Transparent One-Piece Camera Module for Flexible, Accurate Eye Tracking

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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 camera module with transparent, thin leg portions and a scene camera, embedded in a base structure, ensuring precise camera positioning and minimal occlusion, using overmolding for manufacturing to ensure mechanical stability and reproducibility.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If traditional integrated spectacle-type systems are used, then manufacturing is simplified, but flexibility and adaptability to different use cases and head shapes are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflexibility and adaptability to different use casesVSAvoiddevice structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The device is divided into separate components: a head-wearable device (spectacles) and a camera module that can be attached to or removed from the spectacles. The camera module includes its own support structure with nose bridge and temples, allowing it to be worn independently or with the spectacles. This segmentation enables flexibility for different use cases while keeping each component relatively simple in design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Strength

If camera modules are made with thicker leg portions for structural stability, then mechanical strength is improved, but occlusion of visual field and contact with user's face increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemechanical stabilityVSAvoidocclusion of visual field

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The leg portions (temples) of the camera module are designed as thin, flexible elements that can bend to accommodate different head shapes without requiring excessive thickness for structural stability. The thin design minimizes occlusion of the visual field and contact with the user's face, while the flexibility compensates for the reduced thickness to maintain mechanical stability during wearing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Object-affected harmful factors

If camera positioning is adjusted to reduce occlusion, then visual field obstruction is minimized, but manufacturing precision and camera pose reproducibility become more difficult to maintain

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveocclusion of visual fieldVSAvoidcamera pose reproducibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The camera module is pre-calibrated during manufacturing with fixed camera poses relative to the support structure. The cameras are mounted at predetermined positions and orientations that have been optimized to minimize occlusion while maintaining accurate eye tracking geometry. This preliminary calibration ensures that the same optimal positioning is achieved in every manufactured unit without requiring complex adjustment mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Volume of moving object

If multiple cameras are integrated into a single module, then device compactness is improved, but manufacturing complexity and assembly difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice compactnessVSAvoidmanufacturing and assembly ease

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The camera module is designed as a separate, self-contained unit with all cameras mounted on its support structure before attachment to the head-wearable device. This segmentation allows the camera module to be manufactured and calibrated independently, simplifying the overall manufacturing process. The modular design enables parallel production of camera modules and head-wearable devices, reducing assembly complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4303652B1Camera module, head-wearable eye tracking device, and method for manufacturing a camera module

Publication Date: 2025.08.20 PUPIL LABS GMBH

Figure 1A~1D
Figure 2A~2F
Figure 3A~3B

AI summary

A camera module (100, 200, 300) for complementing a support structure of a head-wearable device to form a head-wearable eye tracking device (601) includes a one-piece base structure (110, 210, 310) including a substantially transparent material , and comprising an upper portion (120, 220, 320), a first leg portion (134, 234) and a second leg portion (135, 235), a camera connecting structure (170, 270a, 270b, 270c, 270d, 270f, 270f', 370a, 370b, 370c, 370f) embedded in the one-piece base structure (110, 210, 310), a first eye camera (140, 240, 340) connected with the camera connecting structure (170, 270a, 270b, 270c, 270d, 270f, 270f', 370a, 370b, 370c, 370f), and arranged in and/or on the first leg portion (134, 234), a second eye camera (150, 250) connected with the camera connecting structure (170, 270a, 270b, 270c, 270d, 270f, 270f', 370a, 370b, 370c, 370f), and arranged in and/or on the second leg portion (135, 235), and a scene camera (160, 260, 360) connected with the camera connecting structure (170, 270a, 270b, 270c, 270d, 270f, 270f, 370a, 370b, 370c, 370f), and arranged in and/or on the upper portion (120, 220, 320).