Videoconference Eye Contact via Pupil Reflection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Videoconferencing systems often create a 'false token' effect where users appear not to be looking at each other due to the placement of image sensors, leading to poor eye contact and communication quality, with existing solutions requiring complex and expensive setups.
Innovation Solution
A device comprising a screen, an image sensor, and a light source that illuminates the user's eyes to create a reflection detectable by the image sensor, allowing for improved eye contact by blurring the contours of the pupils and irises, thus enhancing the perception of direct gaze.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the image sensor is placed close to the screen to capture the user's image, then the device complexity is reduced, but the 'false token' effect occurs where users appear not to be looking at each other
Solution Approach 1:
A light source is introduced as an intermediary element between the image sensor and the user's eyes. This light source creates a reflection on the user's pupils that optically simulates direct eye contact, even when the image sensor is positioned close to the screen. The light reflection acts as a mediator that bridges the geometric discrepancy between sensor position and apparent gaze direction.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes optical reflection properties by positioning a light source such that it reflects off the user's eyes into the image sensor. This creates a bright reflection (catchlight) in the pupils that visually indicates direct gaze, effectively using optical property changes to simulate eye contact without complex mechanical adjustments.
2Reliability
If a light source is added to illuminate the user's eyes to create reflection, then eye contact quality is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The light source serves multiple functions simultaneously: it illuminates the user's face for better image quality, creates the eye contact effect through pupil reflection, and can be integrated with existing display backlighting systems. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components and justifies the addition within the overall system architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the light source with existing system components such as the display backlight or camera flash mechanism. By combining the eye-contact-inducing light function with already-present illumination elements, the system avoids adding entirely separate complex subsystems, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
3Illumination intensity
If the light source illuminates the entire face, then the user's features are well-lit, but the pupils and irises remain clearly visible causing the false token effect
Solution Approach 1:
The light source is positioned and directed to create non-uniform illumination across the user's face. Specifically, it targets the eye region to create strong pupil reflections while providing sufficient but not excessive illumination elsewhere. This local quality differentiation ensures that the critical eye contact region (pupils) displays the reflection effect while the rest of the face remains naturally lit.
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 effectively reduces the 'false token' effect, ensuring better eye contact and communication quality without the need for complex systems, making it adaptable for both professional and general public use.
Implementation Method 1
a light source arranged to illuminate the eyes of the local user looking at the screen when communicating with the remote user, and further arranged relative to the image sensor so as to enable the image sensor to pick up an image of the local user presenting a reflection of the light source on at least a portion of each eye of the user
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A
Figure 2B
AI summary
The invention relates to a device (1) for a videoconference communication between a local user (5) and at least one remote user (6), which reduces the eye deflection and provides a better eye contact between the local user and the remote user. The device includes a screen (4) capable of restoring, for the local user, an image of the remote user, and an image sensor (3) capable of sensing an image of the local user for the remote user. It further comprises a light source (2) arranged, relative to the image sensor, so as to lighten the eyes of the local user watching the screen during a communication with the remote user, so that the image sensor can detect an image of the local user including a reflection of the light source on a portion at least of each eye of the local user, including the pupil. The device further includes communication means (7) capable of transmitting the detected image to the remote user (6).