Eye Tracking With Temple-Arm Light and Lens Beam Redirection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing augmented and virtual reality devices face issues with visibility, design aesthetics, and increased costs due to the integration of self-mixing interferometry elements in the optical stack of display devices, particularly in the field-of-view, which complicates trace placement and component bonding.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a light beam source and a reflective or diffractive surface for eye tracking, where the light beam source is located in a first location, such as the temple arm, and the redirection element, which can be reflective or diffractive, is embedded in the display lens, allowing for minimal form-factor integration and enhanced eye tracking capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If self-mixing interferometry elements are integrated in the optical stack of display devices, then eye tracking capability is achieved, but device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the eye tracking function into separate components: a light source positioned in the temple arm and a diffractive element embedded in the display lens. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and simplifies the overall integration process compared to integrating all SMI elements within a single optical stack.
Solution Approach 2:
The diffractive element acts as an intermediary between the light source in the temple arm and the display lens. It redirects the light beam to illuminate the user's eye while maintaining the separation of functional components, thereby reducing integration complexity while preserving eye tracking capability.
2Reliability
If self-mixing interferometry elements are placed in the field-of-view, then eye tracking is enabled, but visibility and design aesthetics are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent moves the light source from the traditional in-field position to the temple arm (spatial relocation), and uses the diffractive element to redirect light through the display lens. This dimensional change allows eye tracking functionality to be achieved without placing interfering elements directly in the user's field-of-view, thereby preserving visibility and design aesthetics.
3Reliability
If optical elements are integrated in the display lens, then eye tracking is achieved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the eye tracking system into a temple arm-mounted light source and a separate diffractive element in the display lens, the patent reduces the precision requirements for trace placement and component bonding within a single integrated unit. Each component can be manufactured and positioned independently with standard precision tolerances.
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 enhances eye tracking by increasing field-of-view, tracking speed, and resolution while minimizing form-factor requirements and visibility issues, thus improving user experience and reducing integration complexities and costs.
Implementation Method 1
a redirection element located in a second location of the display device, the redirection element configured to redirect light from the first location to the second location
Implementation Method 2
the redirection element, which can be reflective or diffractive
Data Source
AI summary
Augmented and/or virtual reality (AR/VR), near-eye display devices that implement eye tracking via dense point cloud scanning are disclosed. In examples, an eye tracking system for an augmented reality/virtual reality (AR/VR) display device comprises a light beam emission and sensor element located in a first location of the display device to emit a light beam. The eye tracking system may comprises a redirection element located in a second location of the display device to redirect the light beam to illuminate one of line-of-sight and a field-of-view (FOV) of the display device.