US 8,025,405 B2 · Eye tracking illumination

Abstract

The invention relates to automatic eye tracking, wherein at least one imaging device (150) registers sequential image data (DEYE) representing at least one eye (181; 182) of a subject (180). A processing unit (170) receives the image data (DEYE), and based thereon, produces a position estimate of the at least one eye (181; 182). The processing unit (170) also produces a control signal (DILL)>which is received by at least one light source (140). The at least one light source (140), in turn, emits at least one light beam (L) being variable, such that a spatial location of an illumination area (AILL) towards which at least one light beam (L) is directed depends on the characteristics of the control signal (CILL). Specifically, the processing unit (170) produces the control signal (CILL) so that the illumination area (AILL) includes a position estimate of the at least one eye (181; 182).

Claims20

Dependent claims

A system for automatically registering and tracking a respective position of at least one eye (181;

182) of a subject (180), comprising:
at least one imaging device (150) adapted to register sequential image data (DEYE) representing the at least one eye (181;
182),
at least one light source (140) arranged to illuminate the subject (180), each of the at least one light source (140) having a well-defined position relative to the imaging device (150),
the at least one light source (140) is adapted to:
vary a spatial location of an illumination area (AILL) towards which at least one light beam (L) from the at least one light source (140) is directed,
receive a control signal (CILL), and
direct the at least one light beam (L) towards an illumination area (AILL) specified by the control signal (CILL), and
a processing unit (170) adapted to receive the image data (DEYE), and based thereon produce a position estimate of the at least one eye (181;
182), wherein the processing unit (170) is adapted to produce the control signal (CILL) based on the position estimate of the at least one eye (181;
182) such that the illumination area (AILL) includes the position estimate.

8 more elements

A method of automatically registering and tracking a respective position of at least one eye (181;

182) of a subject (180), comprising:
registering sequential image data (DEYE) by means of at least one imaging device (150), the sequential image data (DEYE) representing the at least one eye (181;
182),
illuminating the subject (180) by means of at least one light source (140) having a well-defined position relative to the imaging device (150), the at least one light source (140) being adapted to vary a spatial location of an illumination area (AILL) towards which at least one light beam (L) from the at least one light source (140) is directed,
producing, by means of a processing unit (170), a position estimate of the at least one eye (181;
182) based on the image data (DEYE),
receiving a control signal (CILL),
directing the at least one light beam (L) from the at least one light source (140) towards an illumination area (AILL) in response to the control signal (CILL),
producing, by means of a processing unit (170), a position estimate of the at least one eye (181;
182) based on the image data (DEYE), and
producing the control signal (CILL) in the processing unit (170) based on the position estimate of the at least one eye (181;
182) such that the illumination area (AILL) includes the position estimate.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Eye tracking illumination

Life of this patent

Eye tracking illumination

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20