Power management in an eye-tracking system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10212343-B2
Application number	US-201615202915-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 6, 2016
Priority date	Oct 27, 2011
Publication date	Feb 19, 2019
Grant date	Feb 19, 2019

Abstract

An imaging device adapted to provide eye-tracking data by imaging at least one eye of a viewer, wherein: the imaging device is switchable between at least an active mode and a ready mode; the imaging device is configured to use active eye illumination in the active mode, which enables tracking of a corneal reflection; and the imaging device is configured, in the ready mode, to reduce an illumination intensity from a value the illumination intensity has in the active mode, and to provide eye-tracking data which include eye position but not eye orientation.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A device adapted to provide eye-tracking data by imaging at least one eye of a viewer, wherein:
the device operates an imaging sensor in a ready, active, or idle mode;
the device identifies a user of the device;
the device selects, from a set of active sub-modes and based on the identity of the user, an active sub-mode associated with the identified user;
the device determines, based on a viewing condition of the identified user, a sub-profile from a set of sub-profiles that are associated with the identified user; and
the device transitions the imaging sensor from the ready or idle mode to the selected active sub-mode, wherein settings of the selected active sub-mode are based on the determined sub-profile.

2. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the set of active sub-modes further comprises the sub-profiles.

3. The device according to claim 1 , wherein each of the sub-profiles characterizes a viewing condition of the user.

4. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the viewing condition includes wearing of eyeglasses by the user, wearing of contact lenses by the user, and/or wearing of garments by the user.

5. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the device continuously monitors the user to determine a change in the viewing conditions of the user and based on the change selects a new sub-profile from the set of sub-profiles.

6. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the user is identified using the imaging sensor.

7. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the user is identified using a presence detector.

8. The device according to claim 1 , wherein subsequent to transitioning the image sensor to the selected active sub-mode, the device transitions the imaging sensor to the ready or idle mode.

9. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the device includes a visual display.

10. The device according to claim 9 , wherein the device is a head-mounted device.

11. A method for providing eye-tracking data by imaging at least one eye of a viewer, wherein the method comprises:
operating an imaging sensor of a device in a ready, active, or idle mode;
identifying a user of the device;
based on the identity of the user, selecting an active sub-mode associated with the identified user;
determining, based on a viewing condition of the identified user, a sub-profile from a set of sub-profiles that are associated with the identified user; and
transitioning the imaging sensor from the ready or idle mode to the selected active sub-mode, wherein settings of the selected active sub-mode are based on the determined sub-profile.

12. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the set of active sub-modes further comprises the sub-profiles.

13. The method according to claim 11 , wherein each of the sub-profiles characterizes a viewing condition of the user.

14. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the viewing condition includes wearing of eyeglasses by the user, wearing of contact lenses by the user, and/or wearing of garments by the user.

15. The method according to claim 11 , further comprising continuously monitoring the user to determine a change in the viewing conditions of the user and based on the change selects a new sub-profile from the set of sub-profiles.

16. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the user is identified using the imaging sensor.

17. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the user is identified using a presence detector.

18. The method according to claim 11 , further comprising, subsequent to transitioning the image sensor to the selected active sub-mode, transitioning the imaging sensor to the ready or idle mode.

19. The method according to claim 11 , further comprising presenting a visual display to the user.

20. The method according to claim 19 , wherein the device is a head-mounted device.

Assignees

• Tobii Ab

Inventors

• Eskilsson Henrik
• Skogö Mårten
• Elvesjö John
• Blixt Peter

Classifications

• G09G2354/00

  Aspects of interface with display user · CPC title

• G09G2330/021

  Power management, e.g. power saving · CPC title

• G02B27/0172

  characterised by optical features · CPC title

• G02B2027/0138

  comprising image capture systems, e.g. camera · CPC title

• H04N23/667

  Camera operation mode switching, e.g. between still and video, sport and normal or high- and low-resolution modes · CPC title