Transparent Waveguide Eye Tracking for Slippage-Resistant AR Glasses
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wearable eye-tracking devices on AR glasses face challenges in providing accurate eye tracking due to placement issues that obstruct vision and degrade aesthetics, and are sensitive to slippage, leading to reduced accuracy.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a transparent waveguide into the lens of AR glasses to channel light for eye tracking, using a holographic out-coupler to collimate light beams, allowing accurate eye tracking without obstructing vision and reducing sensitivity to slippage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the eye-tracking device is mounted on the AR glasses frame, then eye tracking function is provided, but it obstructs vision and degrades aesthetics
Solution Approach 1:
The eye-tracking components (light source and detector) are integrated directly into the lens structure itself, merging the eye-tracking function with the optical lens. This eliminates separate mounting on the frame, removing visual obstruction and aesthetic degradation while maintaining eye tracking capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The eye-tracking components are nested within the lens structure, with the light source and detector positioned inside or within the optical path of the lens. This nesting allows the eye-tracking system to be embedded within the existing lens without adding external components that would obstruct vision or degrade aesthetics.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If the eye-tracking device is placed away from the visual line-of-sight, then vision is not obstructed, but accuracy is reduced due to slippage sensitivity
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the eye-tracking components with the lens structure, the system achieves both goals: the components are positioned exactly at the visual line-of-sight (improving accuracy) while being integrated into the transparent lens (avoiding obstruction). The lens serves dual purposes as both optical element and eye-tracking housing.
Solution Approach 2:
The lens acts as an intermediary structure that simultaneously serves as the optical element for vision and as the mounting structure for eye-tracking components. This intermediary role allows the system to achieve accurate eye tracking without the trade-off of obstructing vision, as the lens mediates between the need for component placement and the need for clear vision.
3Adaptability or versatility
If traditional eye-tracking components are used, then eye tracking is achieved, but the system is sensitive to slippage and lacks robustness
Solution Approach 1:
The eye-tracking components are merged with the lens structure, creating an integrated system where the lens and eye-tracking components move together as a single unit. This eliminates relative motion between components during slippage, improving robustness while maintaining eye tracking capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The lens structure is pre-configured with the eye-tracking components during manufacturing, establishing fixed relative positions before deployment. This preliminary integration ensures that during wear, any slippage affects the entire integrated unit uniformly, maintaining the geometric relationships necessary for accurate eye tracking.
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 solution provides accurate and reliable eye tracking by maintaining optical functionality within the lens, reducing sensitivity to slippage, and enhancing the robustness and aesthetics of AR glasses.
Implementation Method 1
an in-coupler configured to receive the light beam and couple the light beam into the transmission medium
Implementation Method 2
an out-coupler configured to diffract the light beam out of the transmission medium in collimated rays
Data Source
AI summary
A gaze tracking system is disclosed for use in augmented reality or virtual reality headsets. The gaze tracking system uses a holographic optical element and a transparent waveguide to create a telecentric illumination and imaging system that facilitates accurate and reliable measurements of eye motion. The gaze tracking system uses the transparent waveguide, incorporated into the lens of the headset, with a holographic out-coupler to establish a virtual light source and detector directly in front of the eye, to facilitate an optimal view of the eye during measurement of eye motion.