Transparent Eye-Tracking Camera Module for Stable Camera Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing portable eye trackers and head-wearable eye tracking devices lack flexibility, mechanical stability, reproducibility, and accuracy, particularly when worn with specialized eyewear or by individuals with varying head or nose shapes.
Innovation Solution
A one-piece base structure with embedded cameras and a camera connecting structure, made of a semi-transparent material, ensures precise camera placement and alignment, reducing occlusion and facilitating manufacturing for high accuracy eye tracking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional integrated spectacle-type systems are used, then manufacturing is simplified, but mechanical stability and accuracy are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into separate functional modules: a head-wearable device with support structure and a separate camera module with multiple cameras. This segmentation allows each module to be optimized independently while maintaining overall system stability and accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The camera module is designed to attach to the head-wearable device, creating a nested configuration where the camera module complements the support structure. This nesting approach maintains mechanical stability while allowing flexible attachment and configuration.
2Manufacturing precision
If cameras are separately mounted on the support structure, then manufacturing is easier, but camera alignment precision and reproducibility deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple cameras (first camera, second camera, and optional third camera) are integrated into a single camera module with a unified base structure. This merging ensures precise relative positioning and alignment of all cameras while maintaining reproducible manufacturing through a single integrated design.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the base structure is made opaque, then manufacturing is simpler, but occlusion of the user's field of view increases
Solution Approach 1:
The base structure is made transparent or translucent instead of opaque, allowing light to pass through and minimizing occlusion of the user's field of view. This material property change reduces visual obstruction while maintaining structural integrity and supporting the camera components.
4Volume of moving object
If the camera module is designed to be compact, then wearability is improved, but camera placement flexibility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The camera module utilizes three-dimensional space efficiently by arranging cameras at different positions and orientations within a compact base structure. The first and second cameras are positioned at different locations with their optical axes oriented differently, allowing compact design while maintaining flexible camera placement for various imaging configurations.
Data Source
AI summary
A camera module is disclosed. The camera module is for complementing a support structure of a head-wearable device to form a head-wearable eye tracking device. In one example, the camera module includes a one-piece base structure including a substantially transparent material, and comprising an upper portion, a first leg portion and a second leg portion, a camera connecting structure embedded in the one-piece base structure, a first eye camera connected with the camera connecting structure, and arranged in and/or on the first leg portion, a second eye camera connected with the camera connecting structure, and arranged in and/or on the second leg portion, and a scene camera connected with the camera connecting structure, and arranged in and/or on the upper portion.