Patent application number | Description | Published |
20140338459 | Differential Pressure Sensor - A differential pressure sensor comprises a cavity having a base including a base electrode and a membrane suspended above the base which includes a membrane electrode, wherein the first membrane is sealed with the cavity defined beneath the first membrane. A first pressure input port is coupled to the space above the sealed first membrane. A capacitive read out system is used to measure the capacitance between the base electrode and membrane electrode. An interconnecting channel is between the cavity and a second pressure input port, so that the sensor is responsive to the differential pressure applied to opposite sides of the membrane by the two input ports. | 11-20-2014 |
20150279803 | DIE INTERCONNECT - One example embodiment discloses a chip having a chip area, wherein the chip area includes: an overhang area; a rigid coupling area, having a set of rigid coupling points, located on one side of the overhang area; and a flexible coupling area, having a set of flexible coupling points, located on a side of the overhang area opposite to the a rigid coupling area. Another example embodiment discloses a method for fabricating a die interconnect, comprising: fabricating a rigid coupler area, having a set of rigid coupler points, within a chip having a chip area; defining an overhang area within the chip area and abutted to the rigid coupler area; and fabricating a flexible coupler area, having a set of flexible coupler points, within the chip area abutted to a side of the overhang area opposite to the rigid coupler area. | 10-01-2015 |
20160023893 | SUSPENDED MEMBRANE FOR CAPACITIVE PRESSURE SENSOR - Embodiments of a method for forming a suspended membrane include depositing a first electrically conductive material above a sacrificial layer and within a boundary trench. The first electrically conductive material forms a corner transition portion above the boundary trench. The method further includes removing a portion of the first electrically conductive material that removes at least a portion of uneven topography of the first electrically conductive material. The method further includes depositing a second electrically conductive material. The second electrically conductive material extends beyond the boundary trench. The method further includes removing the sacrificial layer through etch openings and forming a cavity below the second electrically conductive material. The first electrically conductive material defines a portion of a sidewall boundary of the cavity. | 01-28-2016 |
20160025583 | CMOS PRESSURE SENSOR WITH GETTER USING TI-W WIRE EMBEDDED IN MEMBRANE - Various exemplary embodiments relate to a pressure sensor including a pressure sensitive membrane suspended over a cavity, wherein the membrane is secured by a set of anchors to a substrate; and a getter material embedded in the membrane, wherein the surface of the getter is in contact with any gas within the cavity, and wherein two end points of the getter material are attached through the substrate by anchors capable of conducting through the substrate an electrical current through the getter material. | 01-28-2016 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080317995 | Cover Wafer or Component Cover, Wafer Part, or Component That Can Be Inserted Using Microsystems Technology, and Soldering Method for Connecting Corresponding Wafer or Component Parts - The invention relates to a cover wafer with a core ( | 12-25-2008 |
20100025845 | MICROMECHANICAL HOUSING COMPRISING AT LEAST TWO CAVITIES HAVING DIFFERENT INTERNAL PRESSURE AND/OR DIFFERENT GAS COMPOSITIONS AND METHOD FOR THE PRODUCTION THEREOF - The present application relates to a multiple component which is to be subsequently individualized by forming components containing active structures, in addition to a corresponding component which can be used in microsystem technology systems. The multiple component and/or component comprises a flat substrate and also a flat cap structure which are bound to each other such that they surround at least one first and one second cavity per component, which are sealed against each other and towards the outside. The first of the two cavities is provided with getter material and due to the getter material has a different internal pressure and/or a different gas composition than the second cavity. The present application also relates to a method for producing the type of component and/or components for which gas mixtures of various types of gas have a different absorption ratio in relation to the getter material. | 02-04-2010 |
20100061073 | HOUSING FOR MICRO-MECHANICAL AND MICRO-OPTICAL COMPONENTS USED IN MOBILE APPLICATIONS - The present invention relates to a housing for one or more micromechanical and/or micro-optic components, wherein the housing exhibits a supporting substrate having at least one micromechanical and/or micro-optic component and at least one cap substrate, which is joined to the supporting substrate. The supporting substrate and the at least one cap substrate form at least one cavity, which at least partially encloses the at least one micromechanical and/or micro-optic component, wherein the side of at least one cap substrate facing the at least one micromechanical and/or micro-optic component exhibits at least one optical window and at least one mechanical stop. | 03-11-2010 |
