Laser Eye Position Detection for Smart Glasses
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current smart glasses technologies lack effective methods for accurately determining eye position, which hampers image focusing and control, particularly in dynamic environments, such as eye-tracking and foveated rendering.
Innovation Solution
A method and device using a laser device to emit light along scan lines, detect reflection beams, and generate images based on light intensity values to determine eye position, including pupil center and size, with optional image transformation for enhanced contrast and computational efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If light scanning and reflection detection are used to determine eye position, then measurement precision of eye position is improved, but device complexity increases due to laser device and sensor integration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the laser device, sensor, and processing unit into an integrated smart glasses system. The laser device emits light that scans the eye, the sensor detects reflection beams, and the processing unit determines eye position from the detected data. This merging of multiple functional components into a single wearable device enables precise eye position measurement while managing the complexity through integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical eye-tracking mechanisms with an optical system using laser light emission and reflection detection. Instead of mechanical sensors that physically contact or closely approach the eye, the system uses non-contact optical methods where laser light scans the eye and reflection beams are detected, eliminating complex mechanical components while maintaining measurement precision.
2Measurement precision
If image transformation is applied to enhance contrast for eye position determination, then measurement precision is improved, but computational complexity and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies image transformation selectively to enhance contrast only in critical regions of the eye image where eye position determination is most sensitive. Rather than processing the entire image at full resolution and contrast enhancement, the system focuses computational resources on key areas, achieving sufficient measurement precision while reducing overall computational complexity and power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The processing unit automatically adjusts image transformation parameters based on the detected light intensity values and scan line data. The system self-optimizes the level of contrast enhancement needed for accurate eye position determination without requiring external intervention or excessive processing, thereby reducing power consumption while maintaining measurement precision.
3Measurement precision
If multiple scan lines are used to scan the eye, then measurement precision of eye position is improved, but loss of time increases due to extended scanning duration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses previously determined eye position information to pre-position the laser scan lines for subsequent measurements. By anticipating the eye's movement based on prior data and adjusting the scan pattern accordingly, the system reduces the number of scan lines needed to achieve accurate measurement, thereby decreasing scanning duration while maintaining or improving measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic eye position scanning at optimized intervals rather than continuous scanning. The system determines eye position using multiple scan lines at specific time points, then uses this information for a defined period before the next scan. This periodic approach maintains measurement precision for dynamic environments while significantly reducing the total scanning time and computational load compared to continuous multi-scan line operation.
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 approach enables precise eye position determination, improving image sharpness and customer satisfaction by allowing controlled image projection based on eye movement and view vectors, while reducing computational complexity and power consumption.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of reflection beams of the light reflected at the eye along the scan line are detected in order to obtain a plurality of light intensity values
Data Source
AI summary
A method for determining an eye position using a laser device for a set of smart glasses. The method includes emitting light for scanning an eye along at least one scan line; detecting a plurality of reflection beams of the light reflected along the scan line in order to obtain a plurality of light intensity values, the light intensity values representing intensities of the reflection beams; generating a two-dimensional image of the eye along the scan line using the light intensity values, a high light intensity value being assigned or being assignable to a reflection beam reflected at the retina and a light intensity value low in comparison to the high intensity value being assigned or being assignable to a reflection beam reflected outside the retina of the eye; and determining the eye position of the eye within the image using amplitudes of the light intensity values.