Reflexive Eye Movement Evaluation Using Dual Video Streams

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing techniques for evaluating reflexive eye movements in a driver fail to accurately assess these movements due to the lack of direct evaluation of external world movements relative to the vehicle.

Innovation Solution

A reflexive eye movement evaluation device that captures both vehicle interior and exterior videos, using processing circuitry to measure visual target movement, head movement, and estimate reflexive eye movement, thereby calculating an evaluation value for the reflexive eye movement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If only vehicle interior video is used to measure eye movement and head movement, then the evaluation device complexity is reduced, but the measurement precision of reflexive eye movement deteriorates because external world movement is not directly evaluated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveevaluation device complexityVSAvoidreflexive eye movement measurement precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The evaluation device is segmented into multiple independent measurement modules: a visual target movement measuring module that processes exterior video to measure target movement, a head movement measuring module that processes interior video to measure head movement, and an eye movement measuring module that measures actual eye movement. This segmentation allows each module to specialize in specific measurements while maintaining overall system manageability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system transitions from a single-dimension approach (only interior video) to a multi-dimensional approach by incorporating both vehicle interior video and exterior video streams. This dimensional expansion enables simultaneous measurement of multiple parameters (visual target movement, head movement, eye movement) that are then integrated to calculate reflexive eye movement with higher precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Measurement precision

If vehicle exterior video is added to measure visual target movement, then the measurement precision of reflexive eye movement is improved, but the device complexity increases due to multiple video streams and processing modules

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereflexive eye movement measurement precisionVSAvoidevaluation device complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The processing circuitry is designed with multi-functionality to handle diverse tasks: it processes exterior video for visual target movement measurement, interior video for head and eye movement measurement, and performs integration calculations. This universal processing capability reduces the need for separate dedicated hardware for each function, thereby managing complexity while achieving high measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces an intermediary calculation process that integrates measurements from multiple sources (visual target movement, head movement, eye movement) to derive the reflexive eye movement. This intermediary integration step acts as a mediator that synthesizes data from complex multiple streams into a unified evaluation metric, managing the complexity of multi-source data processing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If multiple measurement parameters (visual target movement, head movement, eye movement) are integrated, then the reliability of reflexive eye movement evaluation is improved, but the loss of information increases due to the complexity of data integration

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereflexive eye movement evaluation reliabilityVSAvoidinformation loss during data integration

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system employs feedback mechanisms where the measured visual target movement and head movement are continuously integrated with eye movement data to calculate and refine the reflexive eye movement evaluation. This feedback loop ensures that information from multiple parameters is systematically combined rather than lost, improving reliability while maintaining information integrity through structured data flow.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS12324627B2Reflexive eye movement evaluation device, reflexive eye movement evaluation system, and reflexive eye movement evaluation method

Publication Date: 2025.06.10 MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORP

AI summary

A reflexive eye movement evaluation device is provided for a vehicle, and includes: a reflexive eye movement estimating unit that receives a vehicle exterior video including a visual target of a subject and a vehicle interior video including the subject, the vehicle exterior video and the vehicle interior video being captured by an imaging unit, measures a visual target movement of the subject using the vehicle as a fixed coordinate system from the vehicle exterior video, measures a head movement of the subject from the vehicle interior video, and estimates a reflexive eye movement of the subject; an eye movement measuring unit that measures an eye movement of the subject from the vehicle interior video; and an evaluation value calculating unit that calculates an evaluation value for the reflexive eye movement from the estimated reflexive eye movement and the measured eye movement.