20100085622 | MICRO-MIRROR ACTUATOR HAVING ENCAPSULATION CAPABILITY AND METHOD FOR THE PRODUCTION THEREOF - The present invention relates to a method for producing a micro-mirror actuator and the corresponding actuator. In the method, the actuator is generated from a layered construction made of at least three main layers ( | 04-08-2010 |
20100277782 | Micromechanical Device and Method for Projecting Electromagnetic Radiation - A micromechanical apparatus includes a moving element which comprises a controllable heating apparatus for introduction of a defined amount of heat into the moving element, wherein the apparatus furthermore has a control unit which is designed to control the heating apparatus as a function of an instantaneous temperature and/or of an instantaneous amount of heat that is introduced. The apparatus can be designed to project electromagnetic radiation when the moving element is in the form of a beam deflection unit for deflection of radiation, which originates from a radiation source, onto a projection surface. | 11-04-2010 |
20100296151 | MICROSYSTEM AND METHOD FOR THE PRODUCTION OF A MICROSYSTEM - The invention relates to a microsystem having at least one micromirror ( | 11-25-2010 |
20100330332 | COVER FOR MICROSYSTEMS AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING A COVER - The cover according to the invention serves to encapsulate microsystems, wherein the cover comprises or is made of one or more cover units, and at least one cover unit comprises at least one first recess caused by deformation and bounded at least partially by at least one optical window, the quadratic surface roughness thereof being less than or equal to 25 nm. The invention further relates to a method for producing optical components, wherein the method is particularly also suitable for producing a cover according to the invention allowing encapsulation at the wafer level. | 12-30-2010 |
20120075685 | ELECTROSTATIC COMB-DRIVE MICROMECHANICAL ACTUATOR - The invention relates to a micromechanical actuator, especially a micro-mirror scanner, comprising an actuator unit in an outer frame which unit is suspended in the outer frame via two torsion elements, and electrostatic tilt drives from intermeshing first and second comb-type electrodes which are off-set from each other vertically. The first electrodes are rigidly connected to the outer frame and the second electrodes to the outer frame via an outer connecting element and to the actuator unit via an inner connecting element. The inner connecting element has a spring which extends in parallel to the outer tilting axis, which is connected to the same in a section of the actuator unit close the outer tilting axis, and which is designed and arranged to be rigid in the vertical direction and flexible at a right angle to the vertical direction. The micromechanical actuator according to the invention allows the use in a micro-mirror scanner whose slow axis is non-resonantly driven with excursions of >+/−7°, lateral mirror sizes having dimensions of 1 mm and more and a resonant frequency of >1 kHz and can be integrated even into flat mobile phones. | 03-29-2012 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080284980 | Eye Tracker Having an Extended Span of Operating Distances - The present invention relates to automatic registration and tracking of the eyes of at least one subject. An optical system, including a lens structure, a mask and an image sensor, receives incoming light from a scene containing the subject and directs at least a portion of this light towards the image sensor, which registers spatially distributed light and thus produces primary data. The mask is adapted to alter a basic optical transfer function of the lens structure and the image sensor into an enhanced optical transfer function, which is substantially less sensitive to variations of an unknown distance between the optical system and the subject than the basic optical transfer function. The processing unit is adapted to receive the primary data and process this data to produce resulting eye-tracking data representing a position estimate of the at least one eye and/or a gaze direction for the at least one eye. | 11-20-2008 |
20130318457 | ARRANGEMENT, METHOD AND COMPUTER PROGRAM FOR CONTROLLING A COMPUTER APPARATUS BASED ON EYE-TRACKING - A computer apparatus is associated with a graphical display presenting at least one GUI-component adapted to be manipulated based on user-generated commands. An event engine is adapted to receive an eye-tracking data signal that describes a user's point of regard on the display. Based on the signal, the event engine produces a set of non-cursor controlling event output signals, which influence the at least one GUI-component. Each non-cursor controlling event output signal describes a particular aspect of the user's ocular activity in respect of the display. Initially, the event engine receives a control signal request from each of the at least one GUI-component. The control signal request defines a sub-set of the set of non-cursor controlling event output signals which is required by the particular GUI-component. The event engine delivers non-cursor controlling event output signals to the at least one GUI-component in accordance with each respective control signal request. | 11-28-2013 |
