Light-Secure Eye Tracking With Synchronized Shutter Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing eye tracking systems fail to prevent light emission from entering the external environment, compromising user privacy and detectability, especially in environments with night vision systems.
Innovation Solution
A light secure eye tracking system that includes a shutter with adjustable transmission and a control module to synchronize light emission and shutter states, preventing light leakage while maintaining extended reality capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If light emission is enabled for eye tracking illumination, then eye tracking functionality is achieved, but light leakage into the external environment compromises user privacy and detectability
Solution Approach 1:
The shutter is positioned to block light emission before it can escape into the external environment. The control module pre-synchronizes the shutter closure with the light emission timing, ensuring light is blocked during critical periods while allowing emission during controlled intervals for eye tracking functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The shutter acts as an intermediary component between the light source and the external environment. It mediates the light emission by selectively blocking or permitting light passage based on synchronization signals from the control module, thus preventing harmful light leakage while maintaining functional illumination.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If a shutter is added to block light emission, then light leakage is prevented, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The shutter and control module serve multiple functions: blocking light leakage, synchronizing with light emission cycles, and enabling coordinated operation with extended reality displays. This multi-functionality justifies the added components by providing comprehensive light management rather than simple binary blocking.
Solution Approach 2:
The control module implements feedback control by monitoring the timing of light emission and adjusting shutter operation accordingly. This closed-loop synchronization ensures optimal light blocking performance while minimizing unnecessary shutter operations, thereby reducing the practical impact of added complexity.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If shutter synchronization is implemented with light emission, then light leakage is reduced, but device complexity and control requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs periodic light emission cycles synchronized with periodic shutter operation. The control module generates rhythmic synchronization signals that coordinate shutter opening/closing with light emission/dimming cycles, creating a predictable periodic pattern that simplifies control logic compared to continuous adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The shutter transition between open and closed states is dynamically controlled based on real-time synchronization requirements. The control module adjusts shutter timing and duration adaptively to match light emission needs, allowing the system to optimize light blocking performance while maintaining operational flexibility.
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
Enhances user privacy by blocking light emission into the external environment, allowing users to operate in environments with night vision systems without detection, while providing extended reality features.
Implementation Method 1
a shutter positioned between the eye and an external environment to block stray light produced by the light source from propagating into the external environment
Implementation Method 2
a light source positioned to illuminate an eye of a user to emit light
Implementation Method 3
a light detector to generate eye tracking data
Data Source
AI summary
An eye tracking system may include a light source with adjustable emission and positioned to illuminate an eye of a user with light. The system may include a light detector positioned to generate data corresponding to the eye of the user. The system may include a shutter with adjustable transmission and positioned between the eye of the user and an external environment. The system may include a control module configured to control the light source and the shutter to synchronize repeated variations of transmission of the shutter with repeated variations of emission from the light source.