US 10,241,572 B2Granted

Systems, devices, and methods for proximity-based eye tracking

AssigneeNorth Inc.

InventorsMélodie Vidal, Jake Chapeskie

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Abstract

Systems, devices, and methods for proximity-based eye tracking are described. A proximity sensor positioned near the eye monitors the distance to the eye, which varies depending on the position of the corneal bulge. The corneal bulge protrudes outward from the surface of the eye and so, all other things being equal, a static proximity sensor detects a shorter distance to the eye when the cornea is directed towards the proximity sensor and a longer distance to the eye when the cornea is directed away from the proximity sensor. Optical proximity sensors that operate with infrared light are used as a non-limiting example of proximity sensors. Multiple proximity sensors may be used and processed simultaneously in order to provide a more accurate/precise determination of the gaze direction of the user. Implementations in which proximity-based eye trackers are incorporated into wearable heads-up displays are described.

Claims5

Dependent claims

A method of determining a gaze direction of a user, the method comprising:

illuminating at least a portion of an eye of the user with infrared light by a first illumination source;
detecting reflections of infrared light from the eye of the user by a first photodetector;
determining, by a processor communicatively coupled to at least the first photodetector, a distance between the first photodetector and the eye of the user based on reflections of infrared light from the eye of the user detected by the first photodetector;
and
determining, by the processor, the gaze direction of the user based on at least the distance between the first photodetector and the eye of the user, wherein determining, by the processor, the gaze direction of the user based on at least the distance between the first photodetector and the eye of the user includes determining, by the processor, that the user is gazing in a direction towards the first photodetector when the distance between the first photodetector and the eye of the user is determined to be at or near a minimum value and that the user is gazing in a direction other than towards the first photodetector when the distance between the first photodetector and the eye of the user is determined to be at or near a maximum value.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 15/837,239Filed 11 Dec 2017 · continuation
Priority: 20 Jan 2016
Published: US 2018/0101229 A112 Apr 2018
Granted: 26 Mar 2019
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification20 codes

G06F 3/013
Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality: eye tracking input arrangements
G01S 17/08
Systems determining position data of a target: for measuring distance only
G01S 17/42
Systems determining position data of a target: simultaneous measurement of distance and other co-ordinates
G01S 17/46
Systems determining position data of a target: indirect determination of position data

Family

Application62/281,041Us provisional application · filed 20 Jan 2016
Application15/411,627Parent of this continuation · filed 20 Jan 2017
US 2018/0101229 A1Pre-grant publication · published 12 Apr 2018
US 10,303,246 B2Related patent
US 2017/0205876 A1Published application
US 10,241,572 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.