20130321270 | ARRANGEMENT, METHOD AND COMPUTER PROGRAM FOR CONTROLLING A COMPUTER APPARATUS BASED ON EYE-TRACKING - A computer apparatus is associated with a graphical display presenting at least one GUI-component adapted to be manipulated based on user-generated commands. An event engine is adapted to receive an eye-tracking data signal that describes a user's point of regard on the display. Based on the signal, the event engine produces a set of non-cursor controlling event output signals, which influence the at least one GUI-component. Each non-cursor controlling event output signal describes a particular aspect of the user's ocular activity in respect of the display. Initially, the event engine receives a control signal request from each of the at least one GUI-component. The control signal request defines a sub-set of the set of non-cursor controlling event output signals which is required by the particular GUI-component. The event engine delivers non-cursor controlling event output signals to the at least one GUI-component in accordance with each respective control signal request. | 12-05-2013 |
20130326431 | ARRANGEMENT, METHOD AND COMPUTER PROGRAM FOR CONTROLLING A COMPUTER APPARATUS BASED ON EYE-TRACKING - A computer apparatus is associated with a graphical display presenting at least one GUI-component adapted to be manipulated based on user-generated commands. An event engine is adapted to receive an eye-tracking data signal that describes a user's point of regard on the display. Based on the signal, the event engine produces a set of non-cursor controlling event output signals, which influence the at least one GUI-component. Each non-cursor controlling event output signal describes a particular aspect of the user's ocular activity in respect of the display. Initially, the event engine receives a control signal request from each of the at least one GUI-component. The control signal request defines a sub-set of the set of non-cursor controlling event output signals which is required by the particular GUI-component. The event engine delivers non-cursor controlling event output signals to the at least one GUI-component in accordance with each respective control signal request. | 12-05-2013 |
20140009390 | ARRANGEMENT, METHOD AND COMPUTER PROGRAM FOR CONTROLLING A COMPUTER APPARATUS BASED ON EYE-TRACKING - A computer apparatus is associated with a graphical display presenting at least one GUI-component adapted to be manipulated based on user-generated commands An event engine is adapted to receive an eye-tracking data signal that describes a user's point of regard on the display. Based on the signal, the event engine produces a set of non-cursor controlling event output signals, which influence the at least one GUI-component. Each non-cursor controlling event output signal describes a particular aspect of the user's ocular activity in respect of the display. Initially, the event engine receives a control signal request from each of the at least one GUI-component. The control signal request defines a sub-set of the set of non-cursor controlling event output signals which is required by the particular GUI-component. The event engine delivers non-cursor controlling event output signals to the at least one GUI-component in accordance with each respective control signal request. | 01-09-2014 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090241537 | ENERGY HARVESTING, STORING, AND CONVERSION UTILIZING SHAPE MEMORY ACTIVATION - A system for and method of harvesting, storing and converting naturally occurring energy, includes exposing an active material, and more preferably a shape memory element to an ambient activation signal or condition, harvesting a portion of the energy by pseudoplastically straining or superelastically deforming the element, storing the energy by causing a change in the element and/or engaging a locking mechanism, and converting the energy by exposing the mechanism to an activation signal and/or otherwise releasing the mechanism. | 10-01-2009 |
20110120118 | EXHAUST SYSTEM - An exhaust system configured for converting thermal energy to mechanical energy includes a source of thermal energy provided by a temperature difference between an exhaust gas having a first temperature and a heat sink having a second temperature that is lower than the first temperature. The exhaust system also includes a conduit configured for conveying the exhaust gas, a heat engine disposed in thermal relationship with the conduit and configured for converting thermal energy to mechanical energy, and a member disposed in contact with the conduit and configured for conducting thermal energy from the conduit to the heat engine. The heat engine includes a first element formed from a first shape memory alloy having a crystallographic phase changeable between austenite and martensite at a first transformation temperature in response to the temperature difference between the exhaust gas and the heat sink. | 05-26-2011 |
20110120119 | VEHICLE ENERGY HARVESTING DEVICE HAVING DISCRETE SECTIONS OF SHAPE MEMORY ALLOY - An energy harvesting system comprises a first region and a second region having a temperature difference therebetween. A heat engine is configured for converting thermal energy to mechanical energy. The heat engine includes a first discrete element of a shape memory alloy having a crystallographic phase changeable between austenite and martensite in response to the temperature difference between the first region and the second region. The first discrete element of the shape memory alloy expands and contracts in response to the phase change to exert a linear force. A motion conversion mechanism is operatively connected to the first discrete element to be driven by the linear force and a component is driven by the motion conversion mechanism. | 05-26-2011 |
