Wavelength-Selective Optics for Compact Data Glasses Eye Tracking

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing eye tracking devices for data glasses struggle to integrate eye-tracking functionality into a single laser projector while maintaining cost-effectiveness and reducing installation space.

Innovation Solution

The use of a wavelength-selective optical element that manipulates only the infrared laser signal, allowing the visible laser signal to pass through unchanged, integrated into a virtual retinal scan display system.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If separate eye-tracking device and laser projector are used, then eye-tracking function can be achieved, but costs and installation space increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveeye-tracking functionVSAvoidinstallation space

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the eye-tracking device and laser projector into a single integrated unit. The laser projector serves dual purposes: projecting visible images and performing eye-tracking functions through its infrared laser signal. This merging eliminates the need for separate eye-tracking hardware, reducing installation space and overall device complexity while maintaining reliable eye-tracking capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The laser projector is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as an image projection device and an eye-tracking device. By utilizing the infrared laser signal already present in the projection system for pupil detection and tracking, the system achieves universal functionality without requiring additional dedicated components, thereby reducing costs and installation space.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If separate eye-tracking device and laser projector are used, then eye-tracking function can be achieved, but costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveeye-tracking functionVSAvoidcosts

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the eye-tracking device and laser projector into a single integrated unit. The laser projector serves dual purposes: projecting visible images and performing eye-tracking functions through its infrared laser signal. This merging eliminates the need for separate eye-tracking hardware, reducing installation space and overall device complexity while maintaining reliable eye-tracking capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The laser projector is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as an image projection device and an eye-tracking device. By utilizing the infrared laser signal already present in the projection system for pupil detection and tracking, the system achieves universal functionality without requiring additional dedicated components, thereby reducing costs and installation space.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 configuration enables simultaneous generation of a visible image and pupil tracking using a single laser projector, reducing costs and required installation space while maintaining accurate pupil detection and tracking.

Implementation Method 1

an optical system comprising at least one wavelength-selective optical element configured to manipulate, in particular focus, defocus or distort, only the infrared laser signal of the laser beam bundle and to allow the visible laser signal, in particular the RGB laser signal, of the laser beam bundle to pass through at least substantially unchanged

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectWavelength-selective optical filtering: Filter (optical)

Data Source

PatentUS20250291178A1Eye tracking device, data glasses, and eye tracking method

Publication Date: 2025.09.18 ROBERT BOSCH GMBH

AI summary

An eye tracking device for detecting and/or tracking a pupil position in a pair of data glasses. The device includes a virtual retinal scan display having a laser projector configured to emit a laser beam bundle which includes a visible laser signal and a infrared laser signal, and which contains at least one image to be displayed, and having at least one optical system including at least one replicating optical element configured to reproduce the image to be displayed, for outputting into exit pupils of the optical system. The exit pupils are spaced apart from one another at least in a pupil plane of the virtual retinal scan display. The optical system includes a wavelength-selective optical element configured to manipulate only the infrared laser signal of the laser beam bundle and to allow the visible laser signal of the laser beam bundle to pass through at least substantially unchanged.