Glint-Based Gaze Tracking Using Directional Light Sources

A device comprising:

• a light source;
• a scanner;
• an encoder;
• a pixel-based sensor;
• a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium;
• and
• one or more processors coupled to the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, wherein the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprises program instructions that, when executed on the one or more processors, cause the system to perform operations comprising:
• producing a light beam in multiple directions over time via the scanner;
• encoding, via the coder, a first direction of the multiple directions when a reflection from a portion of an eye is received at the pixel-based sensor;
• determining a second direction of the reflection based on pixel data produced by the sensor;
• determining a cornea center of the eye based on the first direction of the light beam and the second direction of the reflection;
• determining a pupil center of the eye or an eyeball center of the eye;
• and
• determining a gaze direction by determining a direction from the pupil center through the cornea center or a direction from the eyeball center through the cornea center.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, storing program instructions computer-executable on a computer to perform operations comprising:

• producing a light beam via a light source, wherein the light beam is moved in multiple directions over time and a reflection from a portion of an eye is received at a sensor when the light beam is produced in a first direction of the multiple directions;
• determining a second direction of the reflection based on data produced by the sensor;
• determining a cornea center of the eye based on the first direction of the light beam and the second direction of the reflection;
• determining a pupil center of the eye or an eyeball center of the eye;
• and
• determining a gaze direction by determining a direction from the pupil center through the cornea center or a direction from the eyeball center through the cornea center.