Eye-tracking enabled wearable devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10467470-B2
Application number	US-201615276618-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 26, 2016
Priority date	Sep 24, 2015
Publication date	Nov 5, 2019
Grant date	Nov 5, 2019

Abstract

A system for determining a gaze direction of a user in a wearable device is disclosed. The system may include a display device, a primary lens, an illuminator, and a plurality of imaging device. The primary lens may be disposed in front of the display device. The illuminator may be configured to illuminate an eye of a user. The plurality of imaging devices may be disposed on or in the primary lens to detect light reflected by the eye of the user.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for determining a gaze direction of a user in a wearable device, wherein the system comprises:
a display device;
a primary lens disposed in front of the display device;
an illuminator configured to illuminate an eye of a user, wherein the illuminator is disposed in the primary lens, and wherein the illuminator comprises a plurality of optical fibers; wherein the optical fibers are deposited in grooves in a surface of the lens and are numerously distributed across a front side of the lens; wherein any void in the grooves where the optical fibers are placed are filled with a substance to maintain a position of the optical fibers, and to minimize refraction therein; and wherein the substance has a same, or similar, refraction index to the lens itself in order to minimize visible distortion of the lens to the user; and an imaging device disposed in the primary lens to detect light reflected by the eye of the user.

2. The system for determining a gaze direction of a user in a wearable device of claim 1 , wherein:
the imaging device is no larger than about 1 millimeter by about 1 millimeter by about 1 millimeter.

3. The system for determining a gaze direction of a user in a wearable device of claim 1 , wherein:
the imaging device is disposed within a cavity in the primary lens.

4. The system for determining a gaze direction of a user in a wearable device of claim 3 , wherein:
an additional substance having a substantially similar refraction index to the primary lens is disposed within the cavity so as to smooth a surface of the primary lens.

5. The system for determining a gaze direction of a user in a wearable device of claim 1 , wherein the additional substance comprises:
a flow-able hardening substance.

6. The system for determining a gaze direction of a user in a wearable device of claim 1 , wherein:
the imaging device comprises a sensor disposed on a flexible printed circuit; and
a width and a length of the flexible printed circuit is orientated orthogonally to a viewing surface of the primary lens.

7. The system for determining a gaze direction of a user in a wearable device of claim 1 , wherein:
the illuminator is no larger than about 1 millimeter by about 1 millimeter by about 1 millimeter.

8. The system for determining a gaze direction of a user in a wearable device of claim 1 , wherein:
the illuminator is disposed within a cavity in the primary lens.

9. The system for determining a gaze direction of a user in a wearable device of claim 8 , wherein:
an additional substance having a substantially similar refraction index to the primary lens is disposed within the cavity so as to smooth a surface of the primary lens.

10. The system for determining a gaze direction of a user in a wearable device of claim 9 , wherein the additional substance comprises:
a flow-able hardening substance.

11. The system for determining a gaze direction of a user in a wearable device of claim 1 , wherein the system further comprises:
a reflector disposed in the cavity to reflect light from the optical fiber toward the user.

12. The system for determining a gaze direction of a user in a wearable device of claim 1 , wherein the system further comprises:
a secondary lens at the surface of the primary lens to refract light from the optical fiber toward the user.

13. The system for determining a gaze direction of a user in a wearable device of claim 12 , wherein the secondary lens comprises:
a flow-able hardening substance.

14. The system for determining a gaze direction of a user in a wearable device of claim 1 , wherein:
the primary lens is configured to guide light from the illuminator toward the eye of the user.

15. The system for determining a gaze direction of a user in a wearable device of claim 1 , wherein:
the primary lens comprises a light guide configured to guide light from the illuminator toward the eye of the user.

16. The system for determining a gaze direction of a user in a wearable device of claim 1 , wherein:
the primary lens is configured to focus light toward the imaging device.

17. The system for determining a gaze direction of a user in a wearable device of claim 1 , wherein the primary lens comprises:
a Fresnel lens.

18. The system for determining a gaze direction of a user in a wearable device of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of illumination sources, wherein the illumination sources are coupled to the end of the optical fibers at the edge, or away from, the lens.

19. A system for determining a gaze direction of a user in a wearable device, wherein the system comprises:
a display device;
a primary lens disposed in front of the display device;
an illuminator disposed on or in the primary lens configured to illuminate an eye of a user, wherein the illuminator comprises a plurality of optical fibers; wherein the optical fibers are deposited in grooves in a surface of the lens and are numerously distributed across a front side of the lens; wherein any void in the grooves where the optical fibers are placed are filled with a substance to maintain a position of the optical fibers, and to minimize refraction therein; and wherein the substance has a same, or similar, refraction index to the lens itself in order to minimize visible distortion of the lens to the user; and an imaging device disposed on or in the primary lens to detect light reflected by the eye of the user.

20. The system for determining a gaze direction of a user in a wearable device of claim 19 , wherein:
the imaging device is disposed within a cavity in the primary lens.

21. The system for determining a gaze direction of a user in a wearable device of claim 19 , wherein:
the primary lens is configured to guide light from the illuminator toward the eye of the user.

22. The system for determining a gaze direction of a user in a wearable device of claim 19 , wherein:
the primary lens comprises a light guide configured to guide light from the illuminator toward the eye of the user.

23. A system for determining a gaze direction of a user in a wearable device, wherein the system comprises:
a display device;
a primary lens disposed in front of the display device;
an illuminator disposed on or in the primary lens configured to illuminate an eye of a user, wherein the illuminator comprises a plurality of optical fibers; wherein the optical fibers are deposited in grooves in a surface of the lens and are numerously distributed across a front side of the lens; wherein any void in the grooves where the optical fibers are placed are filled with a substance to maintain a position of the optical fibers, and to minimize refraction therein; and wherein the substance has a same, or similar, refraction index to the lens itself in order to minimize visible distortion of the lens to the user; and an imaging device.

24. The system for determining a gaze direction of a user in a wearable device of claim 23 , wherein the imaging device comprises a profile sensor.

25. The system for determining a gaze direction of a user in a wearable device of claim 23 , wherein:
the primary lens is configured to guide light from the illuminator toward the eye of the user.

26. The system for determining a gaze direction of a user in a wearable device of claim 23 , wherein:
the primary lens comprises a light guide configured to guide light from the illuminator toward the eye of the u

Assignees

• Tobii Ab

Inventors

• Gustafsson Simon
• Kingbäck Anders
• Blixt Peter
• Hainzl Richard

Classifications

• G09G2354/00

  Aspects of interface with display user · CPC title

• G09G2340/0464

  Positioning · CPC title

• G06V40/19

  Sensors therefor · CPC title

• G06F2203/0381

  Multimodal input, i.e. interface arrangements enabling the user to issue commands by simultaneous use of input devices of different nature, e.g. voice plus gesture on digitizer · CPC title

• G06F3/04815 Primary

  Interaction with a metaphor-based environment or interaction object displayed as three-dimensional [3D], e.g. changing the user viewpoint with respect to the environment or object · CPC title