20110126658 | MANUAL GEAR SHIFT MECHANISM - In a gear shaft mechanism is provided that includes, but is not limited to a gear stick passing through slots in a plate to operate a shifter mechanism to move control cables, The gear stick is not pivotally mounted and performs only translational movements. The shaft is fixed to a bar member that is constrained to slide in a first direction relative to a frame member and the frame member is arranged to slide relative to a fixed support in a second direction. The second direction is substantially perpendicular to the first direction. A first pivot is arranged to slide on the bar member and the mechanism further includes, but is not limited to a two-armed lever pivoted at the junction of its arms to a second pivot fixed to said fixed support, a first arm of the lever being pivotally connected to the first pivot. The control cables are respectively connected to a second arm of the lever and the frame member. | 06-02-2011 |
20110138800 | Electricity-Generating Heat Conversion Device and System - A heat conversion device configured for generating electricity and converting thermal energy includes a heat engine configured for converting thermal energy to mechanical energy. The heat engine includes a pseudoplastically pre-strained shape-memory alloy having a crystallographic phase changeable between austenite and martensite in response to thermal energy from a temperature difference between fluids of less than or equal to about 300° C. The heat engine also includes a generator driven by the heat engine and configured for converting mechanical energy to electricity. A heat conversion system configured for generating electricity and converting thermal energy includes a source of thermal energy provided by a temperature difference of less than or equal to about 300° C. between a primary fluid having a first temperature and a secondary fluid having a second temperature that is different from the first temperature, and the heat conversion device. | 06-16-2011 |
20110139395 | Heat Transport System and Method - A heat transport system includes a fluid, a heat engine, and a component. The fluid has a first fluid region at a first temperature and a second fluid region at a second temperature that is different from the first temperature. The heat engine includes a shape-memory alloy disposed in contact with each of the first fluid region and the second fluid region. The heat engine is operable to transfer heat from one of the first fluid region and the second fluid region to the other of the first fluid region and the second fluid region in response to the crystallographic phase of the shape-memory alloy. | 06-16-2011 |
20110140456 | Shape-Memory Alloy-Driven Power Plant and Method - A power plant configured for converting thermal energy to electricity includes a source of thermal energy provided by a temperature difference between a primary fluid having a first temperature and a secondary fluid having a second temperature that is different from the first temperature. The plant also includes a collector configured for enhancing the temperature difference between the primary and secondary fluids, and a heat engine configured for converting at least some thermal energy to mechanical energy. The heat engine includes a pseudoplastically pre-strained shape-memory alloy disposed in heat exchange relationship with each of the primary and secondary fluids. Further, the plant includes a generator driven by the heat engine and configured for converting mechanical energy to electricity. A method of utilizing a naturally-occurring temperature difference between air and/or water to change a crystallographic phase of the shape-memory alloy to convert the temperature difference into mechanical energy is disclosed. | 06-16-2011 |
20120032915 | OPERATING ELEMENT FOR ACTUATION BY A USER AND OPERATING ELEMENT MODULE - An operating element for actuation by a user includes, but is not limited to a movable element that can be actuated by a user and a sensor layer, which is situated below the movable element and implemented as a touchscreen, the sensor layer being implemented to establish an actuation of the movable element. | 02-09-2012 |
20120043787 | SLIDING ROOF CONFIGURATION FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE - A sliding roof configuration is provided for a motor vehicle having a roof frame structure, on which a cover is guided so it is displaceable between a closed position and an open position using opposing lateral guide devices. The spacing of the opposing guide devices changes in this case viewed in the displacement direction of the cover and a guide device has multiple guide rails, which each extend in the displacement direction of the cover, and are situated offset to one another in the displacement direction and diagonally or perpendicularly thereto, and which are each implemented to guide one associated sliding element. | 02-23-2012 |
