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 |