Reflective Contact Lens Gaze Tracking for Diverse Eye Structures
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current gaze tracking technologies in virtual reality systems are inconsistent and inaccurate due to variations in user eye structures, failing to track users with abnormal eye shapes or conditions, and producing noisy data that require complex filtering.
Innovation Solution
A contact lens with a reflective element configured to reflect infrared light is used to standardize the signal for gaze tracking, allowing for accurate gaze direction determination by differentiating the reflected light from the lens and reducing noise, and incorporating head tracking for improved accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional infrared gaze tracking is used, then gaze direction can be tracked, but accuracy is poor and inconsistent across different users due to variations in eye structures
Solution Approach 1:
A contact lens with a reflective element is introduced as an intermediary between the eye and the external environment. The reflective element reflects incident light in a predictable manner, creating a distinguishable signal that is independent of the user's natural eye structure. This mediator enables consistent gaze tracking across all users regardless of their individual eye characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
The reflective element in the contact lens changes the optical properties of the eye by reflecting light with a specific characteristic pattern. This creates a distinguishable signal that differs from natural eye reflections, allowing the system to reliably detect and track gaze direction across diverse user populations.
2Loss of information
If traditional gaze tracking methods are used, then eye movements can be monitored, but noisy data is obtained requiring complex software filtering
Solution Approach 1:
The reflective element introduces a distinct optical signature that changes the reflected light characteristics. This distinguishable signal allows the photosensor and processor to easily differentiate valid gaze data from noise and artifacts, significantly reducing the need for complex software filtering while maintaining high data quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The contact lens with reflective element acts as an intermediary that standardizes the optical signal. By creating a consistent, distinguishable reflection pattern, it simplifies the data processing pipeline and reduces information loss without requiring complex filtering algorithms.
3Reliability
If gaze tracking is performed using pupil centre corneal reflection, then eye rotation can be determined, but tracking fails completely for users with certain eye conditions or accessories
Solution Approach 1:
The contact lens with reflective element serves as a reliable intermediary that works consistently across all users regardless of their eye conditions or accessories. The reflective element creates a predictable light reflection pattern that is independent of natural eye characteristics, ensuring tracking reliability for users with abnormal eye shapes, conditions, glasses, or contact lenses.
Solution Approach 2:
The contact lens system provides universal gaze tracking capability that works for all users irrespective of their individual eye characteristics or accessories worn. The reflective element creates a standardized signal that can be reliably detected by the photosensor system, making the technology universally applicable.
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
The system provides enhanced gaze tracking accuracy for a wider range of users, including those with abnormal eye shapes or conditions, by reducing noise and improving signal differentiation, enabling more precise interaction with virtual environments.
Implementation Method 1
the lens comprises a reflective element configured to reflect at least a portion of light incident on the lens
Implementation Method 2
a photosensor configured to detect the reflected light
Data Source
AI summary
A system for tracking a gaze direction of a user, the system comprising: a lens mountable on the surface of a user's eye, wherein the lens comprises a reflective element configured to reflect at least a portion of light incident on the lens; a photosensor configured to detect the reflected light; a processor configured to receive data from the photosensor and generate tracking information based on the detected reflected light so as to determine gaze directions of the user's eye.