20120044090 | MOTOR VEHICLE WITH DIGITAL PROJECTORS - A motor vehicle includes, but is not limited to a digital projector for projecting a graphic or type facial information and a monitoring circuit, to which the projector is connected, in order to project as the graphic or type facial information an information determined by the monitoring circuit in real time. | 02-23-2012 |
20120088444 | MOTOR VEHICLE - A motor vehicle is provided having a ventilation system. The ventilation system includes, but is not limited to at least one front ventilation opening for supplying air to a passenger on a front seat, a rear ventilation opening for supplying air to a passenger on a rear seat, an air duct for conducting air to the rear ventilation opening, the air duct being situated between the front seats in the area of a central console, the air duct being integrated in a removable central console part. | 04-12-2012 |
20120137672 | METHODS OF ACTIVATING THERMALLY RESPONSIVE ACTIVE MATERIALS USING WIRELESS TRANSMISSION - Actuation assemblies for and methods of activating a thermally actuated active material actuator utilizing wireless transmissions of energy. | 06-07-2012 |
20120259509 | METHOD AND DESCRIPTION FOR DETERMINING AND PROVIDING INFORMATION FOR THE TRANSPORT OF AN OBJECT - A method is provided for determining and providing information for the transport of an object with a passenger car. A determining of the first parameter of the object to be transported takes place, where the at least one first parameter is selected from the group consisting of dimensions of the object and the mass of the object. In addition, a determining of a current transport capacity of the passenger car takes place. Furthermore, a determining of a probable loading state of the passenger car based on the determined first parameter and the determined current transport capacity of the passenger car takes place. In addition, an outputting of information regarding the determined probable loading state takes place. | 10-11-2012 |
20130158740 | MOTOR VEHICLE COMBINATION AND METHOD FOR OPERATING - A motor vehicle combination is provided. The motor vehicle combination includes a towing vehicle. The towing vehicle is embodied as passenger car. In addition, the motor vehicle combination includes at least one trailer. The at least one trailer can be mechanically connected to the towing vehicle. In addition, the motor vehicle combination comprises a bidirectional communication unit, which is designed for exchanging data between the towing vehicle and the at least one trailer. | 06-20-2013 |
20130247950 | HEAT ENGINE SYSTEM FOR VEHICLES - A heat engine system for a vehicle, wherein the vehicle is operable on a road surface, includes a collector configured for collecting an air layer disposed adjacent the road surface. The heat engine system also includes a heat engine configured for converting thermal energy provided by a temperature difference between the air layer and an ambient air surrounding the vehicle to another form of energy. The air layer has a first temperature, and the ambient air has a second temperature that is lower than the first temperature. In addition, the heat engine system includes a guide configured for transferring the air layer from the collector to the heat engine. A vehicle includes a body defining an interior compartment and having an underside surface spaced opposite the road surface, and the heat engine system. | 09-26-2013 |
20140157936 | OPERATING DEVICE, STEERING WHEEL, MOTOR VEHICLE AND METHOD THERETO - A motor vehicle is provided with a steering wheel, in the spoke of which an operating device, in particular a modular multi-function operation device, for arrangement in a spoke of a motor vehicle steering wheel, that includes, but is not limited to an operating element that is rotatable about an axis of rotation, in particular a turn-push operating element for operation with turning and/or pushing, which is coupled to at least one sensor for generating a control signal. The axis of rotation is obliquely mounted with an angular contact bearing, so that the operating device is oriented projecting in radial direction and in axial direction and the axis of rotation is variable with respect to the inclined mounting with the angular contact bearing, so that a rocking function is realized. In addition, a method is provided for operating instruments of a motor vehicle. | 06-12-2014 |
20140297060 | SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING FUNCTIONS OF A VEHICLE BY SPEECH - A system for controlling functions of a vehicle by speech is disclosed. The system includes a mobile terminal of a network, speech processor for converting recorded speech into digital characters, and a vehicle-based interface. The mobile network terminal includes a microphone for recording a user's speech, and a terminal interface for communication with the vehicle-based interface. The vehicle-based interface is connected to a subsystem of the vehicle for controlling it based on messages received from the mobile network terminal. The mobile network terminal is adapted to process a string of digital characters derived from the user's speech into a message and to transmit said message to the vehicle-based interface. | 10-02-2014 |
