Light Guide Eye Tracking System for Smart Glasses
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional smart eyeglasses with cameras for eye tracking face challenges such as reduced accuracy and increased computational complexity due to shallow camera angles, obstructions like eyelids, and high energy consumption for image capture.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing a light guide with a turning portion, integrated into the eyeglasses, directs light towards the pupil and receives reflected light to determine gaze direction, reducing obstructions and energy usage by using a receiver to analyze light characteristics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a camera is mounted at an upper corner of smart eyeglasses to capture eye images, then eye tracking function is achieved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to shallow camera angles
Solution Approach 1:
A light guide is introduced as an intermediary component between the light source and the eye. The light guide includes a directing portion and a turning portion that directs light onto the eye surface and collects reflected light, enabling accurate gaze tracking without requiring a camera mounted at a shallow angle.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the camera-based mechanical imaging system with an optical system using light guides and photodetectors. This substitution eliminates the need for complex camera mounting arrangements while improving measurement precision through direct optical interaction with the eye.
2Measurement precision
If a camera is used to capture eye images for gaze determination, then eye tracking is achieved, but device complexity increases due to obstructions like eyelids
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the camera-based imaging system with an optical detection system using light guides and photodetectors. This substitution eliminates the need for complex image processing to overcome eyelid obstructions, as the system directly measures light reflection patterns that are less affected by such obstructions.
Solution Approach 2:
The light guide acts as an intermediary that delivers light directly to the eye and collects reflected light through the turning portion. This intermediary optical path bypasses the need for complex image capture and processing, simplifying the overall system while maintaining measurement accuracy.
3Measurement precision
If a camera continuously captures eye images to determine gaze direction, then accurate tracking is achieved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the energy-intensive camera-based imaging system with a low-power optical detection system using light guides and photodetectors. This substitution dramatically reduces energy consumption while maintaining gaze determination accuracy, as photodetectors require minimal power compared to continuous image capture and processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The light guide serves as an intermediary that enables direct optical measurement of gaze direction through light reflection patterns. This intermediary system eliminates the need for continuous image capture, reducing energy consumption while preserving measurement precision through direct optical sensing.
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
Improves gaze direction determination accuracy, reduces computational complexity, and conserves energy compared to traditional camera-based methods.
Implementation Method 1
The light guide may include a turning portion configured to receive light from the directing portion and direct the light toward the pupil of the eye and configured to receive reflected light directed from the pupil of the eye and direct the reflected light toward the directing portion
Data Source
AI summary
Certain aspects of the present disclosure relate to a system. In some aspects, the system may include an emitter configured to emit a light. The system may include a light guide configured to direct the light toward a pupil of an eye. The light guide may include a directing portion configured to propagate the light. The light guide may include a turning portion configured to receive light from the directing portion and direct the light toward the pupil of the eye and configured to receive reflected light directed from the pupil of the eye and direct the reflected light toward the directing portion. The system may include a receiver configured to receive the reflected light from the light guide. The system may include a processor configured to determine a gaze direction of the pupil of the eye based at least in part on the reflected light received by the receiver.