensive gaze monitoring is achieved, but system complexity and interference between devices increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegaze monitoring coverageVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system extracts and isolates the active eye tracking device from the overall system, deactivating other devices to eliminate unnecessary complexity and potential interference. By taking only the relevant device (the one corresponding to the current gaze target) into the active operational state, the system simplifies the overall system state while maintaining comprehensive monitoring coverage through sequential activation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Use of energy by moving object

If eye tracking devices are deactivated to save power, then energy efficiency improves, but gaze tracking accuracy may be compromised during transitions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy efficiencyVSAvoidgaze tracking accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection of gaze direction using the currently active eye tracking device. When the gaze approaches the boundary of the current display, the system prepares for transition by detecting the directional change in advance, ensuring that the next device will be activated at the optimal moment. This preliminary detection prevents gaps in tracking accuracy during transitions while still maintaining energy efficiency through selective deactivation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors gaze direction feedback from the active eye tracking device and uses this information to determine when to switch to another device. The feedback loop ensures that transitions are triggered only when necessary (when gaze moves toward another display), maintaining accurate tracking throughout the transition while minimizing the time other devices need to remain active, thus preserving energy efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3451126B1Systems and methods for tracking a gaze of a user across a multi-display arrangement
Publication Date: 2022.03.30 TOBII TECH AB
  • EP3451126B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3451126B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3451126B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

According to the invention, a system for tracking a gaze of a user across a multi-display arrangement is disclosed. The system may include a first display, a first eye tracking device, a second display, a second eye tracking device, and a processor. The first eye tracking device may be configured to determine a user's gaze direction while the user is gazing at the first display. The second eye tracking device may be configured to determine the user's gaze direction while the user is gazing at the second display. The processor may be configured to determine that the user's gaze has moved away from the first display in a direction of the second display, and in response to determining that the user's gaze has moved away from the first display in the direction of the second display, deactivate the first eye tracking device, and activate the second eye tracking device.