20150201478 | HEADLIGHT ARRANGEMENT FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE - A headlight arrangement is provided for a motor vehicle, with a light source configured as a light-emitting diode (LED) and with a control device coupled therewith, which is configured for generating an operating signal for operating the light source, and the frequency of the operating signal can be regulated at least as a function of a momentary operating state of the vehicle or as a function of a vehicle environment. | 07-16-2015 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100328444 | ADAPTIVE CAMERA AND ILLUMINATOR EYETRACKER - An eye tracker includes at least one illuminator for illuminating an eye, at least two cameras for imaging the eye, and a controller. The configuration of the reference illuminator(s) and cameras is such that, at least one camera is coaxial with a reference illuminator and at least one camera is non-coaxial with a reference illuminator. The controller is adapted to select one of the cameras to be active to maximize an image quality metric and avoid obscuring objects. The eye tracker is operable in a dual-camera mode to improve accuracy. A method and computer-program product for selecting a combination of an active reference illuminator from a number of reference illuminators, and an active camera from a plurality of cameras are provided. | 12-30-2010 |
20110279666 | DETECTION OF GAZE POINT ASSISTED BY OPTICAL REFERENCE SIGNAL - A gaze-point detection system includes at least one infrared (IR) signal source to be placed in a test scene as a reference point, a pair of eye glasses to be worn by a person, and a data processing and storage unit for calculating a gaze point of the person wearing the pair of eye glasses. The pair of eye glasses includes an image sensor, an eye-tracking unit and a camera. The image sensor detects IR signals from the at least one IR signal source and generates an IR signal source tracking signal. The eye-tracking unit determines adapted to determine the gaze direction of the person and generates an eye-tracking signal, and the camera acquires a test scene picture. The data processing and storage unit communicates with the pair of eye glasses and calculates the gaze point relative to the test scene picture. | 11-17-2011 |
20130107214 | Adaptive Camera And Illuminator Eyetracker | 05-02-2013 |
20130169560 | SYSTEM FOR GAZE INTERACTION - A method and system for assisting a user when interacting with a graphical user interface combines gaze based input with gesture based user commands. A user of a computer system without a traditional touch-screen can interact with graphical user interfaces in a touch-screen like manner using a combination of gaze based input and gesture based user commands. A solution for touch-screen like interaction uses gaze input and gesture based input as a complement or an alternative to touch-screen interactions with a computer device having a touch-screen. Combined gaze and gesture based interaction with graphical user interfaces can be used to achieve a touchscreen like environment in computer systems without a traditional touchscreen or in computer systems having a touchscreen arranged ergonomically unfavourable for the user or a touchscreen arranged such that it is more comfortable for the user to use gesture and gaze for the interaction than the touchscreen. | 07-04-2013 |
20140043227 | FAST WAKE-UP IN A GAZE TRACKING SYSTEM - A gaze tracking system, leaving a low power mode in response to an activation signal, captures an initial burst of eye pictures in short time by restricting the image area of a sensor, with the purpose of enabling an increased frame rate. Subsequent eye pictures are captured at normal frame rate. The first gaze point value is computed memorylessly based on the initial burst of eye pictures and no additional imagery, while subsequent values may be computed recursively by taking into account previous gaze point values or information from previous eye pictures. The restriction of the image area may be guided by a preliminary overview picture captured using the same or a different sensor. From the gaze point values, the system may derive a control signal to be supplied to a computer device with a visual display. | 02-13-2014 |
20140146156 | PRESENTATION OF GAZE POINT DATA DETECTED BY AN EYE-TRACKING UNIT - A method of presenting gaze-point data of a subject detected by an eye-tracking unit includes presenting a test scene picture acquired by a camera unit, and displaying shapes on the test scene picture. The shapes represent momentary gaze points of the subject. | 05-29-2014 |
20140168271 | ROTATION OF VISUAL CONTENT ON A DISPLAY UNIT - A graphics presentation apparatus including a display unit, an eye-tracking module, and a data output module. The eye-tracking module registers image data representing at least one eye of a user of the apparatus. Furthermore, the eye-tracking module determines, based on the registered image data, an orientation of the at least one eye relative to the display unit. Finally, in response thereto, the eye-tracking module generates a control signal controlling the data output module to produce visual content with such orientation on the display unit that a misalignment between the orientation of said at least one part and the orientation of the at least one eye of the user is minimized. | 06-19-2014 |
20140247215 | DELAY WARP GAZE INTERACTION - A computer system can be controlled with non-contact inputs, such as eye-tracking devices. A visual indicator can be presented on a display to indicate the location where a computer function will take place (e.g., a common cursor). The visual indicator can be moved to a gaze target in response to continued detection of an action (e.g., touchpad touch) by a user for a predetermined period of time. The delay between the action and the movement of the visual indicator can allow a user time to “abort” movement of the visual indicator. Additionally, once the visual indicator has moved, the visual indicator can be controlled with additional precision as the user moves gaze while continuing the action (e.g., continued holding of the touchpad). | 09-04-2014 |
20140247232 | TWO STEP GAZE INTERACTION - A computer system can be controlled with non-contact inputs, such as eye-tracking devices. A computer can enlarge a portion of a display adjacent a first gaze target in response to detecting a first action (e.g., pressing a touchpad). The computer can then allow a user to position a second gaze target in the enlarged portion (e.g., by looking at the desired location) and perform a second action in order to perform a computer function at that location. The enlarging can allow a user to identify a desired location for a computer function (e.g., selecting an icon) with greater precision. | 09-04-2014 |
20140268054 | AUTOMATIC SCROLLING BASED ON GAZE DETECTION - Disclosed are various embodiments for automatic scrolling of content displayed on a display device in response to gaze detection. Content may be displayed in a window rendered on a display screen. Gaze detection components may be used to detect that a user is gazing at the displayed content and to determine a gaze point relative to the display screen. At least one applicable scroll zone relative to the display screen and a scroll action associated with each applicable scroll zone may be determined. In response to determining that the gaze point is within a first applicable scroll zone, an associated first scroll action may be initiated. The first scroll action causes the content to scroll within the window until at least one of: expiration of a defined period, determining that a portion of the content scrolls past a defined position within the window, determining that the gaze point is outside of the first scroll zone, and detecting an indicator that the user begins reading the content. | 09-18-2014 |
20140293226 | EYE-TRACKER ILLUMINATION - A subject ( | 10-02-2014 |
20140310256 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR USER INITIATED QUERY SEARCHES BASED ON GAZE DATA - The invention generally relates to computer implemented systems and methods for utilizing detection of eye movements in connection with interactive graphical user interfaces and, in particular, for utilizing eye tracking data to facilitate and improve information search and presentation in connection with interactive graphical user interfaces. A gaze search index is determined based on information that has been presented on an information presentation area and gaze data signals. The gaze search index comprises links between gaze search parameters and presented information that satisfies gaze filter criteria for respective gaze search parameter. A user can initiate query searches for information on the computer device or on information hosts connectable to the computer device via networks by using combinations of gaze search parameters of the gaze search index and non gaze search parameters of a non gaze search index. | 10-16-2014 |
20140313129 | INTELLIGENT USER MODE SELECTION IN AN EYE-TRACKING SYSTEM - A personal computer system comprises a visual display, an imaging device adapted to provide eye-tracking data by imaging at least one eye of a viewer of the visual display, and identifying means for recognizing the viewer with reference to one of a plurality of predefined personal profiles. The personal computer system further comprises an eye-tracking processor for processing the eye-tracking data. According to the invention, the eye-tracking processor is selectively operable in one of a plurality of personalized active sub-modes associated with said personal profiles. The sub-modes may differ with regard to eye-tracking related or power-management related settings. Further, the identifying means may sense an identified viewer's actual viewing condition (e.g., use of viewing aids or wearing of garments), wherein the imaging device is further operable in a sub profile mode associated with the determined actual viewing condition. | 10-23-2014 |
20140320688 | Power Efficient Image Sensing Apparatus, Method of Operating the Same and Eye/Gaze Tracking System - An image sensing apparatus has a light sensitive area and a control unit. The light sensitive area registers image data in response to an incoming amount of light, and is operable in an active mode wherein image data can be read out there from as well as in a standby mode wherein image data cannot be read out. The control unit produces a control signal setting the light sensitive area to operate in the active mode and the standby mode respectively in a cyclic manner during an operation period, which preferably encompasses multiple data frame read-outs of image data from the light sensitive area. | 10-30-2014 |
20140354539 | GAZE-CONTROLLED USER INTERFACE WITH MULTIMODAL INPUT - A personal computer system provides a gaze-controlled graphical user interface having a bidirectional and a unidirectional interaction mode. In the bidirectional interaction mode, a display shows one or more graphical controls in motion, each being associated with an input operation to an operating system. A gaze tracking system provides gaze point data of a viewer, and a matching module attempts to match a relative gaze movement against a relative movement of one of the graphical controls. The system includes a selector which is preferably controllable by a modality other than gaze. The system initiates a transition from the unidirectional interaction mode to the bidirectional interaction mode in response to an input received at the selector. The display then shows graphical controls in motion in a neighbourhood of the current gaze point, as determined based on current gaze data. | 12-04-2014 |
20150063603 | GAZE BASED DIRECTIONAL MICROPHONE - According to the invention, a system for converting sound to electrical signals is disclosed. The system may include a gaze tracking device and a microphone. The gaze tracking device may determine a gaze direction of a user. The microphone may be more sensitive in a selected direction than at least one other direction and alter the selected direction based at least in part on the gaze direction determined by the gaze tracking device. | 03-05-2015 |
20150092163 | ADAPTIVE CAMERA AND ILLUMINATOR EYETRACKER - An eye tracker comprising at least one illuminator for illuminating an eye, at least two cameras for imaging the eye and a controller is disclosed. The configuration of the reference illuminator(s) and cameras is such that, at least one camera is coaxial with a reference illuminator and at least one camera is non-coaxial with a reference illuminator. On the one hand, the controller is adapted to select one of the cameras to be active with the aim of maximising an image quality metric and avoiding obscuring objects. On the other hand, the eye tracker is operable in a dual-camera mode to improve accuracy. The invention further provides a method and computer-program product for selecting a combination of an active reference illuminator from a plurality of reference illuminators and an active camera from a plurality of cameras. | 04-02-2015 |
20150130740 | SYSTEM FOR GAZE INTERACTION - A control module for generating gesture based commands during user interaction with an information presentation area is provided. The control module is configured to acquire user input from a touchpad and gaze data signals from a gaze tracking module; and determine at least one user generated gesture based control command based on a user removing contact of a finger of the user with the touchpad; determine a gaze point area on the information presentation area including the user's gaze point based on at least the gaze data signals; and execute at least one user action manipulating a view presented on the graphical information presentation area based on the determined gaze point area and at least one user generated gesture based control command, wherein the user action is executed at said determined gaze point area. | 05-14-2015 |
20150145769 | POWER MANAGEMENT IN AN EYE-TRACKING SYSTEM - 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. | 05-28-2015 |
20150177833 | Eye Gaze Determination - There is provided methods, systems and computer program products for identifying an interaction element from one or more interaction elements present in a user interface, comprising: receiving gaze information from an eye tracking system; determining the likelihood that an interaction element is the subject of the gaze information from the eye tracking system; and identifying an interaction element from the one or more interaction elements based on said likelihood determination. | 06-25-2015 |
20150210292 | GAZE DRIVEN INTERACTION FOR A VEHICLE - According to the invention, a method for modifying operation of at least one system of a vehicle based at least in part on a gaze direction of a driver is disclosed. The method may include receiving gaze data indicative of the gaze direction of a driver of a vehicle. The method may also include modifying operation of at least one system of the vehicle based at least in part on the gaze data. | 07-30-2015 |
20150234459 | GAZE DRIVEN INTERACTION FOR A VEHICLE - According to the invention, a method for changing information on a display in a vehicle based on a gaze direction of a driver is disclosed. The method may include displaying information on the display in the vehicle. The method may also include receiving gaze data indicative of the gaze direction of a user. The method may further include changing the display based at least in part on the gaze data. | 08-20-2015 |
20150262010 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR ROBUST EYE/GAZE TRACKING - At least one image registering unit records at least one series of images representing a subject. A control unit controls an operation sequence for the at least one image registering unit in such a manner that a subsequent data processing unit receives a repeating sequence of image frames there from, wherein each period contains at least one image frame of a first resolution and at least one image frame of a second resolution being different from the first resolution. Based on the registered image frames, the data processing unit produces eye/gaze tracking data with respect to the subject. | 09-17-2015 |